I've hit rock bottom....long vent

[gshoemate]

I'm sorry to post again, I think I have posted this same scenerio many times....but as I sit here in tears I think I have hit rock bottom.

I tried Atkins, many times and failed. Coming from years of eating junk food, it is hard for me to be so strict. I have ate alot of bad things in the past week. Although I have maintained my weight, I feel like c**p. Carbs for me are terrible. I have low blood sugar and carbs effect me in the worst way. The last couple of days I have been crabby, snappy, no energy and just plan mean. I know the carbs make me feel this way but I don't know how to stop. I think, a hershey kiss won't hurt, then before I know it, I have eaten ten. Then a few doritos won't hurt, then I relize half the bag is gone. Am I just stupid? I know carbs are not good for me but I eat them anyways. I just finished with some steak filled tortilla's and my hands are just shaking from the effect that they had on my sugar.

I feel like I can't control what goes in my mouth. I have admitted many times, even to my doctor last week, that carbs make me feel terrible but yet I continue to eat them. I just can't figure out what is wrong with me.

Sorry to post again, I am just feeling miserable and needed to vent. Maybe I should start journaling so I have to fess up everyday what I put into my body.

Thanks for listening.

 

[DoomBuggieDriver]

Dear Ginger,
I am so glad you decided to vent here with us. It can feel like the battle is never-ending, and just a little break will be good. But I know it can take on a life of it's own.

I had a rough day yesterday. I have been exercising almost every day and really trying to make better food choices, although I haven't done a regular plan like Atkins this time. But I was so tired and felt really drained, and I can tell you that bowl of Total with soy milk at breakfast didn't even make a ding in my appetite. So I ended up eating a large meatball sub with cheese at lunch and a dinner at McDonalds; not just a hamburger but a double quater pounder with cheese, fries and a coke. Ugh.

So today I got up and said "it's a new day and I am on a clean slate. The exercising and eating of yesterday is gone. I buckled down and had protien shake breakfast, salad and yogurt for lunch, and I am now trying to decide on a sensible dinner. YOU CAN DO IT!

I have actually read in a couple places that a cheat day (within reason of course) is good for tricking your body out of a plateau. So try not to be so hard on yourself. This is a long process and we all get impatient to see results. And when they are slow coming it's easy to say what the heck, I'm having some chocolate! And really, if you are keeping your calories down, a srewup once in a while evens out. Just stop it now before it turns into a few days of not so careful choices.

What I have found is a cheat day with one item (not the whole day down the drain) is mentally a good thing for me. I bargain with myself all week that I can have some chocolate ice cream from Ben & Jerry's on Friday night. And if I an really good and go easy all day with fruits etc., I have a hot fudge sundae. I don't end up doing this every week because my schedule changes, or I just don't feel like having the ice cream. But it gives my mind something to focus on to get me away from the "danger" foods while I am having that immediate craving.

Hang in there girl! You are here, which means you are still serious about being healthy. If you need a boost, just vent again!
Kathy

 

[KathyTX]

Ginger,

First, you get lots of {{{Hugs}}}!!! I know I've been at the place you're in, and it's a dark and lonely place...

I agree with everything DoomBuggieDriver has said to you here, and I want you to know that we ALL go through weak spells when we pretty much give up. But every day that you wake up is a chance to forgive yourself for past weaknesses and start over!

Originally posted by gshoemate
I tried Atkins, many times and failed. Coming from years of eating junk food, it is hard for me to be so strict. I have ate alot of bad things in the past week.

"It's hard for me to be so strict." Is full-blown Atkins maybe not the best approach for you?

I know that Atkins is not for me, because the siren song of the carbs is just too strong. I absolutely love Mexican and Italian food, and I adore (an occasional) chocolate dessert. Those are things that I am just not willing to give up.

Plus, I know that there's this little muleish aspect to my personality that doesn't respond well to anything being "forbidden". If I can NEVER have something, I know I will be obsessed with it.

The beauty of getting healthier is that we have great success stories here, and they've gotten there using many different plans. I think the true key to WISH (and getting healthy) success is looking into your heart and discovering what kind of program fits YOU best.

It sounds like you've put carbs on your "forbidden" list, and even a small amount makes you feel like you've failed. As long as you've failed, why not just throw in the towel and go all out? And then the guilt sets in, and that just saps your motivation even more.

It sounds like you might want to consider a modified plan that allows some carbs, so you can have what you really crave IN MODERATION, and still stay ON YOUR PLAN.

I do Weight Watchers, but try to swing toward the low carb side of things. It sounds like South Beach is a lot like Atkins, but stresses low carb instead of no carb. I'm sure there are others that I don't know about.

But it seems to me that the trick is to find a plan that fits YOU, instead of choosing a plan and then trying to force your personality to change enough to fit it.

