Have you lost over 100 pounds? Post here!

[cleochatra]

{{{Dusty}}} You're the next success story in the making!

[cleochatra]

I started this thread and I never posted to it.

It's time for a sister to testify.

To date I have lost 115 pounds.

It was SO not easy, especially when at one time I had to think, "wow! I have 200 pounds to go!" But I just had to start taking it one day at a time.

My doctor had just finished yelling at me when I came in with severe pre-hypertension issues. My blood pressure was extreme. I had acid reflux. I was taking depression medications because my blood sugar was so horribly unstable.

Then I talked to a man in Cub Scouts who'd just lost 120 pounds over the last year. Standing there in my own size 4X shirt, I pressed him for information about what he had been doing. He'd been following Atkins. I had been on and off (mostly off *lol*) Atkins since the early 80's, but I knew this way of eating worked. I jumped on the wagon on Friday, August 20, 2004.

I even remember the day.

I lost 55 pounds the first 3 months, and by month 7, I had already hit 100 pounds lost.

It wasn't so easy in the beginning either. I was eating too many calories (yes you can get fat on even Atkins if you don't watch what you're bringing in) and thought that low-carb ice cream bars were cool beans. I had to make adjustments. I also had to cut mushrooms, macadamias, and a few of my mainstays due to food intolerances. I had to do things in a new way to get new results.

Granted, I've slipped up. Old habits creep in. Old thought patterns are allowed to evolve back to where they comfortably were for so many years.

Still, the journey to honest change requires occasionally making a mistake for me. It requires me learning from the mistake and taking precautions to not relive the error of my ways due to the negative self-programming. Again, it means doing things in a new way to get new results.

I will say what has changed in 115 pounds! My doctor didn't see me again for MONTHS because I just wasn't sick or dizzy anymore. With the weight loss came so many health changes as well: a year after the doctor had hit me with prescriptions and a death sentence if I didn't lose weight, his jaw dropped when I walked in for a checkup. He ran tests, took my blood pressure and then officially declared me medication-free! He was amazed that a patient had actually lost weight as he asked them to. And he was open with the amount of happyhappies he felt at seeing me doing so well! He wasn't so excited about the Atkins (what doctors are, as a general rule) but I think I was able to show him and explain to him how this regimen literally has saved my life.

I always say it's the big triangle: Atkins for weight loss, Dr Phil for state of mind, a support group for the day to day. And it does make a difference!

So, with 85 pounds left to shed, I'm in for the long haul, baby!

But how far I've come from in those pounds I've lost already make me hopeful for the future. There's nothing I can't do, and I'm savoring the journey, not for the destination, but for the journey itself.

And that's pretty wonderful.

[wannabethintoo]

Woo hoo Cleo! You've done such an awesome job and are such an inspiration.

[cleochatra]

{{{wannabethinlikeyou}}} Thanks, girl.

[dreamof145]

Cleo you've come so far. Congratulations!!

[cleochatra]

{{{Becky}}} I just felt like a dork reading through this last night and realizing I never contributed to my own ding danged thread. I swear some days I don't even remember where I put my shoes, let alone figuring out where my brain goes to. Thanks for the kind words. You are sweeter than honey but without the dental repercussions.

[iyamamaschke]

OK so since I have Lost 101 Pounds I thought I better get my But in here to post.

It hasn't been easy I struggle each and Every day to make the right decisions. I was Plagued with attempt after attempt of failure. I never got past more then 100 days and then threw it all away for one binge then another and another. This time something has changed. I have committed to changing my life forever. A diet this is not, it's my life my WOE, I will never go back to where I was I can't afford too. With numerous health complications I just can't allow myself to slide back into the old comfort of eating that way at this Point im my life. I want to enjoy my life and live it to the fullest, I could have never done that had I kept up with what I was doing.

At the Point when I began my journey I had numerous issues to deal with my mom a wonderful Person Died when I was 14 and I never fully dealt with the loss, with the help of a wonderful counsellor I was able to pick up the pieces and deal with the pain that lived in my head and for the first time move on with my life. It was at that moment I decided to give Atkins 1 more try I had tried so many times before but, I was never successful I failed miserably and put on all the weight I lost every time. This time I was determined and I started a picture Journal to remind me of where I came from. I started to post this has been a life saver. When you begin to post and people start to know you it's like you gain a whole new family to help you deal with your life. This was discovery number one in my journey. Discovery number 2 was the need for exercise. I started 2 weeks into my Journey and have neer looked back I am an exercise addict and it's amazing how wonderful it makes you feel, how much of a Boost it is for your mind, body, and soul. It's a release for stressful days and I thank god every day I am able to do these things that I never could do before, because of pain in my feet and knees I could hardly walk up the stairs standing was a pain my back hurt my self image sucked among other things. Atkins has given me back my life and I as so PROUD of myself each and every day that I am successful, I look back and see myself in my Pictures and I wonder how I ever got that far. It's amazing I never saw myself as big as I was and I am glad I came out from my Hole and decided to live life to the fullest again.

If you want it you can do it, I have faith in myself now and self confidence it's amazing what changing your outlook will do.

Sarah

[anjelina]

hello everyone,

Wow this is the greatest board. I need to loose 120 lbs. I have only been doing this a few days and I feel that flu comming on...I know it passes but oohhhh how I wish it would pass faster. I am a stay at home mom and I don't have too many distractions so I feel good about being on this plan. I like the suggestion of keeping a cooler in the van with me full of safe food. That is awesome. I know I am so tempted to eat poorly when I go to the store but I'm sure I could curb that by having some protine in me just before hand. Thank you all for posting your information. It really really really helps.

[Division56]

I've lost 174 pounds now, down from my high of 450. ADBB was my first low carb bulletin board and helped me get my feet wet way back in the day.

My diet slumped off after I lost around 150, but I've been slowly pecking at it for the past year and a half. Right now I'm pushing for 200, however successful I may be.

[gonnabskinny]

OK, here is my story. I started on Atkins in 2003 and weighed 394 when I started. I lost a lot of weight that year, but never got past induction. I went on a cruise and then that was it. I went crazy and then always found an excuse not to start back and the weight came back on. This August I got serious again, and started back on ANA at a weight of 356 lbs.

I have now lost 124 lbs since the very beginning and 86 lbs since restarting in August. I have another 70 lbs to go to make goal of 200 lbs and am now on rung 3 of OWL and still losing at a good rate. I originally had a goal on when I wanted to get to my goal weight. Now I don't care how long it takes. When I get there, I get there. I am just going to get there and when I do, I will stay there!!!