I started Atkins a few years ago and lost 63 lbs. Once I got to my goal, I guess I got too confident and comfortable in my new size and had the brilliant idea that I could eat off plan....and not just occasionally. Here I am 3 years later and 20 lbs above my goal.....why did I do this??? What was I thinking? I know how I gained the weight in the first place; by eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted and in whatever quantity I could hold.

I think part of my problem is that when I gained the first 10 lbs, friends and family were telling me that I looked better than I did when I was at my goal weight, that in their opinion, I was "too skinny" at goal. I guess I took it to heart, even though I didn't feel better with the added 10 lbs. The next 10 lbs sort of crept on me when I wasn't paying attention. Now that my clothes are tight (or don't fit at all) I have taken notice and got my butt back on Atkins. I have tried (half-heartedly, I admit) to get back on plan in the past; but this time, I am going to make it stick......FOR ME!!! I am getting back to the place that I felt comfortable and confident in the way I looked, no matter what every one else says. I know that it will be harder this time to lose the weight; but I am determined to get it back off and this time, keep it off!!

Has anyone else gotten to their goal and then goofed up by going off plan and gained some of the weight back? I am trying not to beat myself up too much because I know that is just counterproductive to what I am trying to accomplish. The more I beat myself up, the more I eat; not a good place to be.

Anyway, sorry this is so long; but it is great to be back here and I am sure once I get over the 3-4 day blahs of beginning induction, I will feel tons better. I know this woe works for me and I know that I have done it before and I can and WILL do it again with the support of people like all of you who actually know what this woe is all about.

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Butterfly71

first, welcome back to the lc way of life remember that you didn't gain all the weight you lost back.

As with any lifestyle change, if you stop eating the new way, you will gain some of the weight (if not all) that you had lost...and that is what you have to look at this as a lifestyle change.
I had lost 60 lbs, and thought I can eat a little of this and a little of that, and you know what, I gained about 30 lbs back.... akh....
and have had a hard time dealing with them for the last almost two years....
I am back on track, today is day 10 of no sugar, and I am watching what I am eating....
so, you are back on track, induction will be over before you know it, and you will be feeling better.

Try not to beat yourself up, there are always falters in struggling to change a habit... remember three steps forward, two steps back... always striving for the forward movement, but sometimes having to back track.

Plan your meals, don't let anything in the house that you shouldn't eat, and keep a food journal - fitday.com is free and easy to use.

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

Butterfly-

Of course that's happened to many, many people! I'm up about 20 from my low weight, but I don't consider it a failure at all. This is a journey, and things flux. Sometimes I weight a bit more or less; sometimes I have a little more or less in my bank account; sometimes I have more or less work to do. Life is a more or less a string of fluxuations.

The trick isn't losing the weight so much as keeping it off anyway: finding ways to incorporate what helped you into "just the way you eat" in general.

Absolutely, positively DO NOT consider this either a failure or a reason to feel bad about yourself. As you've already discovered, feeling bad is fattening! What you can do, though, is take your experiences and incorporate them into your knowledge base. Now you know what weight you feel best at, regardless of others' comments, right? Now you know what happens for you if you don't pay any attention to what you're eating, right? So now, after this experience, you are better-equipped than EVER to keep the weight off for the rest of your life, because you know exactly what happens when you make various choices.

Welcome, and I look forward to sharing your progress with you. Be happy--it's the best weight loss tool in the universe.

Peace out.

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Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

I know I've lost and gained back weight A LOT over the years. I was a yoyo queen. But those times are only learning experiences. It is true that we learn by mistakes. Foxie, Vickie and other's were talking about "people's comments" on our weight. Last few weeks it seems like everyone has been saying "I'm to skinny and don't lose ANYMORE weight". Fox is right, in this society of overweight people a healthy weight is not considered healthy looking anymore. We need to do this for ourselves. The other day I noticed something. Those people who have told me to stop losing weight are not at an ideal body weight. They all have weight to lose and most a considerable amount. Now, I think to myself, I need to keep healthy and get to the healthiest weight so that when we're all older I can take care of my family and friends who are struggling with their health because of their now warped health ideas. Can you believe that a couple of family member's told me that I need to start eating like "the rest of the world?" McDonald's here I come - lol. Do you know what they were eating at the time? Chips and other junk!

Glad that you are here. Jump in some challenges to keep you motivated. Surrounding yourself with these wonderful people will be a great tool for your weight loss success. I think that it is great that you didn't let your weight get to out of hand. 20 pounds will be off before you know it!

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Thanks for the words of support! I came to this site when I began Atkins back in '03 because there was very little, if any support for me in the "real" world. There are those who tell me that I am fine the way I am and then those who will complain that I have gained weight; yet sabotage my woe at every turn. I just can't win!!

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Butterfly71

Of course you can win, Butterfly. You just have to listen to the highest authority--yourself--and smile at the rest, sweetly replying, "You think so? Well, thank you so much for you concern. I'll take it under consideration." Then you do exactly whatever you want.

