As you may have noticed already, I changed the days back to the actual number of days it has been since I started this blog. After thinking about it, I feel like this is a continuous journey with ups and downs, struggles and backpedalling, and I want to document all of it. I do not want to consider this a new path. This is my Atkins journey and I feel like if I am not honest, even in simply naming the days, it cannot be trusted in its entirety.
So, officially, Restart: Day 12, Actual Journey Day: Day 206, this hit me hard knowing that I have only lost 32 pounds in 206 days, but then I must remind myself that I did take a hiatus for April, May, and most of June... And realize that that comes with consequences
Today has been a struggle. I weighed myself to find that I have gone up a pound. Not a huge deal except that I was already seriously wanting a cupcake. or a donut. or a bagel.
or any other forbidden item you can think of.
And then I thought, hmm, this could possibly be because Aunt Flo is coming to town in the next day or so, that makes complete sense.
So, as a precaution, I went out and bought sugar free chocolate. I am not eating it unless I absolutely cannot resist temptation, but simply knowing that there is the option is fantastic. For some reason, this helps me stay on plan tremendously.
But, the point. I did a raw food diet for 30 days, a 30 day challenge, and what kept me going was knowing that it was only 30 days and I thought... I can do anything for 30 days.
Well. That has become my motto for most things in this life. I can do anything for a day. And by goodness, I can stick to plan for a day even if it is a struggle to do so.
Showing posts with label Cravings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cravings. Show all posts
Friday, July 1, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Day 11. This diet fits ME. but it might not fit you.
Today I was reminded of how far I have come when it comes to dieting in general.
I used to get really upset when whichever diet I was on wasn't making me lose at least a pound a day and at the very minimum a half a pound a day.
It just wasn't worth it to me. I would say, it's going to take me forever to lose it this way, let's crash diet.
And now, here I am at 26 years old, once again trying to climb down that weight ladder.
But with Adkins, I don't feel that push. I don't feel like I did with other plans. If I don't lose that week, then that sucks, but okay. If I do manage to lose a ton, then woohoo, but let's not expect it all the time.
It is a strange feeling to be on a plan that is quite restrictive and to still be okay with not losing. They say that when you find your perfect mate, that you will just know and that even though he may have faults, you will be able to accept them.
That's kind of how I feel about a diet plan, or a way of eating. This just... fits for me. It just works... for me. And it may not work for you or anybody else you know, but. It works for me.
I need the restriction, the complete removal of certain foods from my diet, perhaps for always. But, some people are not like this, some people need moderation, they need the ability to eat whatever they want within reason.
I need this. I need to know that I can only eat meat, eggs, cheese, salad. that's about it. and truthfully, as you've seen in my past posts when I was following this plan, that is not all you can have.
But, people do gawk and stand amazed when they say, "So, you can't eat any bread?" and you say no. They can't believe that somebody can live without bread.
Not only can I live without bread, but my energy shoots up without bread, I am not groggy, I am not having constant, consistent, can't live without bread cravings, I am able to turn down cupcakes and ice cream and chocolate...
What makes this diet worth it is that once you get past the first few days, it doesn't feel a whole lot like deprivation or like you are constantly fighting yourself.
It feels like you are making a choice not to eat the cookie, and that's it. No going back and forth, no thinking about the cookie once it's out of your sight. It is like...
It's like... this way of eating... actually gives you back the control that you should have over your food choices. It takes power away from the food and puts it back into your hands.
Though, I must still admit that I do like to smell those cookies sometimes. :)
I used to get really upset when whichever diet I was on wasn't making me lose at least a pound a day and at the very minimum a half a pound a day.
It just wasn't worth it to me. I would say, it's going to take me forever to lose it this way, let's crash diet.
And now, here I am at 26 years old, once again trying to climb down that weight ladder.
But with Adkins, I don't feel that push. I don't feel like I did with other plans. If I don't lose that week, then that sucks, but okay. If I do manage to lose a ton, then woohoo, but let's not expect it all the time.
