I don't know if I am appropriate person to answer this thread, since clearly I am still a long way from my goal weight. However, I have managed to get below 300 pounds for the first time in 10 years, so clearly something has changed for me.

I can really relate to Karen's quote:



That describes me perfectly and it's something I have had to deal with to stick to this way of eating. I've had to let go of some of the control at work and some of the control with my family in order to find time to focus on my own health, both spiritual and physical. I'm learning that if I set limitations and simply say, "No, I won't do that," the world does not end. When I get all caught up in needing to control everything, I don't have the time to eat properly and exercise, and I don't have the contemplative time I need to work through my own issues.

It's very hard to do. I have a demanding job where I supervise a lot of people, I have a husband who has had health problems (cancer), and two teenagers, one of whom has a variety of problems. However, I can't make everything all better for everyone and years of trying have only helped me destroy my health.

The funny thing is since I have started setting more limitations on the demands everyone else puts on me, I think I am actually more helpful to them. My husband remarked recently that I was much happier than I had been and that happiness had a positive effect on everyone around me.

I know this is something I will struggle with for the rest of my life, but I think it is the key to health for me.

Hi Terri and thanks for thinking of us!

I lost and gained more times than I can count. The first time I gained alot of weight was at 29 when I first became pregnant, stopped working, quit smoking, and had sugar cravings like you read about. How I wish I knew about this WOE thru both my pregnancies - it would have been healthier for me and the babies! Both thank you God my children were 100% healthy albeit chubby babies.
It took 2 years of continuous exercise and (painfully) giving up the foods I love ..then in one month it just all came off ....a lb a day...it was strange but I'm not sure my body was ready to give up the extra 40 lbs. until that time?!?
Then my second child came 9 years later and at age 38 I put on 70 lbs. with that pregnancy. Since then my dd is now 6 I have lost 20+ lbs and gained 4 times. The last attempt I was doing so incredibly well....I was exerciing daily, watching carbs, taking my supplements, doing my yoga and then boom on the way to the gym I was thrown off my bike, right over the handle bars. I broke my arm and had a bump on my head that I still have! I was very lucky I wasn't hurt worse tho. After the doc told me I couldn't exercise for 6 weeks...I was mad I could have walked and I did a bit but I ate my frustration away and gained it all back. This time I'm praying nothing happens ...the 3 other attempts a major crisis happend I won't bore you with now....but I almost feel like the universe is sabotaging me right when I'm about to get close to goal. Or maybe I bring it on? This time I'm convinced I will make health and fitness a way of life !

I hope this finds everyone being able to deal with their mental side of eating issues and self image.So many say they have this problem and feel alone in it but I think it is pretty much universal for we are deluged with pictures in magazines,movies and TV of how we "should" look.To look different than how we should look we feel like losers...inadequate and like our lives are a runaway train. I think we all need to really look inside and pay more attention to what others see...the person within.If we could just love ourselves more I think others would see us different for who we are.

Margeme,it sounds like you have had a bad time of it but now you have found the right WOE and a support network to get you through without judging unfairly in any manner. Maybe now that you have been working on a more positive attitude you will indeed have better luck.Just know that we are all pulling for you on this forum be it bad times or good.That is what makes this forum so great!! You take care and hope things go well in your future.

Linda

Oh how I wish this thread was still as active... but at least I am not likely to bring it to a shuddering halt.... lol

This is quite long... but I need to say it... nobody needs to read it... lol

Only 10 days into this new WOL, hope I can stick with it, but my track record is pretty pathetic....... I have been overweight since birth... and have tried everything, including a disastrous attempt at gastric banding a few years back that almost killed me...

I tend to start keen, and then rapidly fall off the waggon, usually just as things are starting to do reasonably well... I have been able to find so many justifications for stopping.... and never really looked at just why I was doing this.. and the yo-yo effect has meant that I just steadily kept gaining...

For the past couple of years... I simply decided there was no way I was ever going to lose weight... this was me... and if people don't like me the way I am... that is their problem.. and.... surprisingly... I didn't gain any more weight... stayed pretty stable... ok.. trying not to overindulge in anything... constantly quoting my grandmother... "all things in moderation, and a little of what you fancy does you good".... but still, I didn't deprive myself of anything..

Yes, deprivation was one of my triggers.... and my favourite justification.

