Since I'm a Forum addict, I check in here quite a lot. And there doesn't seem to be a lot of new posting going on, either here or on the Newbies thread. Or even "Everything else." Where is everybody??

Anyway, I appreciate the faithful, no matter what thread gets going.

Right now, I'm trying to pretend I'm NOT so close to goal. Somehow the brain slacks off, and accountability does, too, when I think, "Oh, I'm almost there--and nothing much is going to change (appearance-wise) from now on."

The REAL change is learning to manage ongoing LC in a healthy way. As Alida has mentioned, this can be kind of scary.

Excuse me, but I have to dodge over to Fitday and get tracking!

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Yeah, I have notice that things aren't as hopping as they used to be.

I guess all us veterans have pretty much asked all the questions we can ask and made all the observations we can make. So things slow down naturally after awhile...

As far as Jan resolutions... still sticking strong to the WOE this time (only one "cheat" that was not directly my fault... another couple order "after dinner" drinks one night that had heavy amounts of sugar (chocolate)...my wife and I felt obligated since they were picking up the tab on dinner...).

This time things seem alot easier to maintain... with the knowledge that this WOE is the only healthy way I know to eat while still consistently losing weight. Everytime I have gone off plan I have gained weight..so it has taught me to just accept the WOE as a WOL and to realize that I "choose" to avoid sugar and starches....I'm not "restricted" from having sugar and starches...

With no stomach problems...clothes that fit...sleeping fine...steady (but slow) weight loss....a happy wife (she has lost over 13 lbs since Jan 1)... why stop?..why complain?...

Watching George Stella's show on foodnetwork (got the book the other day...) and seeing Rob's progress... I have the inspiration and great tips to continue with this WOE without feeling like I'm on a diet.

Sorry long winded and maybe not exactly on topic (was in the posting mood...)

__________________
:silly:
Wolfman
207/178/175
Top Weight: 220 (Oct 2000)
Lowest Weight: 178 (Oct 2003/Dec 2006)

Thanks, Wolfman. I see by your signature stats that we're in about the same situation in respect to goal. And I so agree with your realization that "this time" we've come to know that this WOE is definitely the healthiest choice for our particular physiology.

I look forward to a time when an occasional banana, or banana daiquiri, doesn't seem like a "cheat"--as long as the rest of my plan is in order. I suspect this means I'll be clicking on Fitday every day for the rest of my life. Not a bad idea.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

I kinda o feel like wolfman, just working the program, being cheat free, and fitting everything into my foods list...sometimes i noticed that the more I come here and obsess about food the more I am feeling like I am missing something... so I am trying not to obsess about what I can't eat, and just be happy about what I am eating and making that taste good, fresh, etc... all...
I lurk more now that ever... I will read, and if I see that others have given good advise, I will wait till I feel I need to put in my 2cents worth.
c

__________________
http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak
carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03 327/268/177
5/20/08/ - 348
onward thru the fog

Yeah...my wife and I keep thinking.."Wow...when we reach our goal...we can start having the "once in a blue moon" pizza or dessert....".

We have learned and accepted that trying those treats before we reach our goal have only derailed us everytime. So we accept reality and just keep truckin.

George Stella always preaches to just take the items you miss and recreate them Low Carb (not always exactly perfect but a healthy way to approach things.) So I'll be trying his Low Carb Pizza recipe tomorrow night and maybe his LC double-chocolate walnut brownies next week (all in moderation of course... ).

I still lurk here heavily...I was concerned for the longest time that I was obsessing too much on this WOE....but when I went too long with out stoping by here....I rationalized too easily going off plan...and BAM! put on 23 lbs!

It still does worry me some that every single time my wife and I get together with the family (cousins, etc) to eat...all they ever seem to want to talk to us about is LCing (though none of them will try it....). I'm sure they kinda whisper to themselves..."Gee, him and is wife are one of those "Atkins" people... see how they don't eat potatos or pasta or bread....and are the only ones to not eat the cake??"" "Weirdos!!"

Oh well, big bellies and behinds run on both sides of my family... while I'm down to a 34 inch waist (5'11 height)...and my wife is down to a size 8 pants that are baggy on her (from size 10) they can continue to whisper all they want!

__________________
:silly:
Wolfman
207/178/175
Top Weight: 220 (Oct 2000)
Lowest Weight: 178 (Oct 2003/Dec 2006)

I think the regulars are still here. But it looks like we might have lost a few newbies....but we also gained a couple, too!

As for the resolution wearing off...well, maybe. But my resolution had nothing to do with Atkins. It was all about getting my house and life organized. And right now, I'm very unorganized.

Also, it could be that everyone has been sick. Some of us were even sick enough to slow down our postings for awhile.

__________________
Melissa

Not at our house. . . the DH started on 1/1 and has lost 24 pounds, so he's totally into it. Since I'm not losing anymore, of course I'm jealous! But I think it may be a completely other brain readjustment to get used to the scale NOT moving, after spending so much time with the numbers dropping. I got the can't/don't mindset mastered long ago, then the adjustment to the fact that the loss comes in fits and spurts, now I have to get used to the idea that it's not going to go down, at least in any significant way, anymore. I've been in my 5 pound goal range for 8 months now, and it's become kind of a letdown in a way, with the scale not moving. But it really has nowhere to go, so it's just a mental hurdle to overcome like all the rest. Not a problem I expected, that's for sure!
What's funny is that my skin is STILL catching up. . .I keep getting smaller, slowly, slowly, although the numbers don't change. I'm having to give up favorite clothes without that delightful scale drop! LOL! Oh, the things we think are problems!

