Please Share ~ How Has Losing Weight Changed Your Life ???

[kaylasgram]

Oh for me in sooooo Many Wonderful Ways ~ I started The Atkins Program on Jan 1st, 09 & since May 15th Iam off my HBP & Type II Diabete's Meds, now using Whole Food Control Only.

I have went from taking 2 Heart meds daily to 1 & from using 2 types of Inhailers 2x daily to 1 only as needed !!!

My Primary Care Dr says that my Weak Immune System due to Lupus is at it's strongest level's since it's onset in Dec of 2004.

I was able to walk the WHOLE Opening Day Parade of Little Baseball with my Grandgirl this Spring (some up hill), where last year I wasn't even able to walk the full length of my property 1.5 acre's !!! Heck just getting from the Front Door to the Mail Box & back was a "major deal" for me some days !!!

My most recent biggie but Non~Health one last week I bought size 8 (Zipper/Button Top Lee) Jean's that I have not worn since High school, when I started in Jan I was wearing elastic Top size 18's !!!

WHEW ~ I guess that's enough for now, I will leave room for other's to post as I could go on & on !!!

~Cindi~

PS: forgot to Add that I have lost 49.8 pounds to date with 30.2 left till I hit Goal.

If someone would of come to me a year ago & told me that all of this was going to happen to me in 9.5 months I would of laughed at them till I was rolling on the ground (if I could of gotten down there), had tear's rolling down my face & due to how heavy I was most likely would of wet my pants !!!

[chauber]

Re: Please Share ~ How Has Losing Weight Changed Your Life ???

From past experience, when I was at my goal weight (before my last preganacy), Atkins had made me feel alive again. I did some form of exercise EVERY day and I did it for pleasure...because it felt good not because I had to. I could run with my kids, and I felt like playing with them. Not to mention I looked good in smaller clothes, which meant compliments and in return my self-confidence was at a much higher level.

I cannot wait to make it back to my goal weight!

[Timlin]

Re: Please Share ~ How Has Losing Weight Changed Your Life ???

I had reflux so bad I was sleeping sitting up and suffering desperately. I couldn't bend to garden and I was miserable. More and more meds were given to me and I really hate taking meds so that made it worse.

I was on Atkins for about 5 days when the reflux was totally gone. It has not returned in the 18 months since.

I've lost 35 lbs (and have 15 more to go but I sluffed off for a few months and have just gotten me back in line again a week ago so I'm still on induction right now.) and the puffiness is gone from my face. I don't mind having my picture taken and I have so many nice casual clothes to wear now it's just a pleasure.

Definitely Atkins gave me back my life.

[barrnone]

Re: Please Share ~ How Has Losing Weight Changed Your Life ???

truthfully, I think it helped my marriage. I was feeling horrible about myself and my husband was depressed. We didn't talk about it too much, but it came out in other ways. We started Atkins together, my husband has lost about 30 lbs and I'm close to 20. Along the way, we've enjoyed shopping/cooking together again, feeling better about ourselves, so feeling better about each other. It's all good!

[RitaCeleste]

Re: Please Share ~ How Has Losing Weight Changed Your Life ???

My knees are bad. I use to have bags over the top of my knees where they swelled up. I waddled around the house like an old lady when I had to get up off the couch. I'd still go and do things but I hurt. Taking the kids to the amusement park we bought year passes for was dreaded. My pants were tight, I got over-heated my feet and knees were killing me. Worse I was ashamed to put on a suit and go in the water park with the kids. I bought a new bathingsuit. I felt just fine swimming with them. I wasn't a wreck for days afterwards either with my knees swelled up. My ex, who I still date, is nicer to me and is more interested in me. We decided not to live together but we're still like a couple. I like clothes again. I take better care of myself. I like myself better and treat me better. I use to get really tired, pull off the road tired after eating a big carby meal. I'd go to a Chinese Buffet and rush home hoping I made before it hit me and I had to pull off the road and sleep. You won't see me sleeping in the car in parking lots uptown anymore. I don't know what it was, or why it changed but I'm glad it did. I can get tired, but not like that where you can't even drive home. I'm bipolar and on meds but I've always had issues with getting really, really tired except on Atkins. I told my shrink I thought it was food related but he didn't seem to think so. I do think its totally food related.

[Empyre]

Re: Please Share ~ How Has Losing Weight Changed Your Life ???

being overweight, everything hurts. Standing puts ALOT of weight on your hips, knees, and the bottom of your feet. My feet used to throb just from walking...now I never notice them.

Its harder to breathe when your overweight. I used to snore when I was overweight and now I don't.

Losing weight has allowed me to not be a slave to hunger and cravings. I breathe and move easier.

Better clothing means more attention from the ladies. I look good with the shirt off now which makes me feel better about myself. Knowing that I'm realizing my bodies' potential feels good too.

Low carbing for me has been extremely successful, even with very little effort on my part.

[Whatsername]

Re: Please Share ~ How Has Losing Weight Changed Your Life ???

I would say the first thing is having control over what I eat, not being driven by food. Being on Atkins is the only time I have felt that way.

The other thing is that it has helped my self esteem, self confidence and my depression.


