Hello,
My name is Sandra and I am 38 years old. I have been overwieght all my life since the 4th grade.

I have dieted before but did nmot do it the healthy way instead I ate little and ended up gaining some wieght back. I weighed 308 in 1999 when I was pregnant with my son Michael.

My son was born premature at 30 weeks and weighed 2 pounds 6 ounces. He is a special needs child. While being a SAHM caring for him I did manage to lose some wieght and I currently weigh 265 pounds.

It is my goal to lose 95 pounds so that I can discontinue using insulin to control my diabetes. (I was diaognosed in 1993)My reasons for starting this in for myself, my health and for my son.

Thank you for listening...

Sandra

Sandra,

Good luck to you in your weight loss journey! Which LC plan are you following? No matter which one it is you've found a great place for information and support.

Debby

206.5/158/140?130?
CALP 1/12-10/9/03 & 11/26/03 on
(Atkins 10/10-11/25/03)

HI sandra!

You have came to the right place for information, support, and motivation.

It sounds like your fed up with "diets".. and now your ready to start your way of life! This will help you with diabetis.. and with your weight. You will have more energy.. and just feel much better.

Glad you found us! Looking forward to seeing your success!





"No more looking back and saying "what if", now I look forward and see success!"

Tanya
Member since Jan 2002
Way of Life since Jan 2003!
272/180/172<--(next goal)

Sandra, WELCOME!!!!

This is a fantastic site for support. Which plan are you following. Have you read the book for that plan? Have you discussed doing lowcarb with your doctor?

We have an excellent newcomer's guide at the top of this page, but here's a quick link for you: Beginner's Guide
Read up and explore all the links within the guide. It will help you tremendously.

I wish you the best on your LC journey. Let us know if we can help you with anything, don't be afraid to ask questions. We are glad to help here.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144.6/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Welcome Sandra

Besides all the great advice alredy given, check out our diabetes support forum. Read though some of the old threads. You might even want to print some of the info out to take to your doctor. With diabetes, it is VITAL that you have support and ongoing monitoring from your doctor.

Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002

Welcome to a great place. Sounds like you're ready to make a new commitment, and we'll be here to support you.

Check in often!
Best wishes.

Barb L.
Started Atkins January 2003
162/137/130

Yes, Please make sure you consult closely with your Doctor. Welcome and come here often. It's been a Key part of my success.

Rob
310/234.5/180

Me, a skeptic? I trust you have proof.

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome.
I started cutting back my carbs to about 60-80 per day and was not following a specific LC plan. But I had to stop while having a reaction to a low blood pressure med earlier this month.
I was suffering from orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure).

Orthostatic hypotension is a sudden fall in blood pressure that occurs when a person assumes a standing position. It may be caused by hypovolemia (a decreased amount of blood in the body), resulting from the excessive use of diuretics, vasodilators, or other types of drugs, dehydration, or prolonged bed rest. The disorder may be associated with Addison's disease, atherosclerosis (build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries), diabetes, and certain neurological disorders including Shy-Drager syndrome and other dysautonomias.

Symptoms, which generally occur after sudden standing, include dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, and syncope (temporary loss of consciousness).

This lasted for about a week and a half. So recently I have been to get back on track. OI have mentioned to my doctor my desire to go on Atkins but she does not have a good opinion of it. She thinks I will load up on too much protein and fat that it will place stress on my kidneys (since I am in the early stages of renal failure).

My older sister has been on Atkins for years to maintain her weight since some of her medications cause excessive weight gain. She has been my inspiration and I hope that I can finally lose this weight and be healthy.

What can I do to convince my doctor?

Sandra,
265/258/170 is my goal...

Sandra,
Please be very careful about going into ketosis with kidney problems! I suffered very bad kidney infections and had to have a shunt when I was pregnant with my second child. My urine was the color of mud and had chunks floating in it! It was the most horrible time in my life!

After she was born, I recovered with no problems. I was afraid to do the low carb diet and spoke to my Dr. about it. She said as long as I drink plenty of water and show no signs of renal distress, I could do it since I have had no problems in 8 years with my kidneys. (I even had another child, which my Dr. warned against)

I am fine with it. But Please, please follow your Dr's advice!

Jen

Atkins since 11/11/03

5'3" 140/129/115


I used to be indecisive...But now I'm not so sure!

The good thing is I have no damage to my kidneys at present. I know I had some blood work and lab work to see how I am doing so when I see her this February I wil ask her about it.

I am on a medication to protect my kidneys for now.

Sandra,
265/258/170 is my goal...

Sandra, I can not stress this enough.


Since you are in the early stages of renal failure, on medication or not, you MUST NOT follow a low carb food plan without your doctor's approval and supervision.

To do anything else puts your health at serious risk.



Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002

Sandra:

If your doctor is not on board with you doing low carb YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING IT.

For the benefit you & all the members, I would like to quote the disclaimer at the beginning of DANDR:

"The advice offered in this book, although based on the author's experience with many thousands of patients, is not intended to be a substitute for the advice and counsel of your personal physician. If you are currently taking diuretics, insulin, or oral diabetes medications, consult your physician before starting Atkins. You will need to reduce and then closely monitor your dosage as you lower your blood-sugar level. People with severe kidney disease should not do Atkins. The weight loss phases of the Atkins Nutritional Approach are not appropriate for pregnant women and nursing mothers."

(from Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, Avon Books, 2002)

Now, given all that, if you still feel you really want to do Atkins, and you want to talk more to your doctor about it, why not give the Atkins people a call:

Atkins Information Agents by phone at 1-800-6-ATKINS from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST

and see what they have to say?

I hope that you think carefully about all this.

I am going to close this thread now, because I really don't think we can help you - what you've already told us about your medical history makes me uncomfortable about continuing this discussion any further.

WEBMASTER