My low-carb journey actually started by going to Curves. A friend of mine turned me on to it. I read their little diet book, which is a version of low-carb eating. I tried it out, but my husband sabotaged me a lot by bringing home doughnuts and other high-carb treats. Needless to say, it didn't work. Then I started reading on the Atkins website. What I read appealed to me and made sense. I bought the book and read it - the testimonies spoke for themselves and it all "just rang home".
Since nothing else seemed to work, I thought it was worth a shot. I was able to convince my husband to try it out with me. We started it and pretty soon we decided that there wasn't any reason to ever turn around and eat again the way we had. We are both on the losing track, have both more energy and overall feel better.
My husband hasn't even gotten sick last year - unlike he had before. He would ALWAYS get at least 2 severe colds in a year.
I only had a slight cold and got over it in no time.

That's my story in short.

Never give up! Never surrender!

Katrin

Last January I did low carb (atkins) for about three -four weeks, and lost about 17 lbs...hadn't found this site, and just kind of gave up (when you have a lot to lose, sometime giving up is easier than working on your weight). I had started swimming 3-5 x a week about 4 years ago and kept that up. This summer I started increasing my swims, more laps, committing to 5 days per week, was really working on it... when I said to my self - well its time to work on your food... cause Atkins was "easy" and I had done well in january (of course I gained it all back) I pulled out my book, re read and got started. I began on Aug 11th, have lost 29 (actually got to 31 but the holidays gave me a slight gain) and will continue to eat this way. Having this forum to come to to ask questions, to get helpful information, to read and try new recipies, has made all the difference. I still have a lot to lose, but whenever I did low fat/ww/ other types of diets, I felt I was missing protein, and this woe gives me extra protein if I want it. My DH cooks a lot of what we eat, and is very helpful if he uses something that has carbs, he will tell me what he used, how much, etc. (of course he has not weight problem... high metabolism).
anyway, thats my story, hope if helps, good luck to you.

http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak
carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03
327/298/150

Julie, thank you so much for starting this thread. It is very interesting to me to read others' reasons for getting on this LC WOL. I just want to wish EVERYONE the best of luck with this and hope you reach your goals, be it weight loss, better health, or whatever.

This is sooooo cool!!!!

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

Because after becoming a veteran dieter by the ripe age of 18, low carb is the only thing that worked for me.

April
352/212/180
Down 130 pounds
32 to go

I have my best friend to thank for introducing me to this WOL. I had gained some serious weight in a short period of time. A stressful
sedentary job zapped the life out of me and being an emotional eater the weight packed on.
At the beginning I didnt "get" that this is a lifestyle change not a diet. My health improved. My hypoglycemia was controlled easily ( for the first time in my life). I felt wonderful and of course the weight came off. Along the way my motivation became to stay healthy and vibrant. I love how I feel eating this way. I have maintained within a 5 lb range for a year and a half. It is the most stable my weight has been in years. I find this wol easy to do, easy to return to ( when I get stupid).
The rewards are worth it!

Deborah
171/140/137

Well, after I had my son, now almost 3 years ago, I tried every diet to lose weight. I had always been athletic, however at 5'7" and 170 pounds, I was just chunky. I fell skiing last year and started on a heavy PT schedule. I made a choice then to either sit and mope or finally get my knee in shape and the rest of me also. I started watching my carbs and cutting out pasta and sweets. I didn't really get serious about it until October when I started working out 5 days a week. I reread my Atkins and Somersizing books and although I never went on induction again, I slowly reduced my carbs to a level where I now maintain around 20-30. I'm proud to say from this time last year i've lost 23 pounds and I feel great. The exercise really jump started my metabolism, and the low carb lifestyle helped me lose inches. I tried WW for a few weeks here and there, but it never worked for me. Now I know why...I used to eat a whole sleeve of Rice Cakes and then i'd be hungry in 20 minutes and had no more "points" left. Now I eat lots of protein, and drink tons of water and i'm much happier and healthier.

180pg/170/147/130

In 1998 I was at my highest ever weight, 320 pounds. My Doctor recommended Protein Power as a good plan because she and her mother had lost well on it. I did lose over 80 pounds but slipped off plan and gained most of it back. So last february at 310 pounds I committed to this woe/wol for the rest of my life. I had been on every kind of diet out there and low carb was the only one I lost weight on where I wasn't constantly hungry.

Rob
310/234.5/180

Me, a skeptic? I trust you have proof.

