Howdy, Tracy! Glad to have you join us. If you're looking to start LowCarb, you've found a good place for help. Although I will admit, I may be a little biased...har!

Your best bet at this point is to start researching the plans available and pick one. Atkins is very popular here, as is Protien Power, and to a lesser extent, SouthBeach.

Once you've selected a plan you like and think can fit into your lifestyle, get the book for it! Having that book helps a bunch, and it's like a roadmap for you to get started.

Then, spend some time here....poke around, read old threads, check out our articles...see what there is to see. The better you educate yourself, the more likely you'll succeed.

How much are you looking to lose, Tracy, if you don't mind my asking? (And if you do, feel free to ignore me!) That can impact what you expect to some degree.

And how did you decide on low carb? Do you know someone who's doing well on it, or were there other reasons?

Oh, and welcome to LowCarbEating!

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Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

Welcome, Tracy. Dixie's given you some really good advice. You'll learn a lot just looking into the various topics here. But you do need to choose a plan and read the book.

Since you are Ohiomom, I assume you are from Ohio. I was born & raised there, but have been in TX since 1979. We raised our kids here. But, we're going "home" to visit in 3 weeks, are excited to see family & old friends.

Hope you find lots of help and encouragement here.

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Nita

Welcome, Tracy.

Hope you'll make yourself at home.

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I have about 60 pounds to lose. In 2006 I lost just at 100 pounds. For some reason, I've hit a brick wall and can't seem to get motivated again. I definitely don't want to put any of the weight back on that I lost. I thought if I tried something "new" and got connected with others I would get back on track again.

I will definitely go this weekend and take a look at the Atkins book. I'm looking forward to making some new friends as I continue this journey and will use this tool to my success!!!!

Congrats on your losses already, Tracy. That's great! How'd you lose your weight before?

I think you're very right that any weight management stuff is an ongoing learning thing, too. If it's not happening for you, it's a great idea to look around and see if something else will fit you better at this point.

And from what I understand, the research suggests those that those who lose weight with community support-like, say, oh, an online community!-do better, too.

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Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

I followed a program called Prism. It cut out all white sugar/flour and anything that was refined or processed. It worked really well. I'm not sure why I strayed but it gave me a huge jump start. I feel so much better! Last weekend my friend and I did a 5K walk. Two years ago there was absolutely NO way that I would have even thought about doing it, let alone show up and finish.

I original started out @ 345#s and wore a size 28 pants (tight). Today, I'm right @ 243 and wear a 16 or 18 depending on the clothing.

I have a before picture that I keep in my purse. It's funny though, I knew that I was big but I never realized just HOW BIG. Even looking at that picture, I still can't believe that's me.

well, that sounds pretty low carb to me, so you should probably respond well to a low carb plan, i would think. and stuff like that walking will help no matter what plan your on. how cool!

as a fellow member of the "100 pounder club", i keep some before photos in my purse, too. anytime i need a reminder of how far i've come, i pull one out.

glad to have you with us, tracy.

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Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

Thanks! I'm going to go this weekend and get an Atkins book and get strated officially on Monday. As my XBOX Live sign on, ChocolateAddict, eludes to....chocolate is truly an addiction. I'm dreading the withdrawl symptoms again. At one point, the symptoms were so strong that I could SMELL chocolate and there was none around. It's a pretty serious addiction. It's not something that I can have around or even stop at one piece. I have to go cold turkey and I'm having trouble wrapping my head around that.

After doing other lc plans for quite a few years with varying success, I finally started Atkins a month ago and it's going great! I hear ya on the chocolate thing...my DH works in a chocolate factory and comes home smelling like it every night!

You've done great so far! Congratulations!

Thank you for your words of encouragement. I've come too far to quit now or to start backsliding. When I get home from work tonight, I'm going to sit down and really take a look at this website.
I'm looking forward to seeing the number on the scale go down once again!

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