Rambly little success story

[Tryin']

Hi everyone,

I know I've rarely posted here but I've read the forums throughout my journey on this way of eating and it's been so inspirational and invaluable, and the couple of times I did post for help the responses meant to much and really did help.
So I just wanted to share my experience now I feel like I've really *arrived* where I should be.

I started Atkins in April 2008 at 227lbs and hit my goal of 150lbs at the beginning of December. I've lost a tiny bit more since then, and seem to maintain around 147/148lbs fairly comfortably which I'm thrilled by - it's my lowest ever adult weight!

I was shocked at my starting weight and initially felt so down about it, it seemed like the hugest mountain to have to climb and I didn't know how I'd ever manage it, so I just focused on one pound at a time. After induction I'd lost 14lbs, I then stalled for a week (and promptly panicked!) but from that point one I lost 2lbs every single week until the final week when it went down to just 1lb.
I'm the first to admit I didn't do the final stage quite properly as my rate of loss was so fast I didn't want to do anything to halt it, which has made working out my carb limit for maintenance a bit tricky, but I'm experimenting and testing now and I know I'll figure it out.
It doesn't seem like it's going to be an awful lot higher than 50g which disapppoints me in one way but I don't really mind actually as knowing me if it was very much higher I'm sure I'd end up using the extra carbs on dark chocolate!
I tried low calorie diets before and I couldn't ever lose more than 7lbs. I wasn't eating more than 1000 calories and it just wouldn't come off, and I was starving constantly. It's no way to live. It really proves the difference between low calorie diets and low carbing though! Oh and my doctor is thrilled with my results and my blood pressure has come right down.

I can honestly say I never once cheated on the diet, and never felt tempted as the way I felt was so good & my results were too precious to risk. I did come off low-carbing twice after I'd already hit - once while I was in hospital where they didn't exactly serve up low carb food (just slop - ugh) and for two days over Christmas and I'm really glad for both times because it was SUCH an education! Yes high carb foods taste nice but the way they make me feel is awful - I got sluggish and bloated and my appetite immediately got crazy out of control. I was so relieved both times to hop back on the low carb wagon and it's proved to me that this is the right way for my body to eat, I feel so much better and under control, and 'normal'.

I can't tell you how much it's changed my life to lose the weight and get control of my eating like this. Everyone keeps saying I look like a different person which I find so strange as I look the same to me, which I guess shows we really have no true perspective on how we really appear. I didn't realise how big I'd become and now I truly don't see myself as slim even though I have no clothes that fit anymore and I have ribs starting to poke through so I know I must be!

I really wish everyone luck just starting with this and just wanted to thank everyone who posts here - you're truly inspiring and motivating people, even those who you don't see posting!

[OzLover]

Congratulations on reaching your goal!! Thank you for sharing your amazing success story!

[Debi2007]

I am so happy for you. It has to feel so great to reach your goal!!! I am so glad you found support here and wish you continued success on maintaining!

[AOT]

Congratulations and thanks so much for sharing you story. You speak of everyone else on this board being so supportive but know that with this story you are also inspiring. Your story inspired me! Good luck on maintenance and keep posting if only to let us know how your maintenance stage is going

[blueberrylady]

Congratulations on reaching your goal and maintaining it through the holidays! Your's is a wonderful and inspiring story and I'm so happy for you.

I hope to see you on the board more often because we need your support as much as you need ours!

[Big Daz]

Wow what a success story. Very inspirational and gives hope to someone like me who is only about 7 weeks on the journey to losing all that extra girth!

It's interesting that you say when you had a few high carb items that your appetite went crazy out of control. I never realised for all these years that my large appetite came from the sorts of foods I was eating. After a few days on Atkins all those horrible cravings just went away and now I no longer want larger portions or to snack between meals. I am quite single minded too and haven't slipped even during xmas and NYE which I am quite proud of.

Congrats on your success anyway my fellow East Anglican!

[Tryin']

Thanks so much everyone for your kind words! *waves at fellow East Anglican Big Daz*
I know you're all going to be your own success stories very soon!

[cruisergal]

Thanks for sharing your success story with us. It sure emphasizes that this woe does work! Congrats on reaching your goal. You truly are an inspiration to us all.

[naniudy]

Thank you sooo much for your post!! I too am a bit of a silent board watcher, but get so much motivation and comfort from the boards. I have to say that your story really hit home, as your starting weight was my starting weight, and your goal is mine as well. I have tried this diet once before, and got a little scared of the smaller me. I have been heavy for so long, I think I may be afraid of what feeling thin will do. Again, thank you!! I feel stronger today just reading your post. Also, how much did you work out? and What types of working out did you do?

Congratulations!!!

Naniudy

[Tryin']

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by naniudy

Thank you sooo much for your post!! I too am a bit of a silent board watcher, but get so much motivation and comfort from the boards. I have to say that your story really hit home, as your starting weight was my starting weight, and your goal is mine as well. I have tried this diet once before, and got a little scared of the smaller me. I have been heavy for so long, I think I may be afraid of what feeling thin will do. Again, thank you!! I feel stronger today just reading your post. Also, how much did you work out? and What types of working out did you do?

Congratulations!!!

Naniudy

Hey Naniudy, it's nice to hear from another lurker. I feel a bit bad answering your question because to be completely honest I didn't really work out a whole lot. I started out using the cross trainer a bit and I did go on walks here and there but truthfully it wasn't much.
*But* I do walk to and from work 5 days a week which totals an hour a day of walking, so I like to think I get my regular exercise there.

Also I know what you mean about feeling afraid of how thin will feel. Actually an odd thing I didn't expect was to feel almost bad sometimes when people compliment me on losing so much - when they say I look like a different person I feel kind of offended on behalf of the 'fat me', which I know sounds really silly! And also I see the same person in the mirror I did before so it's just a shock to realise I really have no self-perception at all.