I decided to really get serious on April 21st of this year.

I no longer think that I will cheat at holidays/vacations (I always planned on it before). I have no interest in eating all that high carb crap again. I think I've finally gotten over a lot of the cravings. I cut out low carb products, such as candies, low carb wraps etc (crutches, I know). I eat a great deal of veggies (and am loving them), and lean protein and have stopped adding tons of creamy dressings to my salads (and instead opt for a homemade Italian, which I use sparingly). I've cut out most of the processed meats like pepperoni. I've also started using fitday (for the past month), and am tracking my calories (which I never did before). Also, my husband and I have been hiking in the woods, every other day for about 2 hours at a time (exercise has always been a terrible chore, but hiking is a lot more enjoyable, and it's a great work out for me).

After about a month, I weight 220lbs (five pounds lost). I feel really positive. For the first time in my life, I know this is how I will eat for the rest of my life and I am excited about it-it's empowering. I know that I won't cheat at holidays, or my birthday, or on the cruise I'm taking this summer. I've also stopped caring so much about the scale moving because I know what I'm doing is right, and the weight will come off eventually. I'm really happy to have found this site because I'm interested more in learning how to maintain once I'm where I need to be (160lbs). I've never once been at the point where I needed to maintain, I've always been in the "still losing" category (or more accurately the "still gaining" category). Everyone says maintaining is the most difficult thing, so it's helpful to hear everyone's experiences. Thank you.
-Dianna

Last Edited on 10-May-2007 1:26 PM

I am just a little concerned about your ‘tracking calories and eating lean protein’ statement. Are you following the guidelines set out in A Better Approach for Chronically Restarting Locarbers? One of the biggest mistakes lowcarbers make is trying to cut calories by decreasing the percentage of fat in their diets. Don’t get me wrong, I STILL tend to eat too many calories and have to watch them, but I don’t ever eat low calorie (that is, less than about 250 calories over my BMR) even if I’m needing to lose a couple of pounds, and more than 60% of the calories in my diet always comes from fats. Where I see CRLs consistently going wrong with the diet is by overeating protein, and undereating carbohydrates and fats; and "a lot of lean protein" is a way to that problem. If you’d like to share your Fitday journals either privately with me by e-mail or better yet with a link under your signature, we can see if you’re in a good place with the diet.

If you want to get to the maintenance part, you’re going to have to make good on your current idea that you are serious about this now. Here’s a place for you to stay accountable to yourself and to others who will pay attention. I hope you will check in every week or so (much like Nikki is doing now) and let us know how this new commitment to yourself is panning out.

Welcome Dianna.

Adele (144 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 10+ years
Maintaining at goal 7+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

Last Edited on 13-May-2007 11:47 AM

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins Jan '03, got real about it in April '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 219
-GW: 160

Last Edited on 2-Jul-2007 2:43 PM

To me the bigger picture is the quality of your food choices. I could be wrong, every body is different, you are on the young side and, especially if you’ve never been pregnant, there’s a slight chance your body will cooperate with what you’re currently choosing. But my hunch is that if you continue eating the way you are, you’re going to stall a long way from a healthy weight and bodyfat percentage You are eating way too many dairy foods, special category foods and processed meats to make it likely that you’ll easily lose to goal. Overall to me your diet looks quite complicated (as opposed to simple.)

If it’s working for you now, then it ain’t broke, and it don’t need fixin’. But if/when it stops working there’s a lot of tweaks that will almost surely turn that around for you. You can start with the changes listed in A Better Approach for Chronically Restarting Locarbers

Adele (144 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 10+ years
Maintaining at goal 7+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

Last Edited on 13-May-2007 1:39 PM

In my opinion, you’re way too early in this process to be concerned with that possibility. IF yeast is a factor in your snowflake-body, then moving toward the changes outlined in A Better Approach for Chronically Restarting Lowcarbers would be the first step toward addressing them. It is also the first step toward addressing stalled weight loss, so if/when you stall, that would be the direction I recommend you turn.

