A year of miracles - thank you ADBB

[tabekat]

It was one year today that a fire was lit in my brain and my heart to give Akins a solid try.


There have been many, many miracles along the way, and it is appropriate for me to comment today on what Atkins and the ADBB has done for me, and to give thanks.



Last Janurary I was in distress. My weight was going up, up, up and I just couldn’t seem to stop it. I had no control of my voracious appetite. I would go to a grocery store and buy soda, chips, ice cream, cookies, and wolf them all down, sometimes even in one sitting. I can remember I liked to dip french fries in ice cream!



I could easily make an entire pot of pasta or macaroni and eat the entire thing by myself. Then I would feel guilty and wouldn’t eat for awhile. So it was binge, starve, binge, starve, over and over. My poor body – I just put it through ****.



Like many other people who struggle with their weight, I was often depressed and embarrassed by my condition but felt powerless to stop.



My type II diabetes was a real problem for me then too. I was taking medication but it made me feel sick. It also gave me a hollow feeling which would lead me to more binges in an attempt to get rid of that awful sensation. Whether it was the diabetes or the meds for the diabetes, I just felt sick all the time.



I actually decided to try and be more healthy in 2005. I joined a gym and started using it. That was the one part of Atkins that wasn’t difficult for me to commit too. I enjoyed the gym and had high hopes of maintaining that exercise schedule for the rest of my life.



But it was bothering me that I was working out then going home and undoing all the benefits of my exercise by binging.

I was in a bookstore in the DIET book section, of course, and saw a new version of Atkins. I did wonder why such an eccentric program kept getting published when everyone knew it was a crazy diet.

I came home, got on the internet and went to the Atkins website. It just didn’t have a personal feel to it. So then I did a search to see what else would come up about Atkins and was led straight here to my new home.



I fell in love with the ADBB. I loved everything about it. The forums, the volunteers, the straight info on Atkins. Thank heavens I was led here. I tremble to think where I would be had I only had the stupid corporate Atkins website for a reference. Be warned here – the corporate site is rubbish. They have no respect for Dr. Atkins original work.



Before the ADBB, I had heard many things about the Atkins program, but most of them were untrue. I only knew that I couldn’t’ stop eating and Atkins was one of the programs where you could eat. I really didn’t know much more than that.



When I first started posting on the ADBB I was as green as any newbie could be.

And stubborn. Oh my. I didn’t want to give up my coffee. I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to do that. I was a real spoiled brat and I didn’t appreciate what the oh so patient volunteers tried to tell me. But I kept posting. And they kept answering. And I was listening.



I remember feeling a little bit put out about lima beans. I LOVE lima beans and consider them to be a healthy food. It didn’t make much sense to me to have to stop eating healthy foods.

I really have to say I started ATKINS on a wing and a prayer. I had no faith in the program and no confidence in myself. So finally finding a program I could actually stick to was nothing short of a MIRACLE in my life.


Ketosis sounds like a commercial.
The MIRACLE of ketosis. Lol…

I take no credit for changing myself whatsoever. I really was powerless to change. I have no willpower at all. But ketosis altered me. It curbed my appetite, and changed the kind of foods I craved. For once in my life, I had control over the food I put in my mouth.

Another miracle.



I could have never done it without the ADBB. The volunteers on this board taught me everything. I have to say a special thanks to Moochiecat, who really seemed to ride my back in the beginning. I think I was quite rude to her and probably others at some point, but she didn’t give up on me.



I also have to thank Cleo and Peterlock who kept me laughing.



I started out by doing a trial induction. It wasn’t that I was trying to cheat, I was just really new to the program and also stubborn – I wanted to do it my way.

I did commit to one thing. I decided I would give up pasta, french fries, rice and sugar. And I did.


My only flu symptom during induction was the feeling of a froggie in my throat. That went away after about 2 months on the program.



I believe I lost about 12 pounds during my first and 2nd trial induction.

During my 2nd induction I gave up coffee. That was honestly harder than giving up my favorite foods and the most beneficial. I couldn’t believe how much better I felt without riding the caffeine roller coaster all day.


After using the ADBB to learn how to do induction, and the 2002 DANDR, I did a reasonably clean one on my own. Then I joined bootcamp and did a squeaky clean induction.

Bootcamp was a great experience. I learned a great deal. All I can say is that there is no induction like a CLEAN induction.

I lost another 13 pounds. At that point my body grabbed onto 185 and hunkered down for a long winters nap. The scale didn’t budge for months.


I wasn’t a scale watcher however, and so it didn’t frustrate me very much. What was amazing was that even with the scale stuck at 185, I still lost sizes. I started Atkins at a size 22. I’ll never forget that day in ROSS when I tried on clothes and realized the plus sizes were just too big for me.



I bought a pair of size 16 jeans. 16!!!!



I swear I could have those jeans bronzed. It is still a big deal to me. I never dreamed I would wear 16 again. And how strange to find the plus sizes no longer fit. Everytime I tried to look at normal sizes in the store I kept feeling like the FAT POLICE would arrest me for being out of my area. It was hilarious.