Jane

[IrishIrish]

Re: Please Share ~ How Has Losing Weight Changed Your Life ???

Atkin's has given me the tools to change so many aspects of my life!

Several months ago, we traded in an truck my husband had. I drove it to the dealership and met my husband there. I hadn't driven the truck for at least four plus years ... it was his baby. Anyway, when I got in the truck, I laughed out loud because I felt like the "little old lady" that can barely see over the steering wheel and dashboard. It wasn't how I remembered it! Losing weight made me shorter when I was sitting down. The world does look different from that perspective!

I can travel by plane, comfortably. I fit in a seat with room to spare, even with the small commuter planes. No belt extenders for me!

I don't search out a "wide and heavy duty chair" when I canvas a room or a restaurant for a place to sit.

I can stand and walk and not worry about the "planned steps" I used to take.

I work out at a gym and a pool without drawing stares.

I shop 'til I drop. Before I barely would go into a store unless it was easy access and I didn't have to walk around the store.

No longer do I require blood testing (except twice a year), insulin, oral diabetic agents, blood pressure medications, pain meds for chronic joint pains, asthma meds.

I don't dread my office visits to the doctor. Last visit he sat back and smiled and said, "What can I say?" He's very pleased and I am proud that he has supported me.

I shock people who haven't seen me in a long time and I can avoid people I don't wish to see.

I can now share my experiences with Atkins with others like others did so graciously for me. There were so many who encouraged me when I was a newbie.

[Timlin]

Re: Please Share ~ How Has Losing Weight Changed Your Life ???

What a great thread! Rita the sleepiness is definitely carbs related. I don't know how many times I had to pull over and have a power nap before I could drive on home....I don't do that anymore either.

I hope Dr. Atkins is aware of how much he has helped each one of us. I hope I never forget how bad I felt before and that I stay balanced on this program forever.

Reading this thread gives me such encouragement. Thank you all!

[judyintn]

Re: Please Share ~ How Has Losing Weight Changed Your Life ???

I have diverticulosis and this way of eating completely resolved the pain and bloating issues associated with that. My self esteem has skyrocketed. I have only 22 pounds left until goal and I am already finding that I am receiving appreciative glances from the opposite sex. I was wearing size 12 and 14 jeans, and now I am back in my size 5 Wranglers. I feel like I did when I was a teenager, and being able to climb stairs without getting winded is great!! Embracing a low carb lifestyle has been the best thing I have ever done for my general health. Atkins rocks!!

[bellajgw]

Re: Please Share ~ How Has Losing Weight Changed Your Life ???

While I am still far from my goal I have seen some noticeable differences that mean the world to me already.

1. Being able to bend over and tie my sneakers without losing my breath or feeling like I was going to pass out.

2. Getting out of my partner's smaller sized clothes (which are 20s and she's working her way out of 22s now, yays for her!!) and back into my own fat clothes (which are 18s).

3. Being able to walk around the block at lunch without being completely winded halfway around.

4. Being able to see my feet when I weigh myself.

5. Seeing my BMI on FitDay go from the 37s to the 35s!

6. Beating the graphs on FitDay each time as I work towards my goal....the day it no longer tells me that I expect too much weight loss for my goal and finally acknowledges that I can truly reach that goal in the time I've alloted will be a day for HUGE celebration!

[Aways2Go]

Re: Please Share ~ How Has Losing Weight Changed Your Life ???

I like this thread too.

I wholeheartedly agree about not having those energy ups and downs all day, getting sleepy, etc. And feeling like I actually have control and choice over what I eat... before, if I was at a party, I would almost feel compelled to go pick up a handful of whatever snacky thing was sitting out - just couldn't leave it alone once I started eating it. I can have a tiny amount now, or none at all, and then forget about it for the rest of the night with no problems. That was almost NEVER the case before - I would just keep walking by and snacking and picking up this and that until I was totally stuffed or it ran out. I notice when I am able to do this, which is all the time now but used to be fairly rare, and always think to myself, "this must be what it is like for the REST of the world," LOL!

I hurt less in general - back pain, knee pain, legs and feet aching and tired even though they didn't necessarily hurt all that often. Specifically I would say my back pain is down probably 75%. I could tell it hurt a little less about every 5 or so pounds, but I have some sort of threshhold around 295 where, once I drop below that, the back pain goes down A LOT pretty immediately. I still have some, but it is not nearly as severe or as frequent.

I also don't get winded when walking, going up a long staircase, etc, nor do I dread it like I have at times.

Everything fits better and is more comfortable, and I do mean everything - pants, shirts, socks, even my shoes are slightly more comfortable... plus chairs, barstools, watch bands, the car seat and seat belt, you name it. Spending a whole day in dress clothes that actually feel good and are not cutting into you ANYWHERE feels so much better, especially at the end of the day.

It is actually pleasurable getting dressed to go somewhere now - I have many more things to choose from that I actually think look pretty good on AND are pretty comfortable, where before I usually had to choose between those two traits (or sometimes couldn't have either one).

Even my bed feels better - I think because it is actually more able to support my weight now than before and thus, not quite as "mushy" as it used to feel.

And I look forward to all of this continuing to get better as I lose more of the estimated 100 lbs that still needs to come off.