[Feral]

It's nothing REALLY major, but I'm sure at least some of you can relate to being on a diet in a house where no one else is. It can get a little frustrating or tempting, etc.

About 6 years ago my dad came to pick me up from college for the summer. He has always been a VERY large man. He had lost 50 lbs and you could REALLY tell he was doing well and felt better. He and my mom had started the Atkins diet. Our family, as a whole, was in on it and we all lost weight. I don't remember how much my mom lost (I think it was 30-40) because unfortunately she was overshadowed by father losing 120lbs in about a year! I lost 30 lbs that summer just by walking around the track with my best friend a few nights a week and not eating any carbs.

Flash forward 6 years.... (okay, it was MUCH quicker than that) but we're all in the same boat again. My father really scares me because he's always been overweight, we have a history of heart problems/disease in my family, his father died when he was in his early 50s (which my father is now), etc.

I haven't really decided the BEST plan for me. Let me tell you, I'm a meat and potatoes kind of girl, raised in the south and I literally could eat french fries, potato salad and some other form of it in the same meal and be happy. (Sad, I know!). I've been semi debating on atkins vs. counting calories. I know that Atkins works, I know I can do it, it's just a matter of doing it.... but it's also a matter of a LIFESTYLE change because that weight comes on REALLLY fast if you don't watch yourself. All that hardwork undone so easily.

I emailed my mom this afternoon (fyi - I moved back in with them last November after being in Atlanta for a while) and had asked her to be a little more contientious (sp?) about grocery shopping if she wouldn't mind...

and *here's what all of this is leading up to*

She and my dad are about to start dieting too! Which means.... THREE people in the house (probably) doing the same thing, supporting each other... and that makes my life a HECK of a lot easier!


WOOOHOOOOOO!



/rant

[scarahjs]

Congrats!!! That will help you out alot. I wish my husband would diet with me, even though he doesn't really need to lose any weight. It does make it alot harder, when I have to cook two seperate meals.

[Spoz]

That's great! I think you should just think about it for a while and whatever is going to make the best impact on your health in the long run.

I wish I could have some of your luck though, my parents are both overweight and will say 'we should really lose some lbs' but they just eat CR*AP! I try to help them out but they just make up excuses, so what can I do.

Anyway, best of luck

[i am still trying]

It so tough when you're the only one trying to make healthy cjoices. Get this: my husband owns a restaurant! No matter how healthy you try to make it, restaurant food it still restaurant food, something you are supposed to enjoy on special occasions. Not everyday. I think that has something to do with my gain? ...
Any ideas on how to avoid that food. I dont really work there but in teh summer i am on vacation so i am there often

[Feral]

Thanks guys!!! I don't know what it is about being home... but when I was living with my roommates I really didn't snack all that often. I had actually LOST weight before I moved back and I really wasn't doing much differently (aside from snacking).

Still Trying -- restaurant food is still restaurant food. Is it a chain? If not do you think you and your husband could come up with some healthy/healthier meals for the menu? I think that would be fun for the two of you to do and then you could eat the BETTER stuff while you're around?

[oppscdaizy]

I can totally understand that. It's so much easier when someone is doing it with you. I know when I was doing South Beach (which is like Atkins - only a little bit different) it was hard - he could eat bread and such. Now that I'm on Weight Watchers it's a little easier... and the weight is coming off. I'm not limited to anything so he can eat when I am... I just eat less.

Good luck!

[flutestarkiss9]

hey!
My opinion is, then, atkins DOES NOT work for you. Why? because you cannot make it a life change! don't "diet" b.c you gain it back. Find life changes you can do forever... like portion sizing. (calorie counting now, but learning portion sizing also for later in life)

[Feral]

Point taken Flute

[valpal23]

sounds great Feral. I'm excited for you

[leighish]

That sounds great! My husband and I are each others support system. I don't think either of us could be successful if we weren't both in on the plan.

[Iconised Ghost]

thats going to help so much! I think it'll make it really fun too. Good luck!