i'm going to answer delp here since she's too 'new' to receive private messages and hasn't started her own journal yet:

hi delp,

my first advice is to start a journal so that you can have a place that's your own to record your thoughts, successes, failures, food, feelings, etc, and so that people have somewhere to visit you and keep up with you.

second, because you have a lot of weight to lose you probably will lose relatively fast at first, if you stick to the basics. I recommend Atkins induction. Buy the book if you haven't yet and read the whole thing carefully. Commit to trying it for 3 weeks without cheating, and you'll see how easy it ends up being. Maybe wait until after New Years to start so you're not faced with temptations two days in. Be aware that you will probably feel lousy for the first few days; it's your body going through sugar detox.

the other thing i'm going to say is...whether or not you lose weight fast, what do you mean you don't have a lot of time? this is a lifetime journey, and a lifetime fixing of your eating habits; of course it will take time to lose that weight. and it's good if it takes a long time; losing weight too fast is unhealthy, and it often means you'll just rebound again; you need time to learn new eating habits, learn the way your body reacts to different foods. i wish i could have got to goal already, i've been doing this for more than 3 years now and i'm still not there...but it's the journey that counts, and i never really thought i'd get to this point, so i'm much better off than i ever thought i'd be, even if according to all the 'rules' i should have been able to lose all the weight in this amount of time.

the best advice i can give you is to be patient, and to persevere, and to keep believing that you can do it. try not to fall off the wagon and don't use too much of the low-carb treat stuff, stick to whole foods; meat, chicken, eggs, seafood, cheese, butter, olive oil, avocadoes, other vegetables...you'll be amazed what happens.

good luck. start a journal so we can keep up with you!


deborah

Thanks for your advice. I will take it to heart.

Thanks for the story, I really needed to hear that. I too have 4 younger sisters and every one is lighter than me. I have always been big since i got pregnant with my first child.
I was 135 when i met my husband, then i gained about 50 lbs with my first child, then i kept gaining steadily from there. In 15 years I have gained 100 lbs.actually 110 lbs, after this last baby i had 3 months ago i lost 10 lbs.
and since i have been on atkins for 15 days now i have lost 10 lbs.

Congratulations on your loss and good luck on the rest.

Way to go girl!! Congrats!

Great job!!! You have a lot to be proud of! You look fabulous!

I'm so proud of you!! Way to go!!

I am always very motivated by your posts and have now been really inspired by your success story. I, like you, remember 154 as the lowest weight I have ever been as an adult - since I stopped growing vertically. I was a sophomore in university, ate almost exclusively fat free and low cal and worked out like a maniac (just cardio - no weights). I wore a US 10/12.

I'm hoping that this time around - I can be 154 without being famished, eating NICE food and maybe wearing an 8/10 because I'm so lean and toned from all the weights and protein this time around.

You truly are an inspiration to me, Deborah.

Congratualtions!

You must be so proud. Get out there and enjoy your new figure!

Jo

Congratulations to you!

You are an inspiration and I hope to someday be posting my success story also.

Jenn

Congradulations!!! You look AMAZING---WOW!! I can tell a huge difference. I am started yesterday...and am just a little too weak right now to exercise, but plan on walking very soon. Please pray for me....this web-site really helps you to see that other people are going thru this struggle too.
So please keep me in your thougths and check up on me from time to time...GOOD LUCK GIRL---YOU CAN DO IT!! You have lost a whole person....that is a good way to look at it.

WOW....what an inspiration!!! You are really beautiful...thanks for sharing your story with us!

Oh, oh, oh! I love your story!!! I did CAD for a long time and lost 75 lbs. Now I am struggling and am having difficulty with control. I just decided this week to get more serious and strict and do the Dr. Atkins low carb plan and your story has totally inspired me. Thank you! Pam

WTG Deborah!!!
So happy for you. I could swear you are talking of my life history also! I am still working to my goal but I know this WOL is the way I will live for the rest of my life
Congrats on a wonderful job..Be Proud!!

see what happens when you believe in YOU, I'm happy for you kiddo

What a wonderful story! I am also one of 5 siblings and have been the largest for many years. I am working to change that and your story has helped in my motivation. Thanks for your story!