Starting LC

I've been toying with starting low carb for awhile now. I've read the
books, and I check this group daily for info and advice.
My problem is I'm afraid to start ..... and fail as I have with so
many other diets. I keep telling myself that it's *not* a diet, it's
a way of life. A lifestyle change. I'm scared to give up my carb
crutch. I'm scared to be thin again (and what that would mean for my
life ie: work relationships etc).

Does this make sense to anyone ??
Any advice or words of wisdom for jumping right in ??

With winter coming, pretty much the only clothes I have in my closet
that fit now are pyjamas. I have tonnes of clothes at smaller sizes
than I am now. It would be nice to fit back into them instead of
going through the depressive hassle of buying bigger clothes.

I'd love some advice on how to start this and succeed.

Thanks !

1993girl

240/240/150

"1993 girl" wrote in message
om...
I've been toying with starting low carb for awhile now. I've read the
books, and I check this group daily for info and advice.
My problem is I'm afraid to start ..... and fail as I have with so
many other diets. I keep telling myself that it's *not* a diet, it's
a way of life. A lifestyle change. I'm scared to give up my carb
crutch. I'm scared to be thin again (and what that would mean for my
life ie: work relationships etc).

Does this make sense to anyone ??
Any advice or words of wisdom for jumping right in ??

With winter coming, pretty much the only clothes I have in my closet
that fit now are pyjamas. I have tonnes of clothes at smaller sizes
than I am now. It would be nice to fit back into them instead of
going through the depressive hassle of buying bigger clothes.

I'd love some advice on how to start this and succeed.

Thanks !

1993girl

240/240/150

It is normal human behavior to fear change, but the best thing to do when
facing a major change in your life is to look at the positives. I don't know
which low carb plan you are looking in to, but I chose Atkins because it fit
my tastes in food the best. Anyway, low carb has so many extra benefits
other than being a great way to lose weight. I all but eliminated my
heartburn and acid reflux problems. I don't get sick (cold, flu, etc.)
nearly as often. Other people have reported that allergy and asthma symptoms
have regressed.

I'm like you in a way, because I also failed on many diets. Most people do.
The main reason for failing on a diet is because you feel hungry all the
time, or don't see results. The nice thing about Atkins is that you won't
feel hungry. If you do, you're supposed to eat. You'll find the food more
satisfying for a longer period of time.

As far as the psychological concerns, this is something that you may have to
work out with yourself, but in a way you are already doing that. For
instance, you have said that you would rather fit into your smaller clothing
rather than go out and buy new stuff. That is motivation for you. Do you
have pictures of yourself at or near your goal weight? If so look at them
and see if that is how you would like to look again. One thing I used to
motivate myself was to pick something up that weighed the same as the amount
of weight I wanted to lose and I carried it around for a bit. Then I
imagined what it would be like to have that much less weight following me
around all day, every day. It will amaze you. It sounds to me like you
really want to lose the weight, so I would just go for it and deal with the
new changes and opportunities as they arise. They may not end up being as
big a problem as you think they will be. Sometimes we are subconsciously
looking for reasons to not do something.

Chris

"1993 girl" wrote in message
om...
I've been toying with starting low carb for awhile now. I've read the
books, and I check this group daily for info and advice.
My problem is I'm afraid to start ..... and fail as I have with so
many other diets. I keep telling myself that it's *not* a diet, it's
a way of life. A lifestyle change. I'm scared to give up my carb
crutch. I'm scared to be thin again (and what that would mean for my
life ie: work relationships etc).

Does this make sense to anyone ??
Any advice or words of wisdom for jumping right in ??

With winter coming, pretty much the only clothes I have in my closet
that fit now are pyjamas. I have tonnes of clothes at smaller sizes
than I am now. It would be nice to fit back into them instead of
going through the depressive hassle of buying bigger clothes.

I'd love some advice on how to start this and succeed.

Thanks !

1993girl

240/240/150

Hiya,
Being scared is normal. However look at all those clothes you have in
smaller sizes and use them as your motivation. Tell yourself you will try
Induction for two weeks and if you don't like it, then you don't need to do
it. That will give your mind an 'out' and it won't be like you are just
jumping into the deep end. I'm positive that after two weeks you will look
back and wonder what you were so worried about and carry on with Atkins.

