Don's Story
 

My name is Don, for 30 plus years I have struggled with my weight and lost the battle. I've tried many times to lose weight and always ended up weighing 10 pounds more when I got done than I did when I started.
At the end of January this year my doctor called me in and told me that I was well on my way to becoming diabetic and that I really needed to lose some weight. As he was trying to explain to me the role that carbohydrates play in becoming diabetic he asked me if I was familiar with Dr. Atkins work. I said no and he dropped that line of discussion and went on to talk to me about the problems being diabetic would cause. Since my mother had been diabetic I was all too familiar with that scene and knew that I didn't want to go there.

At that point in my life I as almost 62, weighed 330 pounds, my fasting blood sugar was 135 and my total cholesterol was 235. I have slept with a CPAP machine since 1987 because of sleep apnea. And I had no idea how I was going to do anything about any of these problems since I have never been able to be successful before.

The next day as I was walking through the local Sams Club store I saw a display of Dr. Atkins books and decided that I could afford to invest in myself and see what my doctor had been trying to explain to me. It took me a day or so to get around to reading the book "Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution Revised", but once I started it I knew almost immediately that this was going to work for me. By the time I had read to the end of the chapter on the Induction Phase I knew that I was going to try it.

I started my new life on the 4th of February, 2002, which was a Monday. By mid afternoon on Tuesday I knew that I had found the answer. On the 8th of February I went to dinner with some people I used to work with and even though I had only lost two pounds I announced that I was on this new diet and was going to lose 180 pounds. I know that none of them believed me.

As I write this it is the 267th day of my diet. I have already lost 150 pounds and only have 30 to go and I expect to be at my goal weight of 150 pounds by Christmas. The last time I weighed 150 pounds was 1967. I have already gone for size 4X and 5X shirts to medium.

Because of my size and lack of energy I had not been able to do much exercise for several years. When I started the diet I could not walk across a room without running out of air. About three days into the diet I found that I had the energy to start an exercise program and began to walk. It took me almost an hour to walk a half mile at the beginning. I am now walking thirteen and a half miles a day at a pace of three miles an hour. And I've only missed fifteen days walking since I started that program in the first week of my diet. And those day was spent riding long distances on my motorcycle which I had decide in January that I would have to sell because I could no longer ride it. I have taken two long trips on the bike this summer. One to Dallas TX in early June and the second in September to KC, MO to visit children and grandchildren. On this second trip I was able to camp out and sleep in a tent for the first time in years.

As of the 10th of May I've added 30-40 minutes a day on my new Bowflex to my exercise program. This has given me a real boost in strength and energy. But it has slowed down the rate of weight loss. I'm sure that is because of the muscle I've put on.

My life has been changed by this diet. For the first time in my life I believe that I can decided how much I want to weigh and what size I want to be and I find that exciting. I have been able to stop taking several prescription drugs that I've had to take for the last 15 or 20 years. For the first time in almost thirty years I no longer have to take medication for my blood pressure. And as of the 22nd of August I was able to get off the CPAP machine I had used since 1987.

On the 10th of October I had a wonderful visit with my doctor. For the first time in thirty years I was told that I did not need to schedule another visit for a year. And all of my blood work was normal. Not liver or kidney problems. My HDL's have gone from 34 to 78, triglycerides from 231 to 45, and blood sugar from 135 to 76.

Because of the amount of weight I had to lose and the desire to get off the CPAP as soon as possible I have stayed in the Induction phase of this diet for the whole time. I'm sure that I have not been out of Ketosis since the 6th of February. I set a goal when I started of losing 180 pounds by Christmas and I still believe that I can make it but if I don't I know that I'm as healthy now as I have been in at least thirty years and I look forward to being able to do lots of fun active things in the years to come.

To help me succeed I have taken pictures on the 1st day of the month every day since I start the diet. If I can figure out how to do it I will post my before and after pictures.

