Taking the plunge....for real this time

[slimndown]

I'm happy to be this wonderful group on this site! I'm an Atkins expert who applies little and am paying for it dearly.

I was a skinny little thing as a child and was often encouraged to stuff myself as much as I can so I can keep on growing - but now it's time for that growing to stop. Unfortunately I have a hard time with that idea because that means changing. I started getting chunky when I hit puberty and kept on eating whatever I wanted without getting much bigger than a size 12 (I was 5'7" then and still am now). When I had to leave home at 16, I lived for food as I always have but found that between school, work, and personal obligations I had little energy when I got home and often just slept instead of eating and binged when there was a waking moment I could pick up my favorite meal. I was very happy that way because I went from my size 12 down to a size 8 and was still losing just fine. However, I got married to a man who loves food as much as I do but always made a piont of eating every couple of hours. Between that and a desk job - I was DOOMED. I have gained around 90 lbs and now weigh in at 228. I know my ideal healthy weight is somewhere between 120 and 135 so I'm shooting for the century mark but hoping it won't take a century to get there!

Anyways, I learned about Atkins when I was 19 and thought it was unhealthy because everyone else did. I realized that I would only lose 15lbs with a low fat diet eating no more than 1000 calories/day (equivalent cal. intake when I was single) .

Desperate, I decided to check Atkins out and bought his book. Everything made TOTAL sense. I'm a convert, but a weenie who cannot seem to give up her two loves in life for a slimmer figure: Pizza and Sushi. Especially of the ever so budget conscious all-you-can-eat for cheap variety. I have effectively replaced the pizza by putting my favorite toppings in a casserole dish with a layer of homemade tomato sauce at the bottom and eating after cooking, so I have found a solution to that. The sushi is a whole different story. Cauliflower is just not a suitable rice substitute so I keep going back to the real thing. Down to my last resort - cutting that out all together . Any sushi suggestions??

Anyways, as I am now commited to doing this 'by the book' for the long haul THIS TIME, please give me whatever pointers you can think may apply if you can relate. Also, I am a newbie here and was just wondering if there is a certain way you make a 'journal' entry here or if you just post it as a thread in the forum of your choice ?

Another thing, I HATE excercise and avoid it at all costs. Is there anyone out there who has been or is that way and will share how they beat it? And if that feeling ever changed? Will it always feel like agony?

[Iapetus999]

Yeah I went to a sushi place (not my choice) and they were going to charge me $1 per piece for each piece of rice I didn't eat.

So you can just eat the fish (sashimi) but it cost$ more.

As far as exercise goes....pretty much ask anyone who lost the weight and kept it off....we all did it thru exercise and not cheating. And most of us found ways to make the exercise enjoyable. Basically start out slow and easy and gradually work your way up to more vigorous levels.

My advice is to keep posting and find out what other people have done.
Then see what works for you.

[dreamof145]

Hello, welcome!! I am glad that you are now committed to 'doing it by the book' for that is the secret of succeeding on this WOE and making it happen. I spent a life-time of trial and error programs and it wasn't till I finally decided to give it my ALL that it has worked. Atkins was the perfect program for me and once I did my share by doing it exactly as it is intended to be done, I've had wonderful results. You will too.

BEST WISHES!!!

[slimndown]

Thanks! You look beautiful!