For what it's worth, my mom started complaining about me losing "too much weight" and looking sickly when I got down to a size 16! It was a lot from what I started at, but obviously, that's not particularly thin. People often simply don't see this sort of thing with any objectivity. Which is why you have to listen to your own voice instead of others'.

Peace out.

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Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

Goddess,

That is easier said than done when the one doing the sabotaging and complaining is your husband. I thought when I began losing weight that he would be happy; instead he was critical and accused me of cheating on him at every turn. Which made me more determined to lose the weight for some reason. He then came to realize that I was going to do it anyway and decided to enjoy the rewards, now that I have gained some back, he is the first to complain and criticize; but then tries to talk me out of doing LC. I just don't get it! But you are right, this is about me, not him. I have to do this to make me feel better and then just let the chips fall where they may with him.

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Butterfly71

it's actually pretty common to have spouses kind of freak out when you start losing, from what i understand. i've heard the story many times before! i was lucky that my husband was very supportive, but even he admited it was a little tough at first, sort of like i was "breaking the deal" or something.

good luck in working through things with him.

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Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

There are alot of issues in our marriage that have nothing to do with my weight and to be honest, I'm not sure I want to work things through with him at this point; but part of me is terrified of leaving him. I have three kids and I know that it will be really tough being a single mom. My two girls are 6 and 8 and threw an absolute fit when I tried leaving him last year. It is hard for the kids, they don't understand why mommy can't just make things all better and go back to the way things were before.

My losing weight was a big adjustment for everyone, especially me. I went from a size 18/20 to a size 7 junior and had to learn to deal with all the attention I was suddenly getting from men. It was flattering and kind of scary all at the same time. I was used to being in the background and un-noticed. My son wasn't thrilled because the guys on his football team would make comments about me. He even told me once that he wished I had never lost the weight. It was a big adjustment for him and I am sure it was a big adjustment for my husband as well. Even though he complained about my weight and called me unflattering names, I think he was comfortable with me at that size. The new, smaller me was something he just couldn't deal with. I had more self confidence than he liked for me to have for one thing. He is several years older than me anyway and I think that the weight loss compounded some of his insecurities. He thought I was a "sure thing," after all who would be interested in a 198 lbs woman with three kids? I tried being patient with him; but when that didn't work and he kept accusing me of things that I wasn't doing, I left. I was happier away, but the girls were miserable and I hated hurting them, so I came back. I wish that I hadn't; but I did and now I am terrified of putting them through all of that again.

Sorry this is so long and turned into a tale of my marital woes instead of discussing low carb; but I truly appreciate the opportunity to just be able to be honest with someone about how I feel about my marriage. Not many people around here that I feel comfortable doing that around.

Thanks for listening to me ramble!

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Butterfly71

I'm glad that you are able to open up here Butterfly. Our life affects our eating too. Sorry to hear about these struggles that you are going through. I'm always here, as I know others too, to listen and be a friend.

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Butterfly-Sorry to hear about the difficult time you've had. To be honest, from what you were saying I was already thinking there were probably other issues as well. Sometimes, weight loss brings out whatever is already there under the surface.

On the kids, my two teenage daugthers were mad at me when it became clear that I wasn't going to stop at 10 or 15 pounds. They seriously accused me of damaging their self-esteem! They complained because I was no longer "the fattest" in the house. I didn't even know that was a title in the house...They started bringing home my old favorites, and in general, were just kind of little jerks about it all at first. They did get over it eventually, and even lost weight themselves (as they needed to). But they definitely went thorugh some adjustment.

Regardless, good luck in dealing with whatever comes up, and in taking the best care of yourself you possibly can.

peace out.

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Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

A number of years ago, when I lost 50 lbs., casual "friends" started a rumor that I must be having an affair. My husband didn't take this seriously, but I'm sure it hurt his feelings. If only we could hold people accountable for THEIR bad behavior.

Aside from the complications of your relationship, the BEST thing you can do for yourself now is anything that makes you feel good about you. Being at a healthy weight--and staying healthy--is the best thing you can do for your family as well. Don't think of it as "beauty" issue. It's a health issue.

If you are being physically or mentally abused, please consider contacting a local organization that will help you develop an exit strategy. If you think you can (and need to) "stick it out" for the sake of the children, then keep your sights fixed on a future date when you can reclaim your life outside of the marriage. Keep in mind that children are smart and observant. They don't like change, but they know as well as you do what's going on, and they will love you through it.

Another strategy for coping with stress, as well as making your LC eating more effective, is (you knew it!) Exercise. If you can add walking, or any other enjoyable form of activity, to your daily life, go for it.

Best wishes.

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


My Fitday Journal

Why is it that it's assumed that if a woman loses a lot of weight that she's suddenly disloyal, or would be attracted to all those men panting after a skirt out there? Sheesh!

You've already gotten lots of solid, sound, wonderful advice, Butterfly. Work on making yourself the best you can be, the healthiest you, and most emotionally stable you, and the best mom you know how to be. Let everyone else have their hang-ups and instabilities, you're above all that! Wishing you much success in your journey.

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Nita