Secrets to my success

[somethings gotta give]

Recently I have received several PM,s wanting to know what my “secrets” were, after a lot of soul searching I could only come up with a bit of advice (remember we are all unique) Moderators feel free to move to appropriate forum
#1. Keep it simple
For the first few months stick to the basics (meat, veggies, eggs, cheese) Save the recipes with 3 or more ingredients for further down the road- it gave me something to look forward to. Cook enough for several days; the less you have to think about what to cook the better off you are. Leftovers are a “must”
#2. Stay under the radar
“A little less talk and a lot more action”. Try to keep it on the “down low”. It’s really a personal journey anyhow. For one thing, my family had heard “I can’t eat that, I am on a diet” SO many times that it was like crying wolf. By announcing it everyone you are setting yourself up for several things- controversy over “the plan”, diet advice from the know-it-all skinny chick and daily annoying questions like “how is your diet going?” “Have you lost any weight yet?” Then there are the others, those supportive people in your life with “you look just fine already” or “We love you just the way you are”. Thanks to those kinds of comments I put on the first 30 extra pounds without an ounce of guilt and full of denial- “muffin top, what muffin top?”
#3. Think healthy not skinny
I didn’t measure my success by how fast the scales moved. I let my body do the talking. Within a few days your body will reward you with more energy, a more restful night’s sleep and a much better mood and perspective on life. Stay positive and focused by knowing that no matter what you are doing what you know is right.
#4. Don’t think too far ahead
Take it a day at a time or even a meal at a time if necessary. Just keep moving forward. You will find your hunger and cravings will slowly lessen or absolutely disappear, I know sounds crazy but it’s true. As your body adjusts to this new way of eating your mind will follow- you will think more rationally rather than emotionally when it comes to food.
#5. Diet Buddy
First off let me just say YOU are your best diet buddy. No-one knows you like you do. You already have the answers. You know what your triggers are and basically what foods are “good” for you and which are “bad” (If you are like me you probably already even know the calorie counts of those foods without even looking them up. I have been dieting and counting calories for 20 years now). Secondly- get yourself a diet buddy on the forum. It helps to have the support of others and to not only be accountable to yourself, but to have your buddy keeping you in check as well. Find someone you feel you could help and someone who will listen and not be judgmental. **My thanks go out to Sham and Fat2Thin23- you guys are the best!!**
#6. The Forum
Browse the forums, ask questions, check out the before and after pics and all the success stories. Get involved, answer questions when you can and if you don’t know the answers just be there with supportive and encouraging words. I have learned a lot through reading about others mistakes as well as there successes.
If anyone out there has any advice to share of their own please feel free to add to this post

[kmrsail]

Congratulations on your success! You get reps for this post...Sticky anyone?! Excellent advice that can work for everyone. I am looking forward to being in your shoes. WTG!

[atkinsgal08]

>> #4. Don’t think too far ahead>>

This is the only one I would "disagree" with. For me ... planning was key. It still is.

Looking one meal ahead was how I ended up eating pasta for dinner for years. I aspired to "planning ahead" but never managed to do it. It wasn't until I started Atkins that planning happened. In the beginning, I knew 3 -5 days out what dinner was going to be ... and even now, I know 2 or 3 days.

If one stops planning, then it's easy to get off track ... and make bad decisions about food.

[my31168]

Somethings Gotta Give - Congrats to you on your journey...that's amazing. Great advice you are right on target with everything. Thank you for sharing. I have to agree with you on #5, if it weren't for my friends I've made on this site I would have given up already. They all can understand what I'm going through. That's not the case at home or work.

Adkinsgal08 - I totally agree with you as far as thinging ahead for the meals. If I don't plan I fail everytime!!! Now, that's just for me, I'm not saying that works for everyone.

[beginanew]

Congratulations and thanks for your insights. Great advice!

[Jenileigh]

Wonderful advice! I can't wait to be on the other side.

As for planning, I'm a toss, there are days that no matter what the plan was I'll change it, then there are those days that my planning saved my rear...like a field trip. Some days I just want something different than what I had planned. So, I mostly like you, go day by day.

I do plan my husband's lunches and pack them the night before. He cooks his own breakfast because he gets up so early, I do his lunch- so he doesn't fail at work, and I do try to plan one day ahead for his dinners. He likes a hot dinner.

[sham]

Hi Edie a great post and great advice Im sure it will help different people in different ways.You surely have achieved success with your own efforts and your own determination.Thanks for giving me a mention Im glad I was there for you.I must say I am successful because I had a great supportive buddie like you too.

[liv]

Great to know. Thanks for posting. Some really good insight there for sure. I really have come to embrace this idea of the need to have a buddy or at least to have some place to turn to for guidance and support as one of the keys to have a chance to succeed.
So glad you found your way. Congratulations.

[bizzlekitty]

These are great and very true that they work.

I would like to add another that helps me alot:

Track what you eat daily, whether online such as Fitday or a written food journal, and keep track of your net carbs. Even when you cheat or fall off plan. This will keep you accountable for what you are eating and keep you focused. It's alot easier to cheat or fall off the wagon if you aren't bothering to track what you eat. This will also help you when doing OWL and into Maintenance as you figure out your CCLL and CCLM and determining foods that may be stalling you.

Thanks for sharing!

[niko772]

Definitely Stickey material!