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Well it's been a year. Last year a guy at work lost 60 pounds in three months on Atkins and motivated me to finally lose this weight. On June 1st I sortof started Atkins. I cut back on carbs, but really didn't do a clean induction "by the book". I did drop some weight, about 12 pounds worth, but after rereading the first few chapters of my old Atkins book (pre 2002 version, the blue one) I realized I wasn't doing the plan properly.
So on June 14th I officially began. I was losing about a pound a day and couldn't be happier. I kept myself motivated by reading the success stories and the before and afters on the Atkins website. I got a bit of the induction flu and in doing some research on it found this board, which has been my saving grace. I lurked for a few weeks, getting to know the people here and finally joined in July.
But I started to run into the trouble that has haunted me for the majority of time that I have been on this WOL. I went on vacation (rented a cottage) and for the most part was very strict. But when we had people over for a cookout I succumbed to pressure and the old, "you're doing so well, just have the bun." But I got right back on plan and continued to drop weight like crazy. It took what seemed like forever to finally break 300 pounds and I finally did on September 10th. Which also happened to put me at the 50 pound lost mark.
Then I got complacent. Wow what success I've had, compliments were rolling in. And not just the "wow, you look great", which are fun. But meaningful ones, like "I'm really proud of you for sticking with it this long, I'm amazed that you can pass up this food that I know you love". That one was from my sister-in-law, and surpirised the **** out of me. I decided that maybe I can have a bit of the things that I'd been missing. I never strayed far from plan, but I didn't adhere to it near as much as I should have. As a result I boounced around within a 10 pound range for months on end. Figuring I can restart and drop the rest with ease.
Up until this point I really hadn't taken exercise seriously. It was sporadic at best. I ran twice in the fall and maybe did the treadmill three times. But when I was restarting each time I noticed that the weight wasn't dropping so easily like before. So in March I cranked up the exercise and got real clean. Then to my utter frustration, the scale didn't budge, it actually started going back up. I got all the encouraging comments, like new muscle, muscles super-hydrating. But I wanted that stinking scale to move. So I started working harder, running more, harder, and faster. But the scale still wouldn't move. Then one day I tried on some pants that just a month before I couldn't even button and they were loose. My efforts were not totally in vain.
The weight is coming off much more slowly now. I still fall off the wagon all the time, but I always jump back on. I'm now working so hard to lose this weight that I am more determined than ever that it will NEVER come back on. I refuse to come back in a year and say that I gained it all back.
This board has saved my life. Maybe not in an immediate sense, but it has saved my future life. Without this board I would have given up long ago. I've never done any online chat/bb stuff before and probably never will again, it's not my style. But this place is different and you all already know that.
As motivating as some of you ladies are, my biggest early motivators were three big guys, that I could relate to. Papajack, bowulf, and scrooloose (who I hope is doing well). To these guys I owe a heartfelt thanks, and they are inspiring beyond words. I feel that I owe it to the people who motivated me to succeed in this. I only hope that in some way I can pay it forward by encouraging someone to not give up. Because as many times as I've messed up, I've never quit. I never really bought into concept of this being for the rest of my life, but the more I do it, the more ingrained it becomes, and I'm finding hard to see how I can not do it at some level for the rest of my life. This is the longest I have gone in my life where I was not gaining weight. Sure I had lost weight before, but if you took any 6 month window of my life, I had gained weight during that time. Until last year.
As out of control I can sometimes be, I feel in control for the first time. I know that even if I have a complete meltdown. Which I have had. Even those are not even as bad as what was a normal nighttime snack in my previous life. My portions are tiny compared to before. I seldom have seconds, and haven't had thirds (or fourths) in over a year. Even a cheat, a slice of pizza is fine, not the whole pizza. I may not be perfect, but I am succeeding, and will continue to do so.
My kids talk abouot exercise, my four year old was running yesterday and asked me if he was the fastest runner. My 2 yr old daughter told me this morning I have to exercise before I go to work (but today is a rest day). So I am setting the example that exercise is part of life, an example that I never had. If I can pass on that legacy than I will be very happy. Being overweight is not a happy way to live life. Don't get me wrong there are happy overweight people, but I think you know what I mean. I have the energy now to play with my kids more and I feel like my prospects of living to see grandchildren are much improved.
I only hope that people see me, and see a guy struggling, but succeeding. A guy constantly falling down, but never quitting. A guy who is humbled by the support and caring of the people here. I only hope I do you justice.
