When I first decided to try the Atkins diet, I planned ahead. I knew that dieting is easier when you have a good support system that is backing you up. Luckily, I had two friends who were also doing the Atkins diet at the time that I started. Although this support structure worked well at first, it seems to have disappeared as time has gone on.
Most people have at least a little bit if difficulty when they are making major changes in their lives. When you start the Atkins diet, you go from your accustomed, comfortable, way of eating to something completely different.
You have to count carbs, and read the labels on packages of foods. You are going to have to find the time to make meals from fresh foods, instead of just throwing something into the microwave. At first, this is not easy, or fun, to do.
This is why it helps to have a good support system in place. For me, this consisted of a couple of my friends who just so happened to be doing the Atkins diet at the same time that I was about to start. You might have started Atkins with a family member, or with a group of people from your place of employment. These are the people who will completely understand your struggles with the Atkins diet, because they are going through the same thing.
Ideally, your support structure will be there for you to talk you out of eating that doughnut, or making french toast for breakfast. Your support structure can help keep you honest about how well your diet is going. If you are sitting at lunch with a group of people who are all on this diet, it becomes much harder to “sneak” a few cookies, or a candy bar. Someone is going to notice!
Your own, personal, support “team” can provide you with the encouragement you need to keep going when the food cravings find you. They can celebrate with you every time the scale says that you have lost a few more pounds. No diet is “easy”. Having someone congratulate you on your weight loss can make things a bit easier, though.
I started the Atkins diet in the last week of June, 2011. It is now the second week of August, 2011. In that amount of time, my support system has pretty much disappeared. One of my friends stopped doing the diet shortly after he started it. My other friend who started this diet has gotten into the habit of having a “cheat day” every week. In short, he has given himself permission to eat whatever he wants to on that one day, but stays with Atkins approved foods for the rest of the week.
If you feel as though your support structure has disappeared, you can find a virtual one on the Atkins website. If you are someone who spends a lot of time online anyway, this might be a great way to create a new support system for yourself. There are forums where you can ask questions, and leave comments.
Image by .reid. on Flickr