Trying to return to Atkins "again"...I'm realizing I have a problem

[Tryin_2_lose]

I go back and forth to this site....I start Atkins, I stop, I start, I stop...repeat repeat repeat.

I am starting to, or think I finally now know that I have an eating problem. It seems to happen more when I am bored, but nonetheless it happens. I seem to be addicted to putting food in my mouth. It's this feeling that I have to be constantly putting something in my mouth. When I smoked many many years ago, I remember that that was the difficult part of quitting, was the constant putting of the cigarette in my mouth. Now with dieting, I am not sure how to deal with this. With smoking I was able to just stop doing it all together. But I can't quite eating! I sometimes feel like eating is such a chore and I really do wish I could stop doing it all together and go to an I.V. for food. On top of all this, I've been on anti-biotics in the last 8 days and it seems like they are hindering my progress and I'm gaining weight! Has anyone had this experience while on anti-biotics??

I don't know what to do anymore with my dieting. On the one hand I start the diet and get really excited because I see the weight dropping! Then I get hormonal, I'll be sitting around the house and BOOM! I dive into a bag of walnuts or my kids scoobie snacks - or look, there are chips and salsa left over from the weekend dinner party. I just don't know how to deal with this anymore. Is there like a 10 step program for bad eating habits??

[futurerancher]

Re: Trying to return to Atkins "again"...I'm realizing I have a problem

I hear where you are coming from. I finally made it past day 1 again after 3 months of failure. I actually had to take the day and had my wife by my side every second until I went to bed. It sucks big time. So I am with you on this one.

[Tomorrow_I'll_Be_Perfect]

Re: Trying to return to Atkins "again"...I'm realizing I have a problem

Oh, I can jump on this bandwagon. I used to think I was addicted to food also, but now know it's not all food, just sugar. Ack, the white powder!

If I can manage not to eat sugary "stuff", then my body talks me into the next best things....cereal, bread, potatoes, chips, nachos, whatever it takes, just get it in there. I don't overeat on this WOE, and have very few cravings for the acceptable foods, so I know it's not all foods. But the sugar......that's my problem.

[jaybee007]

Re: Trying to return to Atkins "again"...I'm realizing I have a problem

I was postponing my return to Atkins because I was thinking long term and it seemed like such a big task to take on. I'm an emotional food addict..and knowing this means that I have to do it one day at a time and treat it like any other addiction. It's humbling having to come to terms with this but at the end of the day, it's really up to me

[shaunawa]

Re: Trying to return to Atkins "again"...I'm realizing I have a problem

Oh my god I have found my people.

This is exactly how I feel. I have tried and tried to get back to sqare one. I have all the good intentions of the world and then BAM! I see a doughnut or a piece of cake the WHITE STUFF calls to me. Just one taste and you will feel so wonderful. Even though I know this is not true I put it into my body anyway.

Failure! I just blew it again. Then the downward spiral of hating myself for being so week attacks my brain. If only...they would lock me up for two weeks - someone please.

I have done this diet before. I have lost 30 lbs. on this diet before. I felt fantastic on this plan... it truly can be a wol. My stomach problems disappeared with this woe. I could wear a size 14 again and felt on top of the world!

Then one evening when I was feeling at my lowest I pulled into the Arby's drive through. I sat there and stared at the billboard with all of it's shiney lights welcoming me. A little warning went off inside of me... "If you do this you will ruin everything we have worked so hard for."

"I'll take a #4" I said.

I have gained all of my weight back. I am wearing a size 20 and I feel like crap every morning. There is no will power inside of me even though I want it to be there. Maybe I need my own private island with no fast food resturants on it would do the trick.

I dream of a clean induction again...that feeling of success.

[jaybee007]

Re: Trying to return to Atkins "again"...I'm realizing I have a problem

I hear you sister!...lol
The tough part for me is not having that glass of wine with my meal *Tsk*Bad girl I know but at least i'm honest about it..... Personally I have to hit rock bottom to really start fresh again and take it seriously.

Oh my god I have found my people.

This is exactly how I feel. I have tried and tried to get back to sqare one. I have all the good intentions of the world and then BAM! I see a doughnut or a piece of cake the WHITE STUFF calls to me. Just one taste and you will feel so wonderful. Even though I know this is not true I put it into my body anyway.

Failure! I just blew it again. Then the downward spiral of hating myself for being so week attacks my brain. If only...they would lock me up for two weeks - someone please.

