while i may miss folks i've come to enjoy through their posts, i never assume the worst when they aren't around, either, i figure sometimes, real life just is more demanding, you know? and without knowing for sure what's going on, i like to presume they are having so many terrific things happen, they just don't have time to hang out!

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andrea... *smack* SNAP OUT OF IT! *L* *mumbling*. duncan donut franchise INDEED! (krispy kreme is better! i worked for duncan donuts for years in arizona... beLEIVE me ..ya dont want that..*L*)
anywho
carolyn: gosh... it DOES get to be overwhelming sometimes... i can understand you wanting to focus on other things... but that doesnt mean we have to LIKE it..*grin*

rob: yeah... FRESH MEAT ..uh.. i mean.. NEWBIES! such fun! they are all so wide eyed and READY to do this.... its great.. they infuse such a spirit of excitement into the mix ..dont they?

dix: god i love your OPTOMISTIC viewpoint... *envisioning JUST BELIEVE and others sittin on the beach in mexico* ahhhhhhhh yes... so much better... than what i had been envisioning... THANKS DIX!

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

Well, see, I'm past the point of wanting to test myself with old foods. I see this as an all or nothing proposition, and that makes it very easy for me, because I don't have to make a lot of choices.

Screwing up is just what you do until you start doing it right. I've screwed up with food enough for one lifetime. I know what my limits are because I've tested them and failed.

I've been cheat free for more than two years. I started this during a low point in my life in December 2002.

I can tell you how it felt, for myself, to snap the tether. There was no fear that I would fail. No fear at all. No anxiety about how long things would take. No false bravado. No boasting. There was no specific goal weight in my mind; I just wanted to weigh less than I weighed right then. I wanted to make things simple.

I've done it the hard way before, treating it as if I was climbing Mt. Everest, fighting my way pound by pound. That doesn't work long-term for me -- it wears me down and then I have to "regroup" (i.e., binge, fall off the wagon for a year, whatever).

So, don't cheat. Don't listen to people who say everybody cheats. Everybody cheats until they stop cheating. You don't have to do this as an off and on thing. Make an existential decision. When you're ready to.

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"And so, in my State of the—my State of the Union—or state—my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation—I asked Americans to give 4,000 years—4,000 hours over the next—the rest of your life—of service to America. That's what I asked—4,000 hours."

Hi, I am one of those who just kind of vanished about a year ago. I had been faithfully following Atkins plan and had lost 30 lbs. I hit a plateau and didn't loose for over 6 months. At that point I was still following the plan. I went to the Dr. and my cholesterol had skyrocketed from the somewhat safe 208 to 268, he then put me on Lipitor. I went into some kind of wierd crisis/rebellion thing. I decided it didn't make any difference what I ate then. Even at that I didn't go completely back on carbs because the low carb way made me feel better overall. I just didn't care if I cheated and ate things I shouldn't more often. I gained back 15 lbs. I started induction again on Jan 2 and have lost 6 pounds.

Now I am back and on plan and also back to lowcarbeating.com forum where I got so much help and encouragement from Maggie, Rob, Dr. Insomnia, Barb Keith and all the other great ppl here.

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Deb 5', 57 yrs., Atkins 6/9/03:175
Restart 10/1/05-155
Restart 9/18/06-156
Restart 1/2/08-159/125/115
Rung 4 berries but Carnivorous currently

Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Hi, Deb!

Welcome back. Nice to see you here!

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I know what you mean, Doc, about feeling preoccupied with diet/weight issues. Life somehow seems more "normal" when I'm not clicking on FitDay each and every day. But I'm so much more successful with the necessary nutritional awareness when I am.

Funny, I don't feel the same about my exercise log, which I keep faithfully--and do faithfully--year after year. Good habits require continual cultivation. (So how come bad habits are so much easier to slip into??)

Deb, my cholesterol has gone from 167 to about 225 since I've been low-carbing. However, my HDL is very high, and the HDL/LDL ratio better than excellent. I have no other risk factors, so my doctor is not concerned. As with most health issues, there are many individual aspects.

Andrea, it was wonderful to come back after six months and find you still here, with the same friendly Forum, and new features to boot. Your commitment is much appreciated.

