Unfortunately, this question isn't about me. It's about my husband. In about March of 2003, he weighed 318. He'd weighed that for several years. Then he went on Atkins. He stayed on it for seven months & lost 60 lbs. Then he went pretty much completely off the diet for five months. He gained maybe five pounds back.

Then, in March of 2004, we went on it together again. He's lost over 60 lbs again since then. I'm really proud of him. He weighs 195 now. He's 6'3, so he's probably getting pretty close to goal.

Now, here's the weird thing...

Last month, he went off the diet again for about three weeks. (Long story. We were moving. Our apartment needed more work than we thought before we could move in. So we ended up sleeping on my mom's floor for almost a month. We both just came home from work, ate what we could find, & crashed. Food was the farthest thing from my mind & I didn't gain anything during that time.)

During the three weeks when he was eating fast food & junk food & god knows what, he lost a few more pounds. We finally got moved into the apartment & bought our own groceries again & went back to our low-carbing. He lost two pounds the first day... How I envy him this!

Now, I trust the diet to work how it's supposed to. But people are starting to look at DH like something's wrong with him. They ask if he's sick. They tell him to eat. He doesn't look sickly thin to me. (He looks great!) But he, personally, has a little flab around the middle & sides that he would still like to see go.

Here's my question, though. Do you think that low-carbing is responsible for all this? I mean, just because of the things that other people have said, I wonder if there's not something else going on--something totally unrelated to his diet. Is it normal for the weight to run away screaming like that, even after a year... even so close to goal?

Would love some opinions.

Cassandra

__________________
If we're not supposed to eat animals, why are they made out of meat? ~Twyzter

It certainly wouldn't hurt to have a medical check-up and blood work done. A doctor isthe best person to judge if there's a medical reason for his weightloss.

Generally, men do lose weight much more easily than women (dang!)

Maybe during his off plan periods, he was actually making somewhat better choices when he did eat (diet soda vs a milkshake or sugared soda, etc.) He may also have been skipping meals during the moving period. So, possibly he wasn't consuming so much food as it seemed.

He may have been more active during those periods, burning extra calories.

Then, too, some people lose weight under stress - and the moving upheaval and sleeping on the floor would qualify as major stress in my world. He might even have been burning more calories simply from tossing and turning at night.

All that is just straight-up speculation, of course.

As for the flab around the waist, could that just be some excess loose skin, in part?

Is his color good? Energy level okay? Are his moods normal?

How does he say he feels? Or, is he the type of guy who says "FINE!" no matter what's going on? (my dh is like that).

I suppose you could ask the people who ask if he's sick what it is that prompts the question.

Absent symptons, I would suspect he's perfectly fine.

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

Ditto everything that Teel said. Especially the part about men losing easier.

I also agree that if either or both of you are concerned, do see a doctor. I really doubt that anything will be found, but it will reassure you and then you will have something to say to the skeptics. When a person loses quite a bit of weight, there are always people that think it must be from "something wrong".

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!

I've been thinking what y'all have said & it does make me feel better about it. I wouldn't say he feels "great", but he seems to feel a lot better now than he did a hundred pounds ago.

He still has a lot of bone & joint pain. His mom is almost disabled with osteoarthritis, so I guess this is to be expected somewhat. But I think low carbing has helped this also. Plus he smokes (I used to also) and I know this drags you down. Makes you more tired, etc. But all in all, I think his health has actually improved lately.

It's really STRANGE, you know... I've been married to this guy for 6 years. And up until the last several months, he's always been a BIG guy. Had a big 'carb' belly. (He doesn't drink beer. LOL) And now he's so THIN! I mean... I have to lay on him a different way while we're watching TV. :O

Anyway, I appreciate your input. I'm still marinading all the info.

Cassandra

__________________
If we're not supposed to eat animals, why are they made out of meat? ~Twyzter

One more thing --- 195 @ 6'3" is probably thin enough. My DH is 6'2" and is between 200 and 205. I certainly don't think he's overweight. Your DH's extra around the middle may just be left over skin that has not yet adjusted to the new weight. Some work at the gym or with weights may fix that. If he's really really distressed over it, he could get it liposuctioned.......... ala TV makeovers.

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!

Cassndra,
I'm inclined to say, go see a Dr. Especially if he hasn't had a physical exam in a while, and especially if he is having symptoms of fatigue. Most likely all will be well, but it will certainly put your mind at ease, plus as mentioned above, it will squelch the *nay-sayers*
just my $.02

Shelley

__________________
~~~~
Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!