I don't think Atkins is for me...what now? (long)

[Miss Park Avenue]

First let me say that to all of you who have been sticking with Atkins...that is wonderful. I really admire you for your determination and willpower to stick with it. I've been on it since Dec 1 and can really see the logic behind how it works..I even lost five pounds because of it. However, here is my problem..

I'm a weakling I can't get past induction

Maybe it's my upbringing in a large Italian community with pizza and pasta everywhere you look..Maybe it's because I have a hispanic hubby who was raised with homemade tortillas and other mexican food. (yes..my MIL hand makes tortillas for her family EVERY DAY) Maybe it's because I miss my cereal for breakfast.

All I know is the longest I've been able to hold to this plan is seven days...halfway through induction. At this rate I will be in the induction phase forever.... I been taking it one day at a time, knowing that even so I was still not following EXACTLY like they say..I was eating nuts. Later I read that you can't have nuts on induction. Still I went by my ketosis reading and the reading was good. I felt like I was being good. But I kept reading how you have to be perfect on Atkins...no mistakes, no tastes. I guess I'm just not cut out for perfection.

And I just cannot take that much meat that induction requires. I kept saying, "It's only for two weeks. You can hold on for two weeks!" I walked around the grocery store today and was nearly in tears...Then I went to dinner with hubby and DDs. He wanted mexican so off we went I stared at the tortilla chips until the basket was nearly empty. I ordered BBQ fajitas figureing I would just eat the chicken.

And I crumbled...

I ate a handful of chips and the BBQ sauce on my chicken was sweet...I know there had to be plenty of sugar in it. And the tortillas. After the chips, I was not about to just eat the chicken without the tortillas.

I came home and took my ketosis test tonight. It was still showing a fair amount of fat loss, but I wonder if it will stay like that tomorrow.

I'm beginning to think I need to try something else. I may go back to just logging everything I eat and try to keep it at 1500 calories. I still want to make low-carb choices, but not doing the induction anymore. Try to keep my blood sugar levels under control to keep the cravings and insulin levels down. And stick with my "Firm" workout tapes.

I heard that South Beach isn't as strict..maybe I should try that. Or that protein power. I don't know. Is there anybody have suggestions for life AFTER Atkins?? Am I setting myself up for failure by not doing induction but just watching carbs and calories?

Sorry to be so long-winded. If you made it this far, thanks for listening.

 

[LAinSEA]

to be on any diet plan if you don't have the support of your husband and family.

I'm at day 8 of Atkins induction and I know I wouldn't have made it to day #2 if my husband wasn't doing this with me. (He can eat and needs more carbs that I do to feel OK and still loses weight at 40 carbs/day - me, I'll be at 20-25 carbs for a long long time, having done this before in 1999.) He is a great cook and is the one who prepares most of our meals...he packs me a cooler to take to work everyday!

If you are excercising everyday - you're well ahead of the game (and me). Your activity level will determine how many carbs you can take in and either lose or maintain weight on whatever low-carb program you may try.

I started eating Atkins OWL in mid-November knowing I wouldn't make it on induction over Thanksgiving and then started induction after the holiday weekend. I have a very low metabolism and I'd be grateful if I show a 5 lbs loss over the first two weeks. You've lost that first 5 lbs!

Whether or not Atkins is for you - please don't give up on reaching your health goals. Find a program that works for you - even if it is your own program. Enlist your husband's help and support, let him know just how important looking and feeling better is to you.

-Laurie

 

[A1A1]

You should do some research into South Beach. The program allows more of good carbs, but I think they consider things like the chips "bad carbs". I think Weight Watchers might be a plus for you because of the point system. It seems that you can eat whatever you want, you just have to account for the points, therefore, your portions will be much smaller of whatever foods you choose. Have you tried weight watchers before?

I have the most trouble with portion control. Atkins really works for me, because it is easier for me to just eliminate certain foods altogether, rather than count and measure. I am not very good at that.