It is a strange feeling to be on a plan that is quite restrictive and to still be okay with not losing. They say that when you find your perfect mate, that you will just know and that even though he may have faults, you will be able to accept them.
That's kind of how I feel about a diet plan, or a way of eating. This just... fits for me. It just works... for me. And it may not work for you or anybody else you know, but. It works for me.
I need the restriction, the complete removal of certain foods from my diet, perhaps for always. But, some people are not like this, some people need moderation, they need the ability to eat whatever they want within reason.
I need this. I need to know that I can only eat meat, eggs, cheese, salad. that's about it. and truthfully, as you've seen in my past posts when I was following this plan, that is not all you can have.
But, people do gawk and stand amazed when they say, "So, you can't eat any bread?" and you say no. They can't believe that somebody can live without bread.
Not only can I live without bread, but my energy shoots up without bread, I am not groggy, I am not having constant, consistent, can't live without bread cravings, I am able to turn down cupcakes and ice cream and chocolate...
What makes this diet worth it is that once you get past the first few days, it doesn't feel a whole lot like deprivation or like you are constantly fighting yourself.
It feels like you are making a choice not to eat the cookie, and that's it. No going back and forth, no thinking about the cookie once it's out of your sight. It is like...
It's like... this way of eating... actually gives you back the control that you should have over your food choices. It takes power away from the food and puts it back into your hands.
Though, I must still admit that I do like to smell those cookies sometimes. :)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Day 9. - Is this a test?
Over the past two days, I feel very much like life is testing me. Maybe not so much life as just food.
I have not cheated once so far. And this has been largely due to the fact that cravings disappear after the first few days.
BUT. Yesterday, my boss for my marketing research job filled up the kitchen with new food. wonderful, glorious, fat-filled, sugar-filled food.
Mainly, and remember, I am doing this by memory, Mainly Milky Ways, Snickers, Twix bars, honey buns, breakfast breads, bananas, chips, cokes, pizza, donuts...
So, it was very difficult to just walk away from that. And then, today, at the ACS, our kitchen was filled with more donuts, cupcakes, etc. All of these just sitting there on the counter.
This is when it really helps to just focus. And just think, this is worth it. I do not need a donut. A donut is what got me to where I am today.
I have not cheated once so far. And this has been largely due to the fact that cravings disappear after the first few days.
BUT. Yesterday, my boss for my marketing research job filled up the kitchen with new food. wonderful, glorious, fat-filled, sugar-filled food.
Mainly, and remember, I am doing this by memory, Mainly Milky Ways, Snickers, Twix bars, honey buns, breakfast breads, bananas, chips, cokes, pizza, donuts...
So, it was very difficult to just walk away from that. And then, today, at the ACS, our kitchen was filled with more donuts, cupcakes, etc. All of these just sitting there on the counter.
This is when it really helps to just focus. And just think, this is worth it. I do not need a donut. A donut is what got me to where I am today.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Day 4. Little Scavenger...
CW: 262.8
Woke up and just couldn't do it. Couldn't get out of bed, couldn't work out, couldn't get ready for work.
Eventually, I pulled myself up. And brushed myself off. Long work hours + Atkins Induction + Half Marathon Training = Too much on my plate.
Horrible headache still.
Yesterday at work, I realized what a little scavenger us Atkinseers are. Is Atkinseer a word? :/
I was at work late and we couldn't leave because it was so busy. Normally, this isn't a problem. My employer supplies us with crazy amounts of food. But yesterday, I realized that it is mostly pizza, ice cream, pasta, M&Ms, etc...
All things that I cannot eat while on plan. So, I found myself scraping the pepperoni and cheese off of the pizza and eating some green peppers that i found in the drawers...
Interesting note, however, I was not even tempted to eat the pizza whole. It didn't even occur to me as it does with other diets where I think, well, I have to eat, this is all there is, might as well enjoy it.
I knew I had to find an alternative, and voila!
Woke up and just couldn't do it. Couldn't get out of bed, couldn't work out, couldn't get ready for work.
