I've been on the Atkins for a YEAR now, trying to lose these last 5 or so pounds, just to whip myself into shape. Why has it taken me a year you ask? Well, because I last 10 days, binge for a week, and then go back on it! I know, I know, it's sooooooo unhealthy, but I just couldn't stand it! It's my 4th day, and I know that by tomorrow or the next day, I'll start getting cravings, and then a few days after that, I'll give in... Someone, please help me to stop doing that. I'm 107 pounds right now, 120 was my heaviest, and I need to get to around 95-100 (I'm only 5'2"). I'm a 'curvy' Italian teen who has had large hips and a large bust to struggle with at a young age. Exercise isn't an option because of my severe asthma and back/neck problems from an injury, but I try to do squats (to build up my butt and tone my legs), and bicep curls to give definition in my arms. I had to stop the situps because my back keeps pulling out, even though I do them correctly and with a personal trainer. The Atkins will work... I KNOW it will... It worked for everyone in my family... But PLEASE just help me get over this 10 day craving thing! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Hi Britty

Maybe you are trying to do it (Atkins) to severely. Are you doing induction over and over again? That sets a lot of people up to fail because it's just so restricted.

When you only have a few pounds to lose, it's much harder and usually takes longer and of course when you binge then you have to start all over again, it's a never ending circle.

How about you try having more carbs than the induction (if indeed that is what you are doing) - try something you can live with. Like carbs at about 30 or 40. I bet you can stay on it a lot longer and maybe succeed in getting those last pounds off.

oops just noticed this is in the teens section - oh well old ladies DO butt in.

LOL Well thank you for that advice! It's now day 5 I think... and I haven't cheated yet! I don't know how, but I found added motivation! I'm exercising too, which never hurts.

You are a good weight for your height - maybe your body is just trying to tell you it's happy where it is?

Sorry I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear =)

I agree though it takes much longer to lose those last few lbs and you know in your heart of hearts whats stopping you - the cheats! Why not log on here every time you are tempted to cheat before you go to the kitchen?

Good luck!

Thank you! That's what I *have* been doing, and it's working pretty well! I also tell myself that if I cheat, I'll have to exercise after to burn it off, but since I don't like that compromise, I don't cheat.

Multi vitamins, Omega 3s, and chromium are good for helping to curb appetite and cravings. You might try them. I'm not saying that they will stop all cravings -- but they do help.

I thought of another trick. One thing I do is to keep some low carb foods around that I can pig out on and not do much damage. I now prefer pork rinds. So when I get bad cravings -- I'll go grab a bag of pork rinds and start eating till I am so full the cravings for the bad food go away.

I would much rather "pig out" on something with zero carbs than to eat something high glycemic. Eating a lot of zero carb foods makes the hunger and cravings go away. Eating a small amount of high glycemic foods just intensifies my cravings.

If pork rinds are not your thing -- perhaps there is another low carb food you can substitute like cheese or something else? Some people use low carb bars and shakes -- I seem to stall when eating them -- so I don't really consider them any better than the food I am trying to avoid.

That is a really good idea... Right now I'm using whipped cream as a craving squasher, but even that has some carbs in it. :-( Cheese is a good idea, and what about stuff that has a lot of fiber in it? Have you ever tried that? It'll probably have me running to the bathroom immediately after, but I remember hearing that fiber tends to make people full.