I, too, am from a large Italian family. My grandmother thought I had gone mad when I went on Atkins. She kept trying to feed me pasta and braciole (meat stuffed with breadcrumbs, etc). It was as if the Earth were crumbling when I gave up the pasta.

Anyway, I did eat her meatballs and sauce. Always a treat, with or without the pasta. I did eat the braciole, just not the tasty inside.

Good luck with your choices. It will require a complete lifestyle change with whatever plan you choose. You will do it when you are ready. You can do it.

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

Originally posted by LAinSEA
to be on any diet plan if you don't have the support of your husband and family.


-Laurie

Boy you must have read my mind...My husband has said at every dinner since I started this that he thinks Atkins is a crazy fad diet and unhealthy. Don't get me wrong, he's a great guy...he just hasn't read what I've read about blood sugar and insulin. It's bad enough to sit down to a plate of just meat but to have him make a comment every night, "Is that all you are eating? That can't be healthy. This is the craziest diet I ever heard of."

On on hand I've been trying to do this diet without disrupting my family. On the other hand, I need them to support me too. I really should have said something when he suggested mexican last night. But I thought, "What, I'm going to cut mexican food out of BOTH our diets forever??" That is not going to happen. So I tried to tough it out...and failed.

Chips are bad on every diet, I know. But I think last night was the old diet philosophy, "Deprive-deprive-deprive then suddenly binge." That is why I tried Atkins...I wanted to get rid of my cravings. But I can't get totally through with induction so I am never totally getting rid of my cravings for carbs.

I have a good friend who is visiting me today who is on South Beach. I'm going to pick her brain today about it. I think I need a low-carb plan that is more lenient on carbs...I will keep up my exercise plan. And I will log everything I eat to keep my portions under control. I've been on a diet for 10 days with some slip ups. This is the longest I've ever stuck with a diet. I can't give up now.

 

[Christine]

I have to agree with the other poster in that Weight Watchers may be better for you. You will be able to eat all of the things your family eats (and requires); however, beware that your portion sizes WILL be small.

I think we all know that not every diet works for every person. You have appeared to find your weaknesses while doing Atkins and now you just need to capitalize on that! You're gonna eat pasta, you're gonna eat chips and so will everyone around you. I can see where Atkins would not be a good fit for you. South Beach is a great diet and many of my friends and co-workers have done well with it, but I think it may also give you a problem. Have you tried Weight Watchers?

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

I tried Weight Watchers about 3 years ago or so. I still have all my information from them about the points. Maybe I'll have to dig it out and look it over.

I gave up on that because I was dragging a 3 year old and a baby to the meetings thinking that surely there will be other young mothers there. Nope, I was the only one and keeping my kids quiet during the pep talk was impossible. As you can see I have issues with calling attention to myself also.

Now that my "baby" is three going on four soon, the meetings should be easier...I should give them a try if I can't stick it out on my own. I will try on my own till after I get back from WDW and then if I can't stick it out alone (well...not totally alone..these boards have helped so much ) I will start the meetings when I get back from Florida.

Thanks again guys...

 

[Samandmom]

How about doing Weight Watchers online? I have been doing WW online and love it.

 

[antmaril]

Miss Park Avenue: I know EXACTLY how you feel - I can't do Atkins either. I've tried, but I can only get through five days - then I cave. I've decided to do this on my own. I'm trying to get to a healthy weight and live a normal life. My husband has a great metabolism and can eat whatever he wants in huge quantities- and I have a 17 year old son - tall and very slim. I'm the only one with the problem. My family is very supportive of my efforts, but I don't want to disrupt the whole family. I still want to go out to eat and not overthink every meal.

It is a slow process for me - I do not lose weight quickly. I joined Curves for Women and have been working out three times a week. I am watching portions and staying away from junk food. I think it has to work over the long term - how can it not? I feel by doing it this way that I am not really on a diet. I can have anything I want - kind of like WW - but without all the measuring, counting, meetings, etc. I know how to do it!

