Scared About The Summer - all advice appreciated!

[Marinor]

Hi Dukaners,

So I'm on to my fifth week of Dukan and so far I've lost ten pounds. This is the fastest I've lost weight ever and I love it. My ideal weight involves losing another stone (I'm only short so it shows).

The thing is, I've been able to stick to the plan because I'm a student in exam season - so very rarely eating out or even eating with other people! I've been totally in control of my food.

But now...the summer is looming and I'm starting to freak out a bit. Firstly, I'm going on holiday in a few weeks, plus a few visits here and there. Off to Edinburgh next week! So the thing is that I'll be out of control then and it's coming up fast.

Secondly, I'll be leaving where I am now and heading home for the summer. Now the thing is that at home it's not like my family eats unhealthily, but there's a lot of wholegrain pasta, homemade bread, tons of fruit and veg etc, and when I eat with them I tend to put weight on. The thing is that I have polycystic ovarian syndrome so I really think Dukan has cracked it and low-carb is the way for me. But I don't want to cause a fuss by trying to eat differently all the time, and I can't expect every meal to be protein-heavy because that would be expensive for a family!

Basically, I'm freaking about social occasions as well as what to do in the next few weeks of trips and the summer. Do you think I should try and do Consolidation from now? Or stay on PP/PV until the last minute? And any ideas about how to keep on track over the summer would be really appreciated.

Thank you and sorry for the rant, I just need advice!

 

[Lyonsie]

Hi Marinor, I've been on this regime for almost 5 weeks too, and would def. stay on the PP/PV for as long as possible, get as near to your desired weight as possible.
Then, go on a PV regime and any time you can (besides your PP Thursday) go on PP days or even meals while nobody is looking!!
That's what I would try myself if I was under pressure. Try stay away from the carbs, fats and sugars.
Good Luck with your studies and weight loss.

 

[Paulinegin]

Hi Marinor

To be honest, I think you need to tough it out. If Dukan has fixed your PCOS and, by your own admission, 'low carb is for you' then it would be a real shame to slip back into bad habits.

Share info with your family about your new life plan and stick with it!

You can do this )

P x

 

[flower83]

I understand your fear of the summer Marinor!! I am also a student, therefore don't really have much of social life during the college term, but once the summer arrives, things begin to liven up...my bf & I love love love to go to concerts, festivals and generally try to make up for what we have missed out earlier in the year and I too am weary of the months ahead so I'm looking forward to what advice you receive from your post! x

 

[Marinor]

Hi folks. Thanks for the opinions, reading through them has calmed me down somewhat!

Lyonsie, I think it does make sense to stay on Cruise for as long as possible, you are right. I chuckled at the thought of a sneaky PP - I imagined myself hiding away eating egg whites!

Pauline, I definitely do want to stick with it it's just the lack of control I am afraid of, especially on social occasions...they are my downfall! I still haven't had a period (sorry!) and that would be amazing but I'm finally losing weight and I am a true Dukan convert. Prior to this there was a lot of couscous/sweet potato/olive oil in my life!

Flower - yes, me too! And consequently last summer I gained a fair bit of weight - the whole 'I'm allowed this, it's summer' plus holidays with friends on the cheap which involve a lot of pasta and potatoes!

So...yes. I think that I need to develop a plan of action. When I am away then I will try and resist the snacks and eat as close as possible to PV. I'll try and squeeze in a few PP days in the next few weeks which are the manic ones (Edinburgh, bf coming to visit for a few days, France!) and when I'm away...well. I do worry about it. But I've read people on here losing the weight they gain, which isn't an excuse but a comfort. The weight I've lost should keep me motivated and I HAVE to get on the dreaded scales as often as possible. When I'm home I can be as low-carb as I can. I think, narrowing it down, my big big fear is going crazy when I go to friends for dinner/baking etc. Maybe if I just eat some yoghurt/an omelette before? Man alive...how do you Dukan on a social life?

 

[Lyonsie]

I'm afraid you need to adapt the attitude that 'you dont need to eat or drink' to enjoy yourself.
By this I mean, you could eat before you join your friends and just tell them that you're full or join them when they are ordering coffee, there will still be plenty of time at the restaurant etc before the night ends.... Sorry to be a 'kill joy'....
If you are going to concerts and camping you are sorted, pack plenty of cooked meats and yoghurt.... Self catering....

I am off to Crete next week and I am packing my oatbran, cooked ham and turkey slices, yoghurts and anything else I feel I dont want to be looking for. Had to tell my friend of my plan and when she saw me and the weight loss she is going 'attack' for 4 days before we go and I am educating her for the week on how to be a Dukan follower. Even did out the 'plan' for her, she has just lost 2 stone and needs to loose 3 more and is delighted that she has a Dukan buddy to follow.

You would be surprised if you tell a few close friends and family what you are about, the help and support you will get.