I understand the dilemna of giving up the carb crutch. Chocolate and potato
chips were my comfort food before I started. I delayed starting for so long
purely due to the fact I didn't think I could stop eating them. However I
did, and a month later I still haven't had any junk food. However no one is
saying you can't have the carbs you want ever again. Reward yourself, if you
stay on the diet for a month or two weeks or whatever, then let yourself
have a day off and eat carbs. You may even find by the time that day rolls
around, the results of this way of eating have you so excited you won't even
want that food.

Just give yourself small goals to achieve. Plus on the day you start, take
your measurements of your bust, chest, waist, hips and thighs. Track these
changes along with the scales. I had lost 4 inches in most regions after 3
weeks. That is the amazing sort of encouragement I needed to carry on.

Drink lots of water too, I couldn't understand that at first, but it flushes
out the fat from your body. So if you don't drink enough water, your
weightloss may stall.

Best of luck with this, I'm sure starting on this WOE is a decision you will
never regret.

Angie

--
Angie

New Zealand

In article , girlfrom1993
@yahoo.ca says...
I've been toying with starting low carb for awhile now. I've read the
books, and I check this group daily for info and advice.
My problem is I'm afraid to start ..... and fail as I have with so
many other diets. I keep telling myself that it's *not* a diet, it's
a way of life. A lifestyle change. I'm scared to give up my carb
crutch. I'm scared to be thin again (and what that would mean for my
life ie: work relationships etc).

Does this make sense to anyone ??

Absolutely! Once you get past the first few days of not having the carb-crutch,
you'll find that your appetite will descrease SUBSTANTIALLY. That will make it
MUCH easier to given them up. Besides, you won't be giving them up completely --
just the unhealthy ones. I pretty much LIVED on frozen dinners, cookies, bready
stuff, candy, etc. I did VERY little cooking and rarely ate fresh food. Since
I've started this WOE, I've eaten better than I have since I was a little girl in
the 1960s! I've gotten SO many recipes and ideas here and on sites people
reference here (I'll leave it to someone else to post all of them). It IS more
work in the kitchen, both in preparation and cleanup, but it's VERY rewarding.
It's an opportunity to experiment and discover new horizons in eating! Tip: buy
extra sets of measuring spoons & cups -- you can get a set for 49 cents at Big
Lots, for instance -- otherwise, if you don't have a lot of tablespoons,
especially, you'll constantly be washing them to reuse.

Any advice or words of wisdom for jumping right in ??

Once you've decided to start, one of the best things to do (if it doesn't affect
others in your household) is to GET RID of all the non-low-carb foods in the
house. Don't wait to use them up, just give them away or chuck them so they
won't be there to tempt you. I gave most of my carb-heavy foods to the local
food bank -- they even took frozen stuff. If it's hard to give away particularly
decadent or expensive stuff, just think of what a nice treat it will make for
some hungry people, especially kids. If you have open stuff, toss 'em!

Next, hard-boil a bunch of eggs (at least 6-8 at a time). Even if you don't end
up eating them, they'll be there and ready if you find yourself gravitating
toward the fridge -- seeing them there reminds you that you DO have something
nutritious and filling to eat if you absolutely HAVE to have SOMETHING **RIGHT
NOW**. Need to make them more decadent? Slather on (sugarless) mayo, mustard,
spices, whatever.

Get some sardines for the same reason. If you run out of ideas or the right
food, you know you have a high-protein alternative just waiting on the shelf. I
add them to salads sometimes.

Early on I made a low-carb treat that was satisfying in very small amounts:

1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons Splenda
(optional) 2 tsp cocoa powder or 1 tsp flavor extract such as strawberry, cafe,
etc.

In a small saucepan, over low heat, melt butter. Add heavy cream and cream
cheese, and whisk until smooth. Add Splenda, and adjust for taste. Heat until
bubbling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat, and stir in vanilla and or other
flavoring. Blend well. Pour into a small buttered dish. Place in the refrigerator
to set for 3 to 4 hours. Cut into 8 pieces.