Maybe I won't lose as much weight as I hope, but I know I'll be healthier on the inside.

I'll let you know how it goes over the coming months. I feel very strong this time - I am going to do it and I'm sure you can to.

Good luck!!!

 

[DoeWDW]

Here's a for you! You sound so frustrated and I can see why!! It seems like everything around you is conspiring to make you fail on Atkins!!

I eat low-carb but allow myself 60 grams of carbs a day. This is low-carb, considering the typical American eats over 300 grams of carbs a day!! Many people can be more lenient with carbs and still lose, but not everyone. You'll just have to experiment and see what works for you.

The next question is where to get those carbs from. I've chosen to try to eliminate most sugar and white flour, along with the high carb veggies like potatoes and corn. I don't know if this will work for you - it seems the Italian and Hispanic diets rely a lot on these foods.

I try to get my 60 grams of carbs with lower carb veggies, but I'm not as successful at eating my veggies as I should be. I'm still working on that!

Weight Watchers online has worked for some people here - that way you don't have to take the kids to the meetings. You'll get plenty of support here on WISH so you may not miss getting together with other people face-to-face.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do, but keep trying to find what will work for you! You deserve to be healthy and you want to be around a long, long time for those sweet kids of yours!!

Keep us posted, OK??

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Hey, Atkins isn't for everyone. No shame there. You just need to find what works for you. What worked for me was portion control and making better food choices. I love food too much to give up certain groups. Also exercise is a big key for me in maintaining (and heck I need to tone up this body, I may be the "right" weight but I didn't feel healthy until I went back to regular workouts), and a regular workout program was what helped me to start losing in the first place.

Hang in there and remember this is about being healthy and HAPPY. Don't beat yourself up because ONE plan does not work for you.

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

I've been reading everyone's replies over and over. I haven't eaten breakfast yet...I feel like I'm at a crossroads! I'll probably have two scrambled eggs. I feel like there's a lot of sense in cutting carbs and sugar. It's the "all or nothing" theory that I'm having trouble with.

I will try a combo plan of low sugar/carb AND portion control. And keep up my exercise. Today was supposed to be my rest day with "The Firm" tapes. But I walked on my treadmill for two miles. So it was a rest with the weight training but I still got some fat-burning cardio! I'm much better with exercising than with dieting.

Thanks again. I may be frustrated but not defeated!!

 

[Christine]

I understand your problem with the meetings. My friend had all the *stuff* for WW also and she just did it on her own. No meetings, no on-line, no nothing. Just other friends for support. She has lost about 30 lbs since May. She was weighing about 180 lbs so she didn't have a long way to go, but it is has been a nice gradual slow weight loss for her, all on her own.

 

[nativetxn]

Finding the plan that is perfect for <i>you</i> is your key to success. There is no shame in changing plans just don't quit trying. Once you find the best plan for yourself you will see a lot of success and do just great, I'm sure.

I was very lucky that my husband and I began Atkins at the same time and because his health issues were drastically improved by eliminating refined carbohydrates from his diet, it looks like this is our lifetime plan. He just feels better when his blood sugar is under control.

Good luck finding that perfect eating plan!

 

[saturday97]

I've suggested this to some other folks on the WISH board, but you might try seeing a nutritionist. He/she can help you plan a menu that fits your needs and your lifestyle. Don't be too hard on yourself-- once you find a plan that suits you, you will find that you are NOT a weakling!! Good Luck!!

 

[ZerasPride]

You have received some wonderful advice from everyone else already but I wanted to chime in that I couldn't agree more that you have to find the plan that works for you. I have done it all and I mean everything from trying to eat sensibly on my own, WW, Jenny Craig, Nutra System, I've taken shots, drank slim fast and was considering the stomach bypass surgery since I am "morbidly obese" and would qualify for the procedure. I was so desperate but so frustrated. I didn't know what to do.

