Hello from Virginia!

[bluegrass in the park]

Well after being here on this board for a week or so I guess it is time that I introduced myself.

I'm 51, married, 3 grown kids and two grandkids. My husband and I are both extreemly over weight. And this is our second time of being on Atkins. The first time he lost over 100 pounds and I lost over 70. but...... we both messed up and thought that we could eat like normal people.... NOT!

Shortly after we both started Atkins the first time we took a road trip to see a friend of mine from school. Come to find out there was another really nice lady that I had talked with on another BB that lived VERY near her so we got to meet CLEO in person! That was a couple of years ago and seems like a lifetime.

I've never been a "SMALL" person. That just isn't in me. I can remember back in my high school days of being somewhere between 150-160 and never had any trouble with fat jokes. I did anything and everything that I wanted to. I started showing horses when I was 10 years old and did till I was a mother and moved out and could never afford to have another horse of my own.

I enjoy traveling....... and doing crafts of all sorts. My favorites are wood working, building things (just built out deck this past summer) and quilting and painting.

Other than giving birth to my kids my other most important moment is when I gave life to another human being. My husband had Cancer and lost a kidney. While we were up at UVA hospital so much I made good friends with a gal that was the assistant manager of the hotel where we stayed. It was like meeting an old friend ..... instant friendship. About 5-6 years later that friend was getting sicker by the day..... her kidneys had shut down and she needed a transplant to get off of the machine.

After testing family members a match had not been found. My husband and I had to be up there (we live almost 300 miles apart) for his yearly check up and we found out that day that even her husband could not donate (his function was not good enough). I asked for the contact number and it started from there.

I guess I need to back up a bit here, WE 9hubby & myself) had both started Atkins in Feb. and this was in June... we didn't tell "K" that we were doing this so it would be a shock to her. AFter I had made the call to the transplant center I found out that I had to be a certain weight for my height... I was within 15 pounds of that. If we had not started doing what we did...... when we did Kim may not be alive today. It took a about a month to get the rest off then I started testing.

In an attempt to make a long story short...... The transplant took place December 18, 2003! Both of us are doing GREAT!

I had several people tell me that doing Atkins would hurt my kidneys.... I at them and say..... well it sure didn't mine because they were good enough for me to give one away! And both our levels are as good as a woman with 2 kidneys!

We have Jack Russell Terriers..... and one of our dogs has 6 puppies! They will be 6 weeks old December 4. Oh can't forget my "Sam".... my siamese kitten... 6 months old and spoiled beyond belief!

Well...... that's me..... or part of my story at least.

Nice to meet everyone!

[Sheshy]

Hi Bluegrass and welcome to !

That's an amazing story, WOW! And welcome back to Atkins!

If you're interested here are a couple of links to the Journal Chat...
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard....isplay.php?f=31

and Journal Stat...
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard....isplay.php?f=94

Hope to see you around!

[ZOESMOM]

welcome fellow southerner! nice to have you heeere ya come to the right place.

[Bren]

Hi and welcome! What a wonderful intro! I applaud you and know you will have much success as it sounds like you are unstopable!
Now..... pictures of the puppies!!!
You met our Cleochatra? IS SHE NOT THE BEST!

[cleochatra]

Yes! I can now say I've met someone at ADBB in person!

It's good to have you here, Dianne!

[dreamof145]

WELCOME. So happy you've come to join us. You will love it here.

[rybread]

Wow! What an amazing story!!!

Welcome!

[cruiser gal]

Welcome aboard, you've come to the right place!