Stacie
222/132/130-35

i SO don't do resolutions. i hate 'em. i'm more into the gradual, daily but immediate adjustments to keep on track with my life.

i have been looking at the whole "last mile" phenomena you all seem to be talking about lately, though. probably because that's where i'm at! with somewhere under 20 pounds "to go," feeling great, looking good...there isn't the same drive as before to lose it all.

like stacie though, i've noticed that even without the scale moving, my body is changing gradually. stuff's shifting on me! but in a good way.

but i'm still hanging in. those 26w's are a long way gone now! i'm still looking foward to seeing what it feels like to wear 8's, which i think probably aren't too far away from where i'm at anymore. and that, my friends, pretty much blows my mind when i think about it.

sometimes i'm more active here than other times, depending on what's going on in my personal life and where my head seems to be at, not to mention when and where i feel "called" in that i see something i feel like i can be helpful with.

but i've no doubt there are lots of other folks, just like me, who are here and plugging alongside you all. sometimes i'm quieter, sometimes i'm not. but i'm still here, baby!

__________________

Dixie, I'm with you, I don't do resolutions. As weather warms & the time changes people will be more involved with outdoor activities, kids in sports again, gardening. Many of us are more active at times and then aren't here as much, when duty of home and family calls.

You can say that for me as well, Dixie.

__________________
Ozzie's Place

Barb - probably 90% of new years resolutions concerning weight loss have gone by the wayside in these 2 months. But that's the same regardless of what kind of diet you go on. Andrea would know better than me but I seem to remember we get a little bump of new people in early spring. Probably thinking about beach wear coem summer. Then when the weather gets really warm everyone is out exercising and having outdoor fun and people stop posting here so much. I guess it's cyclical and we're at a low right now.

Ed - i can relate to everyone wanting to talk about low carb when you get together with people. But often they want to shoot me down. Had about 4 restaurant kitchen employees against me about 3 weeks ago but of course they couldn't effectively argue against low carb because they didn't have a clue what it is. I wish I hadn't stressed the evils of sugar at one point. The women I was addressing just looked at me and said "do you know what I do?"
I asked what that might be and she answered "Pastry chef". open mouth insert foot. lol

__________________

my blog

I agree with Rob. We've both been hanging around here for a long time, and this is part of the normal ebb and flow of the board. A lot of people who seem to be MIA aren't really missing, but will unexpectedly pop in again. That's always a nice surprise.

__________________

I did notice a big surge at the beginning of January and then a slow down but I do think a lot of people may check in that are still doing the lc thing.

I personally just wanted to keep on trucking for my resolution. I've been pretty good teh last couple months. Falling off a few times but now for teh last 31 days I have been much better...none of the baby's bread.

__________________
Noël


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

Hi gang

I have noticed myself how slow it has gotton here recently. I miss reading new posts. I,m with Goddess, resolutions are not for me, I always get too disapointed when I get off track. I have had some cheats but doing much better than I was around the holidays. Exercise has picked up and am feeling better about that. As for the weight, it's coming off slowly and that's okay with me, I have lost the biggest part of it so the rest can come off when It wants to. Taking it a day at a time. Good luck to all of you as you continue this wonderful journey

Hugs
Nancy

Rob, LOL. OK, now I am curious. HOW did you manage to get 4 restaurant employees in a LC discussion?

This is a wondrous journey. A few pounds to go to my official goal weight, but I may revise down a few pounds. I'll decide when I get there!

I cannot envision an end to this. But you are right, Barb, the closer to goal one gets, there are "new" problems to face. The urge to cheat may creep up. The "this one bite won't hurt" mentality is what I am determined to avoid.

I am a forum addict, too. Visiting every morning has become a habit. New recipes, new ideas, helping newbies where I can and being supportive, all helps me stay centered on this WOE.

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

i must post my reason here, would have to agree w/ Mellisa, unorginized life.1!!!

that and im trying to prepair to help take care of a friend of mine postop gastric bypass, Her and her husband are well might as well say seperated live together yet dont talk spend time w/ each other nor realy care for each other, its very sad... she needs alot of help starting next week and she is unsure if he is going to be there for her!

She is not that heavy and it scares me that she is just doing this to get back at him and to find someone else... threw high school she was very fit, and now she has had 2 kids and weighs less than i did when i started this WOL im realy surprised the doc approved her for the surgery.

anyway, im going to be helping her each day after she is home by going over in the morning and helping her w/ the kids up till just after lunch... when i leave ill have something in the works for dinner for the kids and her husband so all that will have to happen is food sat on table and dishes put in sink....

anyway, I'm still chugin along as hard as i can sometimes i let my life take over and i reach for convience on the road burger beacuse you can't eat a salad driveing down the road.... i usualy opt for a bigger meat filled burger.. but i know i retain water for a day or so when i do this.. hands swell.. ect..

I do hope i can start adding in more on here, But right now my ol time friend best friend since 1st grade is in desperate need of love and help .. and that is what im doing

__________________
01/02/04-248{ 4/29/04- 218} 6/30/04- 204
7-05-04 198 8/30/04 - 190 (got lost after that-)
4/03/08- 261 -
Goal-140-145