My sil lost 70 pounds on Atkins and that's what got me interested. A co-worker suggested South Beach instead. After researching them both, I thought I would give SB a try. I had tried everything else! The first two weeks are like Atkins induction. You are pretty limited to vegetables and meat. But you can have 3 meals a day, 2 snacks and Dr. A. insists you eat dessert. I think it's great but it may not be for everybody. I do have the support of my DH and we both are doing well on the program. I think you have to ask yourself if you are willing to eat the way the program dictates for the rest of your life. I can honestly say that yes, I intend to pretty much stay away from the high carb breads, rice, pasta and veggies. The food I have prepared is delicious and I'm very satisfied. Unlike you, though, I don't have a family working against me so I know it can be difficult. I just wanted you to know that SB is a bit different from Atkins and may or may not be the answer for you.

I agree with everyone else about not giving up and you seem to have a really good attitude about it. I know you will find the program and way of eating that is right for you and accommodates your family. All the best to you!

 

[A1A1]

I re-read this thread to see what others could suggest. I wonder if you might consider making just a few easy changes in your diet until you figure it all out. At least you will be doing something in some direction until you decide. Maybe you could decide only wheat bread, no caffeine, eliminate dessert, no potatoes. You could easily do that in WDW, I think. Maybe just pick on or two things to eliminate or change. Give yourself a reachable goal, that way you can be proud of yourself whey you achieve!!!!!!

When I first did Atkins a couple of years ago, I had no idea that was what I was doing. I decided on my own, before I knew anything about Atkins, to give up a few things. To get them out of my diet altogether to see what would happen. I decided to eliminate white bread, potatoes, pasta, sugar, pop. The weight just started to melt away. I couldn't believe it. I didn't know that I was doing some kind of induction or something. Just thought it would be easier to cut this stuff out altogether than to weigh and measure. I am lousy at portion control. I can't have it at all, because I can't control myself. One piece of pizza for me leads to a few pieces. One chip always leads to several. One nut becomes a handful. I just can't do the points either, because it is something I have to count and keep track of.

What do you think you could easily give up?

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

What can I give up easily???? Potatoes...not a big potato fan here. I really only like fries (figures ) I also gave up pop years ago. I mainly drink only water (my DH says I'm a cheap date) I eat those sugar free, low carb candy bars when I crave something sweet. That gets me around sweets. Rice is a little harder. Pasta and all mexican food are all but impossible.

I stayed with a low-carb eating plan today just because I'm still debating on what to do. I took my daughters to dance and my mother met us there. When I got up she said, "Oh my goodness, you are really losing weight!" Really I only lost about five pounds but I'm doing my "Firm" tapes too so that is adding muscle (that will affect the numbers). I carry a good deal of weight in my stomach and it seemed to come off from there. I don't feel a real difference in the way my clothes fit but I CAN get into my shorts, something I couldn't do at the beginning of this month.

I'm going to try and stay away from carbs and sugar but not necessarly "induction" food. AND watch my portions. I made chicken parmasean for dinner tonight. I didn't have the pasta but my chicken was breaded. I'm sure my jar of spaghetti sauce had sugar in it too. Besides that I was really good. I'm going to do the Ketosis test and see if I was good enough. Then I'll go from there.

BTW, if you haven't invested in the Ketosis test strips I highly recommend getting them..it's great knowing that you are flushing out some fat!

I'm still hangin in there. Having my mother notice sure was a big boost too! I have learned from all of this that even if I don't do Atkins, I need to keep an eye on my blood sugar and watch how much sugar and flour I eat. It is no wonder that even when I kept a log of what I eat (trying to keep a calorie limit of 1500) I was hungry all the time and rarely was able to stay under 1500. My blood sugar had to be sky high after all the high carb "low fat" meals.

 

[MelanieC]

((HUGS)),
Hang in there! The best part is that at any time you can change your program. Just don't give up! You have a great attitude, and the comment from your mom is a great motivator.

Only you will be able to figure out what plan you can live with for life. Everyone's different, and no two people loose exactly the same plan and not everyone looses on each program. Once you dig deep down and figure out what program will work for you you will be able to make it work.

