Starting now
 

Hi everyone. I'm here to start on my new way of living and eating. I'm tired to death of being too fat. Years ago I lost about 50 pounds doing Atkins, quickly went off plan, quickly gained it back and just kept gaining.

My health is not good. I'm on a lot of meds--type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, reflux disease, gout, and most recent diagnosis of COPD which means I get very short of breath when I do anything. I am ready to change things, to lose weight and get off some, if not all, of these meds. Every doctor involved in my treatment says it is entirely possible that I will be able to get off the meds if I can lose the extra weight.

For the past year, since a pretty bad illness last April that was an exacerbation of my COPD, I have been trying various changes in eating and nothing has worked very well. Portion control, low fat eating, eat everything but in moderation, and some other stuff has led to a 7 pound loss over one year.

So anyway, realizing I'm going on too long here. Just wanted to say hello and that I am looking forward to reading the threads in this forum as I change my lifestyle to one of low carb eating.

Hi and welcome!
You've come to the right place. There's a lot of great support here!
I really hope it works for you this time.

:sunny:

Welcome! Sounds as though you have plenty of health motivation to get on plan and stay there -- good luck with that! I know thats the only thing that finally got me to toe the line, having the health scared into me :)
All the best!

Welcome and all the best!

Welcome to the forum. Got alot of great people here :)

Thanks all of you for the welcome!

I wasn't planning on starting until tomorrow or monday, but I got my house cleared out of most carbs and realized a few minutes ago that I had 27 carbs today. Not yet at 20, I know, but so much better than what I normally eat. I'm excited to get going.

You and I have the same starting weight! I must say my health has improved greatly over the last year - the first thing to go was the reflux. That and my bad snoring both went away in about 40 pounds. No time like the present to jump in and get going - I have a YEARS long habit of always planning to start dieting 'next Monday' - which means bingeing to get all the "good" stuff in before the deprivation starts...and then inevitably being "off" the diet by Wednesday. When I started this one, i just started - no planning aheador thinking about it forever. Come here lots for support and advice! :-)

:wave:

Welcome!

wow 2thinchix, nice weight loss thus far.
Thanks ruth for the welcome.

Today went well. Had no appetite at all, which I didn't expect so soon. Still need to increase how much water I'm drinking. I really like coming to these forums and seeing how other people are working the WOE.

Hi Pam - Your history sounds like mine. I did well following Atkins years ago but then went off plan and gained it all back plus more. I'm back and working out more than ever and it seems to be easier stay on track. Within 2 weeks of eating low carb, I stopped taking my reflux medication (OTC Prilosec) and haven't had a problem since - I'm not sure if that's typical or if my problems were caused by a grain sensitivity. I'm hoping to be able to get off blood pressure medication too but have some work to do there. Good luck!

Welcome PamDavis - I wish you success and good health!

Your story sounds pretty much like mine, too. For many years, I told myself that for an obese person, I was still strong and healthy -- I was the exception and not the rule. But by age 50, it caught up with me. First high blood pressure and then type 2 diabetes. Since starting this low-carb way of eating, I've been feeling so much better. My doctor saw the positive results and that this diet is keeping my blood sugar in check. So she is keeping me off of any diabetes meds and she said my blood pressure should also improve with continued weight loss. I'd like to get off of those pills as I'm tired of relieving myself two times every night.

As you seem to indicate in your message, it is good to think of this as a lifestyle change rather than a diet. I have finally learned -- after losing and regaining tons of weight over the years -- that the only way I have control is by limiting my carbs and avoiding food that spikes my blood sugar. I kinda feel like I'm in a "food desert" now -- with limited food options and none very exciting. But I'm learning to live with that. Better a "food desert" than the grave by 60 and I feel that is where I was headed.

Hi and welcome to the forums!