Please share....such winners!!!!

[johnnysmom]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

You know what you ALL have in common? You followed the Atkins program to the letter.
Something to be said for that. Your discipline is to be commended.....your new found looks....deserved!

[purplecat]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

YOU ARE SOOOO BEAUTIFUL! Isn't it amazing (sad) how long we hid beneath our overweight bodies. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING!

Thank you. You can do this. We're here for you. If you have any questions and/or concerns, feel free to send me an email. I'll respond as soon as I can. You just have to believe in yourself and KNOW you're worth it.

*NOTE: I almost deleted my response to this thread because I felt like I was being attacked (by the no exercise). I really do not advocate no exercise. I just wanted to let you know that it is possible to lose this weight (even if you have a disability that keeps you from exercising) with Atkins.

[misplaced southerner]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

hey catrenia! you ARE beautiful girl! hope i did not come across crazy about the exercise thing. i know lots of people who have great results without it and i kinda envy them! the time for exercise is an issue for me so yea, it is a challenge. for me, my body really needs it tho to lose. the point i was trying to make is that for ME, atkins works but adding the exercise works better. i love reading your posts and seeing all the encouragement you give others. you make a big difference in the lives of others. a great atkins example!

[ValidRouge]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

Purplecat, we would never attack you!

Atkins has changed my life. I've lost somewhere around 92 lbs, went from a size 22 to a size 10. Went from being a fat blob on the couch to running a half marathon with my ADBB buddy, Adena. I lift weights, do yoga, indoor cycling and run. I'm an active and HEALTHY person now. I'm more active and in better physical condition than I was in high school! Heck I can even wear my junior year prom dress..and I've got pictures to prove it! LOL

My cholesterol, blood pressure and cardiovascular health is EXCELLENT and my doctors are THRILLED.

I thank God every day for leading me to this lifestyle. For showing me a different way of life. I'm thankful that I was willing to listen to what the people here had to tell me. I initially wasn't. I went at this back in 2003 and lost a little weight, but wanted to make up my own rules and listen to people who WERE NOT AT GOAL about what I could eat and not eat. The second time I came back to this way of eating, I came back here and I only listened to what the goalies or near goalies had to say. They will always tell you to listen to what Dr. Atkins had to say in his book. They eat vegetables, follow the plan, exercise to their bodies' capabilities and truly make this a LIFESTYLE.

There is no going back for me. I am perfectly willing to give up all the toxic food that made me sad, sick, and FAT. I am perfectly willing to eat food that keeps me thin and healthy and active.

Let me say though, that this plan is what YOU decide to do with it. The effort is YOURS and yours alone. Your willingness to be open and accepting to what Dr. Atkins says and what the successful people here have to say will be key as to whether it will work for you. This WORKS. It does. If YOU work it.

Welcome to ADBB!

[purplecat]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

hey catrenia! you ARE beautiful girl! hope i did not come across crazy about the exercise thing. i know lots of people who have great results without it and i kinda envy them! the time for exercise is an issue for me so yea, it is a challenge. for me, my body really needs it tho to lose. the point i was trying to make is that for ME, atkins works but adding the exercise works better. i love reading your posts and seeing all the encouragement you give others. you make a big difference in the lives of others. a great atkins example!

Thanks! I think I'm feeling extra-sensitive today.

[Katlambert]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

Your words made me cry...with joy for you...and hope for me. My life has changed BECAUSE I let myself go.....I lost my husband....then my job...have become very depressed and haven't been able to pick up myself. I am seeing a therapist...but even he will say that my WEIGHT and allowing myself to get so heavy...is and has affected every avenue of my life. I have so many things to FIX in my life, and I know that deep in my heart....a major major step would be for me to lose weight and begin to just "like" myself again...no where near the love part. If I felt "proud" about myself...I might actually go out and enjoy life again instead of hiding from everyone and everything.

Thank you for your inspiration. You are gorgeous!

You know, hiding was a big part of being overweight for me. When I started to gain weight, I didn't feel like going out anymore because I didn't like the way that I looked or felt. It quickly because a vicious circle for me because the as my dislike for who I was becoming grew so did my desire to withdraw. Withdrawing caused me to continue to gain more weight. The misery that I felt in my marriage and my job was also allowing me to turn to food for my happiness. Of course, food only helped in the short term and really helped to make me more miserable and allowed me to engage in self loathing.

