Well, I am back from my anniversary vacation to Portugal and it's time to get back to the basics...

I decided before I went that I was ready for a little break after nearly 11 months of lowcarbing and "gave" myself permission to basically eat whatever I wanted since I thought it might be hard to find low carb choices. I was getting to the point where the wl was very painfully slow, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a plateau. At any rate, my suspicions that I wouldn't have a lot of lc choices were right on. All I can say is that I really enjoyed myself and sampled quite a bit of the local cuisine, which included a few desserts!

It was odd because I didn't feel the least bit guilty. I have always had this huge fear that kept me from allowing myself to gain a few pounds. I enjoyed it, but was actually looking forward to getting back on track when I got home, since I didn't feel so great physically.

That is when I encountered the moment of truth .... as I stepped on the scale I was almost afraid to look...I gained around 10 lbs...but it didn't really phase me, because I know what I have to do and I know so much more than I did 11 months ago when I started. The support of this board has been tremendous, and I can't thank everyone here enough.

I read some articles here and on Atkins website to help refresh my memory and was ready to tackle my first day. So here I go...10/4 was my first day of reinduction and I had a GREAT day. It felt so natural to get back to this woe. The week kind of flew by, but I was amazed that by Thursday, I was back to my pre vacation weight...I know I didn't really lose 10 lbs, but hey I will take it! I also had a burst of energy, which was really awesome!

I am feeling very optimistic and look forward to "finishing the job!" I have managed to stay on induction for the last 10 days with little or no problems and as of today, I am 190.5...that's 13.5 lbs total since I returned from vacation. I guess that little break was just what I needed.

I am getting close to the end of induction and need to decide what to do...do I continue or start adding carbs? Part of me likes the strictness of induction...I am not good when I have too many choices and I have been known to cheat a time or two...LOL...However, I am leaning towards following the DANDR advice and adding 5 carbs per week.

Meg

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Atkins - 11/03/03 (lost 103 lbs)
Restart Atkins - 11/03/08
269/247/150ish

I haven't been very good at keeping this journal...okay...I have been very bad! I think it would be a good idea to start back up...I don't have a lot of time to post, but at least once a week would be a good start!

January has proven to be a very busy month! My dh has been traveling for the past two weeks and I have been going out just about every night trying to catch up with friends. I have also had a lot going on at work. Although, I have done pretty well with staying low carb, I think I am getting too many calories. Besides, the weather has been very cold. This past weekend we got about a foot of snow...doesn't help my walking routine too much. I guess I better figure out a way to get back to Curves on a regular basis.

I have been doing a lot of soul searching...it's amazing how that happens when you aren't losing! I am so afraid that I am going to revert back to my old ways...I am a little frustrated because I really overdid it over the holidays. I have been trying to figure out why I let this happen to me when I have been doing so well. Last year, I had just started Atkins, so I think I was still really motivated and didn't let the holidays sidetrack me. This year I decided I could handle the challenge of making all my traditional holiday foods, which I did last year with out over doing it and I made peanut butter fudge and chex mix. Well, it was a fiasco to say the least and I still haven't recovered all the way.

I am feeling pretty good though and have really appreciated everyone's posts...I haven't had much time to post with my busy social calendar ...LOL., but now it's time to buckle down and focus on what I need to do and what has led to my success thus far.

One of the reasons I was successful was by setting goals. I made SMART goals...

SPECIFIC ...MEASURABLE...ATTAINABLE...REALISTIC...TIME FRAME

http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/program/hndouts/smartgoals.html

For example, last year I had a goal ... "I will lose 20 lbs by Christmas"...I started on 11/03/03 with 100+ pounds to lose. That gave me about 7 weeks to attain it. With that much weight to lose, I thought it was attainable and realistic within the time set. I actually lost 25 lbs.

At the time, I was wearing a size 22/24 and there was an outfit that was a size 20 that I wanted to wear...My goal was "wear my blue dress for an upcoming wedding"...Well, I actually surpassed that and had to buy a new outfit! That felt great.

Another goal was "I will be off my arthritis medicine for my 40th birthday." This one, I wasn't too sure was realistic, but I thought there was a good chance that if I lost enough weight, my constant pain would at least subside enought that I wouldn't have to take an over the counter medicine. Well, I did get off of it and have not take one pill since last April other than an occassional tylenol for minor/temporary aches. My daily life is so much better that I can't even believe it.

