On day 19 and doing sort of okay

[ValidRouge]

The "Dr. brain" is prescribing you sugar for your stress! It's thinking back to times when you were stressed, remembering that sugar made you feel better and sending the signal for sugar. So, that's where your cravings are coming from.

As for hunger, a lot of times we (overweight people) mistake signals that are for THIRST as hunger. So, if you feel you are hungry and you've recently eaten...then drink water. If, after you've had some water, you are still hungry, then by all means...EAT! There really is no reason on Atkins to EVER be hungry. When you do eat, you want to make sure that you eat something that is a protein and fat combination. Meat and cheese, or meat and ranch dressing or something like that. A boiled egg is almost a perfect food for this combination. The protein/fat combination makes you feel satisfied for long periods of time.

I *love* cream cheese and it's a staple in my diet. I also *love* a vegetable called jicama. I'd never even heard of jicama before I started Atkins. Jicama is a root vegetable (like a potatoe) but it doesn't have the starch of the potato. I eat it raw with cream cheese or ranch or blue cheese dressing. Or, just plain. It's got a hint of sweetness and I use it as a substitute for apples. Yummy stuff. For breakfast, this is a great for grab and go.

[obkbbby]

Hi! I just wanted to let you know that you always have a choice. Don't think of it as a 'diet' someone 'made' you start. Instead, you've chosen to follow your doctor's orders because you've finally been convinced that you cannot continue to eat and live the way you have been or you're going to have major health issues. (I think it's awesome that your doctor believes in the Atkins WOE. Many of us have to explain our WOE to doctors without using the name Atkins because they still believe that we eat meat, lard, bacon, cheese, eggs and nothing else.)

I know many of us lead very busy lifestyles. It's one of the reasons why I held out coming back to Atkins for 10 years. But, once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature to plan ahead. I keep premade muffin sized quiches in the freezer. I can pull them out and nuke them for a quick breakfast or whenever I need a snack. Whenever I cook casseroles or larger meals, I cook extra. I store the leftovers in single servings so that I can have them during the week for lunches or even breakfasts. (I got tired of eggs very quickly.) I also make sure I have legal veggies on hand at all times. The jicama is great. You can do so many things with it. Cauliflower can be used like potatoes and rice. And I always keep legal cole slaw and broccoli salad. These are made in bulk and kept for easy grabbin' whenever I need them!

Hang in there. I know you can stick to it and you will feel so much better that you did!!!

[mondavis]

Originally Posted by SandyL2002

Please don't wait until your little one is 14 or 17 like my kids and start taking care of yourself.. I have missed out on a lot because of my size...

Sandy, thank you for this. I've been trying to shift my focus to her and how much better it will be for her if I'm healthy (not to mention alive!). Once I figure out how to do it, I'll have to post this picture of the two of us at Disneyland last year. I HATE this picture because I hate how I look. It makes me so sad to feel that way about any picture of me and my daughter, who is the light in my life. Then I think about all the times I tell her "Mommy can't play right now, I'm tired" ...

Originally Posted by obkbbby

Instead, you've chosen to follow your doctor's orders because you've finally been convinced that you cannot continue to eat and live the way you have been or you're going to have major health issues. (I think it's awesome that your doctor believes in the Atkins WOE.

You're right. You're very right. I could've blown him off and gone to Pinkberry on the way home. Instead I went to Borders. When I think if it that way, I do see that it was my choice. I'd been unhappy with my weight for a long time but didn't do anything about it. I kept saying 'next year', 'next month', 'next week'. I got myself here and I have to get myself out. So you are very right and thank you for the perspective. It seems simple, but I just didn't see it until I read it.

My doctor is this kind, grandfatherly guy who up until the Infamous Weight Conversation, had always been so amusing and sweet. That day, he was so deadly serious that he scared the crap out of me. He wasn't sweet grandpa who would bounce you on his knee anymore; he turned into frightening grandpa, yelling at you for doing something dangerous. He told me a story about how back when he was a resident, he worked for the public jail system and they got a grant to test the validity of Atkins. They took 100 overweight inmates and moved them to another facility where they put half of them on Atkins, other other half on low-fat, controlled calorie. According to him, the Atkins group lost an average of 40 - 50 pounds in 3 months.

I asked him questions because I had concerns about all of the misinformation I'd heard about Atkins (i.e., pound of bacon). He rolled his eyes and said that it was perfectly safe (he answered all of my questions), that he was advising me to do it and that he'd keep an eye on me along the way.

He said he wants me to lose a total of 100 pounds (which might be a little aggressive for me but I'm going to try), the first 50 off in three months. He sent me for labs and two weeks later I was back to check my dosage for my bp meds. He complained that I hadn't started yet but I told him I needed to read what I'm supposed to do first. That was May 14. He told me he wanted me 30 pounds lighter by my next appointment July 9. I'm almost halfway there, so I've set that as a mini-goal with a new Coach purse (my other addiction) as my reward when I get there!

[PaulaMM]

Hi there and welcome to the board.

The others have given you some great advice and you seem to be well read and knowledgeable about this WOL so what I'll offer is my support.

