Need Help!!

[shepherd29]

I started CAD on 2 May and havent lost anything to date! Frustrated, i pigged out yesterday with loads of chocolates, cakes, cookies etc.. I followed the guidelines strictly.. no cheating for a full week.. 2 CMs with carbs not exceeding 4gms each.. RM lasted an hour, no time laspe in between intake of food..

Could it be my RM? Its not really balanced.. lots of high carb stuffs.. pizza, chocolates, deep fried chicken.. and perhaps the time i took them? late at night around 9pm.. my version of the book says i can have ANYTHING i want so long its within the 1 hour limit.. it wasnt until I start reading the posts here that I realised the rules of the game had changed. So wat now?

ive switched my RM to lunch and things arent looking good cos im shoving the 6th chocolate cookie into my mouth and just had a cup of instant chicken soup..

im really sorry if i sounded rude.. its just that ive tried Atkins & SBD and failed terribly.. I have so much faith in CAD cos I find it so easy to follow... for the first time in my entire life, i can eat things i wanna eat everyday! But what did i do wrong? How come im not losing? :(

[momto4boys]

I definitely would give it longer than a week or two to see results. A stall technically isn't until you've weighed the same for 6 weeks. Are you weighing everyday and averaging it? Maybe you have lost .5 lb and you don't realize it?

I have been a very slow loser on CAD and I have much more weight to lose than you do. Maybe you body likes being at 110? JAT.

[Dianee]

Yes, it could very well be your RM, that is causing you the problems. Make sure also that the foods you include in your CM's are listed in the book. If they aren't even tho they might have less than 4 grms in them, just assume that you can eat them. Another thing too, are you eating enough at your CM's so that you aren't going into your RM starving? That makes a huge difference too. Why don't you list what you are eating for your CM's. That might help some.

I know the orginal CAD book does not mention balancing your RM. I have the same book, but on the other hand they do say to make sure you have a balanced RM, but that is all it does say. I think your problem is, your RM is laced with too many carbs and not enough protein. It really makes a huge difference if you start your RM off with a nice salad. Put anything in your salad that you like and of course use any kind of dressing on your salad that you choose too. After that just sort of visualize your plate into 1/3's. Put protein in 1/3, CM veggies in another 1/3 and any kind of carb in the other 1/3. By doing this you should be able to bring your body into balance. You will find that you won't be near as hungry, but yet on the other hand you will be content because you can still eat your favorite foods. I know there will be times that you won't be balanced or can't balance properly. I know that happens to me once in awhile. I try to balance as much as possible, but sometimes it doesn't always work for one reason or another.

When the Heller's first wrote the first CAD book, they didn't realize that people would just make their RM a free for all, eating nothing but carbs. I don't think that was their intentions at all. They revised the CAD book to include the 1/3 balancing.

Give this a try and see if it doesn't make a difference on how you eat. Let us know if you are still having problems. It does take some getting use to, so hang in there.

Good Luck,

[shepherd29]

this is my sample menu for the day:

CM BF: Tuna with hard boiled egg
CM Lunch:Lettuce salad with red peppers
RM Dinner: Anything I can lay my hands on, cookies, breads, biscuits.. chocolates.. Though Im stuffed, so long as theres still time, i'll grab something, shove it into my mouth and swallow.

As much as I want to have a balanced meal, I find it so hard to as Ive got to work late and there arent many shops around that are open then. The only edible food I can get are canned stuff like tuna, sardines, mackerals... I wanted something good, but i ended up having chips and a bar of chocolate cos ive got no choice!!!

I was so discouraged for the past week that I took a 2 days break.. ate whatever i could lay my hands on.. and its sOOOOO NOT worth it.. gained 6.6 pounds from the binge.. im now 116.6 pounds... im not tall.. only slightly close to 5".. and since most of the fat gets accumulated in the tummy, thighs and butt, I find it hard o get jeans that fit well.. My narrow shoulders didnt help.. it make my body shape look even more inproportionate..

could it be the switch from Atkins and SBD? Im always at the induction and "Phase 1" phase.. can never hold out for more than 2 days.. its a vicious cycle..

[Dianee]

Hi Shep

The red peppers might be a problem for you at your CM. I know the book lists pepers as being Ok, but the red ones are kind of on the sweet side. Just a guess here. You need to throw a little protein on that salad. That will keep you full until your RM. Is it a long time between your lunch CM and your RM? If so, you just might want to grab a snack, especially if it is longer than 5 hrs. Maybe you are going into your RM way to hungry.

Yes, your RM's are way to high in carbs. You need to do some planning. How about this week-end, or your days off, you cook up some meals for your RM and put them in the freezer. That way when you get home all you have to do is microwave them. Buy some of that premade salad blend. All you will have to do is pour some in a bowl put your dressing on and than while you are eating that your meal can be warming up in the micro. The way you are eating now is not healthy for anyone. If you are not careful you will gain back all of your weight. CAD is not meant to be one big binge for your RM. :)

I know some people do have problems when they go from Atkins to CAD. Your problem is, you need to start balancing your RM or this will never work for you. Just do some planning.