Eventually, I pulled myself up. And brushed myself off. Long work hours + Atkins Induction + Half Marathon Training = Too much on my plate.
Horrible headache still.
Yesterday at work, I realized what a little scavenger us Atkinseers are. Is Atkinseer a word? :/
I was at work late and we couldn't leave because it was so busy. Normally, this isn't a problem. My employer supplies us with crazy amounts of food. But yesterday, I realized that it is mostly pizza, ice cream, pasta, M&Ms, etc...
All things that I cannot eat while on plan. So, I found myself scraping the pepperoni and cheese off of the pizza and eating some green peppers that i found in the drawers...
Interesting note, however, I was not even tempted to eat the pizza whole. It didn't even occur to me as it does with other diets where I think, well, I have to eat, this is all there is, might as well enjoy it.
I knew I had to find an alternative, and voila!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Day 113 - Falling off the track...
CW: 261.2
Yes, that is a gain... a big gain. I have been off track for nearly two weeks now... well... I guess more like 10 days.
That is why I avoided this place, and the scale. And it reminded me why I weigh myself every day.
The downfall started with something so simple. I went camping. I ate one tiny little minuscule s'more... which led to a landslide.
I think that it led to a landslide because I thought, it's okay that I cheated a little, I will just wait a few days and get on the scale when the water weight is gone... well. then since I wasn't weighing myself I kept pushing it back and back and back and eating more and more and more.
And let me tell you, the worst part of this diet/lifestyle is getting on it. Once you are on it, I promise, the cravings really are not there. They really do go away for the most part. But, you can still get sidetracked, as I have proven.
But, I am here to write about the reasons you should not cheat, and what cheating this much has shown me.
1. My energy level off of Atkins goes way down. I feel like I could sleep for 10-12 hours a day and not get enough sleep.
2. My desire to workout becomes non-existent.
3. I am cranky.
4. No matter how much I eat, I am hungry. I can eat 4000 calories and still be hungry.
5. It's never a good time to get back on track.
6. Once again, you realize that nothing tastes as good as thin feels.
7. My stomach is bloated.
8. I feel depressed, sad, out of control.
9. My face is breaking out.
10. This is such a long journey, and this cheat has set me back probably a total of 3 weeks. It sucks to realize.
However, I am getting back to it. I am strong, I am confident, I am going full force. I just have to commit to not cheating. Commit to the fact that this is worth so much more than a s'more.
Yes, that is a gain... a big gain. I have been off track for nearly two weeks now... well... I guess more like 10 days.
That is why I avoided this place, and the scale. And it reminded me why I weigh myself every day.
The downfall started with something so simple. I went camping. I ate one tiny little minuscule s'more... which led to a landslide.
I think that it led to a landslide because I thought, it's okay that I cheated a little, I will just wait a few days and get on the scale when the water weight is gone... well. then since I wasn't weighing myself I kept pushing it back and back and back and eating more and more and more.
And let me tell you, the worst part of this diet/lifestyle is getting on it. Once you are on it, I promise, the cravings really are not there. They really do go away for the most part. But, you can still get sidetracked, as I have proven.
But, I am here to write about the reasons you should not cheat, and what cheating this much has shown me.
1. My energy level off of Atkins goes way down. I feel like I could sleep for 10-12 hours a day and not get enough sleep.
2. My desire to workout becomes non-existent.
3. I am cranky.
4. No matter how much I eat, I am hungry. I can eat 4000 calories and still be hungry.
5. It's never a good time to get back on track.
6. Once again, you realize that nothing tastes as good as thin feels.
7. My stomach is bloated.
8. I feel depressed, sad, out of control.
9. My face is breaking out.
10. This is such a long journey, and this cheat has set me back probably a total of 3 weeks. It sucks to realize.
However, I am getting back to it. I am strong, I am confident, I am going full force. I just have to commit to not cheating. Commit to the fact that this is worth so much more than a s'more.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Day 91. - Relax...
CW: 257.8
So, I have been losing steadily. Still enjoying the plan.
