Analysing my fall off the Atkins wagon

[Rae76]

Hi Everyone,

When I started my Atkins journey I weighed 85 kg (187 lbs) I'm 5'8 inches tall, so my goal is to lose about 22 lbs. (This has been my goal since I turned 15 and so far I keep gaining and losing the same 15 lbs.). For the first 3-4 months I did well, sticking to the program and I got down to 77.? Kg or about 172 lbs. I was so close to the 160s I could taste them. But instead I started tasting everything else.

A few weeks ago, I completely went off program and began to binge eat everything I could get my hands on. - The consequence: my weight has bounced back to 81.4 kg (or 179 lbs). Not only that, but it feels like I have gained it all in my stomach area.

So now, I'm trying to get back on induction and into ketosis. The Book advises that we should take a look at why we started to fall off the program, identify the contributing factors and what we can do differently (I am paraphrasing here ).

So here were the contributing factors:
1) and despite the reasons below, this was probably the biggest factor: I was sticking to Program but my weight had stalled for over 2.5 months. I was really discouraged. I felt like I had been giving up so much (bread, drinks with my friends) and not seeing any progress for it.
2) some things with my family went really bad (my sister is an alcoholic and I live far away) and I tend to be an emotional eater - actually, I don't tend to be, I am an emotional eater - it is my number one coping mechanism.
3) I was working two positions at my work and waiting to hear back whether I had gotten a promotion or whether I would be looking for a new job in April.
4) I wasn't exercising and had stopped taking my supplements. I felt I just didn't have time to exercise ( a big no-no according to Dr. Atkins)
5) I isolated myself. I tried to hide the fact that I had fallen off the wagon from my boyfriend and my friends. I felt ashamed. I had asked them to make so many concessions for my way of eating that it was embarassing to have fallen off the wagon.
6) I went to a work conference in Paris and was surrounded by delicious foods and breads (a definite weakness of mine) and since I wasn't losing anyway, I told myself I would get back on as soon as I came back.

And it was this giving myself permission to come off program that started a two week binge that included chocolate bars, chips etc.. and a 4 kg weight gain.

So now I'm entering day 5 of an attempt back at Induction: am eating induction foods, just too many of them. I'm here to analyse what I can do differently to prevent this from happening in the future.

1) start exercising, this will help with the plateaus and help me feel better.
2) ask my boyfriend for help when I'm feeling stressed and overwhelmed by my family and work
3) take my vitamins
4) try to find low carb alternatives to normal bread, not easy here in Switzerland. It's impossible to find low carb products
5) learn to recognize the triggers for a binge session - currently coming home from work and being by myself for a few hours seems to trigger it. Therefore, need to find a way to avoid that scenario or change the pattern. Am going to try making myself a cup of tea right away to see if that helps.
6) Try to balance work and life a bit better (I did get the promotion so am now only doing one job)

and also, I need to appreciate the successes that I have had so far. Yes I've gained some back, but I have also lost 4kg and I can still fit into my size 12 clothes (was a size 16 before).

Anyway, if you've made it this far, I apologize for the long post, but I needed to take stock and refocus.

Best of luck to all of you.

R

[EverLosing]

Don't worry another about "the fall" because clearly, you've picked yourself up and have great insight into the why and how not to...ever again! You've taken back control of your WOL and in no time, you'll be looking WOW!! Good for you for coming back!! This is really a great post...for others as well as you! Might be a good idea to print it out and keep it with you when you're away from the board. If you're ever tempted to stray, pull out the paper as your reminder and rock and read it. It'll help you remember your WHY and what faltering does to you inside as well as outside. You're going to do really well!

