Thread: The truth about how hard it really is - please :)

I am getting married in May so its now or never for me. I have just under 5 months to loose 50 pounds and it seems like this will do it. I think i can stay focused with such a great goal ahead of me but ...
How hard is it? and i mean really.
I know this site is about supporting eachother so you dont want to dwell on the hard stuff but im just so worried about slipping up and then getting upset with myself and slipping into old patterns.
I am making an appointment this week with a CDC but i love my food and i work in a restaurant and im just so worried about cutting food out altogether.
So, all you foodies out there, how did you cope?

Hey hun welcome on board.

I think it is a very personal thing but my thoughts were always that is was as hard as I wanted it to be. Because it was what I wanted, something I had chosen to do I enjoyed it and found it relatively easy. Watching myself shrink, seeing myself grow in confidence and achieve my mini goals was a constant source of motivation.

xxx

Hi Chilli Chill and welcome.

I looove cooking and eating...I particularly love baking!

Agree with Porgeous...CD is as hard as you make it :-) If you don't even let the thought cheating enter your head then you will find it much, much easier as you will kind of go onto autopilot with it.

I find CD easier in a way than other dieting methods because there's no daily struggle of "shall I just have a bit of this...if I have two less potatoes at dinner then I can have a couple of chocolates now" etc etc. You just get on with it if that makes sense.

Your social life may have to be put on hold somewhat (although some can go out for a meal/drink and not touch a thing). Cooking meals for others can be a pian. You'll also have to find something else to do instead of turning to food because of boredom/comfort etc if that's your thing - posting on here can keep you very busy!

But is it worth it? Absolutely!! I started off in September squeezing into a size 18. Clothes shopping was a truly miserable experience.

16 measly weeks later and today I am sitting in a pair of size 12 jeans that I snapped up in the sales this morning, and this is with me not losing weight as fast as many on here.

Hope this helps and good luck xx

Porgeous and Serena are right. It is as hard as you allow it to be - so head has to be in the right place if you are a comfort eater like me. There is a difference between a foodie and a comforter eater (in my opinion) so depending if you are one or the other you may find it easier initially. I did the first time around but I have to look to people like Porgeous who have not only been successful in losing the initial weight but have also maintained - in other words have dealt with why they over ate in the place for the weight to pile on. I am going to avoid socialising until I get back into the swing of CD hoping it will be easy in the months of Jan, Feb at least!

Originally Posted by Kira

Porgeous and Serena are right. It is as hard as you allow it to be - so head has to be in the right place if you are a comfort eater like me. There is a difference between a foodie and a comforter eater (in my opinion) so depending if you are one or the other you may find it easier initially. I did the first time around but I have to look to people like Porgeous who have not only been successful in losing the initial weight but have also maintained - in other words have dealt with why they over ate in the place for the weight to pile on. I am going to avoid socialising until I get back into the swing of CD hoping it will be easy in the months of Jan, Feb at least!

Hi there

I too was a comfort/emotional eater. The lightbulb moment for me was the disconnect between food and emotion, the realisation that food doesn't actually change anything, if I am down about something no amount of food was ever going to change that. I have people like KD and Icemoose to thank as they have shared so much information on this subject over the years.

Good luck on your restart hun.

xx

thank you ladies. I see your point about it being as hard as you make it. maybe i am looking at it the wrong way, out of fear of loosing my comfort eating. your right, taking food out of your life all together must make it easier to stick to the diet since there is no chance of having too much of something.
do you get hungry? how do you deal with the emotional hunger, if you know what i mean?
thanks for your post and encouragment.
xx

Originally Posted by chilli-chill

thank you ladies. I see your point about it being as hard as you make it. maybe i am looking at it the wrong way, out of fear of loosing my comfort eating. your right, taking food out of your life all together must make it easier to stick to the diet since there is no chance of having too much of something.
do you get hungry? how do you deal with the emotional hunger, if you know what i mean?
thanks for your post and encouragment.
xx

It certainly does, if you take your packs and drink the water you can't do anything but lose weight, simplicity itself.

Personally I never felt hungry, emotional hunger/cravings were a different matter. The thing to consider is apart from the initial rush of satisfying a craving has food ever been your friend, has it ever solved a problem and has it ever made you truly happy. As a wise man/woman once said, if hunger is not the problem, food is not the answer.

xx

Originally Posted by Porgeous

As a wise man/woman once said, if hunger is not the problem, food is not the answer.

xx

This particular quote kept me going on SS throughout a very emotional time when my father passed away 6 weeks ago. The urge to eat myself into oblivion was overwhelming and to be truthful, I have still not quite yet recovered from that urge, although it has become easier. Sorry if I sound like I'm self-pitying, just wanted to illustrate that dealing with the head stuff can be achievable. xx

Originally Posted by Porgeous

It certainly does, if you take your packs and drink the water you can't do anything but lose weight, simplicity itself.

Personally I never felt hungry, emotional hunger/cravings were a different matter. The thing to consider is apart from the initial rush of satisfying a craving has food ever been your friend, has it ever solved a problem and has it ever made you truly happy. As a wise man/woman once said, if hunger is not the problem, food is not the answer.

xx

very very good point. you are a wise lady!
OK, im going to do it. I have an appointment on tuesday with a CDC. so hopefully will be able to start on wed or thursday.
Should i do the atkins till then to try and get into ketosis before i start?

Originally Posted by Serena A

This particular quote kept me going on SS throughout a very emotional time when my father passed away 6 weeks ago. The urge to eat myself into oblivion was overwhelming and to be truthful, I have still not quite yet recovered from that urge, although it has become easier. Sorry if I sound like I'm self-pitying, just wanted to illustrate that dealing with the head stuff can be achievable. xx

So sorry to hear of your loss and I can't begin to imagine how you must be feeling.

xxx

Hi,
I just want to say go for it !
It reminds me of myself 2 years ago doing it for my own wedding in July.
I went from a 26-28 to a size 14 wedding dress, best day of my life!! I am back here with it all on after the wedding and baby , all my own fault ! I started back this morning and so dertermined again , to fit back into the dress for July wish me luck

Originally Posted by Serena A

This particular quote kept me going on SS throughout a very emotional time when my father passed away 6 weeks ago. The urge to eat myself into oblivion was overwhelming and to be truthful, I have still not quite yet recovered from that urge, although it has become easier. Sorry if I sound like I'm self-pitying, just wanted to illustrate that dealing with the head stuff can be achievable. xx

Serena - I am so so sorry for your loss

Chilli-chil - there is nothing I can add to what the ladies have already said. The first couple of days you have to stay on your toes and give yourself some pep talks but once ketosis kicks in it definately gets easier

Good luck, you can do this

xxx

Thanks for your good wishes girlies xx

Chilli - I did Atkins for 4 days before starting CD so I could deal with the carb-withdrawal headache without having to deal with hunger at the same time. The only "drawback" with that is that you might not see the same huge 1st week loss that many others get because you may have already dropped a few lbs before you start CD!

Hey welcome and good luck.
u have the best insentive in the world getting married. and in 5 months its very achievable on this diet. we will all be here to get u through it xx

Thanks girls. I feel so supported already and i haven't even started yet!
I have a feeling ill be needing all the help i can get.
Thank you all and i'll post again on my first day.
Serena, Ill stick to my usual very low carb diet till i start, anything to make the transition a bit easier.
What about excersize? i know i shouldn't push it the first couple of weeks but do any of oy who are on SS work out?