But I must admit that I am not completely gung ho about it anymore. I am. I am still sticking to the plan about 90% of the time.
Still, this past weekend, I ate popcorn at the movie theater and three bites of mashed potatoes... I still lost weight. It didn't kick me out of ketosis. And I don't have my cravings back.
I think that the key is moderation. I think that the key is also that if you are going to cheat, at least still stay in your carb count. Which is what I do. I knew I would want the popcorn. I had been fantasizing about it all day. So, I ate very few carbs all day so I could just enjoy one single cup of popcorn.
I was prepared for the consequences. And I think that you just have to evaluate yourself. And know yourself, and know what you can handle and what you can't.
I know myself. I know that if you put pizza in front of me, I can't just eat one slice. Therefore, I may never be able to eat pizza on plan ever.
But, let's be real here. I am viewing this as a complete lifestyle change... Do I really think that I am going to go my entire life without mashed potatoes, without popcorn? Absolutely not.
Now, there are a million substitutes out there for a million products... and when possible, you should absolutely go for the substitute. But for some things, don't beat yourself up. You will lose weight. Just... everything in moderation.
So, I have been losing steadily. Still enjoying the plan.
But I must admit that I am not completely gung ho about it anymore. I am. I am still sticking to the plan about 90% of the time.
Still, this past weekend, I ate popcorn at the movie theater and three bites of mashed potatoes... I still lost weight. It didn't kick me out of ketosis. And I don't have my cravings back.
I think that the key is moderation. I think that the key is also that if you are going to cheat, at least still stay in your carb count. Which is what I do. I knew I would want the popcorn. I had been fantasizing about it all day. So, I ate very few carbs all day so I could just enjoy one single cup of popcorn.
I was prepared for the consequences. And I think that you just have to evaluate yourself. And know yourself, and know what you can handle and what you can't.
I know myself. I know that if you put pizza in front of me, I can't just eat one slice. Therefore, I may never be able to eat pizza on plan ever.
But, let's be real here. I am viewing this as a complete lifestyle change... Do I really think that I am going to go my entire life without mashed potatoes, without popcorn? Absolutely not.
Now, there are a million substitutes out there for a million products... and when possible, you should absolutely go for the substitute. But for some things, don't beat yourself up. You will lose weight. Just... everything in moderation.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Day 79. - New Weight Bracket!
CW: 259.6
If you have never had t
o lose weight, or lose a significant amount of weight, you will never understand the joy of hitting a new weight bracket... it's something about seeing that number change... instead of 90 something it is 80 something and it just makes you happy.
I am completely back on track. I must admit that the cravings were horrendous though. I even had a dream about crawling through a donut tunnel.
What is most exciting is that the next weight bracket puts me closer to 200 than to 300.... is it sad that this is enough to make me super happy?
Fat people CAN be active too!
If you have never had t
o lose weight, or lose a significant amount of weight, you will never understand the joy of hitting a new weight bracket... it's something about seeing that number change... instead of 90 something it is 80 something and it just makes you happy.I am completely back on track. I must admit that the cravings were horrendous though. I even had a dream about crawling through a donut tunnel.
I also wanted to post a picture of me kayaking and rock climbing this past weekend!
Fat people CAN be active too!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Day 58 - Cravings, cravings, cravings...
CW: 265.8
I can always tell when I have taken into too many artificial sweeteners. Suddenly, the cravings hit and the cravings hit strong.
Today, I had a bit of a binge day. Now, I didn't eat anything off of the acceptable food list... but I did eat a lot on it.
It was definitely a binge though because I ate an entire pack of pepperoni sticks, three eggs, bacon, cheese, 10 ounces of chicken... okay, when I write it out, it doesn't look like a binge. But it certainly feels like it and I am sure that if I had more ready to eat foods, it would have been a full out binge.
Sometimes, I feel out of control with my foods. Generally this means that I am not eating enough vegetables... and as you can see from the above, I am not at all. My stomach has been cramping a lot, and it cramps more when I eat salads. Trying to figure out the problem...
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