Good luck. I hope this helps.

[shepherd29]

Thanks Diane, I guess you're right.. its just that its been a very long time since its "LEGAL" to eat what I want.. Guess Im just deluding myself..willing to accept the eat-whatever-i-want but deliberately ignoring the "balanced-meal" part.. (i can lie to myself but i can NEVER cheat my body!!)

how nice if I can lose weight and have what i want.. even if its just for an hour..*sigh* wishful thinking on my part i know..

I tot red peppers are ok for CM so I added them into my salad!!! Lucky for me, I skipped the dressing else it'll definitely be more than 4gms of carb..

this is my menu for today:

CM B/F: Seared tuna with soya sauce

CM Lunch: Swiss Miss Diet Chocolate (4gms carb per serving)

RM Dinner: Seared tuna with stir-fried pork and a lot of stir-fried vegetables plus mars bar on the side.

Is this balanced? I figured if I leave the mars bar untouched till the end of my meal, I might not have it at all (though its highly unlikely that I miss the golden chance to consume without guilt :>)..

[SkinnAussi]

:D Hello
I think you gotta have the mindset that its not a "reward meal" because for me in my mind that gives me the excuse to eat everything in sight (just as you have explanded). I try and stay very focused while having the carb meal, eating slowly and making sure i drink heaps of water. Before I start eating I decide what carb I am going to have for a reward (I put the thought of the hour limit out of my mind because by god can I eat heaps in a hour) sometimes it is a couple of choccie bikkies and sometimes its a few slices of bread and I tell myself that is all I am allowed to have. Sometimes i have an extra mouthfull etc but I am able to stop before binging badly. This has worked so far and hopefully i will continue to lose nice and steadily.

[shepherd29]

thats EXACTLY how i feel!!! Eating everything in sight.. stuffing myself till im sick (though i rarely get sick :) ha..just get fatter).. i just cant wait for dinner.. the mere thought of the spread ive got for dinner make me drool..

its like i start to "plan" what i wanna binge on.. chocolate sundae with a LOT of fudge, mcdonald's french fries, the mashed potato from KFC.. Coffebean's mocha ice blended with loads of whipped cream...

See what I mean?! ive just finished my RM (a quite balanced one except i couldnt resist the home-made chocolate chip cookies made by my colleague and managed to gobble up 5 of them at the last 10 mins even though my stomach's choked full of food..) and I cant wait for the next one to come.. though no longer than 23 hours away, it still feels like eternity to me..

If the bingeing goes on, I'll have to start taking the carb-blockers that I got from GNC.

[Dianee]

Hi Shep,

You did much better with your RM. You only had the one candy bar, so that is good. Looks like you had a lot of protein, along with the veggies. :)

For your CM's. The Swiss Chocolate Diet drink is a NO, NO. I know it is only 4 grms of carbs, BUT, it is a very sweet drink and your body is going to think of it as sugar. It will cause you to crave and also to stall your weight. If you were at your goal, you might, be able to get by with it, but still not real sure about that either. Just always remember, if it isn't listed in the book of legal foods that you can eat, than just assume you can't have them, even tho they say 4grms of carbs or less. I am not too sure about Soya. I have never seen this sauce before, but you still need to be careful with these kinds of things. Remember if it's not listed in the book, you can't have it. :(

You did so much better for your RM yesterday. It takes a little time to get use to what is legal and what isn't. Each day will get a little easier.

Hang in there.. You will be fine. :)

[Dianee]

Hi Shep,

We just crossed in the mail. :D You probably could not resist those cookies because you had that Swiss Diet Drink. That will make you crave big time. That is why it is important to eat a balanced RM. You will find once that you do, that you body won't have those cravings anymore. I mean you will be able to be satisfied with just the a candy bar or even one cookie, but you have to be careful for your 2 CM's and also balance your RM. It really does help to start with a salad for your RM also.

It takes a few days of eating right before your body gets to where it doesn't go crazy at your RM. You will get the hang of it and than you will see what I am talking about. :D

I do envy you. You are so close to your goal.

[pre3teach]

Just an FYI...CAD does mention balancing your RM it is just that they don't say it much and other plances in the book they say you can have whatever you want...but they do say too in is not meant to be a binge... My RM have become much more balanced and under control the longer I have followed the plan. (Thankfully) I think after dieting for awhile or following restrictive plans it is soooo exciting to be able to eat the forbidden things that it is easy to overdo or obsess about it...It isn't like that for me anymore and I really think it is becuase I don't feel deprived anymore. I know this plan is for life and I know I can have it later(tommorrow) The cravings and urgency that you speak of has gone away for me. I am still very excited about the RM...but like last night I was able to have a lc RM meal, eat a lc ice cream bar (I think they are just as good or better than the non lc kind) and then have my splurge be a banana!!! Sounds crazy I know but it really is happening! I bet it will for you too if you keep your carbs where they should be for the CM and then after another few weeks maybe that urgency will go away. Lets hope!!!!

