Hi everyone!
First these boards are great! Everyone is so nice and helpful!

Lets get down to whats up with me!

I just started LCing and basically I am having trouble staying under 20 carbs. I have stopped with the sugar and junk and my sugar has gone way down but I can't seem to stick with it! I jump on and off...I also am having a hard time with the water. I never drink enough.

Whats Wrong with ME????

I have read all the messages and beginners pages from this and other boards and everyone is so motivated and can find great inspiration within themselves but I can't seem to find it within me...I bought a bunch of veggies to cook and they are rotting in the bag...

Where does everyone find the time to prepare everything and stay on track? How do I stay organized and on track? I am naturally the most unorganized person so I am having a hard time with all these new things to do and learn.

Can anybody help me get organized and show me how to stay on track...I know thats a tall order but I really want to do this and something is keeping me from getting motivated enough to stick with it ALL the time.

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hello susan. welcome!

first of all, you don't want to stay under 20 carbs, but eat as close as possible to 20 carbs for induction.

do you have the book? if not, please get it, as it will be a huge help, with info, motivation, understanding, the whole nine yards. best 6 bucks you could ever spend, believe me.

and as far as your question "what's wrong with me?" i have an answer, too: nothing! that's it, nothing. there's just some stuff that you could adjust a little bit.

first of all, you need to stop saying you "can't" do this. i promise you, as long as you tell me you can't, you'll be 100% right. but when you start saying you can, you'll be right, too.

changing lifelong habits, however maladaptive they are, is tough sometimes. the thing is, though, after a little bit of discomfort, you find it's not all that hard, and even becomes easy. and a little bit after that, you feel so much better that you couldn't imagine going back to the way you used to eat! it's a process.

if you're having trouble getting into the grove, why not continue to move gradually? you've cut way down on sugar, right? you're drinking more water, right? well, cut the rest of the sugar out, and gradually work your way up with the water. people develop lots of tricks to get it in, but the bottom line is that it's a gradual process. take whatever time you need to get where you want to go. it's not a race.

work on the veggies, too. veggies and ranch dip are one of my favorite snacks, and no cooking required! veggies are your friend. you're right that cooking things does take a bit more effort than eating junk food, but isn't your health and your life worth a little effort? you ask where people find the time? well, once you get in the groove, it's not a huge time difference. but more than anything, we MAKE the time for things that are important to us. everyone does. so i guess you have to decide what your priorities are.

see, with you're jumping on and off of the plan, it makes it much harder. when you do that, you basically negate many of the great effects of low carb, and you're body has to work it's way into ketosis-fat burning mode-most every time you do that. you are less likely to get those great surges of energy, lose the cravings, find the appetite go way down, all those super things about low carb...they just get lost if you aren't consistent.

here's what i would suggest if you need a boost to get going again: if you don't have the book, get it. read it. that's a huge help! if you do, review it. if you need a bit of time, then set a "start day" and go shopping before that. get rid of anything that may tempt you to stray. if the family doesn't like it, too bad! they'll live just fine.

but in the meantime, see how "close" you can get to lowcarb in your habits. ramp up on the water, ramp down on the carbs, stay away from sugar like it's the plauge, and start adjusting your habits. then once you start, commit yourself to the full two weeks. you can do two weeks, right? if you really want to. then you can re-view and recommit. but whenever you're thinking of straying, just remind yourself of the promise you made to yourself: it's "just two weeks."

if you stay on course for a full, clean induction, i can almost guarentee you that you'll have the start you need to stick to low-carb and find it easier than you thought possible. but you have to stick on course.

and if, for whatever reason you do slip up a bit, then stop RIGHT THEN. don't figure the day is shot, the week, whatever. that is what gets folks. don't get mad at yourself, don't tell yourself you can't do this, you have something wrong with you, whatever. don't chastise yourself at ALL, just get back on track right that second. if you don't, you won't enjoy the offplan eating anyway. so why do more of it it?

