amanda123's Journal, 25 August 2010

Is there no stopping you? 

Awesome job!! I need a kick in the butt to get going again. Swim class tonight so hopefully I'll get over this hump. 

Yes, I agree, Keli. if I ate those things, I would have gained the weight (probably more) and then it would have taken me weeks to re-lose it!! Amanda, you are lucky that it is so easy for you to correct these cheat gains. Most are not. 

I seem to have developed a pattern the last couple of weeks. I start the week at around 225 and then I lose down to around 221 and then the weekend rolls around and I jump back up to 225 by Monday just to start the whole cycle over again. This is a great way to maintain I suppose. I have to quit that weekend cheat if I ever want to get under 220. I hate being broke. We paid electric, cable, internet, and bought some groceries & gas and now we have about $100 to last till next week. We were going to go out for our anniversary but it may have to be post-poned. Oh well, that should help my diet.  

We had no money for our aniversary this ear either. I posted that in my journal in mid-july and my FS buddies had a bunch of great ideas. We stayed home, ate a nice dinner and just enjoyed each other's company. It turned out quite nice. You can check my journal arounf July 13-14 for the other suggestions I got if you like :) Happy anniversary! 

Amanda, I know what you mean about being broke. With school supplies, clothes, and everything else I am in the same boat as you this week. But like Amy said, you don't have to have money to enjoy your anniversary. See if you can get a sitter for the evening and have a romantic night in. I'm sure after 3 kids you can find some creative ways to celebrate. You see? Those pole dancing classes could've been helpful right now. 

Unfortunately TOM is about to rear it's ugly head so I don't see much in the way of romance for 5 to 7 days. Bummer. Yall are right though. There are things we can do without money. I have been wanting to go fishing for a long time. Maybe we could have his mom watch the kids and we could go night fishing at the dam. When the spillways are open there is really good fishing. That would be alot of fun and we could always go out to eat later. 

Happy Anniversary! And congratulations on the weight loss - 2 more lbs. gone. What is it about the weekends that makes you want to cheat?  

I don't know? I have been under some stress lately and this past weekend I hadnt been grocery shopping so there wasn't much of anything for me to eat really. I was in a bad mood and so I did some emotional eating. The weekend before that I just wanted to get out, go somewhere and eat at a restaurant and enjoy myself. I enjoy chips & salsa and chicken fried steak more than I do steamed veggies and a steak. It is hard to always make the right choice and weekends are supposed to be fun. I guess I shouldnt associate food and fun but it's true - fattening & carb filled foods are delish and enjoyable, but that's how I got fat in the first place.  

Amanda, don't take this the wrong way. I mean this with love and understanding because, well I have been there. Yes, they are associated with fun. But this is your association. If you truly want to succeed, you need to learn to dis-associate them with one another. Eating low carb and healthy can be just as fun. You can easily enjoy family and weekends and eating out while you follow your WOE. I worry that you are finding acceptance in your cheats because you haven't had any real negative results. Every time you cheat successfully, the easier it is going to be keep on cheating. Eventually they become easier than following the plan and woosh, no more Amanda. I don't want you to find that the grass looks greener on the other side because it isn't. I speak from experience because that is why this has got to be my millionth time on Atkins. Again, I am sending this with love. 

Don't worry Keli you haven't hurt my feelings. I know I don't need to eat off plan very often but I also know I won't be able to live my whole life never touching chips or cake again. I have seen what it does to my body... even cheating one day will make me gain a pound that takes a couple of days to come off. I can't even imagine what my body would do if I cheated for a week. I know the grass isn't greener and last weekend actually made me sick. It does get harder and harder to stick to plan once you start backsliding. I'm not giving up. I think this is my 3rd try at Atkins. 3rd times a charm right? 

Well, I know some will say that this is still cheating but maybe you can try some low carb alternatives to the things you are craving? I have come to the realization that I will be eating this way for the rest of my life. I also know that I will probably quit if I have to live the rest of my life avoiding certain things I enjoy, like low carb pasta and tortillas. Maybe if you can, try a low carb cake or other sort of treat. There are some wonderful online stores where you can try ordering from, if it helps.