I think it’s a big mistake to move too quickly to anti-yeast, even if you think you have it.

Adele (144 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 10+ years
Maintaining at goal 7+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

Anyway, I cleaned up last month (stopped the nuts, and most of the low carb products etc). I also knew that I wouldn't ever have a cheat day again, I know this, I will not gorge on sugar again. Then I discovered this website and Adele let me know that I could change a few things, and likely see a big difference. I've been reading, and re-reading many of the essays and articles and I am learning a lot. For the past 2 days, I've eaten clean (one day at a time, right?). My clean (for now), will still include a little dairy, but I'm trying to cut down drastically. I also have increased my calories from 1400/day to around 1750. I am not going to eat artificial sweeteners anymore. I threw out/gave away, anything that could tempt me, which included the "legal" treats: peanut butter, low carb yogurt, v8 (was craving that last night, but avoided it), and avocados. It's funny, seeing my husband's bag of Doritos, and Twinkies, doesn't tempt me, but seeing that 5.5 oz can of V8 yesterday, was casting a spell on me.

So, I'm a first year in medical school, after taking 4 years off after undergrad (biology major). Med school is crazy, but do-able. I got married in May of '06, found out I got into med school on the honeymoon, and proceeded to gain the "marriage 20lbs" AND "the freshman 15"-literally!! This year has been a stress fest, and when exams and finals rolled around, I cheated (I was too busy to sleep, let alone cook, or exercise, right?). But I realized that it's not going to get any less stressful when boards are approaching next year, or I start rotations/residency. Exams were just my excuse to have a blow out (foodwise, or rather food "unwise") with my husband, which sometimes only lasted the weekend (exams are on Mondays), but sometimes turned into a week "I'm already out of ketosis, so..."

It's so funny that I thought I, as a med student, was too busy to cook and eat right. I shouldn't have been so naive/self absorbed. After reading many of the threads here, where some people are mothers AND work AND go to school AND lead with the diet, well, lets just say that I certainly have no excuses. I'll be checking in as needed.

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins Jan '03, got real about it May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 219
-GW: 160

Last Edited on 2-Jul-2007 2:43 PM

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 218
-GW: 160

Last Edited on 2-Jul-2007 2:44 PM

I restocked today. I found nitrate free, uncured bacon and uncured/no additives prosciutto (1/2 a slice is wonderful around asparagus). I also bought a turkey, which was a great suggestion, which I'll make on Thursday (we have long days of classes tomorrow and Wednesday).

I'm sure I'm just in the honeymoon phase of the LWTD (even though I've done low carb for years), but I really feel positive about these changes. I've also lost 3 lbs in a week (216 this morning). It's nice to see the scale moving in a downward trend.

Thank you for your suggestions Adele!

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 216
-GW: 160

Last Edited on 21-May-2007 9:39 AM

I often describe that as “anchored.” It’s setting my foundation with the best quality, real foods, foods that keep my physical and emotional selves the strongest places they can be—no matter what else is going on inside or around me. When I’m anchored, I can handle any kind of challenge or stress better than if I were not anchored.

I found nitrate free, uncured bacon and uncured/no additives prosciutto (1/2 a slice is wonderful around asparagus).

Dianne, I haven’t yet found an nitrate free bacon that didn’t contain some kind of sugar, and changing to better, nitrate free, “healthy” brands doesn’t change the category I would put them in. You may be fine, especially for now, with these and of course it’s always better to eat fewer chemicals and carcinogens. But I’d suggest keeping these “better” processed meats just as limited as any other processed meats.

I've also lost 3 lbs in a week (216 this morning). It's nice to see the scale moving in a downward trend.

Told ya (wink). Keep us posted!