P.s. I found that when I eat alittle earlier than 7 I do better than if I eat a RM later. When I`got home from work I couldn't wait to eat now I actually put it off so that if I want popcorn with t.v. I can have it as the end part of my rm. It has gotten so much easier! :)

[shepherd29]

*sigh* i knew it!! the swiss miss diet chocolate drink.. the only beverage which i manage to find, didnt taste nasty, affordable, barely 4gm carbs (the label says 1 gm fibre) and still too much... :( its my substitute for good ol' sweet creamy coffee..

im also drinking diet coke.. is that a no no as well? I add "Atkins Sugar Free Syrup" into my horrible tasting plain black coffee too.. am i having too much artificial sweeteners?

[Dianee]

Hi Shep,

So sorry, about the Hot Chocolate. I would love nothing better myself than to be able to drink one of those during my CM, especially on a cold winter day. :) I guess we can dream.. :D

I guess I am going to rain on your parade again. I don't think you should drink the diet soda's either. My suggestion would be to do away with the AS for right now. See how you do and than add it back in slowly and see if you stall, or have cravings. The Heller's recommend not having AS outside of your RM. Some people do just fine on it and others don't. I use to drink diet Pepsi like it was going out of style. I could not imagine having one for my lunch and bascially when I felt like it. But now, I only have one when I feel like it for my RM. I drink water all day long now. How about you? Are you drinking lots of water?

How did you do today? Did you have any cravings? Were you able to keep your RM under control?? It will get easier as you go along.

Hava a nice evening..

[shepherd29]

oh no~ i forgot the water part!! Eight glasses a day and I managed a miserable 1 only so far (its noon time here..)
CM b/f: sardines in olive oil right out of a can
coffee with sugar free syrup
CM lunch: eating a black pepper chicken steak right now..
RM Dinner: planning to have plain white rice with water cress soup and braised fish.. a kit kat bar for dessert. Yum yum...

Notice i didnt drink any of that hot chocolate.. gonna do as you say Diane, lay off the AS and see what happens.. Ive still got a can of diet coke in the fridge though..probably i'll just give it away..

..and dont envy me, ive been on a diet ever since goodness knows when and ive NEVER lost any weight in my whole life without the help of diet pills.. thought its my fault till i lay my hands on the CAD book..

Its so hard doing CAD here in Singapore, the LC phenomenon hasnt sweep the supermarkets off their feet yet, so the labels are still screaming "LOW FAT" instead of "sugar-free".

We dont have LC ice-cream, LC pasta, LC marinates, LC ketchups, sugar free chocolates etc.. and because im a chinese, my colleagues, friends and even my mom couldnt understand why I refuse to touch rice (asians' daily staple) while im doing atkins and SBD..

But ive finally found a WOE that doesnt make me look like some kinda weirdo and i desperately want this to work.. it means so much to me to have a normal dinner (RM) with my friends and family once in a while without having to shun this and avoid that.. tired of being a party-pooper..

Friend (enthusiastically); Lets order pizza!!
Me: uh.. i cant eat that..
Friend: Japanese food, tempuras.. udons, cold soba!!
Me: Sorry, they'll create havoc to my insulin

Sorry.. im digressing.. ha..

[Dianee]

Hi Shep,

I just noticed you have a journal. Good for you. A journal is excellent becaues you can go back and see your progress etc.

Your menu does look much better now. You might try to thow in a few CM veggies or a salad with your CM. It might help to keep you full, plus the extra fiber if good for you.

Don't throw the diet coke away. You can have it for your RM. Once you get use to the diet you will know what you can and can't do. You are just getting your feet wet now. :D

I don't eat too many of those LC products. I find them to be very expensive, so I refuse to buy them. I have heard a lot of horror stories on the LC pasta, but I guess there are a couple out there that are OK.

Better run and get ready for work. Don't forget to drink your water. That does help.

Take care and have a nice day, or is it just turning night there??

[shepherd29]

yeap, its night time when you replied.. but im at work now reading this.. :)

Ive been really good during my RM last night.. ate a huge chunk of chicken leg before I had a small pastry and deep fried vegetables in batter.. no salad thou cos I couldnt find any.. im not sure if my eyes are playing tricks on me but i think ive lost 0.5 pounds this morning.. :D

btw, what do you have for your CMs?

[Dianee]

Hi shep,

Congrats on the .05 loss. It sure does help to keep you motivated when the scale if headed in the right direction. :) Yes, it does sound like you are doing much better on your RM.

My CM's are pretty basic. For breakfast I usually have protein in the form of eggs, and sometimes my DH will make a big batch of homemade turkey/pork sausage, and I will have some of that with a fried egg, and for my lunch CM it is usually a salad and some protein. I am tyring an experiment right now and only eating Salmon for my lunch with my salad.

Keep up the good work, you are doing great. Have a good day/eveing. :D