My Turn

[FwL]

Hi Folks.

Another third timer here. I'm hoping this time I can stay the course.

A little bit about myself.... Male, 43 years old, I've always had a spare tire around my midsection but my weight's been steadily creeping higher and higher for about the last 15 years or so. I've managed to knock off 30 pounds here and there with low calorie dieting and a couple of stabs at low carb dieting. Each time it's been the same thing... stall.... start gaining again... lose heart.... give up.... gain all the weight back... add 10 more pounds on top of that...

To make matters worse, every time I pass 270 I begin to suffer chronic leg and back pain. You'd think that in and of itself would be enough to force me to get my weight under control....

Anyway... working in construction, I spent all last season limping and groaning about my pain but was not able to get my weight below 280. I vowed that during winter layoff I'd get a handle on it... but here I am with the season starting up again and I just broke 300 pounds for the first time in my life.

So, I'm hoping that having more information and people to talk to about this WAE will help me to keep things going in the right direction this time.

I have no idea what weight to set as my goal, though. As I said before, I've always carried fat around my belly for as long as I can remember. I have no idea what weight I should be. Right now, I'm gonna focus on getting down below 270 and hope this damn leg will stop hurting.

[imagood1]

Re: My Turn

hi FWL -- I'm really glad you found the Atkins site and are ready to make a change for your health! Hope you have the 2002 DANDR book and have read it. I'm sending links to the the rules of induction to jar your memory, theacceptable food list (if it's not on the list it doesn't belong in your mouth!) and recipe sites we use. Try to vary your meals so you don't get bored and feel the urge to quit.

There is a forum here called the Century Club that you might be interested in. Also look through the Challenge forum and join a few to get yourself going everyday.

Drink at least 64 ounces of pure water a day -- and do some form of exercise - walking, running, dancing, sitting in a chair there are several exercises you can do -- water aroebics even. You will tone up and loose faster this way.

Good luck to you -- come and read or post as often as you can. We have all been where you are today and we're here to help!

Rules of Induction:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6782 (What are the Rules of Induction?)
Induction Acceptable Foods:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6781 (What foods can be eaten on Induction?)

Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Daily Menus
Sheila's Low Carb, Atkins & Induction Friendly *ORIGINAL* Recipes Page!

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/58513-never-ending-induction-recipes.html

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/6807-induction-recipe-basics-more-recipes-added.html

[IrishIrish]

Re: My Turn

I will join in the welcome to you!! I swear by Atkins. It got me slimmer and healthier and it truly didn't seem like I was suffering through the diets of the past.

I am not going to say anything that you haven't heard before. To be an Atkins success:

• Read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution 2002. Read it, highlight the parts that you want to remember, re-read it. Consider it your instruction manual.
• Make copies of the Acceptable Food List for Induction and the Rules of Induction and carry them with you so you have no excuses. Read them often. And if it isn't on the list, don't eat it.
• Plan, plan, plan!!! Plan your meals, your snacks, your "go to" emergency plan if you find yourself stranded without your food or have a plan for travel or vacation. Don't use "emergencies" as an excuse.
• Stay hydrated with water. Water will flush out toxins.
• Exercise. Find some forms of exercise that you enjoy doing whether it is walking, dancing, an exercise class, DVD exercise, swimming, bicycling or whatever.
• Look to this board for accurate information and ask questions. The moderators or people who have had success with Atkins are willing to help.
• If you have 100 pounds or more to lose, visit Century Club. They understand long term weight loss goals.
• Remember this is Dr. Atkins plan. Doing Atkins except for the parts you don't want to do doesn't work, so don't expect it to. He spelled it out clearly in DANDR 2002. He not only tells us what to eat, but what to avoid.
• Exercise and drink your fluids.

Look forward to your success with Atkins!

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: My Turn

Welcome FwL!

I would say don't worry about setting a final goal right now. Getting enough weight off to stop the pain is a good first mini-goal. When you reach that, you can take stock of how you are doing and where you want to go from there.

This site is a lifesaver... keeps many of us on track and focused. I hope it will be for you, too.

The most important starting strategy is to keep plenty of legal snacks in your refrigerator and lunch box. That will do more to keep you on track than any one thing I know of.

The very best of luck to you. I'm glad you joined us.

[Chicklady]

Re: My Turn

Hi FWL Welcome aboard! Come join us in the Century Club for daily roll calls. We'll help keep you accountable

[FwL]

Re: My Turn

Thanks for the welcome.

I've got DANDR 2002 sitting on my nightstand, the acceptable food list for induction sitting on my kitchen table and a half empty gallon jug of drinking water practically chained to my ankle.

I've never had any problem sticking to the "rules" and dropping a bunch of weight initially. But 3 months in and hitting the dreaded 30 lb plateau is another story. This time around, I'll probably be hitting this forum hard and begging everybody for inspiration and support.

[MsUnderstood0000]

Re: My Turn

Good Luck, you can do this.

[JulieB]

Re: My Turn

This time around, I'll probably be hitting this forum hard and begging everybody for inspiration and support.

Do that - we'll be here for you!

[EverLosing]

Re: My Turn

Inspiration and support is overflowing around here!! You can do this!! Visit the board often and post about anything you need to! We have a STAC forum too. It's the Second Time Around Club. Obviously, we have some third, fourth, fifth time arounders too! There's a morning roll call every day and that helps us stay on track and feel accountable to one another! Feel free to come over and post anytime! Here's a link to the STAC forum.

Second Time Around Club - Atkins Diet

[Weizenman]

Re: My Turn

Hi FwL,
I feel your pain, at the end of last year I also blasted over 300 lbs, 305 to be exact and I vowed to lose 100 lbs. Since then I have lost over 25 lbs, I am @ 272 now, I started off on a "regular" diet, cutting down on sweets, eating whole grains,etc...But I reached 275 and I couldn't lose anymore, so I decided to switch to Atkins right after Easter and I lost 3 lbs since then and I am feeling better. Good luck to you and you CAN do it, just keep focused, even if you have weak moments, pick yourself up and continue on, I plan to. Here's to you and knowing you can do it.

[imagood1]

Re: My Turn

How are you doing FwL??? I haven't seen you around lately so I thought I'd stop and say hi again.

When you get to those times where you aren't loosing pounds check your measurements -- the scale isn't the only factor when you are on this WOE. I can go weeks with little or no weight loss but the inches are going so you can't feel bad with that!!

What type of exercise are you doing on a daily basis? You said you had a gallon jug of water you were drinking daily -- that's good!! Besides the food and water you need to get up and get moving doing some sort of exercise.

Good luck to you!!

[FwL]

Re: My Turn

Hi imagood1

I've been checking into the century club roll but that's about it this weekend.

As for exercise, I work construction, so tomorrow I'l be spending anywhere from 6 to 10 hours digging holes, shoveling gravel, hefting 80lb bags of portland cement and pushing heavy wheelbarrow loads around. Not every day is that intense, but there's not any option to not work hard and physical most days. On my days off I try to get in at least an hour of walking or bike riding just to keep my leg from becoming completely useless.

You'd think in my line of work it would be pretty hard to be overweight, but I'm living proof that there's more to being overweight than lounging around all day drinking Pepsi and eating Twinkies.