Adele (142 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 10+ years
Maintaining at goal 7+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 216
-GW: 160

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 214
-GW: 160

Well Dianna, of course wine or no wine is your call, it always will be. What I think is MOST important, now and always, besides leading with a plan, is getting on the scale every single morning, eyes wide open, to observe what happens. Our addict’s inclination is to not weigh for a week or so, you know, so we don’t “get discouraged”. That’s a euphemism for our refusal to look at all the facts. Now that you are eating so much cleaner, and your body is clearly responding very well!—not just with weight loss, but with no skin problems at this stressful time for you, I agree that drinking a glass of wine would probably give you much clearer information about what adding alcohol might cause in your snowflake system.

With alcohol especially, the full results often take a couple of weeks to fully show. Because of its diuretic effect, oftentimes folks will lose the first day or two, and that can make it easy to decide, hey alcohol actually HELPS—and then of course they choose to have MORE alcohol, and then pretty soon they’re not posting anymore. But if you only have a single glass of wine...that is, you don’t let the alcohol lead to “oh what the hell, I might as well...”, with either more alcohol and/or more bad food choices, if you go straight back on plan and watch, what usually happens is that 2-5 days later there is a “mysterious” spike and when 1-2 weeks have passed there is no further weight loss. It usually causes a brief spike-then-stall, it usually “costs” 2 weeks or so of progress. And that’s when our feelings can really begin to go amok—“I’ve been PERFECT for two weeks and I haven’t lost a thing, lowcarb isn’t working anymore, it’s not FAIR, hmpft”.

Of course, your mileage may vary, and your body might even slowly change how (intensely) it reacts to these kinds of things over time, mine certainly has. It reacts more strongly now than it did earlier. An old listmate once compared this to the dumptruck-Ferrari phenomenon. Put crap in the fuel tank of a dumptruck, well c’mon, it’s a dumptruck, what do you expect, it NEVER runs very well. But put crap in a well maintained Ferrari and you notice a whole lot more.

Congratulations on getting through Year #1 of med school Dianna! Keep going with your plan, I’d only caution that most of us actually do better with this the busier we are. It’s easier to get sloppy when there’s plenty of time ... you know, to procrastinate the planning. Keep us posted.

Adele (145 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 10+ years
Maintaining at goal 7+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

I’d only caution that most of us actually do better with this the busier we are. It’s easier to get sloppy when there’s plenty of time ... you know, to procrastinate the planning. Keep us posted.

That's interesting, because after I posted that I would be able to plan even better now, I realized I was probably wrong. At other times in my journey, the weekends would be a lot harder than workdays as I would snack a lot. I will still be doing things, working 2 part time jobs and volunteering at a pediatrician's office, so at least I won't be "bored", bored is bad for me. My classmates and I have all talked about how we need an insane amount of stimulation to entertain us now (I don't know if it's all the new crap we stuffed into our brains this year)...we can't just watch TV, we have to have the laptop on our lap too, emailing and researching something all at the same time. In class, people are shopping on the internet during a lecture (yes, these are the future doctors of America! haha). So if I am home and kind of antsy, my plan is to just go for a walk and refocus (and plan).

In someone's thread you mentioned how the diet itself is a great distractor at the beginning, because you can focus on it and the weight loss, and I can totally relate to that, it's like LWTD was my extra class this past few weeks. It's rewarding to be losing again (and on a regular basis). For months at a time, I would be low carbing (with a bunch of crap products), and it was frustrating to be "depriving myself" and either maintain or gain. I feel so happy that I found your website (thank you SE) and really cleaned things up, and started seeing results (though I know I will not always be losing at this rate). I am going to consider upping my daily calories to 1850 to see if that would help me (going from 1400-1750 was effective, and I don't know really what number I should be doing, as my BMR is like 1800 according to the calculations, but when tested at the gym, it was around 1500). I might try that for a couple of weeks and see how that works. I'll be checking in!
----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 213
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

I was curious about something. It seems like the successful LWTD long timers eat primarily one or 2 veggies and lots of that particular one/two. Is this because it makes it easier to plan with just one/two, or is it that those are the only veggies that work with your body? I like to eat a large variety of veggies to get a range of nutrients, is there anything wrong with that? I read the in a rut with your food article, but I'm still wondering about it.

