I'm Back

[jenivieve74]

Hi, I'm back. I did atkins a couple years ago. I lost 18 pounds, but needed to lose about 60. I could never do it long enough to reach that goal. I did restart last summer and stopped several times. I have pretty much been doing Atkins since the beginning of this year. I have stumbled a few times but finally lost another 10 pounds. This is the smallest I have been in 10 years but I still have about 20 more to go. I am committed to get to my goal. I decided to get back on here because I need help and support. Lately, all of a sudden I do great for 2 weeks and then cheat. before I would have a cheat and get right back on the next day. for some reason now, I will cheat for a week or two. Sometimes when I do, I won't gain any weight, and somehow mentally it makes it ok. Other times, I gain 5 pounds in one week. Then I get back on for a couple more weeks and then cheat again. It is driving me crazy. I think I could have reached my goal by now if I hadn't cheated so many times. It could be stress from working so many hours with people who are constantly eating Taco Bell, and Ben & Jerry's in front of me. I don't know. Any help and support I can get would be great.

[MimsyBeauty]

Hi, I'm wondering...
When you cheat, is it because you're hungry, because you're stressed, peer pressure, cravings, boredom, etc.?
Maybe if you can narrow it down and see what is making you cheat, you can at least know what you have to fight against.

If you see someone eating Ben and Jerry's, and you want to get one for yourself, just say NO out loud. Sounds kooky, but it may help to feel strong enough to resist.

[IrishMom82]

When it comes to cheating most of the time with me it's a mental game. It's not cause I'm stressed or something but it's because I somehow justify it in my head. Whenever I have the urge to cheat I need to fight with myself; it's like the good angel and bad angel on my shoulder! haha.

If you are in a situation where you cheat a lot because of what other people eat make sure you have something you can eat *legally*. Trust me it will not only taste good but as you're eating your cheese or pickle or whatever and watching someone scarf down ice cream just thing about how you good you will feel when you reach your goal weight! I know it sounds silly but it's something my sister-in-law tells to me all the time "It's all in your head!" and you need to fight it and don't worry you will conquer it! I've tried Atkins at 6 other times and each time I cheated after the 1st or second week, I never made it far. I've been on Atkins for a month now and I've lost at least 11 lbs. (I weight myself this weekend) being cheat free is possible!!!

[Love2Lose]

[quote=IrishMom82]When it comes to cheating most of the time with me it's a mental game. It's not cause I'm stressed or something but it's because I somehow justify it in my head.


I am exactly the same way.

[deek deek]

All I can say is cheating isnt worth it TO ME...after 1 cheat it takes 4 to 5 days to get back into ketosis and start burning fat again!! Just think of the feeling of being thin and healthy the next time u have the urge....

NO FOOD TASTE AS GOOD AS THIN FEEELLSS!!
(of course I dont no what thin feels like yet, but I will )

STAY STRONG AND DONT GIVE UP!!

[jenivieve74]

sometimes it is because I'm hungry. I usually get lunch around 2 pm at work, one that I pack that is atkins friendly. Then I get out of work at 8:15 and have a half hr drive home. By the time I get home I will be really hungry and exhausted and crave junk. I guess I should be better prepared and pack a supper too. I just don't like to eat and drive. I just transfered to a new location 3 miles from home, so I won't have the long drive home anymore. Sometimes I see the young 19 year old at work get taco bell for lunch, then have ice cream, and I think, why can't I? Oh I can. It is a control thing with me. The more I think I can't have it, the more I want it. At home it isn't too bad because I don't have junk in the house, so I don't have to see it and tell myself I can't have it. Also, a month ago when I cheated for 2 weeks straight, I didn't gain any pounds. My clothes got tighter, but I think I was telling myself as long as you don't gain any why not? this time when I cheated for 2 days, I gained 5 pounds. that made me get on track again. I'm sure it is mental too. This is the smallest I have been in a long time, and it is scary to think what will it be like to be even smaller. Also when I get close to a goal, I sabatoge myself. I don't know why, somehow I think I don't deserve it. It's mainly driving me crazy because last summer when I started atkins, I passed up birthday cake and all kinds of stuff and didn't even want to cheat. In Feb. this year I went to a bachelorette party and didn't even cheat. My friends thought I was crazy, but it felt good to have that control. Now I feel like I have lost control. It is great to know that I am not alone and that you guys can give support and advice. Thank you.

[joee5]

I havent cheated since I started. It isnt easy but I'm succeeding. Willpower. God Bless, Joe

[jenivieve74]

that's awesome. Have you had any cravings and just fought them off, or have you not had any cravings since you started?

[deek deek]

I have cravings everyday still!! and its been 10 months since I started this WOL. Like u when I see other ppl eating bad food or even just smelling it lol...BUT I fight it and remind myself why I eat the way I do(it helps when the ppl r big) then that justifies it to me!! At home i used to keep a fat pic of me as my background for my pc..that helped lol...I work 12 hr shifts and when I get home like I just have I'm hungry and I'm cooking ...It sucks but its life on atkins!! I'm the smallest Ive ever been even when I was a teenager and I understand ur fear, embrace it and turn it into a postive! My thought is last yr after my bday in may after lookin at pics I decided to go atkins and this yr the pics r gonna be sooooo much better lol

good luck to u!!

[abouttime]

Hello, and great job so far. Something someone told to me that is really helpful is that one cheat can totally throw you out of whack, 1 cheat undoes 3 days of hard work.

Everyone here is right, it is a mental game. I know it can be hard but for the moment you would taste it, 2 seconds later it will be over and you will feel guilty.

For me i try to remember how gross and weighed down i feel after eating fast food & junk food.

Good luck!!