Haveing WISH is one thing that most people don't have. It's a huge thing too! There is so much support and advise here. It keeps me going, unlike any other tool!

I do weight watchers, and for me it's the only thing that I think I could stick too. The thing I like is that I don't have to feel like I am cheating if I eat anything. Everything is on the program as long as I don't pig out. Even if I do pig out, I move on. I won't get fat pigging out once in a while. I have pizza 1-3 times a week usually. I have Mexican food once a week, sometimes more. We have a fabulous place at work that is authentic Mexican! So yummy. Today we ate there (usually on Wed) and I had 4 chips and Salsa. I can have the chips. I just eat them slow, load lots of salsa on them. Take nice long drinks of water in between. I have tons of bread, pasta etc. I eat very healthy though, and usually have very little white bread. But I do sometimes and I don't have to worry that I will have blown my diet. With WW's new program, the flex points are so great! WW's give me such freedom. It has taught me how to eat the right portions. I do however don't mind counting points, journaling (my favorite part- I do it on my Palm Pilot), and I don't mind measuring my food etc. It's so easy, and it allows me to know when I can still eat more.......or when I need to watch what I eat. I also don't think that the portions are small. After a while you learn what to eat and you can eat a lot of food if you eat the right things. Learning how to eat for volume is a great thing. Some days I am so full I am almost sick, lol. Imagine that and I am on a diet.

If you ever want to PM me about WW's, please do. I really think it's an easy system. But, only you know what you can do and what is right for you.

Oh and also, you can still eat low carb on WW's. You just don't have to worry that you have blown anything if you do. I know there are many people who combine ww's with the low carb way of eating (like SB). I don't do that, but I do watch my bad carbs. I really try to limit my white flours, junk food etc. My eating has become really healthy since I started my journey.

Ok, I'll end what has become a book! Good luck in your decision. I know in the end you'll figure out what will work for you !

Melanie

 

[tlgoblue]

Originally posted by ZerasPride
I think you have to ask yourself if you are willing to eat the way the program dictates for the rest of your life.

This is the key to good health. No plan can be what it claims to be unless you are willing to make it part of who you are. There are so many different plans out there, because there are so many different people out there. I so wish I could do Atkins, but I know that is an unrealistic approach for me. I have said before, Atkins requires enormous amounts of self discipline and I don't have it. I know what I can expect from me, in the long haul, and I may very well be successfull initially, but would be one of those who "gained it all back plus some".
Don't beat yourself up over this. ANY change you make in a positve direction that you can maintain is great. One step at a time, and when you stumble, don't lay down, get up and get going again. It's your life! Live it how you want. Take care of you. You can get healthy without worrying about depriving your family. Who knows, maybe the small changes you make, will spill over on the rest of your family, and eventually, they will not even notice.
One more word and I'm done preaching. Sometimes, it is harder on the family, than on the person trying to lose the weight. They don't understand how you suddenly want to change. It is often threatening to them, and so you need to reassure them that you want to improve the quality of your lives together, and that is what you are trying to accomplish. Health is a major component in measuring quality of life. After all, what have you without it?
You can do this. We can help. When your family sees the difference in you, they will come around. Give them and yourself time. It's worth it.

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

I just wanted to thank you all and let you know that I am still hanging in there.

Yesterday I had two scrambled eggs for breakfast, a grilled chicken ceasar salad for lunch, and for dinner I made tacos for the family and had two, which included two flour tortillas at 17g of carbs each. I had no sweets. I feel I can handle it much better at this level. I didn't do a ketosis check because I plum forgot. But I got on the scale this morning and was down another pound bringing me to six pounds!

I've been keeping up with my exercise and feel a lot better. I haven't been beating myself up mentally since I allow a limited amount of flour in my diet.

Tomorrow will be tough with a wedding to attend, but I plan to take my low-carb candy with me and take it one step at a time.

I couldn't have gotten this far without you. Thanks