and in the meantime, keep saying you can do this, ok? if you don't believe it at first, that's ok. fake it till you make it. you will start to believe. your subconscious will hear you and start to believe it, too. never critisize yourself. feeling bad is fattening!

changing your habits can be tough, and you need all the support you can get. imagine that you're talking to a good friend in the same situation: what would you say to her? i'd be willing to bet it's a heck of a lot nicer than what you say to yourself! be a good friend to yourself.

focus on success. you get what you focus on, what you think about. so don't think about yuck stuff! congratulate yourself for every improvement, and celebrate them! encourage yourself. visualize, visualize, visualize.

i personally found the dr. phil's 7 keys to weightloss helpful for addressing the mental issues in losing. ignore the nutrition chapter (although it's not totally carb-unfriendly), but a lot of this is thinking. i know for a fact that if i hadn't adjusting my thinking, i'd still be overweight.

this low-carb groove all begins and ends in your head. once you get your head on straight, the rest is just details.

good luck, dear, and check in often here. the folks are an amazing source of encouragement and support, and you CAN do this, if you decide it's important enough to you to do.

peace out.

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Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

Welcome.

I'd second the above. I'd also add that you list your plan as "30 day low carb solution." I'm not familiar with this program, but I can pretty much guarantee that there's no such thing as a 30 day solution for most issues.

You might consider looking at some of the low carb eating plans that are programs designed to help you change your eating habits so that you can gradually normalize your weight and maintain it for life.

Hope you'll make yourself at home.

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I hate to cook, so I basically made a lot of anything I am making and eat left overs for days. It gest a little dry and boring so I mix it up with fresh things during the day .. but for the most part it keeps me from being in teh kitchen 24/7. I am really teaching myself to cook for the first time, I have always been a microwave girl.. So on top of new diet, and exercise I am learning to cook! I think its possitive. I just keep thinking.. This is for me, this is somehting I have to do, and this will be wonderful in the long run! Just keep postive. write yourself notes and leave them around the house about why you are doing this, and keep that mental picture of how you want to see yourself in a year or two fresh in your mind. Your mind can and will overcome your bodies temptations!

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Ammy
www.dreadedintentions.com

Hello and welcome to the boards!

I am new too, so induction is fresh in my mind.

On preparation and purchasing the right "quick grab" foods:

First thing we did (My DH and I are in this together) was go to Costco (a large warehouse store on the west coast) and get some string cheese and mini baby belle cheese (those little round cheeses wrapped in wax). The cheese was good to grab in a "hunger emergency".

Then it was salads with full fat dressing with chicken on top for lunches. You can buy pre made chicken breast strips in the lunch meat section of your grocery store. (check the label for no added sugar of course)

Dinner was a cut of some sort of meat and allowed frozen or fresh vegi's. Again, at Costco you can buy chicken breasts and all sorts of easy, ready to throw in the oven/toaster oven/fry pan foods.

After the first few weeks, we started to "get creative", but before that we were pretty predicable...and it worked. He is down 18 pounds and I am down 16. Emergency meals were Atkins shakes, never the bars...bars are bad.

Water is a chore for me also, I just force it down and tell myself it will get better over time. And it is, I sometimes find myself craving water...wow! (never thought THAT would happen!) So that is my best advice...hope it helps.

Good luck and stick with it! If you need any support, post a thread here!

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Heather

Hi

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I guess that after doing for others for so long its hard to switch that around and put me first. I know that is something that will take time to learn but its important for me to keep telling myself that I am worth it!
I have read the book, in fact lots of them, all with the same basic idea. Low carbs or the right carbs and the right fats. Its like my mind knows all the right things to do but my mouth has a mind of its own and my hands follow suit! I think that in addition to the LC books I'll get some books on positive reinforcement and self esteem. Got any suggestions?
I won't give up and I am happy to find out that I am not hopeless!!! I'll check in tomorrow night after work and tell give an update on the day. I hope it will be a success!

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Hi,
I am also new to the diet and to cooking at home, I work and I get home after 8 pm so before, my 3 meals + snacks were outside, basically fast food.

