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Hello everyone, I'm enjoying reading your posts and getting started on Atkins. I'm 49 and have been gaining weight steadily for five years. I was 153 lbs. yesterday when I started, and want to lose 20 to 30 lbs. This would put me back in the range where I've been most healthy and comfortable in my life.
I was blaming my 30 lb. gain on having quit smoking five years ago, but now I realize my diet changed dramatically as well. I wasn't just eating more when I quit smoking, I was eating differently. When I met my husband he was a Type II diabetic controlling his levels through diet and exercise. To be supportive I adjusted to his diet, which was basically Atkins -- plus a lot of good red wine. He maintained his blood sugar levels by running and cutting out carbs. We ate a lot of BBQ but almost never had bread in the house. At most we would split one English muffin with our bacon and eggs in the morning. Pasta quickly became a memory. I soon lost my cravings for those foods, although we often shared a dessert when we ate out. Usually something like creme brulee which I think has more fat than sugar. I lost about 10 lbs. quickly and was able to maintain a comfortable range. I had more energy to exercise and I found myself becoming a lot more active. Eventually my husband, who had been a healthy weight, started getting frighteningly thin and was subsequently diagnosed with Type I diabetes. He now takes insulin and eats whatever he wants, which I can't believe is healthy. He still runs, though not nearly as regularly, and his weight is very consistent.
When he started eating differently, so did I. I really think my metabolism just STOPPED when I went back to eating carbs after having almost none for two years.
I used to do yoga at home pretty regularly and took a lot of long walks with my dog, and was a bit of a demon with weekly bouts of heavy housework. Now, some days I feel like I barely have the energy to get dressed. My body is so uncomfortable and out of shape that it's a real uphill struggle to get myself going. It suddenly occurred to me that Atkins might be the answer.
Yesterday was my first day. I made some soup with vegetable broth and beef and wasn't left hungry, just a little sad! Definitely I will notice the withdrawal from comfort foods for a while. I find meat a little disgusting in large quantities but I'm sure I'll get over it if there's nothing else to eat. I already felt a little perkier, took a couple of longer than usual walks with the dog and did some stretching. It's a start. I want to change my life. Lately we hardly go anywhere because I never have any clothes that fit, as my size keeps going up. That's not fair to my husband and it's no way to live. So here I am. Thanks for listening.
Hope
I was blaming my 30 lb. gain on having quit smoking five years ago, but now I realize my diet changed dramatically as well. I wasn't just eating more when I quit smoking, I was eating differently. When I met my husband he was a Type II diabetic controlling his levels through diet and exercise. To be supportive I adjusted to his diet, which was basically Atkins -- plus a lot of good red wine. He maintained his blood sugar levels by running and cutting out carbs. We ate a lot of BBQ but almost never had bread in the house. At most we would split one English muffin with our bacon and eggs in the morning. Pasta quickly became a memory. I soon lost my cravings for those foods, although we often shared a dessert when we ate out. Usually something like creme brulee which I think has more fat than sugar. I lost about 10 lbs. quickly and was able to maintain a comfortable range. I had more energy to exercise and I found myself becoming a lot more active. Eventually my husband, who had been a healthy weight, started getting frighteningly thin and was subsequently diagnosed with Type I diabetes. He now takes insulin and eats whatever he wants, which I can't believe is healthy. He still runs, though not nearly as regularly, and his weight is very consistent.
When he started eating differently, so did I. I really think my metabolism just STOPPED when I went back to eating carbs after having almost none for two years.
I used to do yoga at home pretty regularly and took a lot of long walks with my dog, and was a bit of a demon with weekly bouts of heavy housework. Now, some days I feel like I barely have the energy to get dressed. My body is so uncomfortable and out of shape that it's a real uphill struggle to get myself going. It suddenly occurred to me that Atkins might be the answer.
Yesterday was my first day. I made some soup with vegetable broth and beef and wasn't left hungry, just a little sad! Definitely I will notice the withdrawal from comfort foods for a while. I find meat a little disgusting in large quantities but I'm sure I'll get over it if there's nothing else to eat. I already felt a little perkier, took a couple of longer than usual walks with the dog and did some stretching. It's a start. I want to change my life. Lately we hardly go anywhere because I never have any clothes that fit, as my size keeps going up. That's not fair to my husband and it's no way to live. So here I am. Thanks for listening.
Hope
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