I have lost 32 lbs on this WOE (Atkins) since January 19. So far it has been great, but the last few days I am feeling kind of blah. My LC food does not interest me--i want to go eat the things in the vending machine. Peoples high carb lunches are starting to smell good. I'm tired of measuring, counting, and eating different than everyone else. Just ick. It's not TOM, I'm not sick or depressed...just feeling blah and i've even though of just quitting.

Here's the thing. This works, i know it does. Nothing else has worked for me, ever. I have not seen the 220's since my early 20's. SO WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME??????

I'm sure (sure hoping ) this will pass. Anyone else go through anything like this and how did you hang on??

Thanks to everyone here!

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Renee
1/19/04
261/220/160
41 lbs off
60 lbs to goal



Race to 199 Challenge
Labor Day Challenge: Focusing on the Journey
Personal Goal: 199 by 12/31/05

I think we all have passing thoughts of high carb food every now and then but if this has persisted perhaps you ate something that triggered some cravings. Check your food log and see if there is anything new on it this week. Back when I first began I had cravings and narrowed it down to the sliced turkey breast I had been having for several days. It had one or more forms of sugar in the ingredient list. If these aren't food induced cravings you may need a semi- legal splurge. Maybe go over your carb allowance for a day. Have some strawberries with homemade whipped cream on top of some 3 minute chocolate cake as an example. I made this a couple months ago (with some cinnamon low carb ice cream) and shared it with my sister and I didn't crave anything sweet for a month. I'm sure you'll get other suggestions but hang in there.

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What are you measuring?

Are you measuring too much?

Are you perhaps not getting enough carbs?

Are you not allowing enough variety?

List a few examples of daily menus, that might help us to help

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Member since 2001

Renee,

I think it's natural to go through phases like this. Even with the success I've had, I still long for the higher carb foods too. All the shopping, planning, and preparing can be time cosuming. And it can be a little lonely being the only one in the group to pass up on the doughnuts, bagels etc. But from my experience, (the yoyo king) it's not what you really want because if you decide to give up the woe, and wake up in a fog 3 months from now at you pre-LC weight, you will be very dissapointed I believe. And you will wish you hadn't thrown your success away.

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keep on keepin on

211/165/170

I feel blah too...only because i have been sick for well over two weeks...but i wonder if low carb hinders the immune system because im on a strong antibiotic..it got rid of strep but i am still battling bronchitis and a head cold

renee- i'm so sorry to hear you're having a hard time! i think you're getting some excellent advice here (as always)..but wanted to add my two cents...

i don't weigh, measure, etc. food and that not has been a problem for me. perhaps if you feel too deprived with what you're doing, consider taking a break from measuring and such.

but sure, yeah, sometimes i miss the old foods. i was walking in the grocery store the other day and walking down some "dangerous" aisles looking for lc versions of some of the stuff, and i felt a twinge.

and as soon as i did, i thought, hey, wait a minute! i don't like being fat! i'll find stuff i like that works with what i want to do, too."

are you eating whenever you're hungry? are you eating stuff you LIKE? maybe it's time to splurge on a lc treat or two to get you past the tough spot. or get a lc cook book and fight boredom that way! look over recipies and see what can speak to you. lately, i've een eating the mock danishes when i want something sweet.

hang in there, sister! we're here for you!!
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creative-i don't believe lc hinders the immune system in any way, shape or form. while i'm no doctor, giving up sugar-based products is nothing if not extremely healthy. i personally feel better than i have in my entire life since i started low-carbing. if you continue to have problems, perhaps you should check with your doctor or continue checking with your doctor or even find a new doctor. i'd hate to see these kind of comments discourage anybody when, from what i understand, it's NOT representative of most people's experience.

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Yeah, i get the blahs, but theres usually an underlying culprit, like not getting enough to eat or eating too much of something, and sometimes you just may need a treat or give up a treat. But feeling the blahs have never made me even consider giving up this WOE, why in the world would i want to do that knowing the success that is looking me in the face.

So yes i get the blahs, but no to giving in, thats not an option for me. and im sure you really analyze yourself, its not an option for you either.

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Started LC 1-10-04

302/199/160, 103lbs down, 39 to go, simply remarkable.