 

[Marinor]

Lyonsie, you are totally right. I love that Dukan is making me think differently about food. It's definitely got rid of my 'all or nothing' mentality in this short time - being 'good' for ages, going out and inhaling the nearest bowl of sugar. I'm so impressed with your plan for Crete! I wish I had some Dukaners around me! Maybe I should evangelise!

It's already started though! After our last exam today I thought it was coffee and we went to an ice cream parlour. Everyone got big sundaes and I ordered a scoop of lemon sorbet, which got me enough teasing...tomorrow am off out to a restaurant for a friend's birthday but have made my excuses for the lunch part of his day (and who can afford two meals out in a day??) so will try and keep it Dukan. I definitely do feel like I'm entering a minefield!

 

[trudyc]

Marinor - understand your fears completely..... My plan of action would be to do PV days whilst you are away and squeeze in PP days when you know you can be in control - I find eating out and socialising easy on PV - if it is breakfast time then I have scrambled egg or an omelette with ham or smoked salmon or plain yoghurt with some sweetener and vanilla which I keep in my handbag for such days!!! For lunch I usually have a salad and steak or a roast dinner with veg but leave the potatoes - if it comes with a sauce then I avoid it at much as possible to don't get hysterical about it if I consume a small amount .... Of course I always have my trusty muffins with me - fantastic in times of need - I have consistently lost weight since I started and for the most part have not felt that I am depriving myself..... I agree that you should share your lifestyle change with your family and explain that you are feeling much better etc.... Sure they will be behind you every step of the way.Good Luck - you can do this!

 

[flower83]

'inhaling the nearest bowl of sugar' hahaha....I love it!

 

[flower83]

Good luck Marinor....awh I totally relate to how you are feeling but you got some good advice there and you also gave some yourself also, which I too will take on board! Keep us updated with how you get on! I have a friends party next w'end, which will only be my first week on the Cruise. I'm not too worried about the food part, more so the bleedin' alcohol - to have a drink or not! I kinda already know the answer already but it's just..... a nite out just wouldn't be the same!? Looking forward to hearing how your summer goes. x

 

[Marinor]

Flower - I'm not really a drinker but I hear that in Ireland girls drink beer so long as it's in half pints - is that true?? The best thing to do is just to drink Coke Zero or Diet Coke from a glass. People tend to presume there's alcohol in it even if there isn't!

I'm thinking yep, PV when I'm out and about and trying to pick the best in the situation...cue today's sorbet, eep! I'll do PP whenever meals are under my control, which really isn't going to be often. If really unavoidable things crop up, I will try my best to behave myself and conversely not beat myself up with a 'well, might as well throw in the towel' thing. I've lost ten pounds and I don't want it to go back on!

My mum is behind me but I need to have a serious chat with the boyfriend, I think. I've tended to use him as an excuse to eat more and to get nice food in and then eat far too much of it! So I need to address that if this is going to work. I know he's a bit concerned about me doing this, too, so he needs to be on board. Aargh. So much simpler when it's just me!

Thanks for all being so so lovely. Your ideas and encouragement are really helping me!

 

[flower83]

Marinor - I s'pose girls in Ireland do like their beer, as in larger...I used to drink gin &d. 7up, but the hangovers were cruel(and I spent the day eating rubbish!!) so I changed to Coors lite(bottles) and I found the hangovers weren't as bad, which also meant I didn't crave as much junk food. But I am definitely considering not drinking nxt w'end, which is I think when I am only in the early stages of this would give better and quicker results!

I am also going to keep my PV days for the w'ends for the nxt month anyways as I do have a lot of social things coming up but ideally I'd like to do 1:1 as I think it will keep it more varied! It's funny how you mentioned about your bf, previously, whenever I mentioned needing to change my eating habits to my bf, I remember one time he said to me...'dunno why....sure you eat the same meals as I do(he's a slim jim)' and I said to him....'my point exactly, you're a man I shouldn't be eating the same size meals as you!!'...most fellas are so lucky...eat like horses and not a pick on him. However, I do notice with him, once he's full, he'll stop eating whereas, I need to clean the plate regardless of how full I feel, also I tend to snack between meals, he doesn't - so I s'pose that's his secret! Previously, when I was doing weight watchers, I wouldnt even tell him as I was doing it and just get on with it, but this time(just like you are saying) I decided to have the 'serious chat' with him a few days before I started the Dukan and told him all about it & how it works(just to warn him in case he thought I was gone nuts stocking up on all the meat!!) But I am so glad I did because, I am so shocked about how supportive he has been this week...although he did look pretty shocked today when I landed home with a full chicken today, threw it in the oven and told him it was all for me(although he did bargain me down for the drumsticks - fair is fair!), I have also steak for dinner on top of that! Did you read the threads about eating full chickens??? I'm testing that one out today...haha! Anyway....I hope you get all the support from your bf that you deserve!!

Oops didn't mean for this to turn into such long winded reply...it was meant to be a quick reply...!! Good luck!!!! x

 

[Maintainer]

Excellent advice here ladies

I'd just be curious to see Marinor's stats. Could you fill out your User CP so that we can follow your progress?

Good luck
x