Warm welcome to the board and to Atkins! Nice to have you with us.
Don't worry about not being used to bulletin boards... you'll soon get the hang of things.
Congrats on your 8 lbs lost this summer. You'll find that lots more will follow them out of the window if you stick with the plan and eat the way Dr A advises.
Well done for your good intentions regarding exercise. Just start slow and increase gently.... maybe a block or two extra every day, or even just a few steps extra. They'll soon mount up and you might find yourself running marathons in time. You wouldn't be the first that had happened to!
Sorry, I'm not familiar with the two sweetners you mentioned, so can't advise. I'm sure someone knowlegeable will be around to help you there. If you can wean yourself off the coffee though, it would be a good thing. Some find that caffeine stalls.
Post lots and keep us up to date as to your progress. We're all in this together!
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Before and after:
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PLEDGING FLIGHTS Completed: 1st set of buildings and mountains (Everest twice); Tower Masts & Chimneys; More virtual buildings; Challenger's Choice x 2 (volcanos and mountains on Mars) Currently re-climbing Mont Blanc: 1549/2028
Start 10 Jan 2005. Maintenance since Aug. 2005.
F/55yrs/5'.4"
SW:77.7 LW:56.5 CW:60.1 GW:57.7 (kilos) gone just beyond my buffer zone lately. Grrrr! Working on it.