new and in trouble
 

Hi. I lost 43 (or so) lbs. over the last 4 years. Its been a struggle and I kept it off for (without losing any more) for about 1.5 years. I know I can do it. However, I just recently married 2 months ago and began taking birth control pills for the first time. The stress of planning a wedding and moving plus bridal showers have sent me into a spiral. Plus, the birth control pills are wreaking havoc with my system. My dr. and I are working to get it under control though.

I have fell off the wagon for 3 months and I know that is making my cravings absolutely uncontrollable. I have gained 10 lbs. I have gone back to induction once and managed to feel better even though the scales didn't move. Now, I'm off again.

I need to vent! Plus I need some tips at trying not to eat the same amount my new husband eats as well as the ice cream he eats every night!!! He'll eat low carb meals, but he will snack all the time!!

Thanks,
kboat

Hi, kboat, welcome to the forum. You're facing a whole bunch of tough challenges all at once! Well, we're on your side (from what I've seen here I think I can safely speak for the attitude of this great group). Even on the bc pills, I think the LC plan will triumph over cravings once you adjust. In the meantime it should interrupt the weight-gain spiral and that'll help keep you from getting depressed at yourself.

I think you've done wonderfully well to hang on to so much of your weight loss! Look at what you have accomplished.

I had to chuckle when I read your plea for tips about having to eat with a new husband because I remember gaining a whole bunch of weight in the first months of my marriage. (Good for you to nip it in the bud.) It's hard to be "playing house"; you get all caught up in the rituals of the home, so many of which involve making and eating food. Well, I'm 23 years into living with someone who, for a long time, could get away with eating more than I. Now things have changed a bit; and, as often happens, he has to be more careful, too. In fact, we're partners in the weight loss effort. Until you move in that direction there are several things I can offer from my perspective:
The health benefits of LCing will be even more important for him as years go by than for you. All the stats make it clear that men's health is very vulnerable to overindulgence. You can't nag him, but you can quietly model what you've learned the hard way. In the long run, it'll be better for both of you. Second, I'd suggest that you at least communicate how hard watching him eat everything you want to eat is. Not that you're expecting him to stop (again, we can't control somebody else), but at least he'll understand how it feels for you and maybe won't mind if you leave the room for a few minutes and do something else, etc. One of my sons would take his popcorn downstairs into the rec room and eat it there when he knew it would trouble me. People who understand can be amazingly kind. Also, some tips that might help with the fact that he can eat vast quantities more than you and leave you sitting there finished while he eats on are: work at eating your portion more slowly and really savoring each bit, putting your meal on a smaller plate so it'll look more ample, and seeing yourself as a slim and delicate creature who just couldn't possibly consume types and amounts of food out of proportion to the svelte you! (I know it sounds goofy, but our heads, not our mouths, are the real danger zones and that is where the victories begin.) Hope even one of these suggestions and/or insights is of some help. Good luck to you!

keep goin!
 

kboat - keep on the LC plan and you will not fail. we're here for ya! :)

good luck!