Anyway, somewhere around that time I went back to the doctor and had diabetes tests done. The results were amazing. I was just flabbergasted and so was my doctor. I now had normal blood tests results.



Before Atkins:
08-30-04 10.3%

After starting Atkins:

04-06-05: 6.5%



At that point the doctor told me there was no point on staying on the medication that was making me sick. She said, just stick with Atkins and I have. Which isn’t to say that I’ve been perfect or that there hasn’t been some rocky patches since. A few of which I will mention.



I injured my left arm in the spring and it has no motility, no normal movement at all, and I’m in constant pain with it. Everytime something jars it, or even if I accidentally brush it against something the pain just knocks me to my knees. After 4 different doctors and an MRI they still don’t know what is wrong or how to fix it. This injury wiped out the vigorous exercise routine I had going for myself which was frustrating. I finally reach a point where I was exercising on a regular basis, where I did have a good fitness level and poof* this stupid injury???.
grrrr!


On the other hand, even without the exercise that is a serious component of the Atkins lifestyle, I still didn’t gain back the weight I lost. That’s pretty nifty.



When I switched from induction to the owl ladder I ran into the same problem I had at the beginning of induction. ME! Once again, that stubbornness set in. I didn’t want to do it Dr Atkins way. I didn’t want to be patient. I didn’t want to count carbs.

I am so contrary. Always have been. God is gonna open the door to heaven for me and I'm going to argue with him.

I threw out all the OWL ladders that didn’t interest me and did the others a few weeks at a time. And that is probably why I’m still a size 16 today.



But you know, its like that guy in American Pie when he discovered his first night stand had left him and he had been used for sex. At first he has a bit of a pouty face and looks sad, then he gets a big grin - “I GOT USED!!!!



I feel the same way. I’m STILL a size 16!!!!!



So here I am, still size 16 but rejoicing, and clinging to my Atkins like I’m on a life raft.

I still have kept my original promise to myself. 99% of the time I eat no pasta,
no French fries, no rice, no potatos and no sugar. I don’t go to drive-ins. And that’s also pretty darn miraculous.


I’m an Atkineer for life, that’s a given.



There have been many benefits for me beyond weight loss and being able to toss my diabetic meds out the window. I no longer worry about weight gain whatsoever. I really enjoy my food too. No guilt. Curbing the binging compulsion has helped me apply the same principles to other areas of my life.



I sure love myself more and stand up for myself. I’m more assertive too – especially in restaurants. If they don’t respect my low carb lifestyle, I don’t give them my business.


I’m dating now and not apologizing for my size. I even had a guy tell me I’m not fat enough. Oh boo.. hoo… hoo….lol….


I’ve come along, long way and the adventure is just starting.

There have been many changes this year, some of them scary. Injury, moving, change of jobs, divorce. But having Atkins under my belt was like being protected by a best friend. No matter what, you can rely on your Atkins to see you through the worst of times. It gives you a solid foundation on which to build your life on.

And I haven’t come on this journey alone. Both my daughters have embraced Atkins and lost weight and inches as well. This way of life is something that will bring our family closer for the rest of our lives. Thank you Dr. Atkins!



I’m looking forward to what 2006 will bring.



I am so grateful for the ADBB. Without you, I would never have made it this far. Thank you, thank you fair ladies and gentlemen. This damsel is no longer in distress.



Love to all - Tabrina

PS.
I really would like to name everyone who has helped me in this past year but they are too numerous to mention and I'm afraid that I would miss someone. I'm very fond of all the lovely faces here and miss some that have disappeared.

[cleochatra]

{{{tabekat}}} Girl, you are beautiful, inside and out. I love you, girl, and I am so proud of you. *hip bump* Don't change, honey. Never change.

And watch the bronze pants. They chafe.

[Jasmain]

Thank you Tabekat, you're a wonderful lady, and I certainly wish you the very best! You can't even tell the two pictures at the end of your post are the same person! You are a beautiful lady, inside and out.

[dreamof145]

Congratulations on your one year anniversary. You look fabulous. Here's to you and your new life-style!!

[Analog6]

Wow, what a difference. And how brave you are to post the before bikini picture. I STILL haven't had one in a swimsuit.

So how much have you lost all up. I know what you feel about being size 16 - when I fit into a pair of 16 pants (I know they are big, but who cares!?) I fent NORMAL again.

Could the pain from the arm injury be related to a pinched nerve? I know this can lead to awful constant pain - have the drs checked this area?

Congratulations and good luck for the future.

[Rick]

Great, great post!!! Congrats to you Tabekat! What a wonderful outlook you have! I would really like to see this become a sticky!

Rick

[slimndown]

Amazing!

[LC_Dave]

Wow! What a story! Thanks for sharing!
I could really relate to some of the things you said. Like binging on junk food, and also being the difficult newcomer!

Congrats on a great year!

[divaindubai]

Wow tabeket! Your post was like reading a good story! I agree with Thick Rick, this post should become a sticky! CONGRATS to you!

[Elizellen]

Congratulations, Tabekat on a successful first Atkins year

I am sure your story will hit home with many of ADBB members and help them carry on the WOE to a similar successful results as you are showing.

Thank you also for your frequent helpful advice to newcomers to this board.