Thanks everyone for your advice. I am trying to incorporate your thoughts and experience into my own eating plan. Maybe I'ii get this thing right yet!

Oh man....I made it through the weekend relatively unscathed. I did a little planning which helped, and ate out less. lol, I think that made the biggest difference. Now this weekend is going to be tough between the Easter candy and a birthday/Easter dinner at Outback Steakhouse! I think I have the dinner planned alright. At least I know what to order. Now all I have to do is not eat too much candy....

Thank you so much for your advice. I will try planning out my weekend and see if that gives me more self-control. If anyone else has some suggestions I would be grateful for any thoughts or ideas you might have. kstubblefield - Contratulations! 80 lbs! That's amazing! Two years and still dropping....you are an inspiration!

Monday - Friday I can stick to my diet pretty well, but the weekends....oh....the weekends. I'll be out and about and suddenly it's lunch time, "Hey, I'm hungry. Let's get some lunch." And it all goes down hill from there. I am not sure why it is that once I go off, even a little, I end up giving up for the day. I really, really need to figure out how to stop this. It's killing my weight loss. Anybody have any suggestions? I need help! :(

The past two weeks I have started retaining extra water weight. I realized it when my weight started fluctating by 3-6 lbs over night. With the amount it is jumping around I have no idea if I am gaining or losing weight. Very frustrating. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of extra water weight. This isn't a health issue. I don't have any swelling or tenderness in my ankles or legs, just a jump in weight. Thanks!

I experienced the same thing when I started watching calories. 1200 calories per day + exercise. Like you I lost quickly for the first two weeks then stalled. You mentioned you aren't very hungry. That happened to me too, and I never lose my appetite! I was also really tired. Turned out I was eating too little and it slowed my metabolism. It seems backwards, but when I upped my calories I started losing again, AND my appetite returned. One of the members of FS suggested upping the calories, and if the weight loss stalled to up the exercize first. If you still don't lose after 2 weeks slowly lower the calories. So far it has worked for me. Good luck.

I am a fan of Sugar Free Hazelnut syrup. I get mine through Borders Book Store. Much better quality syrup (better than Starbucks) and only about $12 for a huge bottle. I usually add steamed milk as well, but you may want to forgo that since you are on the Atkins diet. You can also try mixing your sweeteners (half equal & half sweet & low), it tastes better when mixed or put a cinnimin stick in the coffee pot as it brews.

I am a single mother too! Only mine is 17yrs old now.:shock: Gives me a whole different set of worries! Still, I have I have been in your shoes, and know how tough it is! Don't know if I can be of any help, but I am more than willing to listen and offer advice on anything that I have already dealt with. :d I only joined 3 weeks ago and am still working the kinks out of my diet. lol. I don't have any buddies yet, but would love to have one. You can't have too much support.

Hi everyone! I am 42 years old and....ahem....have lots of weight to lose. I have dieted in the past using Atkins, weight watchers, sugarbusters, etc...and though I lost weight on those programs I wasn't to keep it off. My biggest problem with those diets were the hunger,insane cravings, and limitations. So...time to try something new. I designed a basic eating plan for myself based on a 1200 calorie diet. My goal is to put together a diet that is both tasty and filling. So far, so good. Three weeks and no cheating, and down 7 pounds! :d