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I think one of the reasons Atkins is known to be challenging the second (or fifth) time around may be due to the fact that we know all the tricks and cheats. We get lazy and try to beat the system. Instead, the system beats us.
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I know I have been guilty of saying to others that Atkins just doesn't work as well the second time around (or more) and is harder to get weight off than the first go round, but what your saying really finally hit me..this is why it is harder the second time around. I am thinking back to when I first did Atkins. I was miserable, depressed with being so over weight.
I followed Atkins right down the the littlest detail. I counted all my carbs, ate only induction friendly foods in the beginning, and I couldn't even comprehend the idea of bending or breaking the rules. I wanted to drop that weight do desperately. Ok, fast forward. I have gained about 20 of the original 100 pounds back that I lost and why was that? Because I got sloppy, because I began having "cheat days" or carb creep and got the attitude of just a little wont hurt and "I'm not losing anyway so go ahead"...Well, that added 20 lbs. I've become someone that has learned how to "work Atkins" find all the little loop holes and bend those rules til they should really break...then I say I don't know why Atkins isn't working this time around..well, because I'm not working this time around. I have taken what was a great weight loss and health tool for myself and turned it into a way to binge eat, abuse my body by eating horrible foods, and then jump back on the wagon after I gain weight.
I can't use Atkins like this, its not meant to be done..it makes the program more of a yo yo diet than a way of life like Atkins is meant to be followed. while I really knew what I was doing, I couldn't really explain it to myself this way. I just kept telling myself I would fall off the wagon and then restart Atkins. Well, truthfully I've never gotten back on the wagon and made Atkins the life style choice I did the first time around.
I've been cheating so much , for so long, but eventually those cheats add up and I wont be able to lie to myself when my health gets worse and I also gain weight. I used to think of Atkins as a health tool and a way to be healthy and losing weight was the side effect. I now look at Atkins as a way to lose weight that I have gained eating bad unhealthy foods, not even reminding myself that you can only cheat yourself so long and then all the bad things will add up. Did I like being 100 pounds overweight? Do I want to go back to dangerously high blood pressure and type two diabetes?
What was it the first time that scared me so badly, make me stick to Atkins? I've been trying to figure that out. When I made Atkins a life style and way of eating I never once had the thoughts of I could just slip a piece of cake here or there or a little breading didn't matter. My mind and body have learned to love carbs again.
Well, carbs lie to you emotionally and physically...they are not healthy for you and this attitude I've adapted concerning my health isn't one I should have. I've become sloppy, weak, make excuses for not eating healthy and no exercise. Its a dangerous cycle and using Atkins this way just gives those that appose the lifestyle more ammunition to attack it as a yo yo or fad diet. If I know all of this, and believe it, why do I find it so difficult to do what I am supposed to do?
I understand your job being a motivator for losing weight. We have learned that starting in May of this year employees who take the DOT physical (I have a cdl) have to be a certain weight to pass the physical. I am overweight, not obese, but beyond the weight I should be for my height. I have to start losing a few pounds and keep it off.
On January 29th we are having a health fair at work. I have attended this fair 3 times. The school district provides free blood screening and several other tests at no cost or low cost..they provide you with a cholesterol reading, vitamin levels, blood sugar (A1C), blood pressure, and other health tests that can then be evaluated and taken to your dr.
I took these tests for the first time several years ago at 250 lbs. I had horrible levels. I then took them the following year after being on Atkins, I had great numbers. I am planning on returning to have the tests this time to see for myself what is going on inside and what all this cheating has done besides the weight gain. I am hoping it will help me stick to Atkins. I've only had 3 days of clean eating.
Found my motivation the hard way