Getting Gestational Diabetes while pregnant with my son last year really opened my eyes.

A nutritionist had to talk to me, I was issued a blood sugar testing machine, I had to test myself first thing in the morning and 1 hour after every meal. They wanted me to eat 45 g of carbs per every meal and 30 g/each for my 3 snacks. (Add that up: it's 225 g/day! Wow! I think I used to eat over 1,000 g/day before I was pregnant!)

My dad came down with Type 2 Diabetes in his 50s, his older brother has it, my cousin had gestationa diabetes with both her kids and just this year got Type 2 Diabetes at age 40.

When you have gestational diabetes, you have a good chance of getting Type 2 Diabetes within 10 to 15 years. I saw where my life was heading, I saw where my family was at.

Not for me!

I am not saying I am good, but on my "BAD" days, I can keep my carb count between 50 and 100 g. The rest of the time, I try to shoot for 20-40g.

Like others, I notice that my whole family comes down with colds, and while I might have the sniffles for the day, I am not out of commission for a week with a bad cold.

The energy level on this WOE is phenomenal! With a young baby at home, I don't get many hours of sleep, but I am not exhausted like I used to be with my firstborn. Daily naps no longer exist!

What usually makes me eat off plan?

HABITUAL EATING!

Not because I am hungry, but because of my environment or settings. This weakness drives me nuts about myself!

I have a hard time truly listening to my body's hunger signals. I hope that comes with time.

LOVE THIS WOE!

Valerie, 35
DH: Shaun 36
DD: Madison 2 yr
DS: Jackson 10 mo
Weakness? CHOCOLATE!

5'4" - LC 7/1/03
243(preggo)/216 (prepreggo)/205(now)/145 goal

"If you can't be a good example, at least be a horrible warning!" - Unknown

What a great thread. I started this WOE 1 year ago after having tried: Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, shots, OA, Diet Center, and just about every other plan. I have been overweight my WHOLE life (bad genes my mother and grandmother were both overweight) and bad lifestyle choices. Decided in my 52 1/2 year that this was the last shot I had at meaningful weight loss and since nothing else had worked I would try Atkins. Got the book read it and started. This is the EASIEST WOE I have ever found. I love it.
I also agree with everyone else about feeling better. Asthma virtually gone, tons of energy, no colds and I started exercising (thanks to posts on this board I found CURVES).
Life is terrific (of course it will be perfect as soon as I find a new job)LOL.

Shortie19
240+/193.5/130
Since 1/1/03

my aunt gave me this copy of some crazy diet
said someone she knew did it and lost lots of weight but it was mostly meats and cabbage you did it for so many days then stopped
anyways i got on the computer looking at diets trying to find it
never did and i am glad
i found this place
and started reading
there was so many post that sounded like me
i got the book and well here i am
i had to do something i was dieing at least i felt i was
i couldn't even stand for long i had to sit to wash the dishes
i could not sleep a full night in the bed
i would have to sleep in a chair
shopping was the pits if i went i would have to sit every 20 mins or so
my legs woulds stay swelled heartburn
so many thing has changed
so god blessed me the day i found this place and as i write this i remember the feeling of how it was
and i dont like it
more reason to get back on track and stay this time
thats why i am here

Donna



Friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have
trouble remembering how to fly

425/360/?

I became really tired of always thinking about my weight. It was always on my mind...

Getting dressed and thinking...oh my goodness I'm so fat...taking a bath...going out for a social evening...meeting new people...meeting old friends...getting up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night...all the while thinking...how did I get this way and how can I change it.

I wasn't angry at myself but I was really sad.

My sister had started doing Atkins and when I saw the results she was getting I thought to myself that maybe I could do it too. I took 4 weeks to research everything I could about it and then I just started.

I can say that this woe has changed my life. I am a happier person now that this demon is quieted! I feel great to be able to control my eating. I still have weight to lose...but at least now I know I will lose it!

Started Atkins 10/27/03
182/157/142

My whole life I was trying to "gain" weight (miss those days). I was 5'11 and 155 lbs (male). Well, during college and after I poured on the weight and balloon up to 185 and then up to about 220 (all fat). I tried every diet I could find but could never stick with it. Then I noticed a few women (back in the mid 90's) at work that seemed to be shrinking before my eyes. I asked them how they were doing it and they all answered "Carb Addicts Diet". SO I started researching and came across the Protein Power book and I bought it and started following it. With daily exercise and the PP diet I got back down to a slim and trim 165 (all muscle). I then got married and was eating out all the time (and stopped excercising). From the late 90's till last year my weight crept back up to about 207ish. This time I tried Atkin's. Lost 30 lbs.... Then got married again and watched my weight creep back up to 202... I restarted Atkins on 1-2-04 and I'm down to 193 this morning (exercising 5 days a week). My wife is doing Atkins now too which really helps me with the support I need to stick with it. This time around I'm really trying hard to intergrate it into my life so its not a diet but a WOL (I recently read Atkin's for Life).