I started doing pilates for the first time, it's quite a workout for me, and I feel great when I'm done-really energized. It's something I feel good adding to the walks/hikes I've been doing with my husband.

I'm going to visit my Mom from Friday-Wednesday, but everything should be good foodwise. I'll be doing the grocery shopping and she doesn't cook, so she'll be happy to have me cooking meals. I am worried because I won't have the internet (I can go to the library once a day), which will make me need to plan even better to get enough calories is my diet.

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 215
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

Every single week I eat romaine, mixed field greens, spinach (raw & cooked) celery, cucumbers, onions, garlic, asparagus, green beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, and (very occasionally, because my snowflake-body happens to be sensitive to them) peppers and tomatoes. Yesterday, at a Father’s Day Buffet, I had 2 strawberries and 3 cubes of honeydew melon. I don’t buy or keep those lower carb fruits at home because I often cannot stop eating them if they are that available, and any more than a tiny bit on very occasional occasions will get my yeast going. Hence, I get the higher carb fruits that I wouldn’t dream of touching for my husband.

Keep us posted Dianna!

Adele (142 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 10+ years
Maintaining at goal 7+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

The other situation was lunch yesterday with my aunts and mom, which was the first time I've eaten out in the last 6 weeks. I got a salad with vinegar and oil and a steak and drank sparkling water, but again, a little dessert buffet was eaten, and this time, I didn't want it, but felt that it was a little socially awkward that I didn't have a taste, but I still didn't eat any of them, and just sipped on my water.

While I was away, I didn't have the internet and so I couldn't use fitday, and while I still journaled my food, I feel that I didn't eat quite enough calories, and I was undereating fiber. I'm happy to be home (even though I had a great time with my family), it's nice to be back in my comfortable surroundings.

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 211
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

Glad to hear you had a good break Dianna. It seems that you returned weighing at least a pound less than you’ve seen since committing to a simpler, cleaner path, what a nice reward for enduring the momentary awkwardness. I would only gently caution that if you’re anything like I used to be, beware (and PREPARE) for at least the urge to engage in a Relief Binge

PS, for some reason I can't get the link to work today, but it's the first article (at the bottom of the list) that I put up on this site. Relief binges, for me, were one of the big, final hurdles.

Adele (141 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 10+ years
Maintaining at goal 7+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

Last Edited on 28-Jun-2007 7:51 AM

Last night I went to a small party where they were serving chocolate covered strawberries and strawberry shortcake and champagne, which I knew before I arrived. So, I went after eating my dinner, and I brought a veggie platter and dip (I didn't eat the dip), and everyone gobbled it up and I had a healthy snack. It was good to see that no one asked me why I wasn't eating the desserts or drinking, really, no one cares! I'm glad I ate before I went because I didn't feel deprived with a full stomach.
----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 210
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

My best food (especially after dental work which I’ve had TOO much of) are scrambled eggs and well-cooked green beans. I did once make the mistake of making a “pancake” with almond flour, eggs and salt, only to find it tasted exactly like cornbread. I wolfed down twice as much as I “planned”, and worse, I pined away for more more more for a week or two afterwards.

I’m glad you’re okay.

Adele (141 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 10+ years
Maintaining at goal 7+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 211
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

I leave for my cruise on Saturday, a cruise that when I booked it 6+ months ago, I assumed I would cheat on, that isn't going to happen now. I talked to my agent and he said it's easy to ask for special food for any diet and that I should also be okay with the buffets for breakfast etc. I will probably eat regular bacon/sausage even though at home I'm eating fresh pork belly and making my own sausage out of ground pork (yummy recipe Adele!). I feel like I'm in a good spot with my food to make good decisions on the boat. I'm going to pack little things of almonds (a nut that I never really liked and eat only occasionally now) for shore excursions/travel. My friend who's also going on the cruise with her husband asked me if I was going to stay on my diet on the cruise and I told her I was and she said that she was going to try to be good too, but even if she's not, I won't let it effect my food choices. I'll write when I get back.

