Introducing myself....

[reowdy]

I am 58F, and I have been big all my life... and I have tried just about everything.. including gastric banding that almost killed me, before the band was removed... the only thing that ever worked was Atkins, many years ago... but, without doctors approval I got scared and stopped.

Started Atkins again 4 days ago, joined this site yesterday, and have not been able to get anything done since then, probably won't til I have read everything...

I am sure I am doing the right thing, have read and researched a lot over the past couple of weeks.... but have not as yet told my doctor.. think I would like to be able to show some results when I do.

I do have serious heart problems, and am on many medications, and would like to get off at least some of them, everything I have been reading makes me believe it will be possible.... hopefully I will be able to convince my doctor to help.. has anyone here succeeded?

I have a couple of questions I hope you may be able to help with..
I wasn't going to start this til I returned from a holiday to Bali, for 2 weeks at the end of the month.... but I couldn't wait.... lol..
But.... I know it isn't going to be easy to stick to LC there.. and some of the posts I have read today say I will probably gain like crazy if I don't..
any suggestions?? Should I ease off, maybe to maintenance level for the next 2 weeks, and then really start in earnest when I get home? or should I stick to it now.. have already lost 2kg in 4 days, would hate to lose this advantage..

Next question.... does anyone know exactly what the problem is with nitrates in deli meats? The book keeps warning against it, but while trying to shop for some variation today, everything I picked up either had added carbs, or nitrates.... do I have to avoid them all?

Look forward to getting to know a lot of you... you all give me so much inspiration.. some of your success stories are phenomonal.... wtg......

Pam...... (reowdy is my cat.. lol)

[MisterE]

Welcome and good luck. Wish I could help with your questions but I am out of my league there. I would think someone with the answers will chime in before long!

[bgmama]

There are going to be vacations for the rest of your life. I would just take my book with me for motivation and don't drink sugary drinks , use common sense and just don't overindulge in high carb foods. You can do this , I did and I was signed up for the Lap-Band surgery and backed out at the last min. Atkins is a way of eating for the rest of your life so you might as well start making good food choices now because there will be many more vacations and weddings and showers and parties. You can do this I assure you.

[aneredac]

OH welcome!!
I am so glad that you found this place!
I have only been here two weeks and believe me, I would not have been able to make it through induction and do as well as I have without this forum!!

I agree with what bgmama and misterE both said. Has anyone mentioned fitday.com yet? I have found it invaluable when it came to tracking my food and my carbs. Membership is free, and there are lots of things you can track on it.

Oh, do have fun in Bali and eat as much salad as you can! That is what helped me lose the weight that I have so far. I even went to a family reunion and stayed on LC. In Bali is might be harder. I have a cousin that visits there regularly, but I don't know much about the cuisine.

If possible, avoid too many foods that are all starch, keep your protein intake up and make sure that you don't eat any starch without eating protein at the same time.

When I went to the family reunion, I took LC protein bars with me, even though Atkins says not to use them during induction. I figured I'd rather eat an LC bar than a slice of cake of a scoop of ice cream.

Do the best that you can, and like bgmama said, this is a WOL, so adjusting to vacations and parties is part of that life. If weight come back, it will go away again when you reduce your carbs.

And enjoy Bali!!
Some South Seas cultures value people who are large, so if that is the case with Bali, enjoy it with all your heart!!
And don't forget to love yourself through it all!
Rena

[DusterCat]

What they said! :) Seriously, try your level best to stick with it while you're on vacation. You'll be glad.

As to getting off medications, I can give you a little hope there: after I lost quite a bit of weight in the late 1980's, my doctor took me off Tenormin, a beta-blocker.

Have a GREAT time in Bali.

[liz175]

Welcome! In response to your questions:

1. I started low carbing about a year ago with elevated blood pressure. My blood pressure is now normal without medication. I didn't have any other heart problems -- just high blood pressure. My cholesterol has also improved. It went from 214 to 199; my hdl went up and my ldl went down.

2. Vacations. I've traveled fairly frequently for both work and fun during the year I have been low carbing. I just try to eat sensibly while I am traveling. I've never been to Bali, but it is usually possible to get vegetables and meat or fish almost anywhere. As long as you stay away from the starches and the sugars you should be fine. I find that I usually lose weight when I am traveling, even if I eat a few more carbs than I would at home, because I am more active when traveling (I don't spend the better part of the day sitting at a desk). I love walking around places where I have never been before, so I often walk for hours a day when I'm away from home. I try to stay focused on appreciating the new things I am seeing, rather than focusing on the food.

[reowdy]

Thanks everyone for the support, and suggestions...

Sorry I seem to have taken so long to respond, but I am in Australia, posted just before I went to bed, and have been out all day... I really do appreciate the advice..

Salads are going to be a problem in Bali... the advice is to not eat anything raw, unless you can peel it yourself... Water is suspect all over, bottled water for everything..

I love the place, the heat, the culture, the people, and this will be my 5th trip, because from Australia, it is the cheapest holiday destination... much cheaper than the holiday resorts in northern Australia..

Yes.... I usually do lose weight while I am there... there is lots less available to snack on, and I usually walk, investigating everything, and I love walking along the beach, and swimming.... Thinking it over, I doubt if I will be able to do LC totally, but should be able to do reasonably well, if I just watch the rice and noodles that abound, and don't go overboard with the tropical fruits and fruit juices..

It isn't a place that values big people, but it is such a relaxed attitude, that it is one of the few places I can be myself without much self consciousness.... I can wear shorts, or swimsuit and sarong, most of the day.... without embarrassment... another great big plus over the Aussie holiday destinations where all the "beautiful people" gather.

The more I read, the more I believe Atkins is really going to work from a medical point of view too.... I have spent a fortune on failed other weight loss plans... and only kept on gaining, and taking more and more meds.... so.... obviously it can't do any worse.... and I believe it is going to be much better.... am planning to see my local doctor on Friday, to get some base level tests done.... I might even get on the scales.. dont know about that... haven't allowed that to happen for so long...

Once again.... thanks everyone... I am so glad I found this place....

[bgmama]

Have a wonderful time :cool: , I actually envy you.

[reowdy]

Don't envy me... start your own dream..... and believe that dreams can come true.....

I once went to a motivational lecture where they said to decide what you want, even if it seems out of reach, dream about it and reach towards it... if it is firmly in the front of your mind... you will make decisions that help towards achieving it. even if it is still far away...

The example given there was if you wanted to travel.... start by deciding exactly where you want to go. plan the details, accommodation, travel, and everything you want to do there.... get a picture and put it up on your fridge, and never stop dreaming about it....

Get an idea in your mind about how you might achieve this... my first stumbling block was money... I started putting my change into a big jar each night... and it was incredible how quickly that added up, and with the trip as my inspiration, it was easy to say no to spending money on frivolous things... and it became easier to save.... and far sooner than I thought possible.. I went off to Bali for the first time...

Honest.... I didn't think of this til I was typing.... and duh :idea: .... this is what people have been telling me about losing weight for a long time... but somehow I never realised til now... that this is exactly what I did about travel... maybe I will now be able to use this to help me make this a WOL... focus on the dream of a slimmer, fitter me.... and consider it in every decision I make... Hmmm..... I think getting involved here is gonna be good for me....

I am so glad I found this place.... :dazzle: