[dthomps]

I LOVE this thread.

I'm very fortunate to have tons of support from most friends, family, co-workers and husband.

My parents and I did Atkins 3 years ago. They were wise enough to maintain their loss. I wasn't. So, they're very supportive. Even though they eat a lot more carbs than I do at this point, they've been very careful at family events -- father's day, birthdays, etc -- at making sure there's plenty of low carb food around. For Father's Day they made pork loins, crab legs and Steak!! Overkill, but I appreciated it. And my mom calls me skinny every time she sees me, and I'm only down about 10-12lbs. Haven't weighed lately.

My boss told me last week that I looked like I'd been losing weight, and that was nice to hear.

The biggest challenge with friends -- and I'm going to face that one head on today, July4 -- is they don't understand why I can't have a few drinks. Ugh. They're always trying to push booze on me. I know booze isn't absolutely forbidden, but even one or two drinks may weaken my resolve for other foods, and I just left induction a week ago. And I'm not ready to risk it.

In laws tell me this WOL is very dangerous and that I could have a heart attack. A few weeks ago at nieces birthday, I actually ate some fruit, because they scared me so bad. But then I thought about it: I'm eating protein and vegetables and drinking tons of water. On the off chance this diet is somehow "unhealthy" it's no more unhealthy than the way I ate before -- tons of diet soda, sweets and very few vegetables.

And then husband -- he's supportive of my efforts, but he doesn't understand this WOL. He's been a little brainwashed about low fat eating, so occassionally he tries to fix me something that I try to explain doesn't work on my diet. (Like rice or corn.) but he doesn't nag me about it. He truly wants me to be happy and when he brings me rice or corn, I know he's trying. They seem like such healthy foods! And maybe they are for some people, but not for me right now.

Anyway, he's one of those people who can literally eat everything on the Long John Silvers menu for lunch everyday and not gain an ounce. So, I forgive him for not "getting it."

This board is probably the most incredible support-system I've ever seen. So I thank you all for being such inspirations and I hope to return the favor one day soon as a major success story!
Sorry for the novel!