So what I am trying to do now and it seems to work for me is:
Buy frozen vegetables so they dont go bad in the fridge.
Cook in weekends like for a big family and frozen portions, take them as you eat them or one day before change them to the fridge. This way you will have food available when you dont have time of feel like cooking.
Have some small snacks like celery already washed ready to eat in the fridge in case you get lots of carb craving and try to drink lots of water.
If you dont like it much squeze a limon in regular or mineral water, it will be similar to a limonade. Cold taste better.

Good luck!!!

Welcome, ale.

You sound as if you've already got a great handle on this way of eating! Good suggestions.

Hope you'll make yourself at home.

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Hi there! The biggest thing that has helped me stick to the diet is to "Be Prepared". As mentioned above, you need to have the "right foods" available at all times. It takes some effort to plan ahead but it's worth it when the food is available and will stop you from cheating (an excuse of having nothing to eat). Sunday I cooked a whole package of sausage links and put them in the fridge. This morning I grabbed two and had a piece of cheese on my way out the door. Cook a pack of hamburger patties and keep them in the fridge. I also buy the "bag salads" and try to eat a meat and a salad for dinner.

I also have had a hard time with the water intake. Alternate the water with some crystal lite. Also, someone gave me a great idea. I need to drink 4 bottles of 20 oz water a day. I keep 4 pennies on my desk and each time I finish a bottle, I put the penny away. I also use the same bottle and just keep filling it up with water to save money.

Good luck and remember we are all in this together and we all have weak moments. I have to play little games and tricks with myself to keep myself on track. For example, my computer password is luv2diet. This helps remind me every day when I logon to my computer to keep my self in check first thing.

This is my fourth week and even though I haven't seen a change on the scale, I am wearing size 12 pants where before I was wearing 14 - 16! It's also easier to cross my legs (LOL) and I don't get hungry. I also feel more even-keeled during the day. I guess b/c my blood sugar isn't all over the place like it was before.

Each day you are successful, it helps motivate you to be even more successful the next day. I still am finding myself doing things that I shouldn't be doing, but at least now I'm recognizing them and I'm trying to do better each day. I'm determined to lose 40 lbs!!!!

Hi everyone again,

Today I did okay but not great. I had great intentions to cook but could not bear the heat and my landlord did not install my air conditioners yet so I am still really not prepared. I stopped off at the store and bought some fruit and had a fast food hamburger (without the bun) for dinner at work so I figured I made the best of what I had. Not perfect yet but I think I am getting there. Air conditioners being installed tomorrow (or today but after I get some sleep!) so at least I will be able to bear the heat in that tiny kitchen of mine!
I love the idea of preparing everything in advance for the week and I think I will be able to get into that routine when I get a day off! (Wednesday).

Thanks to everyone for their support and suggestions. I really feel a renewed sense of "I CAN" growing in me and with all your support it will be that much easier.

Keep your fingers crossed!!

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i disagree. you are continuing to make progress, make better choices, and are actively working to take better care of yourself every day. that pretty much meets my definition of great!

congratulate yourself on your progress and ignore that which doesn't support your long-term goals. feeling good about your choices and progress is motivating.

you ARE doing well, really. you will get there. you just have to believe you can.

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Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

one of the things that helped me when i did it before was having breakfast ready, here is a recipe i used every week.

http://www.lowcarbeating.com/recipe_...name=Breakfast

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That sense is what you will need to get you through the first couple weeks. It's hard when you go back and forth to really want to stick with any plan. It took me two and a half months of waffling before I was mentally prepared to start lc again and now that I am back on track it's a breeze. Now you probably won't take that long, or maybe you will, I was a little stressed, but goddess is right, you are making progress. Cutting out sugar can be a big deal. I know how you feel about cooking in the heat, it can be murder. Luckily I finally live in a place with central air and while I don't use it too often I love it when cooking. Once you get in the swing of things you'll be fine.

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Noël


Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strengths.