Doing Atkins
Well hello everybody! -Happy New Year to you all!! I have just restarted the Atkins plan. -I have had many changes this year to my life...my brother passed away unexpectedly, I re-entered the workforce after having four prescious children in five years, and I moved accross the continent with our family for work.
In a word, it's been stressful, emotionally and physically. Through all of this, my anchor was the Atkins programme. I would often recall Dr. Atkins genuine care, felt through his words and this would give me the strength to keep on pluggin' away at his program. I was amazed...in under 2 months, even without walking or any aerobics, I lost 15 lbs. and 13.5 inches. However, when Christmas vacation arrived (I'm a teacher), I crashed; literally. I pigged out and drank beer and when my husband had to work evenings, I was often alone, munching on the couch. I understood that this was definately going against good health principles and sabatoging my state of ketosis and quite possibly, my progress.
To my surprise, I only gained about 5 lbs. back. -From having 4 children in 5 years (2 sections, 2 naturally), I have quite a sagging belly (I know, TMI). It has been my public enemy #1, so to speak. Nothing fits this area, making my thin legs look like I'm a scarecrow in dress-pants. It is depressing and yet, I often say to my hubby that, if after losing my goal amount of weight and my belly still hangs over my scar, that I will consider a tummy tuck. -Believe me, this is not something that I want to even think about...I would then loathe the scar. I suppose it is then a matter of me considering which one that I can't stand to live with primarily. As Atkins would say, "pick your poison" (ie when referring to a break in his program).
So, here I am, a 37 year old mom of four beautiful, bright and fluffy children, and I need a change...a change that will even surprise me. I have lived with this belly for 9 years now in total and I realize that it all starts with a sensible eating plan, exercise and of course weight loss, before I consider any other measure to lose the excess fat. For me, Atkins just feels right. I have been warned by my Doctor that eating eggs and hard cheese and butter, might very well give me a heart attack. However, when I follow Atkins' wol, I feel 100% better, physically and emotionally. Thus, I am following my instincts and besides, I have read that eggs do not cause one's cholesterol to rise...it's the processed, trans-fatty foods, combined with protein and fat that do.
Now that I've shared my story with you all, I do hope that someone out there that is following Atkins or another l.c. program, might give me a shout and tell me that it is possible for me to achieve at least a 40 lb. loss. I have to start somewhere....
This is a new year for me and nothing could be as heart-wrenching as last year. I feel like I am beginning to heal, 6 months after my brother's unexpected passing, so I have nowhere to go, but up!
Happy New Year!
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