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

[chilli-chill]

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?

 

[Porgeous]

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

 

[Serena A]

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

 

[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!

 

[Porgeous]

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

 

[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

 

[Porgeous]

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

 

[Serena A]

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

 

[chilli-chill]

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?

 

[Porgeous]

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

 

[xxpiscesxx]

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

 

[Toots]

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

 

[Serena A]

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!

 

[MrsDannyDyer]

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

 

[chilli-chill]

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?

 

[Berryred]

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?

I currently run 20 slow minutes 3 times a week (then was eating it all back on lol!) my cdc told me not to for the first 2-3 weeks

I took the dog out for a long walk tonight over an hour, and tbh I did feel lightheaded, as at a fast pace, so going to take it slower

But it will get easier on cd to exercise once your body has adpated to the diet (i hope!)

 

[Kira]

Serena if you have managed not to comfort eat after the sad loss of your father, you are well on the way to crack any emotional/comfort eating issues. I can only be inspired yet again by some amazing people on this forum.

Chill Chill whether you do Atkins or go straight to CD you are likely to still have the effects of 'detoxing' for the first few days. I made the decision to go straight to CD as then I didn't have to think about what to eat or not or have the hassle or preparing anything. Of course you will need to do what is easier for you, your circumstances etc. Also take into consideration if you are going to be a secret CD'er like me or be open about it. The reason I am a secret CD'er because I know how much hassle I would get from work colleagues (my hubbie is very supportive of it). I am a lawyer and for some reason people seem to think I'd be too sensible to do a meal replacement diet because they think losing weight is as simple as eat less exercise more. The usual rubbish about VLCD's being unhealthy etc. You may get into the swing of things really easy, then go through a phase of wanting to cook for others because you actually stop feeling hungry. What got knocked me off course was issues with my ex husband and then the hassle let to emotional eating and I haven't stopped since September. The more mentally prepared you are the easier to get into the swing of it you will find it. So keep reading and re-reading the forum!

 

[wannabslim]

Heya hun, I think the others have said it all re: difficulty of the diet. But I just wanted to lend my support anyway. I have done CD before but never got to goal as I got complacent. But now, like you, I am slimming down in preparation for my wedding too and I can honestly tell you that this time I feel very different about it - because of the fact that the wedding date CANNOT change, and I reeeeeeeeally want to be a slim bride, so it truly is the best incentive I could hope for! I'm sure this will be the same for you too so use it!

I think once you're through the first few days and into ketosis, if you fix your focus on your wedding day you'll be fine. Imagine yourself in your dress, slim and radiant. Now accept that if you stick to CD, that vision WILL be reality! I'm finding that alone is enough to help me stay on track. So when I feel a moment of weakness coming on I pull that vision back to the front of my mind and suddenly the food doesn't seem so attractive anymore.

I know you can do this hun you have all of us on here and Brides to Be for support - this forum really is the best place when you need to escape from food, or when you need support, advice, or just somewhere to vent! Best of luck hun - can't wait to see the pics of a slim you in your dress in a few months time!!

xxx

 

[LellyCD]

Hey chilli, Good luck with starting CD, as everyone has said, the first few days are harder but as soon as kestosis kicks in it does get a lot easier and you'll be amazed that you resist all manner of food in front of you, i found myself cooking lots more interesting stuff for my family and was not interested in having any of it!!

xx

 

[Katycakes]

Good luck Chilli Chill, & thanks for the thread which has attracted all kinds of really helpful feedback... what Porgeous, Kira and Serena have been saying about comfort eating/ emotional eating has really chimed with me. That quote is a classic, about food not being the answer unless hunger is the question. For me, the struggle to disconnect food and emotions is not quite there yet, as my 2 week break over xmas proved, but CD is a great tool to give us time to work on that stuff. And with such inspirational folks to support us, we will get there. Go for it!