98 lbs in 90 days - my teenage Atkins success story

[JohnSantos]

This is my story of losing 98 lbs at 16 years old with Atkins. It's quite inspiring, so I wanted to share:

My dad was dying of cancer, and my mom was constantly busy and stressed because he basically took out his frustrations on us. Living day after day with your own father saying he hates you, I turned to the comfort of eating. My breakfast consisted of a large tupperware bowl filled with half a box of sugared cereal covered with whole fat milk, then a huge lunch with lots of sweets, and sometimes for dinner I'd basically eat half a pie or cake until I couldn't possibly put any more in my mouth.

Ballooning to 230lbs at 16 years old, I was one of the very few fat kids in school. When I entered class, several guys would bounce in their chairs and announce the whale was coming. I sat alone in the cafeteria for lunch, had no friends to speak of and would frequently hide in the library instead of eating for fear of everybody yelling insults at me. It was quite the sport to make fun of me, corner me after school and beat me up or trip me as I walked down an isle. I wore a jacket all the time: Summer, winter, constantly to hide my body. It's funny to see this on a teen movie flick, but living it wasn't fun at all.

Working at my mom's BBQ restaurant as a busboy, a nice guy came in with a book called "Dr. Atkins Super Energy Diet". I asked him about it, and he filled me in on the carbs, meat, veggies as I perked up hearing he'd dropped 30lbs. I later bought it, read it, and filing it away as not that interesting since diets didn't work for me.

As the school year was ending, I finally got the courage to ask out this girl I had always crushed on. Approaching her and her friend with my jacket on, sweating profusely, I asked. Then she laughed, looked at her friend who starting laughing too, then proclaiming (loudly) that I asked her out to all the people in the school's hallway. And so I ran off.

Something snapped that day. I hated her, the half a box of certeal, the way people looked at me, the jacket, sweating, people yelling, beating me. Something had to give. And so my life changed.

I followed Atkins to the letter, and started exercising. At first I couldn't make it around the block walking, then two blocks, then half a mile, and finally 10 miles a day. Joining a local karate class, I constantly practiced new moves and kicks in the back yard. Then one day I was jogging part of the 10 miles, then the entire length. I ended up purchasing a special set of sweat pants/shirt for days when it was raining, then changing in the garage before coming inside my house. I skipped not one day of exercising, period, for about 3-5 hours a day.

Soon I was always running at 2pm, when the sun was hottest in 95 degree weather, just to spit at the world. Making so much progress in my martial arts, the school owner actually bought me a special Gi, and congratulated me for being one of his best students.

I lost 1lb a day on Induction, then ditto with extended induction. Driven by pure anger and hate, I lost near 98lbs in 90 days.

Summer break being over, I returned to school with a moustache, new hairstyle and stylish new clothes. Nobody knew who I was. One of the bouncing chair guys from last year mumbled "who's the new kid?" when I entered class and sat down. Renewed by my success, I started lifting weights and eating a "Larry North" diet and sporting a nice V body shape after a few months of heavy workouts and supplements. And after a couple years, I had also earned a 3rd degree black belt.

The highlight of this whole ordeal was when I entered a new health food store by the gym, asking about weight loss supplements. The guy says, "Are you stupid?". Then it dawned on me, I didn't need to lose anymore weight. My brain hadn't quite wrapped around my new body, and still thought I was fat.

That winter break, I got my first Christmas job at a department store. I had mom modify my uniform to taper the shirt waist which really highlighted my new look. Women customers started leaving their phone number on the back of receipts, one co-worker said she needed me to come by her house after work and fix her car. I said I know squat about cars, she said, "it doesn't matter, come anyway".

Life, my esteem, confidence, all changed from one decision. And Atkins helped me do it. As a side note, I ended up dating my crush's friend for 4 months (the one who laughed at me). When I broke up with her, I handed her my fat jacket as a departing gift. "Something to remember me by", I said.

- John

[SkinnyGirlInTransit]

What an amazing story. You are one strong, committed man, John. Life is all about defining moments.

Definitely the highlight of my day....

[Slapshot]

Great story man. Goes to show you've done it already, and can do it again, this time for good.

[ChristyAL]

Awesome story!!!! It's amazing the will-power and determination we have when we set our minds to something! Stories like these keep me in check! Thanks for sharing!

[deerfu39]

Been there too John but it's been a long time. Kids can be brutal to one another. Good story and glad you're here.

[specialK]

Yea..thats so wonderful...im so happy for you...GREAT job!

[Lacypie]

Holly Crows feet!! Thats amazing! Great Job! What a great story. A Biggest Looser Moment for sure. You should write to Oprah and spotlight on her show. Really Inspiring.

[sham]

Wow tap on the back from me but I must say all that had happened to you with your father and the other student bullying you for being fat must be very cruel and upsetting for you but in a way they were the reason you eventually realised what was going on and that you were putting on weight so you really have them to be grateful to because they opened your eyes even if they did it in a nasty way.Well done such an achievement in such less time!

[kibskix]

its an amazing loss, but being driven by hate isn't what i'd call motivational.

[neutronnorman]

Hey buddy:

Being driven by hate I believe is a healthy process in healing. Freakin' 90 lb fat loss is some achievement. If you internalize anger, there's a good chance that eventually you might fall into clinical depression. Consider some modest (light) weigh training since you're pretty young still.

Bet you ace english in school!

"..its an amazing loss, but being driven by hate isn't what i'd call motivational..." That's the woman's point of view. Girls, they can never unserstand us guys.

By the way, John, doesn't kibskix looks like a cross between Liv Tyler and Lisa Loeb?

When you enter college / university, believe me, things will change. Nobody will put you down. I graduated college in 2000 and have been attending university for 9 years. So I know.

Norman

Induction start 5/25/09: 32% bodyfat, weight: 245 lb. Lean Body Mass: 167 lb.
Current (6/3/09): 26.9% bodyfat, weight: ~230 lb. Lean Body mass: 169 lb.
Goal: 11-15% bodyfat, weight n/a, Lean body mass: 180 lb.