Last Sunday marked the one year anniversary of my low carb way of eating. In that one year I have managed to lose 52 pounds and keep them off. It's hard to describe how much better I feel, both physically and mentally - I know that I look a whole lot better! I have been at an almost standstill for several months - I wish that I had started a journal and kept track of what I ate, how much I exercised, etc. so I could go back and figure out what caused the weight loss to slow down. Just some advise for new comers - KEEP A JOURNAL!!

I am looking forward to the next year and hope to finish my journey of weight loss - I still have 30 - 40 pounds to go. I am determined to reach that goal (maybe before my 45th birthday!) I have a "little red dress" that I would love to wear at least once even though my teen age children are mortified at the thought of their mother in such a thing! Once I reach my goal I can concentrate on keeping it off and toning up the middle age sag that has intensified with the shrinking of all my fat cells!

Thanks to everyone here for their ideas and input. I don't post very often but I read the threads faithfully 2 or 3 times a day. You have been the encouragement I needed to keep going and your recipes have been the salvation of my taste buds many a time. I hope that some day I can be an encouragement to someone else that decides on this way of eating.

ladybug24
248/196/?? somewhere between 150 and 170

Congratulations to you, Ladybug, on your first year. Your loss averages out to one pound each week, for the entire year. That is amazing! Keeping a journal is really important, so you can look back for encouragement, help if you stall, etc.

Best wishes for another great year to come!

Take care~
Susan


LCE Member since 01/02

Congratulations, Ladybug! I just celebrated my 3rd anniversary last week myself. 50 pounds lost and I've kept it off. I reached goal earlier this year and have been bouncing around it ever since, but am always within 2 pounds of it. I'm OK with that.

You keep up the great work and you WILL reach goal. Pat yourself on the back; have a little sugar free Jello as a reward and then get back to work!

Congratulations, Ladybug! I'm sure your children are proud of you, in spite of the "red dress" thing! Best of all, you'll be healthy and energetic for your future family life!

Best wishes for your continuing journey.

Barb L.
Started Atkins January 2003
162/141/130

Super results, Ladybug!!! Keep up the great work and you'll make that red dress a traffic stopper Congrats on your lc-versary!

Ginger

Life is NOT a dress rehearsal.
159/145.5/139

Ladybug, how awesome!!! Start a journal now. It's never too late. Are you exercising? Weight lifting will rev up the metabolism. Maybe get some dumbells from Walmart or Target, maybe 8 pounders. Keep a journal of your routine, and up each time by 2 reps. The authors of Protein Power say that in order to stimulate Human Growth Hormone, which is what keeps us young, gets stimulated by muscle work on an empty stomach. Maybe give that a try?????

Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Congrats Ladybug! Terrific job

Member since 2001
http://www.ilovelowcarb.com
Size 24(start lowfat)/Size 18(start LC)/Size 14/Size 8

Barb,

I think exercise is exactly the thing that I need. I'm an accountant and it isn't exactly a physically strenuous job. My problem is that I don't know how to get started. Is there a video that you would recommend? I'm not the most coordinated person in the world but I'm willing to try anything once. Now that I've lost some of my "chub" I'm sure that they'll be easier than before. Any suggestions anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated!

Congrats, Ladybug! My anniversary is two weeks from now. I only WISH I could say I've lost a pound a week. Wow! What wonderful progress!

Check the Exercise forum here. Lots of good options. I love "Pilates for Dummies." It's yoga-ish and no-impact. That's important for me (bad knees and back/neck issues).

Good luck with the rest of your goals. How wonderful to have had such a successful year of LCE! WTG!!

Bon (AKA Hopeful in Hollywood)
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

quote;
I hope that some day I can be an encouragement to someone else that decides on this way of eating.

I think you've already accomplished this with this post alone. Not to mention all the people who have seen your wonderful progress in person.
I wholeheartedly agree with the idea of keeping a journal. but one thing about losing weight is you occasionally have to change tactics to lose more. After 70 pounds lost I am slowing down a lot so it's time to reevaluate my plan. Less calories? less carbs? more exercise? a combination? Or just keep doing what I've been been doing and wait for the results to improve.
I'll try them all in the next few months.



Rob
310/239.5/180
Me, a skeptic? I trust you have proof

One tequila, two tequila,
three tequila, floor

Not the Barb you asked, but here's my two cents about exercise. I'm a Vidiot, as we say over at the Videofitness forum, and have we got videos for you!!

For starters, go to www.videofitness.com This is a great informational website where you can find "how do I get started" guidelines. A good vendor for fitness videos is www.collagevideo.com. They feature a wide variety of workouts you can't find in stores. There are many other sources, but this is a good place to get acquainted.

I have so many "favorite" fitness videos, I hesitate to make a recommendation. Christi Taylor, Cathe Friedrich, Kari Anderson, and Gilad are perennially favorite instructors. Just do some homework, and make a choice!

I do recommend that you set aside time first thing in the morning--as little as twenty minutes to start. To build consistency, it's vital not to "decide" every day whether or not you can fit it in. As with so many things, the key is "Just do it!"

Best wishes!

Barb L.
Started Atkins January 2003
162/141/130

Congrats ladybug on reaching all of your goals! I just joined today and started Atkins on Monday. Hopefully, I will be able to say the same thing a year from now. Keep up the good work!
PS. I chuckled when I saw your name. I almost made mine ladybug26.
Take care!

"Cherish your visions and your dreams, as they are the children of your soul and the blueprints of your ultimate achievements."

I started with the dumbells at home and had been a member of a big coed gym for 3 yrs (never went cosistently) and theeeeeeeen Curves came to my town. So I joined curves as my big gym membership will expire in 5 days. I have been going to curves 3 days per week for 3 weeks now. I LOVE it!!! I don't have large rooms in my house and so doing video exercising is difficult. I did get a Yoga DVD. I need to start doing it again. But Curves builds in the stretching too, so it's all covered: aerobics, weight training and stretching. You may want to start slow with a video as Barb L. suggests.

Barb
Atkins-3/14/03
174/146/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Ladybug,

Congrats on your anniversary! Sorry I didn't post sooner; I just saw this thread.

You have done just great, and should be very proud of your progress.

I hit the one-year mark a couple of months ago, and have started upping the exercise, too. It seems to give you that extra push you need. I have not seen results in the scale, but the inches are disappearing!! That works for me.

Little red dress, here you come!

Trina

Cooking is at once child's play and adult joy.
And cooking done with care is an act of love.
- Craig Claiborne

way to go, you have truely inspired me to keep at it.... I know that you will continue on this WOE,and I can too....tks for your postings and encouraging words.

http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak
carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03
327/297/150