Today marks exactly one year since I started low carb. I first started with the Curves diet but quickly moved to Atkins after reading the book completely.

This has been a tough year. Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in December, had a lumpectomy and is just finishing up her chemo (today we find out about radiation). In March my beautiful baby boy was diagnosed as having the Autism Spectrum Disorder. These two issues have weighed heavily on me but I am taking them in stride and keeping a positive outlook most of the time. March was also a time of reconnecting with an old flame that proved to be disaterous and I went off the plan and let my life become...well, not good. Finally in June my car was wrecked by someone other than myself.

The point is that we ALL have problems that will pop up throughout our lives that will test us. I have come through this year stronger than I ever thought possible. Thanks in part to support I receive here. I honestly don't know if I would have had the drive to restart the program if not for reading the thoughts of others on this forum.

Being a little obsessive I often think of the time I went off the program. I am still calling this my anniversary but it was not a full low carb year. More like 8-9 months. I kick myself about not reaching 100 pounds lost but then I pat myself on teh back for the 80 pounds I have lost. (dual personalities arguing in my head) If it takes four years to lose the 210 pounds total I would like to lose then it will take four years. The most important thing is when you falter to get back on track as soon as possible. And if as soon as possible is a month then it's a month, it's never to late to get healthy.

I've also learned that while it is possible to lose weight without exercise, it's a lot faster and healthier to lose with it. I feel so much better when I am exercising 4-6 days a week. I'm rediscovering this now. (with a great whoosh to motivate me)

People may always bash low carb, but I have not shyed away from defending my way of eating and pointing out all the benefits. It was a normal thing for me to get very sleepy every afternoon and be quite a slug, now I am full of energy all day. When I do take a nap on the weekend it's only because I have been up most of the night before. I play with the baby more. I walk taller. My mind is sharper. My hunger has been cut by a tremendous amount. I never thoguht it would be possible for me to be on a "diet" without the aid of diet pills (I was the poster child for fen-phen). But since this is not a diet in the common sense of the word I guess that's why it's not a problem.

Thank you, Andrea for the site. Thank you everyone that has encouraged me throughout the year. Just think if I keep this up (which I will) I could be half the woman I was to begin with in no time! Honestly what's two or three more years to get to goal when I have a lifetime to live.

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Noël


Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strengths.

Congratulations on your success. With your attitude I have no doubt that you will succeed.

Thank YOU, Noel.

You are a true example of why I started this site in the first place - because we ALL need that little bit of help and encouragement at points along the journey. You've done EXCEPTIONALLY well, and between your diet and exercise, it sure sounds like you're on the right path for you.

Bless you, and I hope the NEXT 12 months bring less sorrow but just as much fulfullment.

Andrea

Noel -

I read your journal from start to finish yesterday. Couple things: You are a great motivator and a GREAT writer. Seriously, you have a gift for writing.

Congratulations on your accomplishment!!!

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:jumpgreen :jumpgreen Congratulations!!!!!:jumpgreen:jumpgreen

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Congrats.

Your closing in a great milestone. It is tough to stay on course with the kinds of distractions you've dealt with.
You have my deepest respect! :great:

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To think is to create!
So What? Now What?
Tom
Restart LC 7/05/08

with all you went thru this past year, you are doing great... keep up the great work.
c

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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

Noel,
Congratulations on your anniversary! And thanks for all of the amazingly honest insights that you offer to us in your journal...you keep me motivated!!

Thank you all. Despite the hardships I have actually had some wonderful things happen this year.

Shannon, I once was going to become a writer, which is why I think I love to write in my journal.

I'm just so glad to be where I am at right now and look forward to where I will be.

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Noël


Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strengths.

noel- it IS your year anniversary any way you count it as far as i'm concerned and your ever-present positive outlook and caring shine through your posts consistently. i appreciate all the sharing you've done since the time i've been around. i

know sometimes you are hard on yourself-much harder than you'd ever consider being on anyone else...so i'm especially glad to hear you give yourself credit for the great work you've already done. focus on that, because that is ALL that matters. anything else is just like static on the tv: it means you may want to change the station or check to see you're tuned in right, but doesn't have any bigger meaning than that.

here's hoping year two is wonderful for you in every sense of the world! peace out to you, dear.

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EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

80 lbs is a year...congratulations! I remember some of your first posts here...and i look back at the pst year and it seems like we have been posting back and forth for longer than that, my friend! Life happens...you live and learn from it and deal with the things you can't do anything about...and while it seems we all have different plans than what is reality...we all manage.

You have done awesome in keeping with the program through all the trials and tribulations...I am going to need a good level head the next 14-15 months as DH prepares to leave for Kuwait and while he is gone! THis is going to be my support site for that as well as for LC and trying to lose the last 25 lbs I have to go...but if I only lose 10 of them or 6 or heck just maintain where I am...hey...I am OK with that too...anyway...I digress...the message is that I am always here for you to contact if you wish...and sometimes even if you wish I wouldn't! LOL Keep up the great work and the rest will fall into place!
Good job on taking credit where it was due too...this is your anniversary...even if you did fall off a while...you were still around here and still trying...maybe not as hard as you had been...but you were still aware of the whole food issue thing and were making efforts to take control even though they were unsuccessful...or whatever!!!!

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Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130

I stopped by your journal earlier, but could not resist putting my 2 cents in here, too!

I am so glad you joined this site rather than any of the others. If you had joined one of them, I wouldn't have been able to meet you, get to know you, admire you, and call you a friend. Thanks for being there on the journey.

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Happy anniversary Noel! It's been a pleasure knowing you this past year whether you were on plan or off.

Dearest Noel,
it has indeed been a pleasure getting to know you this past year. Isn't it odd how closely we come to know people that we have never really "met" except for exchanging posts on a "dieting" website? I really feel, through reading all your inspirational and encouraging posts as well as your journal, that I know you. I so admire your courage and positivity. (is that a word? Well, it is now!) To me, the fact that you had a couple of "off" months but you were still able to bounce back and continue this WOE only makes me admire you more. Eighty pounds in a year is such an incredible accomplishment. Just think, this past year, if you hadn't made the choices you have made, if you hadn't devoted yourself to this WOL the way you have, you might have still been at your starting weight, or possibly higher. You should be so very proud of yourself Noel. I know I am very proud of you, and proud also to call you a friend. Continued success to you!
~Crystal

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



5'0 154/136.5/130

i look forward to your continued success and accomplishments.... and your continued success with LCing as well ... because in actuality... the lcing is a small part of who you are... and what i admire about you...
i'm just glad that you DID begin LCing so that i got the opportunity to get to know you... and your irrepressible spirit..
when those two parts of your brain start to bicker about what you DID accomplish... and what you COULD have... you go ahead and listen to the RIGHT part... the one that pats you on your back and lets you know that you have done some amazing things...

and lost some weight along the way.. ;-)

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