Emotional Help! - long - sorry!

[nturtle]

Ok Gang,

I've started and stopped so often I'm myself all the time with my weight. I KNOW what to do. I KNOW how to do it. I WANT to do it because I feel fabulous about myself when I'm working out, losing weight everyday and eating better. I've successfully lost 40lbs on this WOE and I felt like a new person. I got to buy the smaller clothes and go out feeling like the 'me' inside was starting to show on the outside.

So, here's the struggle. I wake up in the morning and I think, "Ok Nicole eat your two eggs and start your low carb day right" then by 11am I feel like I want to sit down and cry because its almost lunch time and I have to restrict myself from eating anything I want to just eating low carb. I spiral into this feeling of total deprivation. I almost feel like I'm being punished or in jail. Its the strangest feeling. I get so sad I seriously want to cry. I keep telling myself that I'm not being deprived, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm not "free" and I hate it! Its not that I have a craving for a certain food and get upset that I can't have THAT food. Its that I have to limit myself to one category of food (low carb)

Help me! Help me! Does anyone else battle this feeling? It just seems so ridiculous! But I know it is the thing standing in my way of any long term success.

[tfek70]

You sound as though you feel this WOE is restrictive about the foods you can eat. This is a common misconception. Almost every food you would normally eat, some really really smart person has done a low carb version of it. Most of them are on linda's low carb site. If you pre cook, you should have no problems eating a wonderful variety of foods. If you need ideas, check out the recipes section of this site.

Good luck,

T. J.

[FwL]

I know how you feel. I keep having to remind myself that the only things missing from my plate are flour and sugar.

It's funny how I'd be eating pretty much the same thing except I'd have a couple of slices of toast with the eggs and bacon for breakfast. I'd have my roast beef between two slices of bread for lunch. I'd have a side of pasta with my pork chop for dinner.

Then I'd have some candy or ice cream for dessert.

One of the things that is helping me this time around is I have been reading a lot about how refined carbs (flour and sugar) are basically poison in your system. There's a lot of research that gets ignored because it points out how these are the things that are really causing all the health problems.

The USDA doesn't want you to be thinking that way, however. They've got a vested interest in selling all that wheat (flour) and corn (high fructose corn syrup).

[Whatsername]

Yes, I understand. Small example, I had promised my son he could make milkshakes this week. So, tonight he wanted to do it. I will admit to taking like 2 sips of it but it was soooo hard for me. I was thinking...I just want to eat "whatever" again..without thinking..just eat.

But then I stop myself because that is not what I truly want. What did I ever get from uncontrollable eating? Doing Atkins and feeling in control of my eating..I remind myself of how that feels. I honestly don't feel deprived and I enjoy the things I eat. Its an emotional thing for me. I try to look at it as a challenge (in a good way), to find foods I like to eat. Try new recipes, etc. Its simple, but one of my favorite dinners is steak and salad. Everyone around me can eat anything and I won't care if I have steak and salad.

Not much help probably but I want you to know I do understand how you feel. Take care.

[nturtle]

Thanks everyone! Just wanted to see if I was crazy.

[AlaskaGirl]

This is going to sound harsh but quit your complaining

There are tons of resources on the web. There are many recipes and recomendations right here. Like TK said- look at Lindas!

You will find your favorites and start adding them to your regular list, don't be afraid to try these great recipes. My family often eats what I eat. Or I will make them there version while I am making mine. It does take more time to research the recipes and plan your menus but it is totally worth it.

You wont be on indcution forever. The diet is designed to help you learn about your body. So you really need to move up the rungs and start incorporating the various levels into your diet when your ready.

Julie

[nturtle]

I guess what I was saying is that I'm sad about the "freedom to eat whatever" like Whatsername said. Its not that the diet is limiting. I LOVE the food on this diet. Its just that mental block of "I'm not free, I'm being restricted". Its the emotional aspect that I was expressing, not the menu choice. But thanks for trying to help.

[Eama]

I know exactly how you feel. I've cried in the past, wailing, "Why can't I just eat what I want like other people?" Sounds so incredibly immature and whiny to me... that's how I felt though.

Whenever feelings like that rear their ugly head, I turn "Why can't I eat what I want? It's not fair!" into "Why would I WANT to eat all that stuff? I'm better than that." Focusing on the power to choose works for me. (Most of the time.)

Keep on keepin' on.

[EW78]

I totally understand and agree that it's a mind set. I have found with all of my girlfriends is that we need motivation! Easy motivation is after a break-up/divorce etc or a big upoming even - when we are comfortable we tend to lose that drive. So you need to create a little drive and change your frame of mind - it's great if your frame of mind can be focusing on your health, but that may not always be the first thing that comes to mind - so while it may sound materliastic to some - the simple fact that you enjoyed shopping for smaller clothes can be your 1st incentive. I understand it's not the food choices - but the feeling that you can't have control over what you eat because some people can eat anything and be thing while you have to be restricted - but restricted doesn't mean it has to be not yummy, great food. Once you get going your taste buds and thoughts will be different and you won't feel deprived. So hang in there

[msanjelpie]

I feel that way when ever I go to the grocery store. I'll be walking up and down all the aisles and thinking, nope - can't have that, nope - can't have that... over and over... there are like 2 aisles in the whole store with anything on them that I want to eat... it's depressing....

Another thing is TV commercials... I hate them when they show food... because all of it are things I can't have... I remind myself that I already HAD all those things in the past which is why I weigh what I do... but still it just doesn't seem fair that I can't eat whatever I want when ever I want...

I haven't cheated in over 3 months, and I know I won't because if I do the diet is completely over, that's just part of having a binge eating disorder... and even though every day I try to rationalize having just one thing just once... I ignore that voice... because there is a louder voice saying I want to be lean, I don't want diabetes, and I want to feel good about myself.

I understand totally where you are coming from...