Newbies, oldies, & in betweenies - Think Positive!!

[Betty]

Hello all, I have been reading some of the posts on the different forums here on ADBB, and unfortunately I am seeing a lot of negatives, and people being down on themselves and sometimes down on others. Well Hello People, we need positives. Celebrate the inch or inches lost, the half or quarter of a pound as well as the 1,2 & 3 pounds a person might lose. Sometimes you have to celebrate the fact that you didn't cheat, or you did that exercise even when you didn't want to. Celebrate the fact that you got all the water drank you were supposed to. Are you getting the idea? This WOEFL is about the benefits it brings to us. Contrary to opinion, I do know there are going to be days when everything is not the best, and yes, we do want you to come to us for support and help when you need it. I will make one request -- if you have a negative, then you need to also list 2 positives for each negative you list.
Having said all of this, let me show you that I do know what I am talking about. I am going to tell you my journey and success story doing this WOE.
I began my new life Dec. 28, 2003. Yep, right in the middle of those holidays, I started induction. I don't know that there is an easy time to begin induction, but I do know that during the Christmas/New Years holidays has got to be one of the worst times. However, that is when I made up my mind to do this. I had the book, I read the book, and I stocked my refrigrator and cabinet with legal induction foods. I went through a whole 2 weeks of induction clean, and I lost Not one pound. I had taken my measurements before I started induction, and when I measured at the end of those 2 weeks, I had lost inches. HOORAY! a mini celebration time. I was a little discouraged because like all of you I had heard about the wonderful loss of pounds that most people had during induction. Just one problem, I am not most people, I am me, and me is different. The same way a lot of you are different and you will lose at different rates and in different ways. I stayed on induction for about another 2 weeks or so, and I lost a couple of pounds, and some more inches. CELEBRATION TIME AGAIN! I talked to friends that I knew who were doing Atkins and were successful, they all told me the same thing, move on to OWL. Sometimes just the change will kick start the system and you start losing again. So I moved on to OWL, and added more veggies. The swoosh fairy visited me and I lost 3 pounds in one week. Wooooooooooooohooooooooooooooo BIG CELEBRATION. I had found some support from those around me, but I was looking for a group that I could talk to and get help from when I needed it. I hooked up with this group in March, and I have been here ever since. I won't leave because this group is the best. I have seen a lot of the same questions asked over and over (and I asked them too) and the questions were always answered with positives, and I, nor anyone else that I am aware of, was or has been made to feel they should not have asked a question.
By this time I was getting pretty good with this WOE and the weight was coming off fairly steady. I would average about a pound a week. Now that doesn't mean I lost a pound each and every week, sometimes 2 and sometimes none, but the point is, it was a fairly steady weight loss. I had one small stall in there of about 4 weeks with not losing even a quarter of a pound, but people were noticing my weight loss, I had lost a size or two in clothes, and I had great levels of energy. So I talked with friends, in person, and here on the board. They all kept me going. I had to realize that hey, I hadn't lost but -- and this is hugely important folks -- I had NOT gained. I did have energy, and the results were showing. This was not the time to moan and complain about what wasn't happening it was time to realize that I did not put that weight on overnight and it sure as heck wasn't going to come off over night, and in fact it was going to take a tremendous amount of effort and work on my part to get rid of all that excess weight that was holding me down and holding me back. I continued my journey and the next big hurdle was my vacation to Utah for 2 weeks in June of 2003. I was just stubborn enough that I was not going to cheat, I was going to continue my WOE while on this vacation. So the first thing I did was to plan. I let my sister know ahead of time what I was doing. I made a list of snacks that I could take with me on the plane. I was within 10-15 pounds of goal by the time my trip came up and this is when I hit my major stall. I did not lose one pound between June 24, 2003 and beginning of Sept. 2003 I did however stay cheatfree during my vacation. I did not gain any weight, and my sister was blown away when she saw how much weight I had lost at that time. Big boost for my ego, and at a time when I needed it. I was encouraged by my sister and her fiance while I was out there. I came home and kept right on going just like the energizer bunny. My stall broke in early Sept. with another visit from the woosh fairy and a loss of about 3 pounds as I recall. I made goal about Oct. 15th, and I have maintained my weight. I did it through all those holiday treats, and meals. No, it wasn't always easy, but the alternative is just unthinkable. I keep my picture of what I looked like before and what I look like now. I just will not go back to the old me. I like the new me much better.
I am over 50 and it gets harder to lose that weight the older you are. It is usually easier for men to lose than women, and so I had the double whammy there. However I did it and I continue to do it each and everyday of my life. I choose to eat healthy, exercise, and take care of ME because "I am worth it." You are also worth it, and you have to make a choice each day for yourself. You can do this but I want you to remember that if something is worth doing, it is worth doing right. There are no shortcuts. I mean none. This takes works and effort on your part. A positive attitude is always best, and a smile not a frown.
I hope that my story will help someone else, the way I have been helped by others.