Restart- 8-19-07
242/226/160


405 points to date ( HOLIDAY CHALLENGE )

Renee, In my humble opinion you need to ...QUICK CALL IN THE REINFORCEMENTS! This kind of feeling/thinking can get you in real trouble. You need to heavily re-motivate yourself very quickly. Go out and buy an outfit that is the next smallest size down. Write down a mini goal right on your bathroom mirror if nothing but lets see your 229 now, write on your mirror in lipstick (brite red) 225 you will know everytime you look at it what it means and no one else has to know. Go in and get your baggiest outfit out of your closet and put it in a bag mark the bag FAT CLOTHES- SALVATION ARMY. Really Renee you have come so far please please please don't screw it up now. I had lost 36 pounds and fell off the wagon in march I have gained back 25! It is so easy to do. Please, do some self talk and get out of this mood your in. I know just how you feel and it is hard but believe me living this way beats the alternative and you know it. Come on girl you can do this. I know you can! hugs to you, Anita

Renee:

I echo everyone else who says that what you're experiencing is natural. I go through bouts of feeling blah, too. This, too, shall pass. I still yearn for carby foods -- even after 6 years -- but I know that I will eat low carb the rest of my life because I have made that comittment. I will never go back to my old eating habits because I don't want to fit back into those size 54 pants I used to wear.

Please hang in there and allow this feeling to pass. Please continue to post and garner support here.

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This aside to cre8tive:

It has been my experience that following a low carb way of life boosts the immune system. When I was pre-low carb, I was hospitalized each Fall with asthmatic bronchitis and pnemonia. I haven't had so much as a cold or a case of the sniffles since staying off sugar. Wait...that's not exactly correct. I had to go to the emergency room this past year with an asthmatic bronchitis flare up. I attribute it to the fact that I had eaten nothing but sugar for two weeks prior to that episode. Since getting back on track, no illness. So, I emphatically state (in my csae) that following a low carb way of life boosts the immune system.

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

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Renee, maybe you need to put some variety into your meals. Splurge on dinner at a restaurant. Get something good that you don't usually allow yourself, like lobster and steak.

You might find that eating more frequently helps.

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"And so, in my State of the—my State of the Union—or state—my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation—I asked Americans to give 4,000 years—4,000 hours over the next—the rest of your life—of service to America. That's what I asked—4,000 hours."

Renee - I feel blah sometimes, too. I'll bet everyone does or will at some point. Until very recently I had not "craved" anything HC, but this week, everything my kids or DH eat that's HC makes me long for it. I have not given into that yet, though, but simply provide myself with a LC treat (like whipped cream with splenda and unsweetened cocoa - yum).

I DO allow myself a LC treat every so often, and I know it probably doesn't HELP with my progress, but at least it is LC. I just think of how much worse off I would be if my treats were HC or EVERYTHING was HC, right?

Also, sometimes it helps me to try on the clothes I know are baggy or too big for me now. It helps! Knowing that six months ago those same clothes were tight and uncomfortable "snaps" me right out of the blahs.

Lots of good suggestions. I hope you find what works for you. You can get rhough this, keep posting your feelings. It helps you and others as well (like me!).

Blessings,

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Suzanne (Atkins - 1/9/04)
195/168/145

Thank you all so much for your responses. I feel like I had a giant hug, which was just what the Dr. ordered.

I woke up today feeling much better--a good nights sleep is a wonderful thing. I did allow myself a LC breakfast treat today and have decided to try to add a little more variety in my diet. I really like to keep things simple and so more variety = more hassle in my head. But, if it keeps me on the low carb path, which is really working well for me, I think I better do it.

My carbs have also been pretty low (20-22 avg) , so I am going to be increasing them by 5 using veggies today. Plan to buy some fresh berries at the farmers market this weekend and eat them with cream and splenda. YUM!

I also realized i have not been exercising as regularly as usual, and today was my third day in a row of a morning walk. I think this helps my attitude as well. Endorphins, maybe.

Anyway, bottom line...this does work. I DO NOT WANT TO, WILL NOT go back to my old weight, my old WOL. What I have gained is too precious.

Thank you so much for helping me over this rough spot. I dont know what I would do without you!

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Renee
1/19/04
261/220/160
41 lbs off
60 lbs to goal



Race to 199 Challenge
Labor Day Challenge: Focusing on the Journey
Personal Goal: 199 by 12/31/05

I think you've got it, Renee.

If you're used to exercising and haven't been, coupled with WAY TOO LOW OF CARBS (like you've been doing) then I would say that's exactly the problem.

I would suggest varying your carbs. Let yourself go up to 30-50 carbs in a day now and then and then back down to 20-30, etc. This allows you more veggies and fruits and possibly an lc tortilla now and then with fajitas or something.

This variety is CRITICAL to a long term health maintenance plan.

Good luck

__________________
It is always necessary to leave some part
of cooking to improvisation. - Paul Bocuse
Member since 2001