Thread: Can it REALLY work for me???

I have been on alot of eating plans, and I am Oh-so excited about eating low carbs. (Just because I have been a HUGE carb eater all of my life), and I feel this just may be what I need to finally lose and keep off my weight.
However---does anyone know that statistics for weightloss and maintnance for people with over 100 pounds to lose? I have read that most people stall at 4-60 pounds... Any input is great!!!

There is a forum for people who have 100 or more pounds to lose...have you checked in there? That might be a good place for you to start. Also, there are success stories on the website www.atkins.com, so maybe some of them would help?

I wish you the best of success as you set off on your journey...this is a great place for support, and we are all happy to have you here!

Hi Heather!!

I am just beginning the low carb lifestyle too... and I love it!!! I am at the end of my second week and have lost over 8.5 pounds so far! I too have tried every diet that has ever been created... but this way of eating has completely taken away my cravings for the foods that used to make me crazy! No other program or diet has ever done that before!!!

Good luck to you, and if you need a buddy to walk this road with ... I'd love to!!! I know it's easier when you have people to talk to and go through it with!! You can message me, or email me anytime!!

Heather, WELCOME to LCE!!!! You have chosen the best way to eat in order to get your weight under control. I don't know if there are any statistics that are reliable about how much one SHOULD lose. It's such an individual thing. There are so many factors that affect how quickly one will lose: age, level of activity, sex, medications, metabolism, the amount one has to lose, etc. Be assured, if you follow a program to the letter in the beginning, you WILL lose some weight. Some people only lose 4-6 lbs in the beginning. Others lose 20-25 lbs. Then not matter how much you have lost in the beginning, the rate slows way down. The reason for that is because the first two weeks of MOST LC eating plans causes the body to give up stored glycogen and water. That stage doesn't really create a huge fat burning cycle yet. After that, when you begin to up your carbs, the weight loss begins to slow down. The average weight loss amount per week is usually about 1-2 lbs. But I personally only lose an average of 1-2 lbs per MONTH. It can be slow going, but I am not doing this for weight loss anymore, I am doing it for the health benefits. I am doing this for the loooooooooong haul and will NEVER go back to eating the way I used to, because I know that's what made me fat in the first place. Make sure you read the book of you plan choice so you have your roadplan in place. You can't do this successfully unless you have a plan. Stick with these boards for some most valuable support, which will help you succeed. I wish you the best of luck with your journey!!!!

welcome to our big family of LCers ! I too was a skeptic. But the skepticisim is what made me try it and after looseing 12lbs in the first 3 weeks i was hooked no diet has left me w/ such sucess! I have done low fat, i have done extream portion controle. I have tried liquid diet, diet pills, you name it i have tried it! THIS REALY WORKS! I am now almost 6 months in and i have gone from 248 down to 215. It is wonderfull Im so happy to be heading in the right direction.. i had just over 100 lbs to loose when i started and now i have 65lbs to loose

My only sugestions are to read LOTS post lots of msgs. If you ever are curious about anything there are many people here all the time to answer questions! GOOD LUCK

Welcome, Heather.

Please make yourself at home!

Welcome Heather! I could be one of those poster children you see for some programs--I lost 100lbs in 6 weeks type--well, not quite!!! I have lost 49 in 5 months (well it will be on the 5th of June). I lost almost 20 in the first two weeks and am down to an average of about 1.5 a week now--but some weeks it is 4 and others it is 0. I seem to be stuck right now at 49--I started with 100 to lose--well 102, but I will be happy with 132 so I say 100. I am almost halfway there! I have gone from a size 22(so tight I couldn't button it standing up) to a 14 (tight but comfortable enough to wear all day). I love this WOL/WOE, I feel so much better and I don't crave the garbage that got me into this mess to start with anymore. . .I still eat almost everything--except sugar and white flour--I can honestly say I have given them up completely! Other than that I eat almost everything else--in moderation--there is the key--I can have watermelon-just not he WHOLE watermelon, and I can have grapefruit, just not 3 a day!

It really works--but it works differently for everyone!

hello heather.

stalls, like every other aspect of weight loss, are going to vary from person to person. there are some famous points people tend to slow down: week three, about month 4, and sometimes at places they've spent long times at in the past.

from what i've seen here and elsewhere, low carb is a great approach for people with large amounts of weight to lose. i've lost 63 pounds since 11/15/03. you can bet your behind i'm a believer.

good luck!

Thanks to everyone who has responded to my topic. You really know how to give a person "warm fuzzies!" All advice is officially stored in me, and I thank you again for the support. How wonderful to have women and men JUST LIKE ME...or close enough, with similar goals. I am more excited and determined now, and who can say they are HAPPY to give up brownies?......(ME!) Thanks friends!

you dont have to give up brownies... (well for the first two weeks you do) Atkins brand brownie mix is actualy REALY good... but just keep in mind the first two weeks is DETOX... you need to flush your body of all your bad habits..
GOOD LUCK

Welcome, Heather. Your posts just shout your enthusiasm and excitement. This is a wonderful way of eating - I just celebrated my one year atkinsversary, and I can tell you I will never go back to eating any other way. Yes, I lost weight, but more than that I feel so good, and my health has improved. That makes it easy to stick to plan.

Make sure to check in here often - I would not have been successful changing my lifestyle without this site.

5 months ago I would not have imagined I'd be saying this but I LOVE this way of life!!!!!

My cravings have disappeared, my heartburn is gone, I sleep better, I have increased energy, I am really liking myself better because I have some self control, i dont' obsess about food like I used to, I actually like walking now, it doesn't feel like a chore, I get to eat delicious food, I could go on and on!

Oh yeah, I've also lost 29 lbs!!!!!!!

I think this way of life is wonderful--as far as stalling out at a certain weight, we all stall out sometimes--watch out for the 3 week and 4 month marks!!! But a little tweaking and possibly a trip out of the excercise doldrums usually gets things moving again.

The great thing is that you have a wonderfully supportive group of people here who have blazed a trail for you.

Welcome, Heather and bet of luck on your journey!

i had tried low cal... low fat.... xenical... and i have got to tell you..LOW CARB is THEEEEEEEEEEEE way to go... it has been really easy compared to any other way of eating i have done... (although i got used to low fat...never really ENJOYED it)
i have renewed my interest in FRESH food.. i have COMPLETELY gotten rid of my addiction to coke..(the DRINK) i LOVE water now..(no WAY i would have said that in january when i started this)
i have the energy to chase my 21 month old grandson... i can walk with a SPRING in my step instead of TRUDGING everywhere.. i park in the middle of the parking lot instead of driving ENDLESSLY around the lot to get the FRONT space..i can BREATH after i eat..i sleep better.. i LOOK better.. my attitude is better now.. not cranky moody ect.
but lets get serious here... it IS a different way of eating for most of us.. it isnt easy at first... its kinda like practicing something that you want to get good at... you keep trying... you might hit an off key note once in a while.. but you keep practicing.. getting better each day... heck.. kinda like learning to drive.. remember how BIG and awkward the vehicle felt when you started? then .. slowly.. without even remembering when it actually became easy.. you felt the pleasure without having to think? THATS what its like... or at least getting like for me after almost 5 months...

WOOHOO!!!!! You don't need those brownies anyway, right???? You're gonna do great!!!!