Hi everyone !!! I've been trying to read as much as I can about Atkins. But so far most of what I've found on the internet has been negative, so I thought I'd ask everyone here. What made you decide to do Atkin's (or any low carb diet) over all of the other diets out there? I hope this question isn't too personal. Thanks!!!

Started 12/19/2003

160/154/130
147 by Feb.14, 2004

I guess if I'm gonna ask why you started, I better tell you why I did . My junior and senior year of high school I was always sick (doctor said I have a nervous stomach). By the time I graduated I had went from wearing a size 18, to wearing a size 11/12 and weighing 135. Well, when I started college I relied on the vending machines (bad, bad, bad). I gained back most of what I had lost. As a 2nd year college student I weighed 160, and wear any where from a size 14-16. My aunt had the atkins diet book, but didn't use it so she let me borrow it. And now since my parents had a car accident, and my mom chipped her ankle the doctor told her to loose weight by doing the Atkins diet like he did. So here we are just starting ongoing weight loss, I've lost 7 lbs., my mom lost 9, and my dad has lost 12. I am glad that I have this site of wonderful people to talk to, or I may have fallen off the wagon too. Well enough about me, how about you??

Started 12/19/2003

160/154/130
147 by Feb.14, 2004

My sister had embraced low carb as a way to control her DM2, and it worked beautifully for her. I trust her completely regarding health issues, because she leaves no stone unturned.

Thus, in January 2002, I began my journey and it has proven to be the best decision I could have possibly made to improve my health, emotions and weight.

All the years I battled with craving, feeling spaced out and sleepy, gaining & losing, was due to my sensitivity to carbs. I know that I can no longer feast on carb laden foods. So many other wonderful things have evolved from my LC WOL/WOE. Personal growth is one, this website is another. I can honestly say, I wouldn't have made it without my virtual family on LCE!

Best wishes on your decision!

Take care~
Susan


LCE Member since 01/02

[This message was edited by Kumus on 01-04-04 at 03:56 PM.]

You can read my reasons in "Happy Atkinsversary to me" on this thread.
Peace, Peg
1/1/03
205/175/165 5'8"

I decided to do low carb because it closely matched how my mother had cooked for us when I was a child. I was always thin and in really good shape - when I graduated high school I was 118 at 5'6". I went north to college, and over the next couple of years, my eating habits completely changed - lots of pasta, rice, bread with every meal, and other high cvarb goodies (well, actually, baddies). I gained about 15 pounds. Oh, and I didn't exercise. Then I got married, and I got fat. When I got pregnant with my first child, I weighed 184. After, my son was born, I got down to about 135 doing a low fat, restricted calorie diet. Then, I got pregnant again - again, after my son was born a lost some weight doing low fat, restricted calori. But, it didn't really work that well - I was always hungry, I felt awful, and I was GAINING it all back. My parents, meanwhile, were working out, eating low carb - time has practically stopped for them. I mean, my mother is 61 and she looks like she's in her late 40's - firm, toned, and slim late 40's. A year ago, I weighed 175 and I was not happy about it. So, again I tried the low fat, low calorie and lost about 15 pounds. But my parents were showing me that there is a better way to eat and live then being hungry all the time. So I tried Atkins. (I researched the heck out of it, first.

I now weight about 131, I have more energy than ever before. I dropped from a size 16 to a size 4, and I feel fabulous - certainly better than when I was on WW, just begging for noon (at 9:30AM) so I could finally eat. The best part is my husband now follows an LC woe and he feels and looks fantastic. Oh, and I made a believer out of my doctor due to great blood lipids and blood pressure profile after doing Atkins.

A very long post, but this is pretty important to me. I will NEVER go back to my former lifestyle.

Jen
175/132/120

DH and I did Atkins several years ago, but totally lost site of portion control and both of us ended up gaining weight. Out of frustration, we joined WW and I lost nearly 40 pounds - and have kept it off 2 years. However, like Jen, I found myself hungry and watching the clock until the next meal time! DH also lost about 40 pounds but was CONSTANTLY hungry. And he is NO FUN when he has the "hungry/grumpies" which seemed to be ALL the time.

He wanted to go back to Atkins but I was so brainwashed with the "low fat" regime that I was scared to death he would kill himself. He bought the book and I ended up reading it cover to cover, as well as visiting the Atkins website and anything else I could find online. I finally became convinced that this IS the way to eat. Once DH started back on Atkins, his "hungry/grumpies" magically disappeared!

I've maintained just fine eating cheese, heavy cream, meat, and LOTS of veggies. AND I love it!

So that's my story......aren't ya glad ya asked?!

Char

Don't squat with yer spurs on!

I'm doing Atkins because low fat never worked for me. I have an office job and rarely exercised. The large number of carbs I ate on the low fat diets never had a chance to be converted to energy...thus I gained weight and starved in the process. With low carb eating, I'm NEVER hungry and the weight just keeps coming off. Now that I've lost 25 pounds I'm going to start a moderate exercise program.
Good luck.

Melinda B
240/215/150
Atkins 10/12/03

You can read my reasons here:Bright's Story

As an update: I haven't had a migraine in almost a year (used to have at least 2-3 a month) and haven't used my rescue inhaler for asthma in almost a year and a half. My diabetes is still a thing of the past.

Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002

Hello!!! Its very nice to meet a fellow college student. I'm very happy that you found us.
I guess my answer to your question is probably similar to alot of people who do Atkins or other low-carb plans is because nothing else worked for me. I've been big my whole life and I just got sick of it and this is the ONLY thing that has every worked for me and that I have been able to stick with for more than a month.
Ever since I have started, not only have I lost weight, but I feel better. This is the best thing I could have ever done for myself. I just hope more people will give it a chance and let it do for them what it has done for me and all the other great people I have met that are doing it too.
Good luck with school!! Feel free to email me anytime if you would like!

Atkins since 8/15/03
5'4
231/194/155

Hi!!! You can read my reasons here: http://www.lowcarbeating.com/article...%20Submissions

I spent a lot of time just getting really disgusted with myself and then the blood pressure rose, so that tipped me over the commitment edge.

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

I tried 'em all. Low-carb works best for me. I want something I can live with easily. Counting calories or measuring portions or limiting my food intake just wasn't a way to live my life.

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."

I'm with Dr. I.
I'm lazy! This is the easiest thing I knew to do to lose weight. Plus my Mom and Sister had been doing it for over a year when I started. Worked very easily for them.

Jen

Atkins since 11/11/03

140/133/115

I've been a successful loser on many plans, including Weight Watchers, and low-cal/low-fat (50 lbs.) Since I've tried them all, you can guess that I'm a typical yo-yo.

Atkins seemed like a simple plan that fit better with the kinds of food my husband (and chef) liked to cook and eat--the main reason I keep gaining weight. In one year, I've stabilized at a healthy weight, although I'd like to lose a little more.

The best news? My husband (on dr.'s orders) is going to do Atkins, too, starting today! He doesn't yet realize that he's about to discover a ton more energy, while he drops several waistband inches, and loses that sugar craving.

We're going to have a great new year!

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

I was tired of being tired all the time. Atkins was just one of the many wol i tried, the only difference being that it's the only one that works. Eventhough i took a detour and left this wol for a few months, i trust that this wol will work again and again and again.

Started 3/20/03 thru 9/2003
Restarted 1/2/04, this time i will finish what i started.

180-160-140

Barb, that is just soooooo cool that your DH is going to be doing this too. That is awesome!!!!

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