Howdy Y'all

[mamarati]

Hi there. I'm new here and happy to have found this board... I'm not new to Atkins, however. I used the diet before after giving birth and gaining about 100 pounds. I was able to fit into a size 9 bridesmaid dress about 8 weeks after starting and stayed in induction the whole time. I proceeded through the rest of the phases and maintained my weight loss until I became pregnant again in 2003.

This time, after giving birth, I was attending college from early morning until late afternoon and working 2 and 3 jobs (depending on the semester). I tried doing Atkins, but it was very difficult for me to prepare and take food to school and eat during the 10 minute breaks I had between classes. Then, when classes were over I had to rush to different jobs on campus and found it impossible to stick with the diet. By that time of day I was starving and would eat anything. I'd get home at 1 or 2am and just collapse until 7am and my next classes.

Now, things are different. I work from home and there's not really any reason I can't do Atkins successfully. I had a bad injury a year ago that had me on bedrest for several months and I was not able to use one of my arms. I was on a lot of painkillers as well, so as you can imagine, my meals consisted of mostly processed food that I could open with one hand and nuke.

I gained a ton of weight and my bad eating habits have stayed. I love the carbs and am totally into bread, pasta and sugar, however, I also know that once I made it through the tough early days, I never felt better without them. It was like being free from addiction and I know lots of you know exactly what I mean.

Like I said, I am glad to have found this board. I didn't have much of a support structure the first time I did Atkins (that was in 2000) and everyone thought I was crazy for trying this crazy diet that would surely kill me. It was pretty hard. It will be nice to be around some like-minded folks going through the same things. I'm also one of those people who can talk myself into things in moments of weakness... so I hope that I can show up here and have you guys "talk me down" from a biscuit or roll. Haha.

I look forward to getting to know others and feel like I know some of you already, having lurked for a while and going through the before and after pics... (what sweet inspiration!)


Thanks!
Stephanie

[Tampaman]

Welcome and good luck.

[blueberrylady]

Welcome Mamarati. You will find lots of motivation and support here. I know what it's like to go it alone while everyone tells you how your diet is too strict, bad for you, etc. But regardless of what others think, Atkins is a lifesaver so don't let the naysayers get you down. We are all here for you so visit often and join right in!