I have done this diet before. I have lost 30 lbs. on this diet before. I felt fantastic on this plan... it truly can be a wol. My stomach problems disappeared with this woe. I could wear a size 14 again and felt on top of the world!

Then one evening when I was feeling at my lowest I pulled into the Arby's drive through. I sat there and stared at the billboard with all of it's shiney lights welcoming me. A little warning went off inside of me... "If you do this you will ruin everything we have worked so hard for."

"I'll take a #4" I said.

I have gained all of my weight back. I am wearing a size 20 and I feel like crap every morning. There is no will power inside of me even though I want it to be there. Maybe I need my own private island with no fast food resturants on it would do the trick.

I dream of a clean induction again...that feeling of success.

[Sweets]

Re: Trying to return to Atkins "again"...I'm realizing I have a problem

2 years ago I lost 40lbs or so on Atkins WOL/WOE.. I execerised regularly.. now here I sit 2 years later back to where I started. I came back in November telling myself this is it ..your creeping back up ..get a handle on it.. ..I'm going to do it.. well here I am almost a year later almost back to my original start weight 2 years ago. I fell off the wagon BIG TIME this summer. I was eating everything and anything I wanted and doing no exercise. WOW wasn't I arrogant to think I am the only person on the planet to eat what I want not exercise and not gain weight???? I do admit I am a food addict. I am literally addicted to food.. I am a living to eat.. not eating to live kind of gal...

This time I have a different outlook. I used think OMG I can't eat this way for the rest of my life. Never to have a fry, burger, ice cream.. which would lead to failure everytime. This time I am not looking ahead. I am literally taking each day one at a time. What a cliche!! but it works. I tell myself.. just get throught today.. this hour ... this minute.... the urge will pass... Every morning when I wake.. the first thought is .. how did I eat yesterday/last night.. if I was good.. I feel great.. if I had something I shouldn't or binged I feel so quilty the feeling is overwhelming..

I think just take my time.. don't look ahead.. remember how you feel at this very moment.. lighter... clear headed.. no cravings...clothes feeling better... that is what will get you through.. one day at a time... stop looking ahead fool!! lol You can do this.... you will do this... you have to do this... especially with the wonderful support of the people on this board.. it is a life time journey that needs to be taken one slow step at a time.. think in the moment..

[Spirit_Wolf]

Re: Trying to return to Atkins "again"...I'm realizing I have a problem

Yes, I can relate to this one hundred percent! I know I am a sugar/carb addict and am a binge eater. Combine the two and you reach 300 lbs, talk about a visual addiction. Atkins is the only diet I feel terrific and in control when I am on it. Unfortunately as an addict just one bite is enough for me to be out of control. One bite of cake is the same as eating the whole cake because I won't be able to stop until the cake is gone. Of course I try and rationalize it, and start again the next day but once you let the demon loose it is MUCH harder to start again!
So I am here again as well. Every time I start again I do a better job of controlling my cravings and have a healthier attitude towards making low carb a WOL. BUT, I know I have been here before, I have lost weight before and I am always 1 bite away from being 300 lbs. So while I am doing well right now and am proud of myself, I am afraid...no TERRIFIED of cheating. Every other time I dieted I "planned" cheats as rewards or when I was visiting friends, this time I DREAD going to a friend's place for dinner and I will NEVER plan a cheat. I will plan low carb treats for special occasions but that is all.
As you can see in my sig, I have a bomb strapped to my @$$ at all times and I can't let myself forget it. For me if this is not a permanent WOL then I will NEVER acheive my goal. I cannot, cannot cheat.

[Spoons4Life]

Re: Trying to return to Atkins "again"...I'm realizing I have a problem

You are not alone...da da da...I am here with you...da...da..da.

My kindered spirits, you are! I am a sugar addict and learned emotional eating from my Dad. Oh you are upset, have a package of Oreo cookies. You are angry, let's go eat at Red Lobster. I see my daughter doing the same thing and I am realizing I have to stop myself and show her by my actions the right way to handle emotions. We live in Germany currently and have British TV which has TONS off commercials on eating right as a family. Since I learned what actual portion sizes are and cut my daughters portions to what she should have she has lost 6lbs (she's 9). I am realizing our, USA, portion control is out of this world and sugaring up our lives will only end them faster.

So I feel good on Atkins. My moods are steady but I long for sugar in my mind. My body isn't craving it, my mind is. I drink some more water or eat my next meal a little early. I will have the occassional cheat once I am out of induction but I have to control my mind....my body is in it for the long haul. That and I must beat my hubby with a nerf baseball bat if he keeps buying me chocolate as a reward!!!