I make it with 1 tsp of extract, usually cafe flavor that I bought at Whole
Foods, but sometimes strawberry or just plain vanilla. I didn't care for the
cocoa-flavored version, finding it a little too bitter, although extra Splenda
might help. It comes out to less than 2 carbs per serving. After a couple of
days, the cravings go WAY down, and just this little bit of sweetness and
creaminess can really hit the spot without feeling like I have to keep going back
for more.

Use FitDay.com or make your own spreadsheet to keep track of what you eat. It
REALLY helps to keep things in check. So many things can add up quickly. By
keeping track, you can budget for the day. By the time dinner rolls around, you
may see that you have 7 carbs left and can plan so that you don't exceed that
amount. Or maybe you'll find that you ALREADY exceeded your alloted amount for
the day, and can then plan to eat only protein and skip any side dishes.

Calibrate your scale ahead of time if you can. Many of us have been jazzed by
our weight loss only to discover that our scales actually show 8-10 lbs LOWER
than we THOUGHT we weighed, which is a real bummer when you realize you have to
adjust all your numbers up to that point. You STILL lost the weight you lost,
but it's very discouraging to have that kind of slap in the face :-( Better to
START OUT with a reality check. I took my scale WITH me to the doctor's office
(I didn't have an appt, I just asked to borrow their balance scale). I stepped
on one, then stepped on the other right away, so there was no possiblity of
fluctuation in the meantime.

Think of the health benefits. After the first week, you will probably become
aware of things looking up in that dept. Be aware that you may have a couple of
days of fatigue during that first week or so -- it usually passes. Also be aware
that your time of month most likely WILL cause a few lbs weight gain. Just keep
to the plan and ignore it (as much as you can) -- it IS temporary. Also, men
lose faster than women -- that's just a fact of life, so don't compare your
weight loss to a man's -- it will only make you want to slap him :-)

Some people have really impressive initial weight losses. Some of us don't. I
lost 7 lbs the first couple of weeks -- some people lose 20-30 lbs -- it differs
with each person. The heavier you are, the more likely you will be to lose a lot
of weight initially. It WILL taper down after a couple of weeks. 2 lbs a week
is a healthy weight loss.

EXERCISE! It makes a TREMENDOUS difference in how you feel and how you look.
You may want to wait a few weeks before starting an exercise program if you don't
already have one, though, when (hopefully) that extra surge of energy will kick
in. See my progress photos (see sig) -- the improvement is partly due to weight
loss, but I think it's due MORE to exercising.

If you are hooked on coffee and plan to kick the habit as part of the WOE, don't
stop cold turkey. Taper down to avoid caffeine headaches. I'm VERY sensitive to
this and give myself 2-4 weeks to kick the habit (which I pick up once every year
or two). No point in shocking your body with too many things at the same time.

Read and post here every day. It's been SOOO helpful! I'm not at ALL sure I
would have stuck to this if I hadn't been able to read here every day and get
such great ideas and inspiration. Post here to brag that your fingers and toes
are smaller, that your clothes fit better, or that you can see your cheekbones
emerging. Also post here to vent and cry if you need to. Post if you
successfully trumped temptation or found a new way to cook something that never
occurred to you before. Look at people's before/during/after photos as often as
you want -- *I* do. Know that we've ALL been there and struggled! Ignore the
assholes -- it doesn't take long to figure out who they are and filter out their
posts. Also, some people just have ****y days or abrasive styles, but mean well,
so don't take it personally, at least until you've had a chance to observe their
posts for a while to determine if there is a trend.

Personally, my weight loss has been very slow, but I'm a VERY sedentary person
when I'm not exercising. However, before starting this WOE, I didn't think I
would EVER be able to lose weight exactly BECAUSE OF my rather enforced state of
sedentariness (is that a word?) and daily pain. It was SOOO depressing! I have
some physical problems that keep me off my feet for the most part. On the plus
side, I've had much LESS pain in them since I've lost some weight and have been
exercising (I think the MSM I started taking helps, too). I KNOW it's not all
due to the lost weight because I have yet to hit the 20 lb mark; I think my
improved nutrition and increased circulation from exercising has a lot to do with
it. In tracking my weight since starting this WOE in mid-June, I've discovered a
trend -- I tend to lose about 2 lbs every TWO weeks. It stops altogether from
PMS until AFTER my TOM. Annoyingly slow, but that's just the way it is in my
case. It's a HELL of a lot better than GAINING 2 lbs every two weeks and the
fact that I've lost weight at ALL gives me something priceless: HOPE! I have
yet to cheat except for accidentally taking a swig of what turned out to NOT be
DIET Snapple -- it was so sweet that I INSTANTLY knew it couldn't possibly be the
diet version and immediately poured it out. I've also seen a 100% improvement in
IBS symptoms (i.e., I no longer HAVE any) -- that ALONE is a reason to make this
a way of eating (WOE) for life!

