Been struggling for a year now...have gained 60 pounds. :(

anj · 05-08-2007, 12:42 AM

Hi all,

I did SB for about a year and lost like 40 pounds (lost the other 40 on Atkins the year before that). But over the last year I gained back 60 pounds. I am struggling and just can't seem to get back on. I start out and then somehow decide I need a donut or something else. I decide that I will start again tomorrow...I think I should be able to handle some sugar...I wonder why can't i eat like a normal person, etc...and then I try to, but I end up binging.

I know I need to get back on something. I try Atkins and then get frustrated that I can't have much fruit. i do SB and then get frustrated that I can't have one little piece of cake...basically, it's not the diet, it's me. I just don't know how to get that mindset back. For 2.5 years, I eat well, worked out regularly and did everything else healthy. Now I can't manage to last a day.

I know there is no answer because I didn't know what to tell people when I was "on" for those 2.5 years. Something just clicked in me and it worked. I just can't get it to work again.

I am going to start SB again tomorrow. I will post and let you all know how it goes. Maybe it will help if i have to tell everyone when i ate something crappy. I just have to remember that I can add fruit in 2 weeks and that will help.

JoLi · 05-08-2007, 06:59 AM

Hello. Just do this one day at a time. If you eat something wrong, don't use it as an excuse to eat bad the whole day. Have lots of the appropriate foods on hand and plan out your meals for the day so you don't have a lot of decisions to make when you are hungary and ready to eat. Eating the three meals and snacks should keep you satisfied. There are "sweet" treats you can have that are considered legal. Use them if you are having a craving. Hopefully though after two weeks on phase one those will decrease. You have to set your goals and do what you can to get to them.
Exercise is really important too. If you can get out and get moving that will increase the chance that your dieting will work.
Come back to the board for all the support and suggestions you need.

LowCarbRachel · 05-08-2007, 09:20 AM

Hey there! First, welcome. We are glad to have you here.

Second, I know what it's like to lose on lowcarb and gain it back because I was mad that I couldn't eat donuts and cake. I thought that if I ate those things in moderation that I would be able to eat "normally." It didn't work for me. I am just too sensitive to sugar and refined flour. I had to decide that I wanted to lose the muffin top more than I wanted to eat the muffins, kwim?

After I got the cravings under control and the headaches out of the way, I started feeling much better on P1. I'm hoping that you'll be the same. **hugs**

We're here for you.

Rachel

Chunk · 05-08-2007, 10:52 AM

Anj,

Wishing you the best of luck. I am pretty sure alot of us can relate to your story. Dieting is like a light switch for me, it's either on or off. When I am dieting it's all I think about, focus on and put my energy towards. When i'm off the diet the thought of eating a plain chicken breast is disgusting unless it's wrapped with breading, honey mustard washed down with curly fries.

This time around I am much less focused on my plan. That may sound counter productive but I am doing much better by not "living" the diet or not "living" my cheats. I am trying to make food as mechanical as possible with the occasional treat on the weekends. It's working now and hopefully forever

hope you can do well

2bdancing · 05-08-2007, 12:21 PM

anj - you are definatley not alone. I was on Atkins for 5 years and did wonderful then harmones caused confusion in my system. I now have that under control and could not get a jump start on Atkins so I am trying SB. I have been strick with P1 and lost 4 #'s the first week. My DH lost 8 #'s. I hope to lose 9 by May 19th (doubtful but I will try). You can do this. Once I get to where I want to be I will continue to exercise and have a free day once a month. I will not go wild but that should keep the demons away. Good luck to you and hang in there.

anj · 05-08-2007, 05:07 PM

THanks for the support everyone. I've done pretty well today. I know it will be better if I can just string together 5 good days or so. I'm going to try to post here, so hopefully that will help. I worked out today too.

UtahMama · 05-08-2007, 06:41 PM

Anj,

I restarted Atkins last week and I know how hard it is...especially the first 3 days. I did it back in 1998 and lost 70 lbs. I was able to maintain for years and I was sure that I would keep it off forever...didn't happen. After getting married and having a baby I'm up 40 lbs. Sugar is definitely my addiction and will be for the rest of my life.

I'm not sure what happened but it was like something "clicked" in me and I knew I had to do this. I take it one day at a time and it has gotten easier. I wish you the strength and willpower to keep going.

BTW - this message board and website have been a huge inspiration to me. It helps knowing others are going to the same thing that you are. I love to hear the success stories and hope that I'll be able to share mine down the road.

anj · 05-08-2007, 10:39 PM

I am really hoping that this is the final click. I do know that it is a recommitment I have to make every single day. I will definitely try to check in as often as possible.