Long story short (too late!), Atkins seemed to be more in line with the foods I love (MEAT & CHEEZE & LETTUCE). All the other LC foods are just added benefit and variety. And with all the new LC foods coming online..its getting easier and easier....

Wolfman
Restarted Atkins 1-02-04
202/193/175

This is my story! I feel older than you others here. It goes back to the 70's when THE GOOD DR AKINS first came out with his book. My mother was so concerned about my weight. Took me to the store bought me the book and a the biggest steak she could find and said there read and eat. It got my attention. I did and I lost but trailed away until years later after all the other diets can't get them all typed here. My husband was doing that Weigh Down thing like eat you when you're hungry stop when you're full. Didn't work we couldn't stop. I could not do and it brought back the memory of the 70's and how I was not hungry and I ate and lost. Aug. 2002 bought the new book got on the plan along with Protein Power and combined them and lost. Had a detour and time out gained all back but with good excuse want go into now. Got real June 24th with husband joining me and used pure Akins and lost and back on track with renewed health in Spirit, Soul and Body. I feel like a million dollars I am a 60 yr old female that has a good outlook on life and plan to have all I can get and share it along the way!
Thanks for the Post!
Mary

Celebrate Life Today!

This is a fun thread. I like hearing the varied histories that brought everyone on the board to the same place

I went from a size 8, and 130 pounds to a size 18 and 180+ pounds over the course of about 8 years. That averages to 6-8 lbs a year, or a little more than a half pound a month. That's less than 100 extra calories a day (when you're not defying the laws of thermodynamics with ketosis). When you do the math, it's easy to see how I barely noticed how big I was getting, and couldn't tell what I was doing wrong in my eating habits.

It was late 2002. A guy at work was having a lot of success with Atkins, and another friend caught on and decided she would start in the new year. I was wary, but one day I went shopping and had to buy a pair of size 20 pants and knew I had to do something before it got out of hand. I found this site, did my research at atkinscenter.com, and decided to buy the book. The next day, without telling ANYONE (what if it didn't work?!? - I would feel so silly), I started induction. I lost 9 lbs in my first couple of weeks, and decided this WOE was for me.

Valentine's Challenge: 149/146/134
Started Atkins 12/6/02: 187/146/130

Hi Julie. Glad you asked ... I am doing Atkins because ...

1. Two years ago I was denied life insurance through my SO's company benefits because of my "height weight ratio", but I enjoy cooking and eating, so dieting has never appealled to me. An Atkins WOE [Real Atkins, not Faux Atkins --I read and re-read NANDR] allows me to eat more of my favorite foods --and forces me to eat more vegetables than I used to. It forces me to eat regular meals [I was down to eating one meal a day, which is what sumo wrestlers do to keep their shape, YIKES!].

2.The last time I bought clothes, I had to get 24W. Since moving to Michigan from Texas 3 years ago, I had gained about 25 pounds, and I was way overweight before I moved. I have seen myself on TV and in newspaper photos, and I don't like my shape anymore. But it is definitely improving!

3. I have blood pressure and lipids issues which will kill me sooner than later if I don't do something about it.

4. I struggle with depression and lack of energy --which, as a pastor of two churches, I have no time for! It is a difficult enough job as it is. I got tired of being too tired to do anything, and I got tired of being moody and difficult ot live with. I am seriously considering getting my doctorate and now, I might actually have the energy to do it!

5. My SO does assessments for our county commission for the aging, where she sees what "the golden years' are like for those who are obese or those who have had heavy processed carb diets and I don't want to experience that.

6. My brother has lost 28 pounds on Atkins, but more significantly, he is off his blood pressure meds, has tremendous amounts of energy and isn't depressed anymore. A few people in my congregations have shared similar stories with me.

All in all, I like myself better living this WOL. I'm just starting out, and I have a long, long way to go, but as Gandhi said, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Sorry this is so long, but I think this is a question I have needed to answer for myself too!

2BSlim

262/250/170 5'8"
"How do you know I'm not one of them?"