I think you are right, doing something that will make you proud of yourself will really help. Finding something you like about yourself right now will help too. Have the courage to believe that you can do it and then believe that you are worth it. As women, we so often get caught up in taking care of everyone else...our husbands, our children, our jobs, our homes, etc. that we somehow lose the ability to take care of ourselves. We let ourselves go because we're using all of our energy to care for everyone else. Please believe me when I tell you that you are worth some pampering and you should take the time to care for yourself. It's okay to say no to someone or something in order to make time to do something for yourself. It's okay to put the kids to bed a half an hour earlier so that you can take a nice, long bath or give yourself a pedicure or read a book or whatever it is that gives you peace and makes you happy.

You can do this and you are worth it. If you ever need someone to talk to, please feel free to email me directly. It's not always easy to learn to love yourself again but it's important that you do!

[purplecat]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

Purplecat, we would never attack you!

Atkins has changed my life. I've lost somewhere around 92 lbs, went from a size 22 to a size 10. Went from being a fat blob on the couch to running a half marathon with my ADBB buddy, Adena. I lift weights, do yoga, indoor cycling and run. I'm an active and HEALTHY person now. I'm more active and in better physical condition than I was in high school! Heck I can even wear my junior year prom dress..and I've got pictures to prove it! LOL

My cholesterol, blood pressure and cardiovascular health is EXCELLENT and my doctors are THRILLED.

I thank God every day for leading me to this lifestyle. For showing me a different way of life. I'm thankful that I was willing to listen to what the people here had to tell me. I initially wasn't. I went at this back in 2003 and lost a little weight, but wanted to make up my own rules and listen to people who WERE NOT AT GOAL about what I could eat and not eat. The second time I came back to this way of eating, I came back here and I only listened to what the goalies or near goalies had to say. They will always tell you to listen to what Dr. Atkins had to say in his book. They eat vegetables, follow the plan, exercise to their bodies' capabilities and truly make this a LIFESTYLE.

There is no going back for me. I am perfectly willing to give up all the toxic food that made me sad, sick, and FAT. I am perfectly willing to eat food that keeps me thin and healthy and active.

Let me say though, that this plan is what YOU decide to do with it. The effort is YOURS and yours alone. Your willingness to be open and accepting to what Dr. Atkins says and what the successful people here have to say will be key as to whether it will work for you. This WORKS. It does. If YOU work it.

Welcome to ADBB!

Thank you. It's not that I don't want to exercise. I'm actually one of those people who love to exercise. I rocked Turbo Jam 3 years ago...did it daily but never made it below 210 even though I was dieting - low cal...no wonder. However, a series of accidents (rear ended 3 times at traffic lights) has left me with arthritis in my spine; sprained my ankle 3 times in one year (docs said it would take 2 years to heal); and then continuous pain in my left foot left me with a diagnosis of Morton's Neuroma. I've gone through Physical Therapy (didn't help much). However, I did find some orthotics online that have helped me so much that I'm starting to exercise again (think I overdid it yesterday with Turbo Jam - LOVE IT!!) because my foot is hurting today.

[misplaced southerner]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

hey purplecat.......have you ever done any water exercises like swimming or aerobics that would have less impact on your joints? i have not done turbo jam...i think it would KILL ME! sorry about your accidents. my best friend's life has changed dramatically due to injury and i know how hard it is for her. maybe something low impact like resistance bands or the water stuff might be good choices (since you love it and miss it)....

the only thing about water exercise is that for me, i love to SWEAT and it is hard to sweat in the water!!! ha ha!

[julirama723]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

Catrenia--no way girl, I wasn't criticizing you!

I totally understand the point (and agree) you were making--Atkins works even in a situation where you can't exercise. Members have been in the hospital, or injured, and still lose weight because they continue to eat right. Like I said, food is 80% of the weight loss game. Sometimes I see people who eat something bad and then go to the gym and "burn it off" by working out for 2 hours, and that's not healthy. That's a purging mechanism. But those who eat sensibly and exercise sensibly, that's the ticket.

My point was I, personally, would not look as good or feel as good without the exercise--and that there's no reason to be scared of working out if you're a newbie! I know it's scary to go to the gym for the first few times, especially being overweight. I was kind of terrified, I stuck out like a sore thumb, no joke! But once I was "established" there and people recognized me, I became accepted, one of the regulars. Like Nike says, JUST DO IT!

[mitzimarie]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

I just know if you all can do this...there is no reason that I cannot.

Hold on to this thought, johnnysmom. Think it... believe it... live it!

