A Newbie.....

[Marilus31]

But not to Atkins

I didn't know about this forum (Thanks for the plug in your video Kent!) but I've been reading and lurking and everyone is so nice and helpful and full of knowledge regarding this WOE. I have so much to learn still and I believe I've come to the right place.

I started Atkins (the first time) 2 years ago and I've been off and on ever since. I think the problem has been that I lost 41lbs on WW before I got pregnant with my last son in 2001. So I thought I could do it as easy once he was born. NOT! I was always sooo hungry. I don't if I just had more willpower or more determination before but the second time around was so hard (Besides I got really tired of ff popcorn) Anywho, a friend told me about Atkins and of course I didn't believe her. She was doing it at the time and I saw her weight loss and I was amazed! 40lbs in 2 months!! I started asking her what she ate and stuff but I guess the thing that convinced me to try it was that she told me she was hardly ever hungry (I hate being hungry, I am NOT a happy person when I'm hungry).
I decided to give it a whirl, what could I lose right? (well except weight) Well I tried it for the 2 first weeks and I felt awesome! I had so much energy, I wasn't hungry, no cravings, I slept well. Great right? Well it was until I started telling people what I was doing and then came the comments (Yep, you got it) the most common ones were:

"That diet is the worst for you" (This one was from my SIL the nurse practitioner)
"You'll gain it all right back"
"All that fat is unhealthy"
"Just stick to eating low fat"
"You'll never be able to stick to that"

Blah, blah, blah. My Dh was among the first one. As soon as he would find out I was eating this way, immediately came the comments. The one he said to me that got to me the worst was "You were able to do it on WW, why not just sitck to that?" Just as easy as that. This was coming from a man who wears size 31 waist. He has trouble keeping the weight on.
Well I kept going back to WW in hopes that it would click again but nope.

I never did stop going to visit the other forum I'm part of and seeing everyones losses and amazing transformations. I kept reading books on low carb besides Dr. Atkins and all the research articles I could find.
Well the other day I got on the scale and it told me what I dreaded the most...170.5!!!!! which is the highest I've ever been on my poor little 5' frame and I thought enough is enough. All research studies I've read point to the benefits of eating low carb. Even when I went to the Doctor in desperate hopes of getting a prescription to help with weightloss, the nurse told me "why don't you just do Atkins?" "I did it and have lost 60lbs" The NURSE!! And here my dh is telling me its not good for me????
Well I have had enough! I'm going to do it this time and I WILL be successful! It's my 4th day and I have already lost 4lbs!!! Last night as I was lying in bed my dh asks why I didn't have any potatoes and I said I wasn't eating starches and he looks at me rolls his eyes and says "You're not on THAT again are you?" (So much for the support) Well this time I let him have it!! I explained Atkins wasn't just Bacon and eggs and that if he really wanted to know what it was all about to read the book! (And other things I can't say here )
So folks I'm on this for the long run so I hope you don't get tired of me pestering you too much

See you around,
Maria

P.S. Sorry for the long post.

[msnicksmom]

Great start Maria! Looking forward to your progress. You will find more support here than you know what to do with! DH will come around as your results prove themselves

[vJosie]

Hooray for the nurse! Yes, it was my doctor who told me back in 2003 when i started the first time. Welcome to the boards. We look forward to hearing your progress.

[dreamof145]

Welcome to the ADBB.

Congratulations on sticking to your guns and making the decision to get healthy and lose the weight. In order for any so called "diet" to work without gaining it back, you must make the committment to make it a life-style, not a diet. I totally understand your frustration at being hungry when dieting. I have been on every diet there is. When I finally made the decision to do Atkins as a life-style change, I found the program that I can live with for life.

You did the right thing by encouraging your dh to read the book. When people give negative opinions of it, it is because they don't understand the program. Write out your menus and let your husband see what you are eating. Tell him that Atkins includes drinking water, eating lots of veggies, eliminating the junk food and exercising. Ask him what he thinks is unhealthy about it.

I've been on Atkins for over 2 years. I feel 100% better and I am 6 sizes smaller. I've never once felt hungry or deprived. My husband (6' 4" tall and 165 pounds) (never had a fat day in his life) was also a disbeliever. Now, he can't believe the weight I've lost and he is my biggest supporter. He tells everyone about Atkins and how good it is. Don't tell them, show them by doing it and making it happen for you.

[Marilus31]

Thanks guys!

I have made the commitment to make this a lifestyle not just a "diet" and I agree with you that my dh will come around once he realizes this is now my WOL. Looking good is not my biggest motivator it's being healthy. I come from a family of diabetics. I have lost 3 uncles to diabetes and two of them also had heart problems. They both dyed in bypass surgery. That has really made me stop and think, woah! Do I really want to end up like them?

Becky,

Your pictures are such an encouragement. You look so happy! Next time I will point out to my dh what I'm having for dinner so he can see how healthy it really is.
It makes me so mad when I encounter people that comment "oh you're on the bacon and eggs diet?"

[triplel]

I too am new to this group, and have found it to be very helpful! I too got all the down talk of atkins from everyone when i started. I just ignored it. Now, i just don't even mention it to my family and friends. That is why i wanted somewhere to go for support. Just know you are not alone! I think a lot of us get that.

[kary]

I was talking to my surgeon on the phone a few days ago(from a recent operation) and i mentioned to him that i on atkins past few weeks, he never said a word about it being bad and just carried on talking as if that was fine....I wonder why it does have such a bad name with the medical profession???
Karen

[Adena]

Hi, Maria. Congratulations for sticking to your guns. I'm also new to the board (and to Atkins... day 6 of induction) and plan to be in it for the long haul. I'm with you!!

Keep it up!
Adena

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