And so it begins.

I'm sure everybody here has their own way of managing/posting to their blogs, depending on what their goals are, how much they want to share, etc. I think I'll be using this more as a personal resource and sounding board than anything else. I can look back on how things were, and how things are going and see if I can spot any themes that might be contributing to or preventing my weight loss.

This is my second attempt at Atkins. I first tried it more than 10 years ago when my ex-husband touted its benefits, but he didn't adhere to most of the tenants, so even though I managed to go into ketosis, I wasn't losing weight and gave up in frustration.

Fast forwarding 10 years, 2 years ago I was diagnosed with type II diabetes. Told to go on the diet put forth by the Canadian Diabetes Association. This included a week-long course at the local hospital training me on how to use my glucose meter, how to manage my diet (focus on low-fat mostly) and how this would make me "healthier." (Riiiiiiiiiiiiight)

So for 2 years I tried following their diet recommendations (I admit I cheated here and there,) and the weight crept up up up.

In frustration (and a bit of desperation) after stepping on the scale earlier in the month and seeing it read 283 - the heaviest I've ever been in my life, I said THAT'S IT!!!!

So began a week of attacking the web and Googling up whatever I could find about Atkins to see where I went wrong, and whether it was as good as so many people have said it is. (And coming across this website was the best thing I'd done.)

Yeah this might be long winded and rambling, but I think it'll serve as a stress release for me to just get things off my chest.

The thing is - for once I've decided to lose weight and get healthy "FOR ME." Before it was always so people would like me better, or people around me would be happier, to please family and friends. I'd cringe inwardly when starving through a low-fat cottage cheese, celery, and water for dinner type diet, and people would say how wonderful it was that I was "taking control" of my health. I didn't feel in control. I felt like I was dying inside. I'd go to bed dreaming of cakes and cookies and fast foods. I'd sneak a snack of a hostess cupcake, which sometimes would turn into eating a whole BOX of them, and telling myself "You had a bad day, Dyniece. You DESERVE this! You can go back on your diet tomorrow!"

Of course the next day would be a course of "Well I already cheated last night, so having a Big Mac and fries and a fudge sundae won't hurt...I'll just start over, tomorrow"

But "tomorrow" never came

And the pounds piled on

I like to think I'm pretty physically active. My Mom and I have a housecleaning business, so I'm working hard and breaking into a good sweat for 2-3 hours at a time several times a week cleaning other people's houses. But even with this activity I never lost any weight. Maybe now that will change.

I've been on induction for 14 days now. I've lost 12 pounds. It doesn't seem like much, as I'm still 271, but its a start. Little steps, even though part of me wishes it would go faster.

On Friday I go see my podiatrist and pick up a pair of custom-made shoe inserts so hopefully I can start going for walks without my plantar fasciitis causing me too much pain. Hopefully once the weight is off, it won't put as much stress on my foot and I won't be hurting all the time, either!

I'm going to try to stay on Induction for another two weeks, then move to OWL, but still try to keep it as carb restricted as I can, as there really isn't much "extra" I WANT to eat at the moment, I'm pretty happy with what I can eat now. I'd like to add some extra veggies, berries, and whipped cream in on occasion, but not as an everyday thing.

Its such a great feeling to get up in the morning and see my ketostix purple, and feeling good.

But the best thing? In the last 2 weeks I've not once seen my blood sugar go over 7.5 mg/dl except for yesterday (was sick to my stomach and I think that's what spiked my sugars - I didn't cheat or eat too much of anything just felt awful.)

Usually my blood sugar would be all over the freaking place. Anywhere from 5.2 to 13.0, but the last 2 weeks it has stayed pretty steady between 6.0 and 7.0 which is amazing! I'm hoping after another 2 weeks on induction, doing my glucose fast and getting my blood taken and then finding out what my A1c is. I'd love to be able to get off metformin completely.

So this is a start. I might include daily menus/food lists, or just once in a while. I might post a lot, or a little depending on what I feel each day. I will say this - its so nice to feel that I'm not so "alone" in the world anymore thanks to this board!!!