As you can see from my stats, I am a second-timer to Atkins. The first time, I did not strictly follow the plan. While I lost 60 pounds, I never reached my goal, and I never learned the skills to maintain Atkins for a lifetime. I lost focus, and let a "life event" de-rail me in late 2004. I returned to my old way of eating, and re-gained 32 of those pounds. I had lost hope... tried lots of different things. I was even on NutriSystem when I joined the board in July of 2006 (was just lurking, then). I lost a few pounds on NS, but fell off and gained every pound back, plus some. Finally, one year ago, my husband begged me to give Atkins another try. He sat me down, and reminded me of how well Atkins had worked for me before. He told me that he had every faith in me, that I could do that again. I was skeptical, because I had let myself stray before. But I could tell he was being genuine in his support, so I decided to give it another try. THIS time, though, I re-read the book, and vowed to follow it to the letter. And that is what I have done. Instead of viewing Atkins as a way to lose weight, I look upon it now as just the way I eat. I have progressed up the rungs of OWL properly, and have taken the time to really learn about this way of eating. I feel relaxed about it, instead of anxious. I KNOW that I can do this for the rest of my life.

Here is an excerpt of a post that I made a couple of days ago:
"The completion of this year finds me to be the healthiest and happiest I have ever been. I have achieved something I never thought possible. I have found a discipline within, and a respect for myself, that I didn't know I had in me. My original goal weight this time around was 140, because I could not fathom going any lower than that... the 120's was a fantasy that I never dabbled in. Sundays are still my official weigh in day, and this morning's weigh in found me at 120. "



I did not have the support of this board the first time around. I have had it since the beginning this time, and I just cannot stress enough how instrumental it has been to my success. I feel so blessed to have found my way to Atkins, and to this community.

I'm glad that you found us! Atkins had changed my life, and it can change yours, too.

[purplecat]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

hey purplecat.......have you ever done any water exercises like swimming or aerobics that would have less impact on your joints? i have not done turbo jam...i think it would KILL ME! sorry about your accidents. my best friend's life has changed dramatically due to injury and i know how hard it is for her. maybe something low impact like resistance bands or the water stuff might be good choices (since you love it and miss it)....

the only thing about water exercise is that for me, i love to SWEAT and it is hard to sweat in the water!!! ha ha!

No I haven't done water aerobics. The thought of wearing anything that remotely shows too much leg in public terrifies me. I did do Hip Hop Abs tonight (30 minutes). I'm testing the water.....seeing how much my body can take at this point in time. I know the 47 pound weight loss has helped my spine immensely. The orthotics are working wonders as well. I will try not to become crazed (LOL) and reinjure myself.

[purplecat]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

Catrenia--no way girl, I wasn't criticizing you!

I totally understand the point (and agree) you were making--Atkins works even in a situation where you can't exercise. Members have been in the hospital, or injured, and still lose weight because they continue to eat right. Like I said, food is 80% of the weight loss game. Sometimes I see people who eat something bad and then go to the gym and "burn it off" by working out for 2 hours, and that's not healthy. That's a purging mechanism. But those who eat sensibly and exercise sensibly, that's the ticket.

My point was I, personally, would not look as good or feel as good without the exercise--and that there's no reason to be scared of working out if you're a newbie! I know it's scary to go to the gym for the first few times, especially being overweight. I was kind of terrified, I stuck out like a sore thumb, no joke! But once I was "established" there and people recognized me, I became accepted, one of the regulars. Like Nike says, JUST DO IT!

Thanks! Just overlook me. I know I'm being ultra-sensitive today.

[misplaced southerner]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

i bet the 47 pound (ummm that is the size of a kindergarten kid!) loss will make a difference. i remember at 220 how i did not want to exercise because my feet hurt to badly. i did not realize how much til they did not hurt anymore! hope today went well. you are smart to test the waters....if you hurt yourself then you are back at square one. and you can be sensitive any time you want to be....we love ya! at least you are not suffering from an obsessive compulsive personality like me!

i guess we jacked this thread! yikes! back to our regular programming!!!

[sallyseachange]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

You know what you ALL have in common? You followed the Atkins program to the letter.
Something to be said for that...

I wish this (Atkins to the letter) could be trumpeted in all the newbie forums. It's really underlines the fact that if you do Atkins properly, you certainly (barring med probs) will be successful and you will maintain.
Half hearted efforts get half hearted results.

[misplaced southerner]

Re: Please share....such winners!!!!

GREAT POINT SALLY!!! i so often read and feel sad for members, old AND new who are struggling and struggling and admit to NOT following the plan to the letter....i know it is sometimes difficult, but once you get thru the difficult it becomes really easy. when it becomes a lifestyle then you know you have it made. i guess it is not or everyone tho. however, i know i can NOT complain about my lack of weight loss when i am too heavy on legal foods and allow NONLEGAL foods....that is not atkins and how can you complain about that? ya might as well say...i am not losing because i am not following the plan....cuz that's the truth.