Although not advised by my doc. there have been times (this is my second serious go around with Atkins) when I felt resentful of this "diet". I hated that there were so many of me that didn't have to watch what they ate. I hated that staying thin was so effortless for so many while I could gain at the sight of food. I was really resentful of the overweight folks who walked out of convenience stores carrying bucket sized cups of Pepsi and chomping on Snicker's bars. They didn't care, why should I?? Amd like you, I always tried to find my comfort with food.

Even now, although it's only been 2 weeks, I still feel twinges of resentment when my family gets to have their burgers on buns or mashed potatoes. It doesn't feel fair.

I have to remind myself that, fair or not, I can't eat like that and expect to be healthy. I can do this or I can not do it. It's ultimately up to me. My health is up to me.

Please stick around and use this board as your sounding board. Nearly everyone here has done some whining at some point, I'm sure. Pop into the journal section and read the struggles others have faced with this WOE. It really helps to know you aren't alone in this fight. Even better, start your own journal. It really does help.

Congratulations on the success you've had, thusfar!

[ValidRouge]

You know, when I first started Atkins, I (like SOOOOO many others I'm sure) just wanted a quick way out of obesity. You know, a "magic pill". Well, I got the book and I sorta skimmed over it. I found this site, and sorta participated. I exercised a little bit and I lost some weight. This is going to sound terrible, but, I snagged me a man and went off my diet. GORGED for a couple years...and I mean GORGED. Gained all the weight back, plus some. I read what people had said on here, but it didn't apply to me...ya know? I did my own thing. Bah! The second time I decided to do it. I read the book. Really read it. Paid attention to what the man said. Then I got pissed off at the government, and medical doctors and pharmaceutical companies that keep preaching this low-fat mantra that has gotten us all FAT and SICK. That really gave me a focus, ya know? I was *FINALLY* going to get healthy, thin and fit....and I was going to do it FAST without having to starve myself to do it.

And that's exactly what I did.

Read that book, read studies...get ticked off that all the garbage they've been feeding us (literally) has made you FAT and SICK! Then use the momentum from that to get you on your way.

[sillygirl]

Hey mon! I like saying that! Welcome to the board. Yup, you have received lots of great words of wisdom. I am very impressed that your Dr actually prescribed eating this way for you! it's nice to see at least one Doc who gets it! Good luck to you!

[GaynorA]

Hi there honey. You have a lot to deal with huh. But one thing I do know about Atkins is that if you stick to induction, pretty soon the hunger will fade, your energy will leap up, and your weight will start to drop off. I know you are probably angry because you feel like you don't have a choice. But... you do really. Everyone does. You could choose to just ignore your doctor and stay on a route of destruction. So ... my suggestion would be to refocus this. Maybe sit down with your Atkins book and choose to do it for you. It may sound a little silly, but you could even say out loud: "I am not doing this for my doctor, I am not doing this for my family or anyone else ---- I am doing this because I CHOOSE TO. I choose to be healthy, slim, energised." Just a suggestion. It's something I had to do hon. I HAD to lose over 90 lbs to have a hip op. The doctors refused to do surgery without the weight loss. And it was hard to get my head into the zone. But, once I made the decision to do it myself ... it became easier. It's kinda like my brain had to change gear or something. Lotsa luv to you.

[mondavis]

Originally Posted by GaynorA

It's something I had to do hon. I HAD to lose over 90 lbs to have a hip op. The doctors refused to do surgery without the weight loss. And it was hard to get my head into the zone. But, once I made the decision to do it myself ... it became easier. It's kinda like my brain had to change gear or something.

Well, it is certainly comforting to know that you went through something similar and understand the mental adjustment I'm currently going through. It is getting a little better but some days it's just so hard. Thank you for your words. I've been reading everyone's posts in this thread over and over again to get me through.

[GaynorA]

Hi there - just popping in to see how you are doing. I was thinking about you today and wondering how the adjustments are going. Please do let us know how you are getting on. Lotsa luv to you.

[mondavis]

Aw, thank you so much. It's been a very busy last several days. My niece, who is 17, is staying with me while my husband is out of town. She's a big girl - 260 pounds - and has decided, based upon my success so far to do Atkins, too. So I've been trying to get her up to speed, get to READ THE BOOK instead of just asking me questions, teach her how to cook (neither she nor her mom - my oldest sister - have a clue), and teach her how to moderate portions and deal with boredom without going to the kitchen.

I'm down to 219 (17 lbs lost) and trying to decide whether to move on to OWL. It's 4 weeks this Friday since starting this woe. I'm afraid of stalling, so I'm thinking I should move on to OWL. I was really trying to make the 30lbs by July 9 but I don't think I'm going to make it.

What I really need right now is some stress relief. Exercise helps a little bit but not as much as I need. Maybe I should start a journal ... I am proud of myself for not cheating AT ALL, though sometimes it's difficult because my daughter is eating balanced meals (not super carb heavy but I'm not denying her fruit and any vegetables she wants). Having my all-time favorite beverage - OJ - in the house is tempting, but not a taste has crossed my lips since June 1, so I guess that's something.