Hello everyone! It's great to be here!

I met a couple of you in chat yesterday...but I wanted to take the time to formally introduce myself....you'll be seing me around a lot!

My name is Cris. I'm 34 years old and a stay-at-home Mom of 4 beautiful children. They are ages 8, 5, 3, and 1. I'm a Singer/Songwriter as well. I also work part-time out of my home for an attorney...and...(if that wasn't enough)...I volunteer for March of Dimes.

Originally I wanted to start Atkins because of it's proven record in weight-loss. However, since reading the book my priorities have changed. I've suffered from hyperthyroidism (Graves Disease) for 2 years controlling it with medication. The aweful part is that I have EVERY symptom EXCEPT weight loss! I read the Atkins book and realized how horrible my diet is. Had it not been for my Graves I would most-definitely weigh more than I do now. I'm a carb-junkie, plain & simple!

Another contributing factor is that heart-disease and diabetes run in my family. I've taken a long-hard look into the future. Couple the fact that I get literally NO exercise with the fact that my diet is HORRIBLE....I'm a walking candidate for both!

Now my goal is to get healthy through diet and exercise...and let the weight take its natural course.

I have read the book, bought needed groceries and supplements, and I'm ready to go! I plan to start Atkins tomorrow morning. My husband is doing Atkins with me.

The best part of all......my doctor actually RECOMMENDED this diet. He is an Atkinser too.

I'm really glad I found this site because...the one thing I feared with Atkins was not having support. Originally I was going to try Weight-Watchers (because the support appealed to me)...however...after eating only ONE meal and STARVING an hour later...I decided this was a sure-fire way to fail!

I've looked at the before/after pics on this site...and I have to tell you ALL......WAY TO GO! You are an inspiration to us "inductees".

I weigh 179 and am 5'8 with a medium build. According to all of the charts I "should" weigh between 134 and 165. I haven't been below 150 since I was 21 years old. I currently wear a size 16 jean (comfortably...but I've been known to cram my bootie into a 14!...I refuse to believe!!!! LOL). My goal is to get at least do a size 10.....preferably an 8......and to get down to at LEAST 150...but the ultimate goal would be 139.

I look forward to getting to know you all in time...and becomming a part of this support network. I know for a fact we can all use a little encouragement from time to time.

Cris

Cris,

Welcome, welcome!!! Sounds like you have the right attitude. If you are into reading about this WOL, absolutely get the Protein Power book too. I am reading it now, and oh my, it's wonderful info!!!!!!!

I see you are an Illinoisan too. What area are you in? I am in the far western suburb area of Chicago. Some of us get together every now and then, and it would be great to add another person to our group!!! Let us know if you are anywhere near us, we'll have to set up a meeting place to get to know you!!! We go to lunch once in awhile, but doing dinner would be fine with me too. Or just an afternoon thing would be good also. Whatever



Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

Welcome!
With an attitude like yours, you'll do phenominally well!!!! You've come to the right place...

227.5/217.5 helloooooo 150!
Gertie

of course, MOST OF THE TIME I SPELL BETTER THAN THIS... phenomenally!

Welcome Chris! I see you are quite the busy lady. I'm sure you'll find that this is a very supportive community and once you really get into the WOE you'll feel so much healthier and able to concentrate on all the things you're involved in!



194/179/125 (5'4)

And I'm gonna make it this time!

Barb...I live in a little town near Peoria called Groveland. We are in the middle of the state. Which Burb do you live in? I go up there quite a bit to go to Shriner's for my youngest son Seth.

Wanted to say Hi!! And Good luck!!!

Old age ain't no place for sissies.

-Bette Davis-..
215/178/160
37 Gone
18 to go!!

Welcome Chords...
We spoke briefly last night in chat also, glad to have you here with us
I'm also a musician, I sing semi pro and play a few instruments, and also work for an atty (real estate) on a contract basis. And, to top it all off, not too far away either, I'm the northern neighbor up in the Milw. area.
This wol and woe has really begun to turn my life around, and sure has helped to make me feel better.
Keep us posted, and good luck to you, can't wait to hear how things go for you

Erin

Welcome Chris...

I am sure you will do great!! All the people
here are wonderful, very helpful and very
supportive...

Good luck and nice meeting you..

Tina
172/155/140
8/21/03

Hello again Chords,

Welcome aboard. Good luck to you.

Melinda B
240/230/150
Atkins 10/12/03

Cris~

You've done the research, you've got a good doctor, you've set reasonable goals, you're prepared, and your primary motivation is good health....WOW ~ you're gonna do great!!

My best advice would be to make sure you've always got some good low-carb food on hand that you can just grab. Although planning and preparing delicious meals is part of the fun of this way of life, it's not always convenient. If you have to take time to prepare something when you want something NOW, it sometimes leads to getting off track. Guard against letting yourself get ravenously hungry anyway, but do have your own "fast food" available.

Now that you have your groceries, grill up a bunch of chicken breasts to have for lunch and put on/in salads, make up some tuna salad, hard-boil a dozen eggs and devilize some of them, pre-cook some burgers to freeze and nuke later, prepare some ham & cream cheese roll-ups, and have some bagged salads ready to go. One of my favorite things is to always have a nicely-stocked hors d'eurve tray in the fridge - various cheeses, steak bites, assorted veggies with dip, pickles, olives, a few pepperoni slices, assorted left-overs. For me, that has saved the day many times, and it impresses the heck out of unexpected company.

The last thing you want to be doing, especially early on, is scrounging around the kitchen when you're hungry, wondering what to eat. Be prepared! Which reminds me, if you haven't already de-carbed your household, do it. Get rid of those boxes of rice-a-roni, pitch the potatos, dump the bread, clear the freezer of those pizzas and ice cream, and make sure there are no remaining cookies or candies lurking in the cupboards. If you can't bring yourself to throw out perfectly good food, pawn it off on somebody else or take it to the food bank, but get it out of your house. You'll appreciate the reclaimed space in your kitchen, and be much less likely to deviate from your new way of eating if that junk is GONE.

You might want to check out fitday.com as another tool to help you along the way ~ it's a free program you can use to track your progress.

Welcome and best wishes,

Sky
Atkins since 8/02
186/144/under 150

Well said, Sky!!!!



Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

Cris..

welcome again! we met in chat.

Sky..YOU were the one who suggested making up a tray of goodies to keep in the fridge. thank you for saving my butt a hundred times last week, so simple I wish I had thought of it myself!!

start 09.01.03 @225
current 206
goal 130ish

"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." ~ Thomas Jefferson

It's nearly impossible to toss the carbs because I have 4 small children.....but my willpower is great. Today I started Atkins...no cravings yet...and I'm taking all the supplements I should. I'm really excited about getting my body & health back! Thanks everyone for your support and I'm sure I'll be here for a long time....you guys have been wonderful!

I am also new to this website. I had started the Atkins diet on oct 7, and was doing really well until this week (the halloween candy was calling name). I am restarting the induction phase tomorrow. My starting weight was 224, now down to 205, goal weight is 160. I am 5'8". I am a stay at home mother of two boys, 2 1/2 and 4 months.

Welcome Cris! Glad to have you with us!

You have great frame of mind with this WOE! It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and both feet planted firmly on the ground!





Tanya
Member since Jan 2002
re-started on 1-3-03
272/185/172<--(next goal)