You know...it started with Halloween and I have had one hell of a time being on and sticking with LC. Emotionally, I have had way too much going on and everything turned upside down. After a four-day Thanksgiving eating spree, I feel fat, disgusted with myself (once again), I am tired, and just plain old exhausted. What gives? I am back "on" again today, and I know I can do this. I was doing SO well for over three months, but I have not been able to get back to LCing and stay on. It doesn't help that my DH sabotages my efforts. Now he's telling me that there's no way we can stick with it through the holidays so why don't we start back on January 1. BS!!!! NO WAY!

I lost 22 pounds and now I know I've gained at least 12 back. Hopefully, it's mostly water weight (TOM doesn't help). I need to learn to keep control when the rest of my life is out of control.

Just a little rant...

Kellie, F38
Started Atkins 8/1/03 (off and on for the last few years but sticking to it this time!)
206/184/170-160 -- 14.5 inches GONE! (as of 10/27)

Kellie,

I think you know you don't want to climb that same mountain again. Start hitting the water HARD right now, and get back into the eating plan immediately (that means today, not tomorrow). Add some exercise, and you'll be great. I think you'll find that most of that 12 pounds melts away quickly!

Then, you'll be back on track and when January hits, you're ahead of the game.

Be strong, stick with it!!

John

July 03, 2003 - Atkins
Sept. 29, 2003 - Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle
202/170.5/170

{{{Hugs}}} Kellie,

Boy do I sympathize!
EVERY YEAR I battle this. I just think the holidays are really difficult for some of us...
Eating was always a way to deal with some unwanted emotions surrounding the holidays and if you were like me, it was the one time of year that I would *allow* myself to eat whatever I wanted. Since I was a *lifetime dieter*, this made the free-for-all eating doubly attractive.
Of course (as you already know), the eating does NOT bring joy or satisfaction -- only more stress and feelings of guilt.

There is a key in what you wrote -- something I figured out after starting low-carb:
When I can control *nothing* else in my life, staying low-carb makes me feel more at peace. It is my calm in the storm -- so to speak.
I'm not saying it's always easy.
I'm struggling quite a bit right now, myself, (pregnancy and holidays combined add even more psychological fodder for my expanding waistline), but I'm determined not to completely *let go.*
Like you, today is a *renewed effort* on my part... and that's all you can do. Just keep trying. Don't beat yourself up and don't give in to rationalizations.
Even if you have to "recommit" each and every day, you will have much more peace with yourself come January 1st.
I truly wish you the best.

Hangin' in there with you,

Summer


www.herstorygirl.com

Kellie,

Just remember that you DESERVE to be healthy. Tired and exhausted?...well, LC is a very good remedy! With the support of this board, you can do this...even without the support of your hubby.

I don't know if this applies to you, but sometimes significant others can feel a bit threatened when their partner loses weight and starts looking more attractive. This has happened to a number of women I know, and can really make things challenging.

But hang in there! Take it one day at a time and start over as often as you need to. And remember that We are always here for you!

Staci

Thank you guys so very much for your support...it's been a long month for me. I know this is the WOL for me as I feel so good when I am eating LC.

Summer...it's so true about staying LC when the stress hits, but for some reason I wasn't able to get back on this time.

Yes, I have recommited again today regardless of what my DH says. I told him that we will NOT be having a carb fest for Christmas regardless of the whining. He actually was fine with it (for now). I am lucky to have kids who love my cooking and could live on steak and green beans, and fried eggs and bacon!

Again, thank you...it feels good to have the support here.

Big hugs.

Kellie, F38

What Summer said is true. When everything else is going to hell, at least you can still low-carb. That's about where my life is, really. My low-carbing is the only thing in my life that really is going well.

I started up again low-carbing last December, around December 10. I had regained my previous weight and put it back on to the tune of 288 pounds. My doc wanted me to go back on Atkins. My family said, yeah, good idea, but, "Just wait until after the holidays, you know, because we're going to be having get togethers with lots of good food."