Lurchy · 05-09-2007, 11:37 AM

Struggling is normal for lots of people. Jumping right in to a restrictive diet plan is overwhelming. It was too many changes at once for me. I am now just eating healthy foods (following the Mediterranean food pyramid... you can google for it) and making myself follow a set eating schedule of every 3-4 hours. Once I feel confident in that, I will make the needed changes in foods and quantities (perhaps SB) for faster weight loss. I am also slowly adding in exercise as the weather gets nicer here. I truly want healthier eating, a thinner figure, and a more active lifestyle to be a way of life for me. Baby steps to change rather than whole hog and then failure is working much better for me.

moonstruck · 05-13-2007, 01:10 PM

Hi anj, it seems like you are telling my story. I have always been thin and gained 75 pounds during my pregnancy - our son will be 8 in July.

I lost 31 pounds on Weight Watchers in about six months five years ago and since then, have gained it all back and am now at 207. I've done well on South Beach and Atkins - however - I am very hard on myself and tell myself that I can't have this or that.

Thankfully, my husband does all the cooking and is 100% supportive. He tells me, "you can do this!" and I know I can.

We can and will do this!

anj · 05-14-2007, 12:41 AM

Gaining weight back is so frustrating. It's so hard to feel like your starting over.

I had a kindof crappy weekend as far as food, but I will do better tomorrow.

05-08-2007, 12:42 AM	#1
anj Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 731 Gallery: anj Start Date: 1/12/04	Been struggling for a year now...have gained 60 pounds. :( Hi all, I did SB for about a year and lost like 40 pounds (lost the other 40 on Atkins the year before that). But over the last year I gained back 60 pounds. I am struggling and just can't seem to get back on. I start out and then somehow decide I need a donut or something else. I decide that I will start again tomorrow...I think I should be able to handle some sugar...I wonder why can't i eat like a normal person, etc...and then I try to, but I end up binging. I know I need to get back on something. I try Atkins and then get frustrated that I can't have much fruit. i do SB and then get frustrated that I can't have one little piece of cake...basically, it's not the diet, it's me. I just don't know how to get that mindset back. For 2.5 years, I eat well, worked out regularly and did everything else healthy. Now I can't manage to last a day. I know there is no answer because I didn't know what to tell people when I was "on" for those 2.5 years. Something just clicked in me and it worked. I just can't get it to work again. I am going to start SB again tomorrow. I will post and let you all know how it goes. Maybe it will help if i have to tell everyone when i ate something crappy. I just have to remember that I can add fruit in 2 weeks and that will help.

05-08-2007, 10:52 AM	#4
Chunk Senior LCF Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: SLC, Utah Posts: 303 Gallery: Chunk Stats: (470)367/269.4/210 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 3-28-07	Anj, Wishing you the best of luck. I am pretty sure alot of us can relate to your story. Dieting is like a light switch for me, it's either on or off. When I am dieting it's all I think about, focus on and put my energy towards. When i'm off the diet the thought of eating a plain chicken breast is disgusting unless it's wrapped with breading, honey mustard washed down with curly fries. This time around I am much less focused on my plan. That may sound counter productive but I am doing much better by not "living" the diet or not "living" my cheats. I am trying to make food as mechanical as possible with the occasional treat on the weekends. It's working now and hopefully forever hope you can do well __________________ --Chunk (470)367/*269.4*/215 Began So. Beach 03/28/2007 (367 pounds) Began Atkins Diet 05/25/2007 (339 pounds) 32 Yrs Old 6'1 (Male) "“Stop being a victim of paralysis by analysis. Get your butt off the couch and go do something.”

05-09-2007, 11:37 AM	#9
Lurchy Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Dakota Posts: 379 Gallery: Lurchy Stats: 275/241/138 WOE: Low carb style Start Date: Restart July 29, 2008	Struggling is normal for lots of people. Jumping right in to a restrictive diet plan is overwhelming. It was too many changes at once for me. I am now just eating healthy foods (following the Mediterranean food pyramid... you can google for it) and making myself follow a set eating schedule of every 3-4 hours. Once I feel confident in that, I will make the needed changes in foods and quantities (perhaps SB) for faster weight loss. I am also slowly adding in exercise as the weather gets nicer here. I truly want healthier eating, a thinner figure, and a more active lifestyle to be a way of life for me. Baby steps to change rather than whole hog and then failure is working much better for me. __________________ ~~~Lurchy~~~

