My life has been transformed

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

When I first started this diet (Jan 1, 05) my wife and I made a new year's resolution to change our ways. First we bought a George Foreman grill which completely changed our eating habits. What used to be dinners consisting of pizzas or enchiladas soon turned into grilled veggies and chicken. This phase went on for some time and we both lost 15 lbs within 3 months.

It's funny though, when you put your mind to it you can accomplish amazing things. Soon, in a quest to actually become healthy again my diet morphed into cutting out ALL dairy products, breads (rolls, etc) wheat products, juices, and everything that comes in a package.

In otherwords I've gone to basically a whole foods diet. This may seem extreme to some but I have overcome an incredible list of health issues. Blood pressure, cholesterol, excess weight, lack of energy, lack of motivation, sleep issues, headaches and more. I just need to thank Dr. Atkins for his book and knowledge. Granted I think I've gone beyond the scope of his plan but it was his truths that helped me get started.

I have now lost over 30 lbs and am at a competely normal weight. My wife (though not as strict as me) has also lost almost 30 lbs and is also at a normal weight.

If anyone is on stall, I would suggest cutting out ALL breads and all grain products for a while and see if that doesn't help. Also, I lived on fruits that were supposedly "high in sugar" such as apples, carrots, pineapple etc., and had absolutely no trouble losing weight. I think natural, whole foods -- though containing sugar -- must react differently in the body than a simple sugar like you'd find in a cup cake. Good luck, SP

[Finelly]

Ok, but you obviously didn't do Atkins, so perhaps this would have been better posted elsewhere.

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

Yea, actually I did do Atkins. Like I said, it morphed into changing my lifestyle even further. Besides, what is Non-Atkins about a whole foods diet? Still follow every rule in his book...I'm just a bit more strict. Sorry I posted.

[Effie]

Great job Streetcorner! Cutting out the crap food and focusing on whole, unprocessed foods was a great decision. It's almost a revelation when your body realizes that, isn't it! Something as simple as cooking dinner does make a huge difference. No one cooks anymore, no one walks anymore, and everything is about the quick & easy (fast food, miracle diets, medications to control weight related issues, etc.)

Great job on your success. And to clarify on Finelly's blunt post, we on this board follow Atkins' 2002 version of DANDR. If you gleaned what you needed from it and found success, then that's fantastic. We just want to point that out incase there are any newbies reading this and thinking, "Great! I can eat apples!" Which again, is fine, but we call that doing "low-carb other than atkins". The good news is, we're all happy and healthy!!! YAY!

[ex-barbie-doll]

Originally Posted by Streetcorner Philosopher

Yea, actually I did do Atkins. Like I said, it morphed into changing my lifestyle even further. Besides, what is Non-Atkins about a whole foods diet? Still follow every rule in his book...I'm just a bit more strict. Sorry I posted.

I was interested in what you said... you confirmed you can lose weight and still eat healthy fruit....
and I can see why you would be sorry you posted.....Finelly's was not a friendly response ....was it?

[Perry]

Great success, Streetcorner! Congrats to you and your wife.

Fruits (as well as whole grains) are indeed part of the Atkins plan. To help others starting out perhaps you could explain when you added the fruits to your diet and if your wife followed the exact menu you did.

[lbrowne]

No explanation needed here as I've read the book and since you strictly followed the diet I'm sure you added it in at the proper levels. What works for you may not work for everyone (the higher sugar fruits) but that's what this is about... finding what exactly works for each of us within the plan. How cool is it that we get to eat great foods, never go hungry, and still lose weight and maintain that loss?!

Congrats to both you and your wife!

~ Linda

[Bren]

Congratulations On Your Huge Success!!!!!

[Iapetus999]

Finelly's just the local forum Police, don't worry about her.

You sound like you did pretty much what I did...eliminate all processed grains & sugars and eat real food.
Most of the carbs I eat now come from fruits & nuts but I still focus on eating salad and meat etc.

Weigh to go!

[Finelly]

Might not have been a "friendly" response, a post that tells people that if they are in a stall, they should eliminate ALL breads and grains (a pretty high rung of OWL), and advocates eating fruits that are high in sugar (again, high rung of OWL) isn't giving advice that people in induction and early OWL should be following or even would apply to them.

Furthermore, I know this person under several of his screen names. Let's just say this isn't the first time.......