I have figured out how to make it work for ME!!

[Ammamady]

I have been a member of this site for 4 years, off and on, just like my healthy eating habits with Atkins. It is so frustrating to think that had I stuck with it the very first time, I would have easily been to goal three years ago, and enjoyed life a lot more at a healthy weight. I have seen the quote so many places, and it always inspired me "A year from now you will have wished you started today." That is the story of my life.

But, despite all my failed attempts, they were not useless. I have learned more about myself and what I need to do to make this WOE work long term. Each time something new tripped me up, but I think I have finally gotten the strategy down. It's ironic that all these lessons are what Dr. A teaches in his book. I guess I just had to live and experience them to be convinced he is absolutely right!

So, I am committed again, and this time have a plan to succeed! Among other things, here is what I have learned about successfully living this lifestyle...

1. Drink only water during induction. I didn't do this one until the most recent attempt, and was amazed at how much different I felt. I felt cleansed, hydrated, energized and really broke my addiction to Diet Coke!

2. Measure the inches! This one is so important because I get discouraged if the scale doesn't move (downward) each time I step on it. Leading me to the next rule for myself-

3. Stay off the scale! I will only allow myself to get on the scale once a week at my weigh in. And, as an added incentive, for each week I skip on the scale, I give myself $20 into a fun money jar. I get to spend it on anything I want. I focus on how my clothes fit and how I look physically different. These are the important things for me anyway. No one will know the number on the scale unless I tell them!

4. Working out is a non-negotiable. The first time I was on Atkins, I did great. Lost 20 pounds in 2 months. But I wasn't working out regularly, and wasn't toning up. Cardio jump starts the metabolism and releases those endorphins we all love. Weight lifting tones like crazy, and makes me feel strong and powerful.

5. Keep a journal during the journey. If anyone else is like me, weight loss has a lot to do with emotional baggage. If I don't check in with myself, and reevaluate how I am doing emotionally as I get smaller, it only takes one slip to throw me off the wagon for months. And that leads me to the final and most important lesson I have learned

6. I CANNOT CHEAT- EVEN ONE TIME. If I do, I go crazy and eat crap for days straight. I always assume I will not regret it, and every time I do! Each time I thought it would be different, that I knew enough to just get back up and keep going. But I was wrong every time. Planned cheats are the death of my healthy eating. So this time, it is not an option. I have heard people talk about needing to learn to get past cheats. But for me, I can't even take one bite.

So, with this plan in hand, I am excited to finally make this a lifestyle change. I am tired of being fat. I hate thinking about food all the time and wondering if I will be able to find clothes big enough in the department store. I hate that I dread seeing people from my home town, knowing they see how much weight I have gained. I want to be proud to go back, and feel good in my body and (much smaller) clothes!

[Porcelain]

I give you a gold star.

You got it girl.

I did the same thing. I would be at goal now if I had done it properly when I joined the board. Also did the same thing on diet soda and only drinking water. What a difference, right?? One of the things that threw me before too is I think I got frustrated when I didn't lose fast enough. I know one of the reasons I failed on exercise was because I tried to do too much and was unable to keep up with it. This time around I try not to compare myself to others and their weight loss and ability to do lots of exercises, I do what I am able to do and that has made all the difference. Good luck on your journey and welcome home! I know I never could have done it without the board.