[Zarabelle]

What a brilliant post. I am sure so many people can relate to it. When your weight seems to stand still for a long time, that is when the temptation really strikes.... I am totally addicted to the scales but I am now seriously considering weighing in once a month as I think that weighing yourself can sabotage everything! I am now thinking in terms of dress sizes for weight loss. I have dropped 2.5 sizes and have 2.5 sizes to go. In theory, I could just try the smaller jeans on once a week and not bother with the scales at all. Your post has seriously made me think that would be a good idea. Well done for getting back on the wagon xx

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

Hello!!!!!
Well you and I seem exactly the same (weight/height wise)...i'm currently 183.5 and I'm 5'8" - at my lowest I'm 160 - and that's where I'm happy - 179 is actually my "onederland" that I can't WAIT to get back to.

And I understand the falling off the wagon thing - in the past, i went from 220 at my highest to 160 at my lowest (on weight watchers) - and after that, i'd gain back up to about 197 and then back down to where i am now (183) and usually at this point, I'd get frustrated that it wasn't coming off fast enough OR i'd say "ok, i've done good - I can eat what i want now"...and i'd ALWAYS end up completely losing my concentration and going back to 197.

but that's what i love about atkins is i finally feel like i've found the RIGHT way to eat for me and my body and i REFUSE to "fall off the wagon" ever again.

it is hard - the exercise thing...i love to exercise - but actually making my butt GET TO the gym is hard and so many days I think "oh i don't have the time - i have too many other things to do" - but you have to realize that you DO have the time and it's NOT selfish to go to the gym for an hour instead of going home to sit on the couch with my fiance for that hour...

Vitamins - i take them at my meals and keep my lunch-time vitamins in my lunch bag at all times.

You can also "isolate" yourself and LIE to yourself that you're not doing anything wrong - that you're still eating "healthy" but the only person you're cheating is yourself.

as far as a low-carb bread alternative - do you have access to Flax seed? I make a FABULOUS flax seed "bread"/"hamburger bun" by taking 2 tbsp ground flax seed, 1/8 tsp baking powder (make sure to measure as baking powder has carbs), 1 egg, 1 tbsp melted butter, pinch of salt - mix all together and microwave on high for a minute and cut in half to make a top and a bottom bun. AWESOME for sandwiches!

you just have to find what works for you to make this woe work. you CAN do it and i wish you all the luck in the world!

[liv]

I also loved your post. It is sometimes hard to sit down and be very honest with one self.

Another thing I would suggest is maybe also think about doing OWL if you did not already do that. It could be that there were too many restrictions. I find that on OWL I can make different flax, seed and nut muffins and bread like things that completely satisfy those kind of longings.
Have you tried the revolution rolls? These are not my favourite but many people love them.

[SunnySmile501]

Wow! That was an amazing self-analysis. It seems that you are really trying to handle all of your obstacles and work towards your goal. You have a lot on your plate, but also you have so much going for you.

You've had great advice and feedback so far, so I will just make a suggestion about #5 from list one and #2 from the second list.

5) I isolated myself. I tried to hide the fact that I had fallen off the wagon from my boyfriend and my friends. I felt ashamed. I had asked them to make so many concessions for my way of eating that it was embarassing to have fallen off the wagon.

2) ask my boyfriend for help when I'm feeling stressed and overwhelmed by my family and work

I don't know you or your boyfriend, but it seems that you are feeling both ashamed and guilty for giving in in a weak moment--a moment that all humans experience. Could you sit down with your boyfriend and do a confession of sorts, and then ask him to brainstorm ways you both can work together to keep you on track? He might have ideas that you have failed to consider.

Maybe you could make plans to do something fun when "life" is becoming overwhelming. Take some time together to do only relaxing things together, and put problems aside for a certain amount of hours. When you stop worrying about things out of your control for a while, chances are things will improve on their own, or when you go back and tackle them with a fresh mind, they don't seem as overwhelming.

I sometimes just take a music break. I play peppy dance music loudly and just act silly. It never fails to lift my spirits and give me a new outlook on life.

[bikinidreams]

We all fall, but most people just continue on the bottom, wallowing in self pity! Find the strength to be one of the few who get back up and dust themselves off. Sounds like you've done that! Congrats on Day 5!