(And I totally understand the hypoglycemia thing. I have trouble with that, too. And I've found that I do not have to outlaw the carbs, but just be smarter about them. Like enjoy several small meals throughout the day, avoid the "simple" carbs like sugar if you're not eating protein at the same time, and don't skip meals.)

You are NOT a failure. You've lost 10 pounds on your plan, and that took work. But you do need to find a plan that fits YOU!

 

[LAinSEA]

It's been 2 full months of frustration for me - the last time the scale moved in the right direction was March 1st. I've been good - very, very good. I've gotten up and walked 40-45 minutes each day, stayed between 20 & 30 carbs for the day (with 2 exceptions) and for 2 whole months the scale didn't move!

Today - I weighed in for the May induction challenge just to get a baseline and I'm down 2 lbs! It may not seem like much, but it's a huge breakthrough for me.

Don't give up - I too have/had very low blood sugar and I feel some much better eating low-carb. The first week getting off all the refined foods and sugar is difficult and then you just don't need them at all. (Want them, maybe, need them no!) Just try making good choices for 2 of 3 three meals per day and both snacks.

Things that make it easier for me: planning meals a least 3 days in advance and having good food choices on hand - I get into trouble when I'm hungry and looking for something, anything to eat. Drink lots and lots of water - I grab a diet rite soda (lots of flavors) for my soda treat - satisfies my sweet tooth too. Get some outside time - it's amazing how a little fresh air and sunshine lifts my mood.

Please feel better about yourself - and take care,
Laurie

 

[robinb]

{hugs}

Have you made it through a "clean" induction? I think that's pretty critical to being successful on Atkins. In those 2 weeks you break your body's addiction to sugars and processed carbs. It can be tough and you might feel even more crabby and sick (I did). The only way I made it through induction was knowing that it was going to over in 2 short weeks . Man, I was on OWL faster than you can say "more veggies, please"!

I found the Induction forum on the Atkins Diet Bulletin Board to be a great help. Also, I journaled on www.fitday.com every day of induction to catch all those hidden carbs. Lastly, I bought ketosticks to check that I was still in ketosis every day. I love "peeing pink" !

Good luck, you can do it!

 

[nativetxn]

{{{HUGS}}} sweetie. It's going to be alright, honest.

Have you "Atkins-"proofed your house? This means get rid of all contraband, every last bit of it. When I "Atkins-proofed" my pantry, I sent it all to the church and there was a lot of high carb stuff in there.

I'm sure that your family would be willing to give up eating the stuff you can't have for a week or two. They can eat it away from home.

Why don't you try that? Get rid of all the junk food and bread and saltines etc and go on strict induction for a week. About day 5 you should notice more energy and a loss of appetite, it might take a whole week though. Once you "detox" you will feel much better about forgoing those high carb treats.

Hang in there. You can do this, I know you can. We are all going to help you!

Katholyn

 

[DoeWDW]

Ginger, I'm struggling too.

I KNOW what I need to eat - I just have been too lazy to make sure I have stuff on hand and planned out for the next day or two.

I KNOW I need to exercise, but I haven't felt like making the effort.

I'm tired. I have the answers. I know how to do this. I've just lost my motivation. If anyone finds it, please send it back to me.

I just wanted you to know that you're not alone. However, I'm not giving up. Maybe I can only manage to eat 2 good meals a day, but that's 2 good meals more than I used to eat. I've been taking my vitamin daily - it's a habit now. That's a plus. So I guess I'm still in the game.

Let's both think about it for a few days. I'm guessing we'll still be here and still be trying. We won't be perfect, but we won't give up either.

 

[gshoemate]

Thanks guys....I feel a bit better. It helps to vent to people that have been there. DH is great...but he says "if carbs make you feel bad, why not just stop eating them", he doesn't understand that it's not that easy.

My Doctor did mention South Beach, thats what he is on. He says he also suggests to his patients that are on SB to have one cheat day a week. Don't cheat the whole day, but allow yourself a little indulgence.

I just need to get a grasp on what my goal is and then go from there. I also just relized that the evil Ginger started this week when I started an antibiotic for an infection in my facial glands. I read the warning on the bottle and it said something about if you have diabetes this medication may change your blood sugar. Which means it could be effecting my sugar, which could explain the major mood swings, not letting carbs off the hook though.

Thanks again for listening, I would be lost without you guys!!

 

[kaylajr]

Just wanna add and say glad your feeling a little better

don't give up
i have been in your shoes and the only way i made atkins work for me was sstrict induction i broke the nasty hold carbs had over me
did i slip up you bet still have a bad day now and then but i just move past it as of today 24lbs gone forever 1 more and new clippie here i come

don't get discouraged you CAN do it
if not on atkins then you will find the plan for you
and remember we are here to suport you