I'm Back :)

[chicamarun]

Ok - honestly I fell off the wagon when my Dr told me a couple of weeks ago that I didn't need to loose anymore (I was 137) and my blood work came back incredible.

We went to the beach this past week - our 1st vacation in about 3 1/2 years - and I binged. So this morning the scale said 143.8

So I'm starting induction today. My only vice I will keep is my morning coffee with real heavy cream. Once I'm done with the coffee - I'm done with caffeine. Induction because I am CRAVING sweets - even if I don't like them I want to eat them. I don't LIKE candy corn - my husband has some in the house - and I have been sneaking them - sneaking candy I don't even like

I do plan to go below what my Dr says because even though I usually trust him I would like to still be in the 120's for my own mind set.

So I'll be checking in once again daily as I was to motivate etc. See you soon!

[redfoxglove]

Hi Dana, good job getting back on track. Isn't it weird how we reach for something to put in our mouth even if we know it's not what we want? I get that, too. Also I am in the most danger when someone, or even me, hints that I'm doing so well I need not be so vigilant. It's especially challenging when an authority like a trusted doctor gives you the atta-girl, and now you can take a break. You've made a great choice to get back on the program, I'm inspired by your resolve to not go backwards. When I was in Curves program they suggested once you are on maintenance to give yourself a 3-lb limit, when you got 3 lbs above your goal weight it was time to go back on their version of induction again for 3 days to lose the weight. I don't know if they are still teaching that, it was about 3 years ago. But it seems like you are doing something like that.

Curious, why are you quitting the caffeine? I've seen it mentioned in a couple other people's posts too. It's also in the DANDR but I can't quite get what's the problem. I usually have just one cup of coffee in the a.m. with heavy cream. Is coffee a no-no on induction? Because the DANDR also advises "use heavy cream in your coffee", Dr. Atkins brags (rightly so) about how rich you can eat on this plan.

[momtomany1]

Coffee is an addiction. Dr. Atkins recommends cream in your DECAF. I think the doctor was just trying to get us off all of our addictions.

Now, in the years since 2002, there has been more research about possible actual health benefits to coffee. Would he have changed his mind? Hard to say. But if you want to know if coffee is really an addiciton.. just go cold turkey and see how bad the headache is. (Ths bit of pondering was for Redfoxglove on the coffee subject!)

Chica, good job on your loss... good job recommitting, won't maintenance be a hoot this time? since you learned you can't just quit! and most of all.. congrats on the excellent blood work!

[chicamarun]

I'm actually giving up a TON of caffeine by only drinking the coffee in the morning - about 3-4 diet cokes per day PLUS the coffee was what I was drinking - some days up to 6 diet cokes. So the headache is still here. Usually going into induction I would cut out all soda but my schedule is too hectic this week to deal with not having some and having a headache and being grumpy

Must say though - I am 140ish and a size 6-8.... back when I was 19 and a size 6 I was 105-110 so go figure on sizes now and days

[redfoxglove]

Sounds like you're making positive progress in curbing caffeine use. Mine is at a good level I feel. My sister is one who really loves soda pop, too. When I was younger I got my caffeine, and lots of it, from coca cola. Over the years I've drank lots of coffee. But the last 4 years since I've started paying real attention I've cut back to just the one cup. Sounds like you're making adjustments, too, it's good to see that. Caffeine definitely has an effect on our metabolism, now that I get to thinking about it.