It sounded reasonable, but I just HAD to resume low-carbing, right then, that day, because I was just too depressed to imagine waiting another month eating the way I had been eating.

I'm not sure if that explanation sounds clear or not. I was just tired of where I was. I didn't care if I would lose weight quickly or slowly or even at all. I just wanted to get some order and sanity back into my life.

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."

Doc, it makes perfect sense. I have swung it both ways when my life has been out of control: I have kept with it, and I have blown it. I feel 100% better when I am in control of my eating when everything else is out of control.

I crawled on the scale this morning and was horrified how much weight I have gained back. I thought 12...nope 16! That's a lot of weight when I lost only 22 to begin with. It's not just about the weight, it's everything that goes with the LC WOL. I felt on top of the world, physically, when I was doing well. It wasn't about being bored -- I love the food I eat -- it was about caving into the pressures and going off plan.

I did okay yesterday for my first day back on. I didn't eat many veggies, but today is another day!!!

Kellie, F38

Kellie,
PLEASE don't weigh yourself again for a while!!!
That is just self-torture.
Truly, a good bit of that is water-retention from the cheating and it will go quickly, but you will make yourself crazy if you keep weighing.
Do you think you can wait 7-10 days before weighing again? Two weeks would be even better.
Pretend you are back on induction and stay away from that scale!
We are here for you, so just keep your eyes forward and concentrate on just making it through TODAY (and each day hereafter -- one day at a time) without cheating.
You CAN do this!
{{{hugs}}}

Summer


www.herstorygirl.com

Hi Guys! Gonna have to chime in here. Im in the same boat too! I have modified my plan to fifty grams a day. I can live with that even if the losses are slower. Just cant get rid of the cravings for bread a cake for some reason. Listen to Summer and Doc and the others, they are inspiring, at least for me! Febe has been my personal angel, as have the chat ladies. Hang in there we can do this together!

Repeat after me...There's no place like home.
180/175/140

Hi again. Yes, I think I need to stay away from the scale. It was SO discouraging this morning. I just might go that extra mile and stay away until the first of the year. The brain says it isn't true weight, but the emotions keep taking over!

I know I am not the only one going through this, and it helps tremendously knowing I can unload it here.

Kellie, F38

Hi Kellie.... oh, I hear you girlfriend, LOUD and CLEAR. I did GREAT last year from July up to Thanksgiving Day. From Thanksgiving through Christmas I tried but was not successful to stay low-carb - I had worked hard all fall and gotten down to 142 - but after Christmas I was up at...150 (almost a quarter of my weight loss back on). BUT, buckling down after Christmas I got focused, re-Inducted and dropped to 139. Until recently it was my lowest weight.

I'm not trying to help you justify eating 'badly' during this period - but it is SO very hard to resist and to track (I can't speak for anyone else, but I am so BUSY this time of year - tracking is hard!)... The January greys are a GREAT time to refocus and get back on track.

Try your hardest to keep the carbs low as often as possible and treat the cheats as 'special' - only occasionally and only one cookie or one bite of DH's cake or pie (let HIM bloat up!)

In any case.... good, good luck... we're with you girlfriend, we really are...

Hugs,
Rachel
165/138/128
Haec trutina errat. (Latin for,"There is something wrong with this scale".)

Hi chippykd, I am right there with you. This time of the season is so hard. I am feeling guilty right now as well. I have been at a stall now for going on 3 weeks. I've been feeling really down and on Thanksgiving I had some Mac n' Cheese and a slice of cake. So I've been feeling like I don't know if I can stick to it. But these forums are so helpful, when I feel like this I just hop on and read everybody's posts. Then it makes me wake up. I have lost 20lbs and 3 inches around my waist, I'm not wanting to throw away all that hard work. So good luck cuz I know I need it as well!!

Start 9/9/03 210/195/160

Anything is possible!