Happy to find you

[cookiecate]

A few years ago my OH and I started the Atkins Diet or rather my idea of the Atkins Diet. We didn't eat many vegetables and as we were both working we often went longer than 6 hours without eating.

My OH did really well, and lost about 14lbs or a stone as we like to call it it was a milestone for him.

I didn't seem to lose much weight although I looked better and felt energetic and had ketones.

Then we went to New York to see our son The food in NY was marvelous and unfortunately although we had sworn not to we ate sandwiches, pizza, cheese cake in fact anything that looked good we ate it.

On our return several pounds heavier, (good thing they didn't weigh us at the airport as they may have charged us extra poundage) Christmas was lurking with all its goodies so we decided to wait until January. Of course we didn't start again and the weight just kept on piling up.

Then OH found he has type two diabetes and we tried to control it by diet. Low fat diet

It didn't work and eventually he was given metformin to take after meals. My weight was causing me all sorts of health problems with my bladder and also my poor old knees had given up the ghost. A really nice doctor said he would give me some new ones IF I LOST WEIGHT

After Easter we both came to the conclusion that something had to be done. We were spiralling out of control. His blood sugar was high and my knees were still creaking.

So I reread my Atkins Diet Book and was again convinced that this was the way to go. on the 31st March 2008 we both weighed ourselves. OH was a large and cheerful 281lbs and I was a very large and uncomfortable 277lbs.

Today the 1st May 2008 OH is a slightly less large and even more cheerful 266lbs and I am still creaking but much less uncomfortable at 264lbs.

We are lucky enough to live near the sea and walk our dog on the beach most days. We also have a large garden and both do a lot of gardening, bending and lifting.

I clean my house as part of excersise vacuuming and making the beds I consider as good as working out in a gym and less stressful on the old creaking joints.

We are eating well and enjoy our meals which consist mainly of eggs and bacon and mushrooms for breakfast, chicken, fish and large salads at lunchtime but we are not always very hungry at night so usually end up with just a dessert of jelly and cream followed by a lush coffee and cream.

I cannot tell you how happy I am to be in control. Even OH's blood sugar is lowering each time he tests it and he is feeling much better with more energy and I catch sight of him watching himself in the mirror happy to see his belly disappearing fast.

I am so glad to have found you. You people in the USA are very lucky to have products made which are low in sugar here in good old England we only seem to get low fat products which are full of sugar

I love your pictures and consider you are all very brave to post them. I am afraid that I would break a camera if I tried. Any way much love and best wishes to you all and very best wishes and good luck to you.

[Laurenfra]

Thank you for posting. We are so glad to have you here.

[Robin's Nest]

Welcome cookiecate! So glad to have you aboard! Just to share with you... I was diagnosed type 2 diabetic June of 2007. Luckily, the only problem that I am having is glucose control. HOWEVER, in the 19 days that I have been on Atkins, my glucose went from 266 to better control of anywhere from 93-131...at least in the safe zone. I have found that anything.. and I mean ANYTHING with Aspartame, shoots my glucose levels UP. You may want to check all labels for this. Splenda is the choice sweetner for diabetics, if sugar is needed. Atkins folks are SO supportive.. and Dr A's program the best! Good luck to you both! Robin

[cookiecate]

Thank you Roxy for that gem. I will go and check OH usually has sweetners in his morning coffee, we drink sugar free squash in our water which also contains sweetners and of course the jelly dessert. I will check them out now.

The granulated sweeter I have is Aspartame based so is the squash, jelly crystals. The tablet sweetners he uses in his cofee are saccarin based.

Thank you so much for pointing this out I will watch out for Splenda buying the store brand in this instance is not the best choice.

[Robin's Nest]

You are welcome, cookiecate... I got a chuckle when re-reading your post.. Your OH is 266 pounds.. and my glucose was 266.. What does that mean.. LOL.. ironic, huh? I THINK saccarine is fine.. not sure. However, read around the forums, other folks have written about asparateme (sp?) Each diabetic person is different, I have learned. So far, what I explained in my earlier post is my bodies glucose reaction to asparateme.. Let me know your findings.. Look at the ingredients of Splenda compared to House brands.. You still might be able to use the correct one if they match. Also, not sure if you know this or not... liquid sweetner is lower in carbs than powdered. One Splenda is equal to one carb. Have looked at recipes and the liquid used is less..

Have a nice day...

Robin

[fowlergirl]

Welcome to ADBB cookiecate. I wish you the best of luck with your Atkin's journey.

[joee5]

Welcome and good luck as you embark on your journey. Stick it out and you will see just how easy it will be.(LOL, that rhymes. Does that make me a rapper??) Anyhow stay focused and keep us updated on your progress. God Bless, Joe

[elsy]

Congratulations to you both for making this great choice. You've started to change your life's around and that's what counts. Yes, Atkins is the way to go!

[hrgillespie]

Welcome to the boards and congratulations on making the choice to better your life together. How much sweeter the journey will be by having eachother to rely on and find new energy and zest for life as you shrink! Don't be discouraged by not having the low sugar thing where you live it actually might make you do the WOE better by forcing you to rely on whole fresh foods and not premade things to eat. Often people find the low sugar or sugar free foods are stumbling blocks for them and you by no choice of your own won't have that option staring you in the face ....... consider it a blessing!


Best of luck to you both!
Heidi

[IrishMom82]

Thank you for sharing your story with us. I'm so jealous you live near the sea. If I did I would probably quit my job to walk along the beach all the time! I live in a small neighborhood that ends in dead ends, you can only walk that so many times until you are bored.

Good luck in your journey! Keep us updated and stay strong!