To all my friends here, thank you. I couldn't have done this without your support and encouragement. You all mean more to me than you know. I will succeed and make you proud.
Regards,
So on June 14th I officially began. I was losing about a pound a day and couldn't be happier. I kept myself motivated by reading the success stories and the before and afters on the Atkins website. I got a bit of the induction flu and in doing some research on it found this board, which has been my saving grace. I lurked for a few weeks, getting to know the people here and finally joined in July.
But I started to run into the trouble that has haunted me for the majority of time that I have been on this WOL. I went on vacation (rented a cottage) and for the most part was very strict. But when we had people over for a cookout I succumbed to pressure and the old, "you're doing so well, just have the bun." But I got right back on plan and continued to drop weight like crazy. It took what seemed like forever to finally break 300 pounds and I finally did on September 10th. Which also happened to put me at the 50 pound lost mark.
Then I got complacent. Wow what success I've had, compliments were rolling in. And not just the "wow, you look great", which are fun. But meaningful ones, like "I'm really proud of you for sticking with it this long, I'm amazed that you can pass up this food that I know you love". That one was from my sister-in-law, and surpirised the **** out of me. I decided that maybe I can have a bit of the things that I'd been missing. I never strayed far from plan, but I didn't adhere to it near as much as I should have. As a result I boounced around within a 10 pound range for months on end. Figuring I can restart and drop the rest with ease.
Up until this point I really hadn't taken exercise seriously. It was sporadic at best. I ran twice in the fall and maybe did the treadmill three times. But when I was restarting each time I noticed that the weight wasn't dropping so easily like before. So in March I cranked up the exercise and got real clean. Then to my utter frustration, the scale didn't budge, it actually started going back up. I got all the encouraging comments, like new muscle, muscles super-hydrating. But I wanted that stinking scale to move. So I started working harder, running more, harder, and faster. But the scale still wouldn't move. Then one day I tried on some pants that just a month before I couldn't even button and they were loose. My efforts were not totally in vain.
The weight is coming off much more slowly now. I still fall off the wagon all the time, but I always jump back on. I'm now working so hard to lose this weight that I am more determined than ever that it will NEVER come back on. I refuse to come back in a year and say that I gained it all back.
This board has saved my life. Maybe not in an immediate sense, but it has saved my future life. Without this board I would have given up long ago. I've never done any online chat/bb stuff before and probably never will again, it's not my style. But this place is different and you all already know that.
As motivating as some of you ladies are, my biggest early motivators were three big guys, that I could relate to. Papajack, bowulf, and scrooloose (who I hope is doing well). To these guys I owe a heartfelt thanks, and they are inspiring beyond words. I feel that I owe it to the people who motivated me to succeed in this. I only hope that in some way I can pay it forward by encouraging someone to not give up. Because as many times as I've messed up, I've never quit. I never really bought into concept of this being for the rest of my life, but the more I do it, the more ingrained it becomes, and I'm finding hard to see how I can not do it at some level for the rest of my life. This is the longest I have gone in my life where I was not gaining weight. Sure I had lost weight before, but if you took any 6 month window of my life, I had gained weight during that time. Until last year.
As out of control I can sometimes be, I feel in control for the first time. I know that even if I have a complete meltdown. Which I have had. Even those are not even as bad as what was a normal nighttime snack in my previous life. My portions are tiny compared to before. I seldom have seconds, and haven't had thirds (or fourths) in over a year. Even a cheat, a slice of pizza is fine, not the whole pizza. I may not be perfect, but I am succeeding, and will continue to do so.
My kids talk abouot exercise, my four year old was running yesterday and asked me if he was the fastest runner. My 2 yr old daughter told me this morning I have to exercise before I go to work (but today is a rest day). So I am setting the example that exercise is part of life, an example that I never had. If I can pass on that legacy than I will be very happy. Being overweight is not a happy way to live life. Don't get me wrong there are happy overweight people, but I think you know what I mean. I have the energy now to play with my kids more and I feel like my prospects of living to see grandchildren are much improved.
I only hope that people see me, and see a guy struggling, but succeeding. A guy constantly falling down, but never quitting. A guy who is humbled by the support and caring of the people here. I only hope I do you justice.
To all my friends here, thank you. I couldn't have done this without your support and encouragement. You all mean more to me than you know. I will succeed and make you proud.
Regards,
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