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Thanks for the welcome back Maggie.
Barb, My HDL was high and the HDL/LDL ratio was pretty good too but the Dr. insisted I go on Lipitor. I wonder if I should have got a second opinion. I was thinking I might as well have strokes or a heart attack from the high cholersterol as have kidney failure from the Lipitor. What a dilema!

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Deb 5', 57 yrs., Atkins 6/9/03:175
Restart 10/1/05-155
Restart 9/18/06-156
Restart 1/2/08-159/125/115
Rung 4 berries but Carnivorous currently

Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Deb, I sure don't have an answer for you. There are many factors involved, including family history, body shape (belly fat vs. butt fat), and whatever indications the doctor may have of plaque build-up. If I were you, I'd stick with your doctor's recommendation for a while and see how it goes.

Doctors are even more aware than most of us of information, even hype, about medicines. They probably get a lot of pressure from patients, as well as from drug companies, to jump on the latest research. It's difficult to weigh being an intelligent patient against doctor's advice.

Somewhat past menopause, with no symptoms, I started taking a "natural hormone replacement" because my (then) ob/gyn insisted it was important for heart protection. It wasn't long before additional research totally contradicted that idea. So...whaddaya know for sure??

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

I was a frequent visitor back when I started Atkins in May of 2002. I'm happy to say I'm still with the LC lifestyle and I've kept all the weight off (35 pounds). I recently added regular exercise and I feel better than ever.

I visit the site less now probably because I've got a firm grip on the lifestyle, in the beginning it was great for support and ideas though!

What she said.

Life sometimes IS just too demanding. Sometimes I feel guilty because I am not here posting, moderating, and being supportive. After all, I have made a commitment to Andrea when I agreed to be a Moderator.

However, life happens in the meantime. I've never thought of myself as a "former" member here (and realize that no one is calling me a former member). I'm a member, and always will be. It just struck me odd that someone would be referred to as a "former" member. LOL!

I also know there will come a time when I will have more time to devote my energies here.

But, for now, my energies are required elsewhere.

I miss everyone........:(

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

We miss you, too, April!!

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Trina

Vice-President of the Intergalactic Order of Brussels Sprouts Haters

[font='Times New Roman', Times, Serif, serif][/font]

Ditto what Trina said! We miss you April!

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Started Atkins-1/2/04
174 lbs at heaviest



5'0 154/136.5/130

Hi,

As a "former member" I have to say I'm glad someone was thinking about us. I have to admit that I was fairly regular sometime last year (summer, I think) trying to get back into the LCing wol. But I personally wasn't mentally ready I don't think. I was having a rough time of it, and I know that I should have been posting that here and getting support, but I thought I sounded whiney so I didn't. That being said, I think I am in the right frame of mind at this point and ready to start again on the path my life is going to take. I started yesterday and so far, I'm doing very well. My trial will come in a day or so, that's when the cravings seem to start for me for some odd reason. Anyway, I'd like to say hello to everyone again, and I'm glad to be back, and I look forward to sharing my success story and experience with newbies when I become and 'oldie' here. Hi!

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Vicki
174.5/168.5/130

While I understand the meaning of it all, and I am that way about my workouts, I just go everyday, or close to it and don't even think about not going.
I still am struggling with food...I am looking at this 100 day challenge/goal to set me on that path...so far so good...I have talked myself out of many "cheats" in the last 14 days by just reminding myself I don't eat that any longer, it is getting easier to deal with temptations....but I am still conscious of it, of food, of my desire to still want something not on plan....tho it is getting better.
Since I have been working out this way for about 4 years, and after about 2-3 years it wasn't a thought any longer, just a do it, I have about 1/2 year to 1 year more of dealing with food before I don't think of it any longer. Thats my theory. So I will continue to make sure I have the proper foods around me and it should be ok.

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http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak
carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03 327/268/177
5/20/08/ - 348
onward thru the fog

ack! since my sattilite went down yesterday and i COULDNT get on here... i sure felt helpless not being able to TELL anyone i couldnt.*L* sheeeeeeeesh.. talk about OBSESSIVE..*L*
many reasons people arent on... and I just found out ONE of them..*sigh*
hey april! good to see ya!

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG