50 Lbs down! 385 down to 338!

[Tomhinnva]

This is also my first post here on the bulletin board. Thanks for all the inspiration that everyone here freely gives!

I "tried" this WOE back in 1999. Of course, I figured just drinking a few ounces of soda instead of the whole can was fine, and why give up french fries? In short, I was really not ever doing Atkins the way we all do it here. I presumed and assumed, and got the easily preditcable results.

10 Years later..

I ballooned from an already hefty 260 to 390 lbs. I was sick all the time. My doctor wanted to do sleep tests to see if I had apnea. Duh! I was 390 lbs.(at 6 4"), and I could not sleep more than 2-3 hours at a time. My back, legs and ankles ached every day and I dreaded hauling myself from a chair or up from the floor. I sat on the floor a lot because I no longer trusted most chairs to hold me without collapsing anyway. My sex drive had disappeared and my girlfriend was wondering if I even found her attractive anymore. My moods were out of control and changed faster than numbers on a gas pump.

I believe the only reason I am still alive is that I was at least taking blood pressure medication the whole time. It likely kept my arteries from exploding. A tad under 3 months ago, I was simply ready to cry or jump off a bridge. I was looking at the end of a relationship and at 400 lbs. I really thought I might only live if I could somehowe get bariatric surgery. Lord alone knows how I was going to do that, since insurance won't cover it. (though having read up on it, I can understand why now) I never felt so bad in my life.

Then, I remembered something. DANDR. I am convinced God or whatever you want to call it whispered that into my ear. I had forgotten it myself. For some reason, I simply stopped what I was doing and went to the book store like I was posessed. I got the book and went home. I read it in two nights ( I am weird like that) and was converted almost as fast as Saul on the way to Damascus.

Not only did I get a new WOE, I think I got the greatest dietary Rah-Rah Pep Rally ever. I went out and shopped and simply decided to stop being an excuse-making whiner and to do this thing.

I plunged right in...and was ready to die by Day 2 as my body resisted giving up an addiction worse than alcohol or smokes. I was so close to going and getting a soda just to feel "right" again. I was in the middle of the Atkins Flu. But, when I woke up on Day 3, something was different. It took me a moment to realize I had some energy!

In the days that followed, it simply got better. My moods stopped shifting so fast. Two weeks in, I had a good night's sleep. My energy started coming up. My keto stix stayed pink. Apparently, my metabolic resistance is very low, I had just never actually even given Atkins an honest try. By week 3, I was FEELING quite good on a daily basis.

I didn't even buy a scale until I was on Induction for 30 days. I was afraid I would get discouraged before then. I knew I was 390 lbs at the Doc's office in September, so I had a baseline of sorts. I figured my weight would still be there when I got around to checking it, ja? By day 30, I had gotten my scale. I was down to 361 lbs. Sure, still a lot to weight. But for the first time in my life, an eating plan had worked and I lost measurable weight. I was exultant! 24 lbs in one month~

I have since endured a small stall that lasted almost two weeks. I also stepped off for one meal on my birthday. My work pals seem to love me so they took em to an Italian place. I had one small plate of spaghetti. No soda, no desert. I hopped right back on the Atkins bandwagon tow hours later with tuna any mayo. No sense in trying to "starve" it out of me. My keto stix were pink again in less than 24 hours and have stayed that way since. Oddly, I had no desire to go back to old food. It was almost a habit doing that on my birthday. Next year though, I think a NY Strip with asparagus and a salad is a better idea

So now here I am, almost 50 lbs lighter 3 months after that last awful day eating sugar and flour. My relationship is way better. My sex drive is, well, uh...fixed. Yes, I kinda blushed there. My energy is amazing. My weight loss continues at a great rate. I eat veggies and take vitamins every day. I drink a lot of water.

Exercise? OK, I am still lazy in that way. It's just a matter of going across the road and getting a membership at LA Fitness or something. Besides, I know that greater lean muscle mass accelerates weight loss and helps eliminate sagging skin.

There it is, my Atkins story up till now. Sorry for the length of the post, but i wanted to show you all how much this diet, this board and God as I understand Him have done for me.

[eclectikat]

Thanks for your post... I appreciate hearing the success you have had. I am struggling now, only with a stall... and the 3 feet of snow we have.... but I am revitalized by your determination.

You are doing a great job. IT is going to take a while but keep your head down and you will see progress and that in and of itself will be the encouragement you need to move forward....

It is really the best thing to have been able to join the ranks and say " I do not eat flour or sugar" I am proud of that... and so should you be!

Kathy

[OzLover]

I'm really glad that you listened to God's voice & went out & bought the book!! Kudos for reading the book!!

You are doing great & thank you for sharing your journey~~~very motivating for sure!! Continued success on your journey to health!

[Tomhinnva]

Most immediate thing I noticed was changing fit of my clothes. The loosening of my clothes has been wonderful...except when my pants basically start to fall off in the grocery store! It was then i realized I needed to budget for new belts! Plus, my coworkers have all started to comment as well. I am sure you know how awesome that feels too!

[ontheway2Stephanie]

Congratulations on your success so far! It's amazing, what you can accomplish when you really decide that you CAN do it. I am hoping to follow in your footsteps!

[Adena]

Congratulations, Tom -- great story! Best of luck for continued success!

[sallyseachange]

Well done so far Tom! Totally inspiring! Thanks for sharing your story with us and for deciding to post here at the ADBB. I know we'll all be keen to follow your further instalments, and am positive they'll be more of the same!

Well done you! Keep up the good work!

[APanthesilia]

Thank you so much for the incredibly inspiring post! Congratulations to you!!

[blueberrylady]

Congratulations on your amazing loss! Keep us posted on your progress because we care.

[Mickkey]

Great inspirational post! Please come back and post often.