Hoping the forums help keep me going.

[Jacqboo]

Hello! I am hoping that being active with these forums helps keep me motivated to follow through to my goal. I used a forum when I quit smoking in September and it really helped me get through some tough times. Now that I am 4 months smober it is time to work on the weight. I was 218 when I quit smoking and went up to 230 these last 4 months. I tried Atkins twice before. I need to keep with it. I am 36 years old, have two kids (2 and 5), and I am now 225 lbs at 5'1". How I miss the mid 90's at 124 and 15% body fat...I did all of that with low fat and exercise every night. I need something to help me get a quicker start than the low fat though. I began Atkins Jan. 11. 5 pounds down, 90 to go. Wow that seems like an unreachable number... 90 lbs. I find myself getting very easily frustrated at this stage. I am irritable and am going through many of the same things I went through when quitting smoking...the excuses, the justifications, the self talk, the 'why do I have to be the one always making sacrifices and giving things up?' ...everything to try to make it OK to just eat whatever I want. Again, I have to fight it off. Now it is the sugar demon tempting me...pushing me for a "fix". Quitting smoking was actually easier than this (although my husband still smokes but at least not in the house anymore). There were more immediate results than with the weight loss. This all scares me, but I know I need to do it. I have no energy, don't feel much like playing with my children, am not a good role model right now, and just feel plain lousy. Knowing we're not alone makes such a difference. These forums are like free group therapy. Here's to a new beginning!

[didy]

I guess it's a little hard to find now, but have you read the book? Dr Atkins sold me on the why's and how's before I even really started this diet. Once I was convinced how I would do it and why it would work, I became obsessed with doing this 'by the book'.

I could say I'm an atkins success, but any diet you go off of, you will gain weight. And I went off of it. But I was successful enough to know that it works, it's right for me, and these boards help with motivation, recipes, encouragement and reminders of what you should be doing. It also helps when you hear little voices telling you this is not a healthy way to eat. IT IS A HEALTHY WAY to EAT! If you do it by the book.

And if you can quit smoking, you know you can do this too! You should be really proud of yourself for that huge accomplishment.
didy

[Jacqboo]

Thank you. I have read the books. I have one of the originals from the 70's and the New Diet Revolution. I worked in healthcare for years and know quite a bit about science and physiology and I have no doubt that it works for a reason. I am also one to analyze everything and not trust the status quo or what everyone tells us (especially if believing them means more money in their pockets or if it is politically related). I believed that Dr. Atkins truly wanted to help people. That was his main goal. I trust that. Of course our bodies are screwed up by eating all of the 'man-made' processed foods we have. Our bodies are organic, not robotic. We are meant to process natural foods not synthesized foods. That is why I believe this all works. If you take in 'real' food your body understands the components and knows what to do with it all. If you put in something not quite real it uses the parts it recognizes and stores the rest because it is not sure what else to do with it. That leads to fat gain, disease, chronic pain, etc. I can come up with a bunch of conspiracy theories about the whole food industry but I won't bore you here. Organic lifeforms need organic food to live healthy. That simple. If you synthesize a molecule of food, or clone it even, it is not the same as the original. It may look, smell, taste, grow, and cook the same but your body cannot utilize it as fully as what the earth originally gave to us. Ok, next time I will post in a journaling or rambling area! Take care!

[ValidRouge]

Please stick with it. I posted just a little bit ago about "Energy Pill"...this happened probably on my 7th day or so of induction. All of a sudden I got this burst of energy and it hasn't subsided since. During the secod week I've been able to pass by the desserts and not feel like I'm really missing out on anything. I have, at times, had to find myself something to get me past a craving for some sort of snack, but it usually passes very quickly and it is strictly an emotional craving, not really one of hunger.

[Sheshy]

Hi and welcome to and Atkins!

Congrats on quitting smoking, that's great and it's very hard you should be very proud!

See you around the board!

[Kate113]

Hello & welcome! Don't think of having to lose 90 pounds. Think of losing 10 pounds...and then 10 more and so on.

[Romandachs]

Welcome and a HUGE Congrats to quitting the biggest vice I have, SMOKING. You should be REAL proud of that. I agree with Kate. Set numerous intermediate, less overwelming Goals. Like have your 225 weight now and say by the end of January, you will weigh 220. That is only 5 lbs and not overwelming. If you loose more GREAT, if you don't make it, not the end of the world, Set your next goal. Make your mini goals definately doable and don't set them so high as they seem impossible. Life comes one day at a time, so will your weight loss, just don't loose sight of your goal. I am confident if you could quit smoking, you can stick to an atkins diet. Your rewards, and they are YOURS, will be a healthier YOU, a vibrant YOU and a Mom who can get out there and have fun with your kids. Congrats on your already 11.5 lbs lost, I wish they were mine
I am starting my Atkins on 2/6/2006. I am already getting excited about the possibilites and the wonderful support that I am sure this board will provide.
I know that I am pulling for you!!

[Desertthorn]

[quote][quote=Jacqboo]Thank you. I have read the books. I have one of the originals from the 70's and the New Diet Revolution. I worked in healthcare for years and know quite a bit about science and physiology and I have no doubt that it works for a reason. Great post, I especially liked your comment about working in the healthcare profession, I wish my doctors worked in the same profession as to a one, they read and believe the headlines about Atkins Diet and tell me that "all I need to do is portion control'. Yeah, sure.

Welcome, I know your going to be a fantastic contributor here and a good friend.