Wyoming Diva's Blog

I've been around low carb eating for almost three years now. I have primarily done Atkins (the 1972 version) with sporadic stints of M&E and/or being completely carnivorous.

I lost weight well on LC. 100 pounds in fact. The weight loss took about 18 months. I reached goal in November, 2006. After maintaining about 8 months, things began to change. Not only was my personal life in upheaval (positive events, but stressful), but I began to eat 'off' the LC plan sporadically.

After my wedding in July, 2007, I seemed to lose my mind and could not stay on LC. Slowly, over the next few months, I began to gain weight.

By November, I could hardly wear any of my clothing and struggled to get 'clean' and back on Atkins. I could not stay 'clean' more than a few days or weeks at a time. In late December, I finally managed to stick on induction.

However, no matter how carefully I stuck to Atkins induction, I was not losing. In fact, to my horror, I continued to gain! In late January 2008, I reached 35 pounds above my goal weight of 180 (215), I knew I had to do something different before I weighed 280 again. In tears and on my knees, I began to seek a solution...and became willing to go to any length to not eat compulslively any longer.

For a variety of reasons, most having to do with my addictive personality and compulsive overeating disorder AND my past/current involvement with 12 step programs (AA, OA), I chose to follow a hardcore 12 step program eating plan called "Greysheet."

It's tough. It's very similar to Atkins, but it is very portion-controlled. Meals must be planned the day before and 'commited' to a sponsor. No deviation may be made from this plan without first speaking to my sponsor or another 'qualified' person in the Greysheet program.

Greysheet has been very effective for me. Not only am I losing weight dramatically after a month on it (23 pounds so far), but it has stopped the compulsive overeating I was still doing, even on Atkins. Yes, I was compulsively overeating/binging on Atkins. I have come to realize that just because Atkins said I could eat as much as I wanted of protein, doesn't mean I should!!!

I find it interesting that the longer I'm on Greysheet, the less cravings (mental OR physical) I have. Yesterday, I went 8 hours between lunch and dinner, and did not feel sick, hungry, or crazy. Just sort of peaceful and accepting when I realized that I should 'probably eat dinner now.'

That's quite different from when I used to feel DRIVEN to eat all the time, not just at meals. I like this new feeling. Very spiritual and serene.

I knew when I started Atkins, that I could probably 'do' this eating plan for life because I wasn't hungry and crazy like many diets in my past. With Greysheet, though...I am more realistic. I don't know that I can do this for life. However, I don't have to do it for life. By 12th step program priniciples, we just do this one day at a time. I can do this for today. We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

I have decided to shoot for my long-term goal weight of 150. I didn't think I could get below 180 (I'm 5'10"), but the Greysheet program has given me hope that I can achieve my dream of being slender, rather than just mildly oveweight.

I have hope today. And I DON'T EAT BETWEEN MEALS NO MATTER WHAT.