05-13-2007, 01:10 PM	#10
moonstruck lavender and lace Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 3,211 Gallery: moonstruck Stats: 202/201/150 WOE: Atkins Start Date: 11/28/08	Hi anj, it seems like you are telling my story. I have always been thin and gained 75 pounds during my pregnancy - our son will be 8 in July. I lost 31 pounds on Weight Watchers in about six months five years ago and since then, have gained it all back and am now at 207. I've done well on South Beach and Atkins - however - I am very hard on myself and tell myself that I can't have this or that. Thankfully, my husband does all the cooking and is 100% supportive. He tells me, "you can do this!" and I know I can. We can and will do this! __________________ Stephanie 39 years-old 5'10" Wife and Mother Smoke-Free Since: January 1, 1999 "I can do today what others won't - so I can have tomorrow what others don't"

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-08-2007, 06:59 AM	#2
JoLi MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,173 Gallery: JoLi Stats: (253 3/03)209/166/150 5'7" WOE: South Beach/phase 2 Start Date: Restart 1/2/08	Hello. Just do this one day at a time. If you eat something wrong, don't use it as an excuse to eat bad the whole day. Have lots of the appropriate foods on hand and plan out your meals for the day so you don't have a lot of decisions to make when you are hungary and ready to eat. Eating the three meals and snacks should keep you satisfied. There are "sweet" treats you can have that are considered legal. Use them if you are having a craving. Hopefully though after two weeks on phase one those will decrease. You have to set your goals and do what you can to get to them. Exercise is really important too. If you can get out and get moving that will increase the chance that your dieting will work. Come back to the board for all the support and suggestions you need.

05-08-2007, 09:20 AM	#3
LowCarbRachel Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Salt Lake Area Posts: 12,011 Gallery: LowCarbRachel Stats: size 4/6 (maintaining) WOE: eating healthy foods	Hey there! First, welcome. We are glad to have you here. Second, I know what it's like to lose on lowcarb and gain it back because I was mad that I couldn't eat donuts and cake. I thought that if I ate those things in moderation that I would be able to eat "normally." It didn't work for me. I am just too sensitive to sugar and refined flour. I had to decide that I wanted to lose the muffin top more than I wanted to eat the muffins, kwim? After I got the cravings under control and the headaches out of the way, I started feeling much better on P1. I'm hoping that you'll be the same. hugs We're here for you. Rachel

05-08-2007, 12:21 PM	#5
2bdancing Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 991 Gallery: 2bdancing Stats: 150/124/120 5'4.5" medium frame WOE: Modified Atkins/Mainly SB Start Date: February 2001 restart February 2006	anj - you are definatley not alone. I was on Atkins for 5 years and did wonderful then harmones caused confusion in my system. I now have that under control and could not get a jump start on Atkins so I am trying SB. I have been strick with P1 and lost 4 #'s the first week. My DH lost 8 #'s. I hope to lose 9 by May 19th (doubtful but I will try). You can do this. Once I get to where I want to be I will continue to exercise and have a free day once a month. I will not go wild but that should keep the demons away. Good luck to you and hang in there.

05-08-2007, 05:07 PM	#6
anj Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 731 Gallery: anj Start Date: 1/12/04	THanks for the support everyone. I've done pretty well today. I know it will be better if I can just string together 5 good days or so. I'm going to try to post here, so hopefully that will help. I worked out today too.

05-08-2007, 06:41 PM	#7
UtahMama Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Utah Posts: 180 Gallery: UtahMama Stats: 6' tall, 38 years old WOE: low carb Start Date: 1/15/98. Restarting 1/14/08	Anj, I restarted Atkins last week and I know how hard it is...especially the first 3 days. I did it back in 1998 and lost 70 lbs. I was able to maintain for years and I was sure that I would keep it off forever...didn't happen. After getting married and having a baby I'm up 40 lbs. Sugar is definitely my addiction and will be for the rest of my life. I'm not sure what happened but it was like something "clicked" in me and I knew I had to do this. I take it one day at a time and it has gotten easier. I wish you the strength and willpower to keep going. BTW - this message board and website have been a huge inspiration to me. It helps knowing others are going to the same thing that you are. I love to hear the success stories and hope that I'll be able to share mine down the road.

05-08-2007, 10:39 PM	#8
anj Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 731 Gallery: anj Start Date: 1/12/04	I am really hoping that this is the final click. I do know that it is a recommitment I have to make every single day. I will definitely try to check in as often as possible.

05-14-2007, 12:41 AM	#11
anj Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 731 Gallery: anj Start Date: 1/12/04	Gaining weight back is so frustrating. It's so hard to feel like your starting over. I had a kindof crappy weekend as far as food, but I will do better tomorrow.