[fireflyring]

Hi Betty read your story and you have inspired me so much to continue with Atkins, I have only done one week of induction but already lost 6lb I was 176lb, feeling so elated, I too have just turned 50 and going through the menopause which is not to bad, I hope I can do as well as you

many thanks
Sue

[hotrod]

Thanks Betty! You've inspired me to keep going. I've been on the diet three weeks. I lost 7 pounds the first two weeks and gained back 2 the last week. I stayed on the introduction for an extra week. I followed the diet just like the book said. The ketosis strips have stayed between moderate and large the entire three weeks. I was starting to get discouraged, but reading the trials you went through has helped me a lot.

I know their could be several reasons I am not aware of for the gain, so I am sticking to the diet and I am going to continue to exercise. I am going to try reading some of the posts on this board.

[deborah jane]

Thank you for sharing your inspirational story. You are absolutely right. If it's worth doing at all it's worth doing well. I'm off for a metabolism-boosting walk when this morning before visiting the boards I'd said to myself "I'll give myself a morning off"!
Thank you.
Deborah jane

[pgreen6840]

First,thanks for sharing. Words from the heart will always touch another's heart. The journey of life and constantly growing doesn't stop at any certain weight and each pound teaches us another message.
It is so true that we are worth it. I also taught my children that we are not garbage cans. We choose every second to lets these thoughts be out guidance or perhaps suffer from terminal amnesia.

God bless and celebrate each day regardless, you woke up today,right, ok then celebrate that!!!!

Phil

[debd]

your story will help me alot doing my atkins. i have been here one week i have lost 10 lbs but have a long ways to go but i want this so much i am going to work hard. we are worth it ... thanks deb

[lantonel]

Hi Betty, Thanks for such a positive post. I too have been doing Atkins for quite a while. I started in March of 2003. I was doing great until the beginning of this year, never cheating once if you can believe it! I had actually been in a stall for quite a while, which is why I am not at my goal weight. Being a little frustrated with that I allowed myself one cheat and I haven't been able to pull myself back in. I have now gained 10 lbs back, though I do still work out regularly, and I am not going to let myself get back where I was! I am 40 years old and I am sick of being fat! I have a very hard time planning my menus and I never really moved on to induction the official way, I kind made my own rules, which I think was my problem. So, I've got the book out again and am re-reading it, and I'm going right now to get some Atkins recipe books for the library, so I'm off again!

I'm going to try moving on to OWL after I do 2 weeks of induction again (starting today). I'm going to try to be strick by the book on everything and take it from there. If you have any addition tips that you can share, I sure would appreciate it!

Thanks again in your positive post, it has rekindled my faith! I've always known that Atkins is definately the program for me, but I've been so busy feeling sorry for myself that I haven't taken the time to do it right. Not this time!

Take care,

Lisa

[kkat55]

This was a good read!

[chinadoll]

Thanks Betty. This time around, the pounds are just not coming off like the first time. Your story makes me feel like I was expecting too much too soon. I just need to do the right thing and be patient.

[Mom2Boxer]

Thanks Betty! I heard menopause plus starting low-carb for the second time around would be harder to lose weight. Now I read your story and understand it is all true.

It made me feel good to read your post. Thanks!