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 209
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

Last Edited on 23-Jul-2007 6:08 AM

Man, I just found out that we have a nutrition class starting tomorrow and we have to log our food on the food pyramid/usda site and compare our food intake to suggested dietary intake...I've already emailed the instructor to ask if I could turn in my fitday sheets, but I know I'm just going to be frustrated during the whole class while the instructor pushes the food pyramid on us, anyway, I'll let you know how nutrition goes.
----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 208
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

Last Edited on 13-Aug-2007 8:21 PM

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 202
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

FYI: Oftentimes people are surprised to experience big emotions, some unnerving discomfort along with the thrill, when breaking through the 200-pound barrier, into what is sometimes called one-derland. Your mileage may vary of course.

Thank you for keeping us posted!

Adele (142 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 11+ years
Maintaining at goal 7+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

In my psych class we are learning about cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy (and combined CBT). When I first heard of behavioral therapy, I was immediately reminded of LWTD. It stems from the idea that if you change your behavior/actions, your thoughts/emotions will change as a result. It is therapy that looks at what the person does, and does NOT look at emotions or motivations. Behavioral therapy (BT) happens to be one of the best therapies for eating disorders, substance abuse disorders etc. One description is: “self monitoring in a systematic, deliberate manner is the cornerstone of behavioral change techniques”. I think this is what we do here and on fitday-we monitor ourselves, and we are deliberate because we plan. Thank you Adele for having a place where all of us can be accountable.

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 196
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

You’ve put it all in a nutshell, Dianna.

I wonder, can you see yet that this imperfect, relatively boring place—the state of being fairly focused and relatively free from physical cravings—is simply as good as it gets? I think this is the toughest part of this for most of us to swallow. I think we have become over-conditioned to constant DRAMA in our advertising-media oversaturated culture. There is almost constant suggestion—overt and subliminal—to keep ourselves stirred up, to stay “real” or vital; there is constant suggestion to somehow control or enhance our emotions, instead of just having them and, in most cases, not doing much about them except enjoy the positive ones and endure the more negative ones.

I think we end up stumbling because we can’t accept that “fairly focused and relatively free from cravings” is good enough. Or that this state isn't all that valuable or necessary—that we can always get that feeling back, you know, later.

I can perceive almost constant societal pressure to strive for more, better, faster, pressure that I have to work to keep from affecting my decisions. The key to leading with the diet—to living gently but firmly against the powerful grain—is to set quietly firm limits on how you manage your life to be, to set limits on The Culture of Crap. To say no, not just to food, but to a whole lot of the insanity of it all. To keep it simple, but say “I do this, I don’t do that,” and then LIVE it, no matter how momentarily upsetting it might be to me or to anyone else.

As we approach the dreaded food frenzy period of the year, I will remember this.

I hope so Dianna. Of course it would be best if we would all remember it and act accordingly.

It’s a life-long journey, it’s effortless, even after years of eating clean, to slide back down to the old patterns. This is about being selfish, about putting limits on ourselves and our culture that will occasionally make others uncomfortable, especially at this time of year. It takes a little work but I see it as totally worth it, even when it momentarily sucks.

I’m heartened to hear you’re doing so well right now, and I hope you’ll keep us posted.