SO...I think it's important for me to some serious goal setting...I think I have been sort of playing around with it. I am going to give it some serious thought and come up with 4 - 6 goals...some short term...some long term...I have found that the long term ones aren't very good without breaking them up.

I will come up with this goals, commit them in writing and keep them where I can review them often...that is the final piece...writing them down is very important!

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Atkins - 11/03/03 (lost 103 lbs)
Restart Atkins - 11/03/08
269/247/150ish

Feeling pretty good today...even though the scale hasn't budged. Overall, it was a good week. I am finally down to 180...just one lb above my lowest weight.

I am having my nephew and his girlfriend over for dinner and tomorrow is my dad's 79th birthday. I just hope I can make it though the weekend without cheating!

My dh came home last night after being away for nearly two weeks...I saw him a total of 5 hours in two weeks. It was great to have him home. Our little dog Spikey -- affectionately referred to as our "First Born" -- rode with me to pick him up at the airport...He was so excited that he wimpered the entire time. I know that dog loves me, but my dh is definitely #1.

It was freaking cold last night...went down to about 4 degrees. That is the one thing I haven't been able to get used to...I never remember being terribly cold in the winter...I can hardly keep warm this year after losing 89 lbs of insulation...LOL.

Just got off the phone with my 21 year old niece. I am so incredibly proud of her...She is extremely overweight and decided to bite the bullet (along with her younger sister and mom) and started lowcarbing (ala Atkins). Her father passed away from lung cancer at the age of 53 right around Thanksgiving. I was really worroed about her since she is a very sensitive caring person. Well, since 1/01/05, she has lost at least 20 lbs. WOW, she is making great progress and has a fantastic attitude...hope she can learn at 21 what has taken me until the age of 40.

Still thinking about my goals...my **goal** is to post them by Monday. Pretty funny, eh, I need a goal to post my goals. I know...I know...the things that amuse me are pretty strange.

I guess this week I have been realizing how fortunate I am...I have a nice job, wonderful husband, great dog, fantastic old house...of course, not of which are perfect, but that's okay! I do tend to focus on the negative aspects of my life too much...I am too stressed...too tired...haven't lost enough weight, haven't done or accomplished what I wanted, etc. etc.

SO, I really want to focus on the positives from now on. I can't change the past, but I can sure as heck change the future...and nobody is going to do it for me. I have sat on the sidelines for too long letting life happen to me...I think last year was the start to making things happen. Getting my weight and eating under control was key. Last year was one of the best year's of my life...who would have thought I could say that at 40!

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Atkins - 11/03/03 (lost 103 lbs)
Restart Atkins - 11/03/08
269/247/150ish

Hi Meg! Mind if I drop in? I just wanted to say that I was inspired by your decision to focus on the positive things in your life! I too need to do this, I spend waaay too much time thinking about what is wrong, and maybe not enough time appreciating the things that are right!
Congrats on the 180 ! I am at 185 right now, my bod seems to like it here, this is the weight where I stalled (7 months) last year, I am determined that I can break through this weight barrier!
Anyway, Happy Journaling!

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Cynthia

meg
what a great attitude! i love that! and i do like the idea of the SMART goals...
something i have never been good about doin... thanks for the idea!
kim

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Kim & Cynthia,

Thanks for your message and of course, it's okay to drop in! I learned about SMART goals when I took a course through work, and even though I was skeptical, I am now a believer.

As far as attitude goes, my focus is going to be that every day when I wake up, I can choose how I will react to what goes on around me. I tend to obsess over things that I sometimes have no control over. I am going to be cognizant of that and view this phase of my life as a learning experiment...There are so many new things going on that I have to figure out what I want for my life and spend time developing those habits//situations. Of course that doesn't mean that I won't have challenges and down times, but I truly believe that we learn from our every day experiences and that we can't be afraid to try.

As I mentioned before, I let life happen to me for too long. I wasn't even aware of it, but I guess I felt as though I wasn't worthy or deserving and that is SO wrong. Why I ever allowed myself to think that way is beyone me. I definitely sat on the sidelines and tried to be invisible, but I do believe that time has past. I truly feel like the best is yet to come.

Thanks again, and keep dropping in!

Meg

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Atkins - 11/03/03 (lost 103 lbs)
Restart Atkins - 11/03/08
269/247/150ish