Last November I had another heart attack.. and again started searching for help to lose weight... nobody said I had to... think they have given up tooo...... but I knew it was important.. something I had to do...even if I didn't really want to.

I consulted a doctor whose specialty was weight reduction... and my opening line to him was.... I know all the facts, the plans, I just don't know how to make it work for me.... "did I want to lose weight".... well, I reallly don't want to deprive myself any more.... but I know I have to...
He actually commended me for my 2 years of simply eating as I felt... removing restrictions that had been in place for years.... he said that I had already overcome the first step... I had learnt to value me, and be kind to me....

Anyrate, to make a long story short.... after 4 months, a lot of money, a lot of talk, but no weight loss... we decided that my biggest problem was a mental block.... that I needed psychological help to find and understand before I was likely to succeed...

I was referred to a psychiatrist... who.... for various reasons, I only saw twice, and bailed out.... but.... all the open talking I had done with both doctors, had started me looking at things from my life, and seeing them in a different light..... starting to realise a lot of why I am like I am, and how this has sabotaged me... in many facets of my life....

So.... I remembered that the most sucess I had ever had previously was Atkins... yet stopped for what seemed very valid reasons at the time.. bought the book... started researching it all... tossed out my anti-depressants... and here I am.....

10 days in.... not really finding it difficult, in fact feeling quite indulged with the WOE... and hoping something I read earlier in this thread is true.
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I feel sorrow for people who think they'll lose weight and their life will change. They will be fabulous, sexy, loving, in charge, poised, forgiving, admirable... It goes the other way...change your life and you'll lose weight.
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I have gained insight, I think I am doing this because I have changed.. and so far.... it feels so right... Of course I would like to lose considerable weight... but... I have already learnt that I don't have to be thin, to be worthy, to be me...(and I'm not so bad).... and I am sure that I will achieve the health benefits I need... no matter how many pounds I may shed.... Hopefully I will not feel the need to throw my hands in the air and say "I give up"......
Only time will tell......... and threads such as this will help me stay strong....

You sound like a magnificent,beautiful person who just needs to believe in herself a bit more but at the same time I feel like you are on the right track to making yourself healthier...the slimmer part is really secondary. Your health is why you started and your health will be why you continue down the road to success!Being thinner as a result will be your just reward!

I know the mental part is difficult and even though I'm a few lbs. from goal I find myself making bad choices.Only difference this time is I did not let it get out of hand and be facing a scale that looks as bloated as I feel.Sometimes it seems an enormous task to lose so many lbs. when you have fought so hard to lose them.Now,it is easier to get right back on plan since I had such a hard time losing this time.I used to weigh 232 at my heaviest and I'm now at 166 with a goal of 162(which I will then evaluate) I have traveled a long road and it was too hard to let myself go back there.

This was not meant to help but if it did...GREAT! I do want to encourage you to go for the best health you can.If I am not much help.I'll gladly settle for supporting you every day.We have a great group here and welcome to it!

Linda

Quick post to subscribe...more thoughts later.

Sherry

Maybe this thread will become more active! We will look forward to your input 60's child!

Linda

Yes, I have this problem. I don't know why. Here's a post I wrote just yesterday to reach out about this.

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=208190

I thought inner changes were taking place, but I think it's a lot deeper. I don't know where to go with it either. As I said, my family, even my 9 year old, have become extremely supportive, though I get resentful when people (they or "friends") try to police me. That's the eternal rebel in me I suppose! In other words, I'll eat what I decide to eat, when I decide to eat it. This is MY ATKINS thing, not yours. But that works in opposition doesn't it?

I don't know maybe I have to see someone about this. I know I can get obnoxious when I start to look and feel good, because I feel unstoppable and am accomplishing something (though that really should have nothing to do with my weight, right? ). But people don't like that. I know I don't. And I think this is the question at hand....WHY does it happen and what do I do about it.

Man, this is the only place I can come to talk about this stuff and have someone else say, "YES!, I've been there!", or "I'm experiencing that now!"

I'm just speaking right out on this, so I hope there is some feedback for me, I sure could use it. I hope I haven't offended anyone, but if there are lots of us out there like this, then its a good thing to talk about it.

Karen, just wanted to say, your posts are very insightful, and your recipes, and others' have saved my daughter and I from boring meaningless meals. I let her help me do some things and she feels there's a double benefit... mom stays on her diet with her help, and we get to eat something new and delicious.

Ok, better get back to work, bbl.