Adele (143 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 11+ years
Maintaining at goal 8+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

Last Edited on 9-Dec-2007 12:40 PM

Then about 10 days ago, I was violently ill with gastroenteritis. I had to go to the emergency room where I received IV saline and IV anti-nausea meds. The next morning, my whole system was cleared out, if you know what I mean, and I was 194. I had to eat clear liquids and had chicken broth, water, seltzer water, and then switched to mashed squash and unsweetened apple sauce (the only thing off plan), though I was super nauseous and really wanted some saltines (didn't have any though). The last few days, I've been able to eat normal food, but have been so busy that I haven't even entered anything into fitday (and I know I'm not eating enough calories). Oh, about two weeks ago, I was having 1 small tangerine (about 2.5 oz, with about 5net carbs) a day for a week. This didn't cause cravings to have more, but I also didn't lose weight, so citrus is probably out for a while, it's also low/med on the glycemic index, so it probably wasn't a smart choice for fruit anyway.

This is a very difficult term and I'm finding myself quite behind. This will all be over on Monday, and I'm looking forward to getting myself back into doing a lot of cooking (my hubby's been helping me out by cooking most of this week). My weight's up at 197, but I'm hoping it will stabilize once my stress level has declined a bit.

Thank you for the note Adele. I'll be checking in again soon!

I just read your thread Adele, and I'll be hoping that your husband's surgery on Friday goes smoothly!

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 197
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

Last Edited on 11-Dec-2007 7:27 PM

So here I am, proud of myself for getting through my first holiday season without having a bite of flour/sugar/artificial sugars etc, but I'm also 5 pounds heavier than when I left. So I'm frustrated that I wasn't strict with myself, frustrated that I'm back in the 200s, and annoyed that I didn't have a carb blow out and still gained 5 lbs...okay, enough whining. I suppose I probably would have gained 10+ if I had eaten sugar/flour. So now it's back to fitday, back to lots of veggies etc. I stocked up on meats and veggies and have a lot of clean meals ahead of me.

I hope everyone else had a nice holiday season!

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 202
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

Last Edited on 1-Jan-2008 7:47 AM

In my opinion and experience you’ve come to an especially pivotal place: that is, you’ve been sitting awhile in the remarkably notable, mentally and emotionally challenging cusp of 200, AND through your recent testing you’ve gained some solid knowledge/information about your body and one of the “food groups” that addicts find temptingly waggle-prone. Since like me, you are a life-long addict, your pattern is somewhat driven by an inner “need” to escalate SOMETHING distracting now that you’ve eliminated food-as-drug eating.

Your plan is to get your solid foundation back underneath you, and that IS what you need to do, it’s all you can do now and see what happens. In addition, though, I would strongly advise you to consider commiting to no alcohol—perhaps not until NEXT Christmas??—but at least not until you are well under 200. If you want to “test” it again, how about you consider trying it in another form? We’ll talk more about that in later, deal? (grin)

Meanwhile, stay on and ahead of yourself, one foot in front of the other, day after boring day. And keep us posted honey.

Adele (142 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 11+ years
Maintaining at goal 8+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 193
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

Last Edited on 17-Jan-2008 7:02 PM

Dianna, I like reading this, I really do, it’s 50% encouraging-positive. You are hearing your body’s quiet voice—you are experiencing and expressing how clean, distraction-free eating feels and how it gently, and sort of miraculously, settles and sets the foundation, the backdrop for most everything else in our lives to be better than it would be in any other body circumstance.

Do you hear a “but” coming?? (grin)

Here’s the 50% discouraging, POTENTIALLY negative part. It’s the part that gets SO many turned and pointed toward Lowcarb Purgatory: I lost the weight I had gained over the holidays fairly quickly

You’re feeling good, centered, BUT you’ve also taken note that “hey, I can waggle and then recover! FAIRLY QUICKLY.” (and gosh, it wasn’t such a horrible “fight”, was it?)

You gave yourself some experience with waggling and found that, at least on some levels, it seems to WORK. You fought your way back fairly easily. And that can translate into potent permission to do it again—and again and again. That’s the screw-up/recovery dance. And if you’ve watched others on message boards over the years, you’ve had the chance to observe that this IS the most-chosen, most-repeated pattern. If you can see past all the momentary “weight loss success moments” in ALL the patterns, you’ve seen where that pattern almost always leads.

