Scared and Sad

[Adri]

My name is Adriana...my friends call me Adri I am a 41 year old female that is short and very overweight. I weighed myself this morning because I finally decided that as of today my life is going to change. I'm getting a new haircut tonight, I started the induction phase of Atkins WOE today and most importantly, starting today, I will never say anything mean and degrading to myself ever again. I weigh 224.4 lbs and I know I have to do something that works very soon. I have tried every diet you can think of and have lost lots of weight, but like most people, it all came back. I watched my grandmother lose her eyesight, her leg, the function of her kidneys and go through many heart surgeries. She passed away from heart failure - all because of diabetes.. A few months ago, my parents came to visit us from out of state. They planned on staying a month and during that month we were all going to Disneyworld... we were all so excited! Unfortunately, we never made it there. My mom suffered a heart attack, was in the hospital a couple of months and then we lost her. She also died of complications from diabetes. She had just turned 60! 2 months ago I became a "newly diagnosed Type 2". My doctor has not started me on any medication or insulin, for now he wants to see how I do on my own with just diet and exercise. I am so scared because it seems like no matter what I do...I can't lose weight and I have been testing my blood twice a day and have never been under 200. I pray that this WOE works for me. I was starting to lose hope. I am so glad I found this forum and be able to communicate with other people that are going or have gone through what I am going through now. I know I am going to need lots of help (Thank you all in advance!) and I know it's going to be hard, but by looking around this website... I finally feel like I can do it.

[Adena]

Welcome, Adri. I'm sorry to hear you've had a tough time watching your mom's health fail... and seeing your own go downhill as well. You've found the right place.

This site really is an amazing place... I know I would have not had success on Atkins without the great folks here. That said... Atkins, done CORRECTLY, is like no "diet" I've ever experienced. Yes, it's tough at first to cut those cravings and stay away from the bad carbs. But, the freedom that comes later -- truly not being hungry, not letting food control your life, eating to live rather than living to eat -- it's truly amazing for someone who has struggled with weight for a long time.

I encourage you to read the book (Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, 2002 edition) -- don't just guess at it like many new folks do. Do it right, stay strong, and visit here often... I promise you won't be sorry.

Best of luck to you!

[Desertthorn]

Adri, Read the books by Dr Bernstein about Diabetes, Folks here all swear by him and many have changed their prognosis with his council.
Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution ... - Google Book Search

[Sunny_0ne]

Adriana, I am so sorry for the loss of your mom, and very sorry for the pain you've gone through watching your loved ones suffer.

I do believe with all my heart that Atkins is the one diet that works when all others fail.

Adena summed it up better than I could. If you stick with this diet, as written, you will beat the weight, and probably the diabetes, too.

Hugs, and I'll be watching and cheering your progress.

[Sherri]

Hello Adri,
Welcome to ADBB and to the Atkins lifestyle.
I'm sorry to hear of your Grandmother and your Mothers passing. How incredilby painful that has been for you.
I, like you, have seen loved ones pass from complications of Heart Disease and Diabetes. I was following in their foot steps as well untill I made the descision, that you have, to do something about it.
You will find that Atkins is a very healing woe (way of eating). Follow the plan 100% and you'll get 100% results. I had Type-2 Diabetes when I began Atkins almost 5 years ago. I was on 2 different types of oral medication for it. Once I began Atkins I gradually reduced the dosages of medication once my glucose levels began to come down to normal levels.
Do you have DANDR 2002? It will help guide you to the healthiest that you've ever been.
Dr. Atkins explains the GI on page 78-84, 92 DANDR. He describes it as a "Beautiful Tool". It certainly is for me. 48 days into Extended Induction my Type-2 Dibetes disappeared, never to return again. That was over 4 years ago. I lost 100 pounds in ten months on the Atkins lifestyle. I noticed that choosing foods from the GI kept my glucose levels at a steady level without any spikes and dives. Nice and steady! So important for weightloss and Diabetes. I didn't eat fruit for a year. I stayed mainly at Rung 3.
Here's a link that was given to me to help choose foods lower on the GI. It's easy to do. Just go over your allowed foods on your list on page 125, 126 DANDR and choose those foods lower on the GI. For example- Yellow onions are high on the GI, leeks and green onions are lower than the other onions allowed. So those are the types of onions I choose.
Table 1. Glycemic Load Values For All Food Types
Glycemic Load of Carb Foods - GI in Food Serving
Also you can go to www.glycemicindex.com to learn more about the GI and GL (glycemic load). I really believe in this tool to help with your glucose level to stay nice and steady and to benifit weightloss and reverse Type-2 Diabetes. You don't have to be Diabetic for this tool to work. Try it, what do you have to lose, except POUNDS and Type-2 Diabetes.
Make sure you read all the Stickies on top of the 14 day Induction thread. Lots of great info there to help guide you. If you have questions, ASK. Lots of supportive members here to help you.

Wishing you the best of health and lite.
Sincerely, Sherri
P.S. Here are supplements to help stablize glucose levels-
Alpha-Lopic Acid, Chromium Pic, Pro-biotics (for yeast problems), Noni Juice (normalizes glucose levels), Cinnamon 500 mg (lowers glucose levels by 40 points) and Olive Leaf Extract (anti-fungul)

[MommaRuthie]

I want to give you a big hug and tell you how very sorry I am for the passing of your Mom and Grandmother. *HUGS* This WOE is phenomenal but please do read the book! I hope to see continued postings of your journey! If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask on the boards. There are some incredibly knowledgable folks on this board. Good luck in your journey!

[Adri]

Thank you all for the words of encouragement. I really feel like this is going to work for me. I will keep you all posted on my progress.

[chinadoll]

Hi Adri, it's not easy to start but you have taken the first step. Stick with this board and post often and you will have tons of support.I have a couple of hints for you as you start.

One thing that I know to be true but sometimes forget to live by... If you want to go off plan, make yourself wait 20 mins. sometimes that extra time will get you past the urge to stray. If you aren't walking or exercising then do so. Start small and slow. Even on days you don't feel like it, take a ten minute walk and often it will turn into 20 or 30 minutes once you are out and moving around. And you feel better about yourself.

I totally get what you are saying and started down this road at 40 myself. Its amazing how we can watch these things happen to our loved ones and yet allow ourselves to go so far astray. Good for you for making the decision to make some real changes. Welcome.