Jenevere
Sun, Jan-15-12, 19:23
....but I try, every day.
Hi, fellow low-carbers! I've been reading this forum for a couple of weeks now, and I'd like to thank you all for your support and encouragement (even though I have never posted before). Each story I read here inspires and motivates me in some way.
I have been very overweight all (ALL) of my life. I was beyond "chubby" as a toddler. At four or five years old, my pediatrician told my mother that if I continued at my current rate of growth, I would be 300 lbs. by age fifteen. He was sadly correct - I battled my weight throughout childhood, on and off of whatever diets my parents saw fit to try (Weight Watchers - I gained, disgusting fiber cookies, riding my bicycle around the uphill circle drive 20 times a night, endocrinologists, etc, etc).
I was angry. I was resentful. My sisters never had to do these things. They were "normal." I snuck food out of anger; it took me years to figure out that anger was my trigger. I caught myself beginning to "sneak" food when I was angry at my husband and he wasn't around. What a wake up call. No more!
Puberty began, and I was obese and exhibiting every embarassing symptom of PCOS (and still do). Need I even say that school was pure hell? By graduation, I had to have been 350 lbs (looking at the photos - I wouldn't touch a scale).
I once got my weight down to 220 using ephedra and starvation. I kept it that way for nearly a year, until my daughter was conceived! By the time she was born in 2005, however, ephedra was off the shelves - and I had gained 80 lbs.
After I weaned her, I lost 30lbs (almost) effortlessly. I exercised daily. I ate what I thought at the time was healthy. Beyond that, I could not lose anything, and I gave up. :( My weight fluctuated between 270-285 for three years, until I was prescribed phentermine and metformin from a new doctor I began seeing. I had begun eating completely organic, whole foods and was seriously trying to loose weight, and got down to 265 when my son was conceived in 2009. BIG surprise!
I gained 50 more lbs during that emotionally tumultuous time, and those lbs have haunted me for nearly two years. I visited a holistic doctor in 2010 who advised me to give up all grains - so I did. I followed his diet to the letter for three months (very similar to Atkins, only it included sugar, and fruit in lieu of vegs). The pounds did not budge, not at all. I grew frustrated beyond belief, and chalked it up to the fact that I was still breastfeeding my (very high-need) son.
My son is nearly two and now is only nursing at sleep times and a few times a night. I picked up People magazine's "Half Their Size" issue a few weeks ago, and something finally hit a nerve - a big one. I broke down. I thought that if they could do it, why not me? I finally accepted that there was never going to be another magic bullet, another way to shed the pounds. Sugar - the one thing I was convinced I could never give up? I've been sugar-free for seven days. No cheats. I pondered and contemplated, thought, and researched, and finally accepted that Atkins was really worth a try. I haven't read the book just yet, but I am going to read it. I just didn't want to wait another day to begin. I just sort of slipped right into eating LC gradually, over 2 or 3 days, hardly on purpose! Last Saturday was my last beer (I am a musucian and perform at a pub weekly; now I drink just water). I turned down birthday cake today (my very favorite food!). My husband is supportive and no longer brings home pizza from work.
I have lost 8-9 lbs in the last week. I went through leg cramps and irritability and was in ketosis by morning of day 3. My goal is to have my son completely weaned by his second birthday in two months; until then, I'll just keep plugging away without high expectations. These forums are invaluable for support and questions. Thanks again to everyone here! So... I begin my journey anew.
Hi, fellow low-carbers! I've been reading this forum for a couple of weeks now, and I'd like to thank you all for your support and encouragement (even though I have never posted before). Each story I read here inspires and motivates me in some way.
I have been very overweight all (ALL) of my life. I was beyond "chubby" as a toddler. At four or five years old, my pediatrician told my mother that if I continued at my current rate of growth, I would be 300 lbs. by age fifteen. He was sadly correct - I battled my weight throughout childhood, on and off of whatever diets my parents saw fit to try (Weight Watchers - I gained, disgusting fiber cookies, riding my bicycle around the uphill circle drive 20 times a night, endocrinologists, etc, etc).
I was angry. I was resentful. My sisters never had to do these things. They were "normal." I snuck food out of anger; it took me years to figure out that anger was my trigger. I caught myself beginning to "sneak" food when I was angry at my husband and he wasn't around. What a wake up call. No more!
Puberty began, and I was obese and exhibiting every embarassing symptom of PCOS (and still do). Need I even say that school was pure hell? By graduation, I had to have been 350 lbs (looking at the photos - I wouldn't touch a scale).
I once got my weight down to 220 using ephedra and starvation. I kept it that way for nearly a year, until my daughter was conceived! By the time she was born in 2005, however, ephedra was off the shelves - and I had gained 80 lbs.
After I weaned her, I lost 30lbs (almost) effortlessly. I exercised daily. I ate what I thought at the time was healthy. Beyond that, I could not lose anything, and I gave up. :( My weight fluctuated between 270-285 for three years, until I was prescribed phentermine and metformin from a new doctor I began seeing. I had begun eating completely organic, whole foods and was seriously trying to loose weight, and got down to 265 when my son was conceived in 2009. BIG surprise!
I gained 50 more lbs during that emotionally tumultuous time, and those lbs have haunted me for nearly two years. I visited a holistic doctor in 2010 who advised me to give up all grains - so I did. I followed his diet to the letter for three months (very similar to Atkins, only it included sugar, and fruit in lieu of vegs). The pounds did not budge, not at all. I grew frustrated beyond belief, and chalked it up to the fact that I was still breastfeeding my (very high-need) son.
My son is nearly two and now is only nursing at sleep times and a few times a night. I picked up People magazine's "Half Their Size" issue a few weeks ago, and something finally hit a nerve - a big one. I broke down. I thought that if they could do it, why not me? I finally accepted that there was never going to be another magic bullet, another way to shed the pounds. Sugar - the one thing I was convinced I could never give up? I've been sugar-free for seven days. No cheats. I pondered and contemplated, thought, and researched, and finally accepted that Atkins was really worth a try. I haven't read the book just yet, but I am going to read it. I just didn't want to wait another day to begin. I just sort of slipped right into eating LC gradually, over 2 or 3 days, hardly on purpose! Last Saturday was my last beer (I am a musucian and perform at a pub weekly; now I drink just water). I turned down birthday cake today (my very favorite food!). My husband is supportive and no longer brings home pizza from work.
I have lost 8-9 lbs in the last week. I went through leg cramps and irritability and was in ketosis by morning of day 3. My goal is to have my son completely weaned by his second birthday in two months; until then, I'll just keep plugging away without high expectations. These forums are invaluable for support and questions. Thanks again to everyone here! So... I begin my journey anew.