I made it! Well, to be honest, I am striving for more. I am 5 feet tall so I am going for 105 pounds now. I started at a size 16 wide and am now in between size 2 and 4. I have lost 64 inches and 76 pounds. I will get to the point where the size 2s fit comfortably (I like looser fit) and then I will move to maintenance.

I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would be here. I remember laughing when I set my original goal weight, thinking, "Yeah right, get a grip". I love eating this way and that only adds to my feeling of joy and control. I can do this forever. What a relief from the constant fighting of pounds I have done for most of my life.

A huge gigantic thank you to those who have not only inspired me but have been selfless enough to share their own experiences with others. I depend on this forum and give it its fair share of the credit for my success.

A special thanks to Andrea. I know you are experience some technical difficulties lately but I wanted you to know how much your efforts really help people like me. You have created a very safe, user friendly environment and I for one am eternally grateful!

P.S. Teelbee, how are you doing?

Red
7/24/02
186/110/110

Red,

You've done such a wonderful thing for yourself!

You are a continuing source of inspiration to all of us in the Vertically Challenged club!

Congratulations!

Maggie
5'1" ~~ Atkins since '98 (160)/Maintaining nicely (110) ~~ Redhead until further notice!

Great job!

Cheers,
Emelia

"We can only learn to love by loving." - Iris Murdoch, Irish writer
294/208/174 LC since 25-Nov-01

Wonderful, Fabulous, Amazing!!!!

Oh, Red!!! Congratulations!!! You've done it!!!

I wish you continued success, and I know how special it is when you've finally reached your goal...ain't nothin sweeter!!!

A big high smile and high five for you today!!

Keep us posted...the journey continues--

Connie

Wow! Red, YOU ROCK!

Congratulations on your superb success! I know you put a lot of work and thought into your weight management plan. All your hard work has really paid off. You lost SIXTY PERCENT of your original body weight! You must be thrilled... and well you should be! Please accept our finest accolades for your achievement.


~~~Teelbee

174 (Mar. 2002, highest weight), 164 (Jan. 2003, begin LC)
164/135/137-134
remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic

Red!! Congratulations on reaching goal! This is a fantastic accomplishment, and I know how long and hard you've worked. As someone with about the amount to lose, and only a tad taller, I do understand the commitment it takes to get the pounds off, especially the last 10 or so.

A well-deserved WOOHOO to you!!


BC
172/108/108
Zone since 4/98

Congratulations!!!! WONDERFUL!!!!!!

Deborah
171/140/137

Congratulations Red------ I'm getting close, too. I'm almost afraid to try to move to maintenance. I do not ever want to go back up again. Keep posting and let me know the secret to continued success.

Judy

180/142.5/138
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill

Way to go girl! Success is a wonderful feeling and size 2, well that is just FABULOUS!!!!!!!!

MONICA

Great job and a huge congratulations.
Isn't this way of life fantastic?

Atkins Maintainer
5"1" 96 to 102 lbs
HDL 102
Tryglicerides 64
Glucose 79

Thank you everyone! I just love our support system.

I am also a bit nervous about maintenance but we have enough successful veterans here to show that it can be done. I do plan to journal again when I actually start maintenance so that I know I'm getting enough calories and essential foods.

Question for those maintaining, what foods did you add during maintenance. I am thinking about oatmeal, yams, squash, plums, etc. What have you tried and found you couldn't eat, even in moderation?

Red
7/24/02
186/109/110
Size 16W to size 2

I'll tell you the one that I'm most afraid of .... sliced low carb bread. I am so afraid that if I buy it and start eating that bread, it will be too easy to slide back into regular bread. I'm OK with the tortillas, but bread worries me.

Judy

180/142.5/138
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill

Your fears may be well founded, Judy. I didn't do Atkins, as you know, but my experience has been that if I have grains of any type (even tortillas) more than once or twice a week, I'm headed for trouble. Plums, a half apple, a tangarine--those seem to work for me ok. I enjoy some sweet potato now and then, too.

One of the things I try to do is "check in" with myself *before* I have anything that's higher carb or higher GI. If I'm feeling, "strong" and "stable" I may have some. At those times I can eat a little bit of anything and be perfectly ok. If I check in and for any reason my intuition tells me it wouldn't be a good idea, I pass. I don't know how to explain it, but the more I honor my sense of what will work for me at any particular time, the easier maintenance becomes. Now, if I could only tune in consistantly!



BC
172/108/108
Zone since 4/98

Red, I added in more berries and cantaloupe, an occasional apple,a few higher glycemic vegetables such as butternut squash, flax meal "breads", a few more nuts. I also allow myself a glass or two of Merlot or Chablis.
I tried some moderately higher carb breads that were only whole grains (or sprouted grains) water and yeast and nothing else. Gave them up because my tryglicerides started to creep up a bit.
HTH

Cheers to you Red!
You are an inspiration to me and obviously to many others as well. I am a regular on this board as a lurker only. I am neither a veteran nor in maintenance but come here for inspiration. Somehow the threads by people here, whether their news is good or bad, always seem to put things into perspective for me. They give me encouragement an patience to deal with my own ups and downs.

Many thanks to all of you.

Rave
232/192/130