Hi everyone,
It has been almost 8 years for me since I was at my ideal weight (which I was able to get to via Atkins). I went down with a lung ailment at 29 years old and it was one thing after another until I was finally released by my doctor of all meds this past Jan 15th!! I feel like I have been given permission to live again! He has said that I can start working out in 2- 3 weeks from then and that means I am allowed back in the gym this coming week!!! I have my membership card, gym bag packed and water bottle freezing in the fridge!!

But this long medical battle has been costly to my weight. I am a large boned female (5ft 11in-size 11 shoe) to begin with and used to model in my teens and early 20's. But when I moved from modeling to an office job and full time college in my mid 20's the weight piled on and before I knew it I was tipping the scales at 320 lbs.

Now I know a lot of people say this but I really do have a lot of muscle. So I was not suprised that once I worked with the Atkins plan I was able to get down to 215 lbs in 8 months and to my desired size 12. For my height (and according to BMI) I need to be at the most 176 or lower to not be overweight. If I went there with my build I would kill myself- so you really need to take into consideration your build.

It was great thought at 215-ish... people even started telling me - you are getting a little bit too thin or would offer it was time to stop! So I maintained this size for years with Atkins and my workouts - I loved the gym and it showed. Then at 29 I ended up with pneumonia and it got very nasty! While desperatly ill I tried to move from one room to another and took a fall. Add 3 broken ribs and a ruptured disc in my back to the mix and it was going to be a long few years. The infections, depression, medicines and side effects worked their magic on me and now some 8 years later I am free of any and all meds!

I feel like a new person but the old body needs some work. I am at 317 lbs now and looking at getting back to 210/215 this year. Let me add that 317 is not my highest weight this time around- 348 was. I was there at the end of September past and even with the drugs I fought it out with the help of lower carb and moderate exercise down to 317 now. But the process is much harder and results are much lower then without the meds.

For me it takes about 18-20 lbs to go down a dress size. I wear a 22 now so I need to drop 5 sizes (100 lbs) for me to get in the 210-15 range.

I am excited because I feel ALIVE! If anyone here had to take medications and have several medical procedures over a long period of time - when they were finally released- you know how I feel- it is like nothing I can explain!! No fog, no side effects, NOTHING! It is like breathing in clean air for the first time!
I hope to meet some great folks here and get some great tips....Hello to everyone
Leigh

Welcome, Leigh.

You've certainly had quite a journey, and I'm glad to hear you're feeling better and free of "side effects."

You also have a sensible approach to what might be a healthy weight for you and that counts for a lot!

Hope you'll make yourself at home here.

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Hello, Leigh. Glad to have you with us!

I am always happy to see people paying more attention to how they feel and what weight is right for them by their own measure than charts and books. You know YOU better than anyone else.

Looking forward to getting to know you.

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thanks for extending a warm welcome...I think this is a great place to be after reading so many of the posts...looking forward to reading more and sharing