I measure every Monday and weigh every day. I have charts and graphs of the entire process. I have also been very public with friends and family about my goal and my progress.

Dveillo.......

WHAT CAN I SAY........ UNBELIEVEABLE....FABULOUS....FANTASIC... WHAT AN INSPIRATION... CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

FANTASTIC DEDICATION

WENDY :clap:

Congratulations!
 

Don - What a wonderful success story! I bet you will inspire many people on this site (you've already inspired me!!). Thank you for posting your story...Have a wonderful day!

Robin

Hello dvellio
 

Don, what a fascinating story, I showed it to my husband and this finally convinced him, to change his way of eating as well. He is borderline diabetic and on blood pressure pills, and he could knock of about 30 pounds. Because his weight is just around the belly, he has bad back problems as well. After he read your story he finally believed, this is not "just another quick weight loss gimmick" I got into. Now he will start reading my Atkins book *whee*. I hope soon I don't have to cook 2 different meals anymore.
Thank you so much for sharing this story with us, this keeps me motivated as well ...I am still very new to this myself.

Congratulations on your success and we want to see another picture on Christmas:)

Mischa

What an amazing adventure you undertook when so many of my family and friends think they are too old to change and start living afresh again.

More power too you and I think the very most of your successes!!!

:cheer: :cheer:

Don,

Thank you for sharing your wonderful success story. Words cannot describe how moved I was from reading it.

I too, am/was borderline diabetic. I haven't had any more tests since before my new WOE.

It seems each time I log in to this forum, I get more and more confirmation that this low-carb way of eating is the way to go!

Congratulations on your big weight loss success!! Please continue to write. You will be a major help to a lot of us.

A new man...
 

What an exceptional story, Don...

Thank you so much for sharing it with us and for being so open. This saga will no doubt inspire many, many people...myself included!

Welcome to the forum, BTW, and I suspect I speak for many when I say post more pictures!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! A++++++

Donald

Well done, Don!

I have resized the image you sent me, and it now loads fine.

For those who checked the pictures before, click again for an even more impressive before and after :thup:

Wa'il

If this works I am going to attach a side view before and after picture to go with the original attachment. Both of the before pictures were taken on February 10th when I still weighed about 330 pounds.

The incredible shrinking man :)

:cheer:

Mischa

Wow! Your story is truly inspiring - and your pictures are a case in point. I am sure your colleagues are absolutely amazed at the new you! To lose 150 pounds in your case is to become half the man you used to be - Just remember to stick with your goals, as I am sure you will do, and keep everyone posted.

All too often, I see people post their story, and leave the rest of us in limbo as to their situation. Your story is truly amazing, as phenomenal as many of the posts are, and in the end, you will be happy you have been able to share your wonderful experience with the rest of us. Even when you reach your goal - which you will, I hope you frequent these forums and provide inspiration for the rest of your fellow LC'ers!

-Mateo
"Reach for the stars!"

Thanks for all the kind words that you guys have shared. I intend to start a journal soon and will put more pictures our there.

I will also share some of the other things I have used to keep myself motivated throughout this process.

Wow!

What a wonderful success story Don. I am so happy for you & your new healthy life! Thank you for sharing your journey as it is very inspiring.

:)

Hi Don
 

What other word can I add to all of the above describing something about the impact of your story? Has anyone said "SUPER!" yet? Also, how cool that you found a doctor with a clue. I get horribly angry when I think of how many doctors out there are passing on their misguidance to their patients (especially to their patients with diabetes). Keep up the great work. I am so impressed that I really can't express it in words.

Come follow my journal.
 

I have started my journal and the link below should take you to it if you want to follow it. I plan to put lots more picture out there as well as share the ups and downs of my journey.

My plan is to recap each month as an entry and then when I get caught up I'll record my current activity.


http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthre...4879#post614879

Please use that thread if you have questions or comments to share with me.

Thanks for all the encouraging words and thoughts.

Don