Hang in there, 1993girl! Stay the course and you WILL get results. Nothing
succeeds like success!

--
Saffire
205/186/125
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

I'd love some advice on how to start this and succeed.

Thanks !


just start.

see how it works for you.

you can always go back to your old ways if you really want.



you're right... it IS scary.

you solve the problems of being fat... then you get to
deal with the problems of being healthy and attractive...
and there ARE dangers for an attractive woman.

if you are ready to change, low carb eating isn't really
all that difficult.

pizza is the only thing i REALLY miss... and ice cream.
but i now get to wallow in things i've felt guilty about
for years. it's not a bad trade.

heron

--
Nature, heron stone
to be commanded,
must be obeyed. mywebpages.comcast.net/heronstone

a way of life. A lifestyle change. I'm scared to give up my carb
crutch.

Understandable. Here are the benefits I've received by changing.

I love eating the Atkin's way. I am not hungry all the time. When I tried
low fat, high carbs I was always hungry, with Atkins I am not.

I have not had craving for carbs at all.

You may enjoy the same experience.

My advice is similar to what the others have said, that is give it a go!

I dithered for ages before starting...now 4 months later I'm over 30 lbs
lighter and feeling better than I have in ages. The dreadful carb cravings
have disappeared and when I indulged myself whilst on holiday, I felt so
ill, I said never again! (Don't suppose I'll stick to that though!)

So as others have said, try it, if it doesn't work for you, and you don't
like it, that's fair enough, but at least you tried!

Keep reading, and keep posting too!

Looking forward to hearing what you decide.

Yorkshire Rose
270/239/200 (interim goal)
Started Atkins 25th May 2003
"1993 girl" wrote in message
om...
I've been toying with starting low carb for awhile now. I've read the
books, and I check this group daily for info and advice.
My problem is I'm afraid to start ..... and fail as I have with so
many other diets. I keep telling myself that it's *not* a diet, it's
a way of life. A lifestyle change. I'm scared to give up my carb
crutch. I'm scared to be thin again (and what that would mean for my
life ie: work relationships etc).

Does this make sense to anyone ??
Any advice or words of wisdom for jumping right in ??

With winter coming, pretty much the only clothes I have in my closet
that fit now are pyjamas. I have tonnes of clothes at smaller sizes
than I am now. It would be nice to fit back into them instead of
going through the depressive hassle of buying bigger clothes.

I'd love some advice on how to start this and succeed.

Thanks !

1993girl

240/240/150

Ralph Waldo Emerson: 'Do the thing and you will have the power'

Martin

"1993 girl" wrote in message
om...
I've been toying with starting low carb for awhile now. I've read the
books, and I check this group daily for info and advice.
My problem is I'm afraid to start ..... and fail as I have with so
many other diets. I keep telling myself that it's *not* a diet, it's
a way of life. A lifestyle change. I'm scared to give up my carb
crutch. I'm scared to be thin again (and what that would mean for my
life ie: work relationships etc).

Does this make sense to anyone ??
Any advice or words of wisdom for jumping right in ??

With winter coming, pretty much the only clothes I have in my closet
that fit now are pyjamas. I have tonnes of clothes at smaller sizes
than I am now. It would be nice to fit back into them instead of
going through the depressive hassle of buying bigger clothes.

I'd love some advice on how to start this and succeed.

Thanks !

1993girl

240/240/150

it's *not* a diet, it's
a way of life. A lifestyle change. I'm scared to give up my carb
crutch. I'm scared to be thin again (and what that would mean for my
life ie: work relationships etc).



it sure does make sense.
sounds like you might have a food addiction, so treating the emotional component is VERY important!

LC is a WOE, and will help to balance out the sugar/carb "emotional roller coaster"that many of us can get stuck on.

welcome out of lurking!

rosie