EVERYBODY “tests”. You tested WITHIN the bounds of lowcarb—with one eye open, so to speak—(as opposed to going totally off plan which isn’t testing at all, it’s following a dream that eventually leads to the same old nightmare.) Testing is a crucial part of the journey. It’s what we decide to do with the test answers that will determine where we go after the tests.

So the question becomes, is this a new pattern beginning for you, and if so which one?

Keep choosing mindfully, with both eyes open Dianna, and keep us posted.

Adele (142 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 11+ years
Maintaining at goal 8+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

Last Edited on 19-Jan-2008 4:25 PM

My doctor thinks I have PCOS and I have an appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist in April for further evaluation. PCOS is as much about insulin resistance as it is polycystic ovaries, so I am thankful to already be eating a lower carb diet and losing weight, both of which will increase my sensitivity to insulin. I'm dreading the "glucose load" they give you to test glucose tolerance. I believe it's 75 grams of pretty much pure sugar. I am positive I'll feel crumby afterwards, but I guess it's a good test to do to help diagnose and follow the progression of PCOS. I won't use the glucose load to have another glucose load with sugary foods. The whole thing's not for a while though, so I'm not worrying about it until I know more. Well, that's about it. I hope everyone is doing well.

----------
Dianna
-age 28
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 193
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

----------
Dianna
-age 28
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 192
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

Oh, I was wondering if any of you have gotten pregnant while LWTD and how you adjusted your food? My husband and I are going to start trying to get pregnant in November and I'm a little worried about what food changes will do to me, but I know I can't be in ketosis either. Would you just up the veggies/eat fruit, add whole grains? Should I just do the maintenance version of Atkins? I can't eat sugar or I would go crazy, so I want to plan this sensibly. Thank you.

----------
Dianna
-age 28
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 192
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

Last Edited on 1-Apr-2008 2:58 PM

----------
Dianna
-age 28
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 195
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

Last Edited on 13-Apr-2008 6:03 AM

My food has been good despite being busy. I just dump a piece of meat in the crock pot, add a bunch of veggies and eat that for a few days. I stopped using fitday during finals time and would like to get back into using it, but time is at premium.

I started walking at least(I had been doing nothing for exercise for months). I walk the 1.5 miles to school from my house, which is perfect. I don't get much time to clear my head because I walk with my husband and a friend in the morning and in the evening I listen to pathology and physiology lectures on my ipod, it's a thrilling life.

Worrisome is the fact that I'll be starting rotations next month. I think they're getting better about the hours they make med students work (we can't go over 80hrs/week), but I know I'll still be exhausted. I'm worried about my food, but my husband said he will help out with that (he has also recently discovered the ease of throwing a bunch of stuff in the crockpot).

Well, that's it, back to anti-cholinergic medications.

----------
Dianna
-age 28
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 194
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

My weight's been popping down to 193, up to 198. I was exercising for about 1.5 hours a day for the month of boards, by walking/jogging to school in the mornings and late at night. So even though my weight hasn't dropped, my body actually looks better, it was one of the first times I noticed a difference, I will have to do my measurements.

I'll be cooking a bunch today to have food for the week ready. They claim to be feeding us this week, but that's usually pizza and a side salad, so I'm thankful that I have a thermos container for food which should keep food hot for me during the day. I'll keep updating.

----------
Dianna
-age 27
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 196
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker

Last Edited on 23-Jun-2008 8:46 AM

Adele (142 this morning)
----------
168/140, Size 16/8
Lowcarbing 11+ years
Maintaining at goal 8+ years
Moderator/Owner
adele@leadwiththediet.com

----------
Dianna
-age 28
-started Atkins: Jan '03; got real about it: May 14 '07
-HW: 237
-SW: 225
-CW: 197
-GW: 160
http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=Dianna+G+Baker