September Challenge - Atkins '72

[calee]

It's September and time to gear it up for another great month on Atkins '72. Everyone is welcome, new people are appreciated in this supportive group. Regardless of where you are on this journey, come join us please.

What personal goals will you be working on this month? Let's support each other and stay energized.

[calee]

September will be my first full month on Low Carb. I'm excited to see what I can accomplish! In the past I was a very slow loser on low carb so I'm going to set realistic goals for myself. My main goal is to feel successful as that will keep me motivated.

In August I had 10 days doing Induction and shed 4.6 pounds. I've been losing in .2 increments.

September challenges. People coming to visit for three days for Labor Day weekend. September 14 - 17 in Denver at a conference eating hotel conference food.

September goals:
1. Eat at induction levels for the month with the exception of the Denver week, eat at 20 carbs.
2. Walk at least 4x a week. Work out with light weights or go down to the gym 3x. Swim when possible.
3. Shed 8 pounds and be under 230.

I can do this!

[dbglasgow]

Good morning everyone... can't believe it's Sept. already. Not feeling really well today.. I think it's just allergies but I feel awful but I need to get to feeling better because we have a busy day planned.

I did not reach my goal of losing 10 lbs during August.. but I did lose at least 6 lbs during August.. so I'll take that.

Goals for September:
Lose 10 lbs or lose enough inches that it shows
Increase activity level to help burn calories

Looking forward to great month with all of you on this journey to better health.

[verbqueen]

Good morning, and happy September to everyone! I, for one, am very glad it's September. I'm ready to get back to my children's choirs and my regular fall routines, and already looking forward to facing the holidays in a much slimmer form than last year!

I'm delighted to report that I awoke to find myself, finally, back to stats before my little "bump up" a few days ago, and even a bit below. I'm only a few ounces away from being able to move myself down another pound, and that pound will make 25, a big milestone! So cross your fingers for me! I'd love to lose that last fraction of a pound and be able to call 25 this week!!

Today is my son's last full day home, and he wants to go to the beach. Hope we don't shrivel up and blow away in this terrible heat, but I think we're going to try it. I, naturally, will be heavily coated with SPF 70 and huddling under my hat and beach umbrella.

I am pondering some personal challenges for the month of September, and will be back to post those later. I'd love to see everyone else select a challenge or two, also.

Have a great day, everyone!

[BellaHMB]

Thanks for starting the new thread.

Im on day 17 of losing what I gained and am down to 146. Progress!

Bella

[DivineHealth]

Happy September!

I'm in. I HAVE to be in!

No parties, no weddings, no trips, and only a few business events with meals scheduled this month. Seems like I have been in party/event mode since May but it all has been fun.

Personally, I would like to see a 15# drop, which is totally doable esp since my big detour.

Hey Verb - what beach do you go to? We've been 88-90 here near the beach in Carlsbad

[The Bionic broad]

Happy September, everyone!

Lee, your goals are do-able, and I envy your commitment to exercise. I fall into the "Mrs. Marshmallow" category.

Darlene, I've prayed that you feel better soon. Your schedule doesn't seem to leave much time to be under the weather.

Jessica, if I went to the beach in this weather, I'd have to use SPF 400. Stay cool!

Bella, congratulations! 146 is a weight that I haven't seen since I was 18, which was, needless to say, MANY moons ago.

Divine, I'm going to commit to the 15 with you. Last summer, my health broke down, and my mom saw me at my lowest weight since I was a teen. I'm 20 pounds heavier now, and I'm going to see her the end of this month. She is so critical of my weight, as is my sister, and they will eat me for dinner if I show up this heavy. Sad, but true, at my age.

So: My goal is to be down by 15 by the end of the month, and to keep carbs to 20 or below.

I'll post my menu later today.

[verbqueen]

Originally Posted by DivineHealth

Hey Verb - what beach do you go to? We've been 88-90 here near the beach in Carlsbad

I like Corona Del Mar, but my son is a Huntington Beach fan, so that's probably where we'll go. I imagine it'll be 90ish there, too. Yikes!

[DivineHealth]

Originally Posted by The Bionic broad

Divine, I'm going to commit to the 15 with you. Last summer, my health broke down, and my mom saw me at my lowest weight since I was a teen. I'm 20 pounds heavier now, and I'm going to see her the end of this month. She is so critical of my weight, as is my sister, and they will eat me for dinner if I show up this heavy. Sad, but true, at my age.

Awww, man, can I relate to you!

**Warning... this got long.... sorry**

I was thin most of my adult life.... up until 4 1/2 yrs ago at 5'6" I weighed 125-128, wore a size 4 and was very energetic. I was the trimmest in my family.

In mid 2004, I got really sick and started to put on weight. I had been almost murdered in 2000 and it turns out (after going to about 12 different doctors to find out what was wrong with me) that the trauma from that event and the subsequent court dates, etc. had raised my adrenaline for too long and it burned out my endocrine system (thyroid, adrenals, thymus, etc) and my immune system. Way after the fact, which is weird.. I was finally happy again and then my body reacted to all the crap from 2000-2001. The weight started piling on no matter what I did to stop it. The resulting depression resulted in using comfort food and wine to feel just a little better, but it (of course) brought on its own trouble. I felt like such a failure.

One great naturopathic doctor worked with me for 2 yrs to rebuild my adrenals and immune system and got my thyroid regulated. Then..... enter peri-menopause which brought a whole other set of symptoms. Three years ago I went onto bio-identical hormones (progesterone, estradiol and testosterone). They helped a lot, but I am no where near 100% of who I used to be... I would say maybe 50%. The thyroid meds and hormones didn't bring off any weight. The hormones help many symptoms (brain fog, irritability, the weepy despair), but there is a time each month where depression sucks me into the pit and I spend days climbing back out.

Plus, my family is big on perfection and appearance. My dad has recently said "What the hell happened? You were so trim.. now look at you. When are you going to knuckle down and just do it?" My sister said "You had the weight thing licked; what is wrong with you? You need to get the weight off!" My good friend started this year on Atkins with me. She has lost 40, I am at half that. She told me a couple days ago, "You better hurry up and catch up with me. You're just being lazy. Get off your lazy butt and just do it, you know how - why aren't you doing it?" I overheard some relatives whisper when I left the room, "What happened to her? She used to be so thin and pretty? Why won't she lose the weight?" My business coach, who has only known me these heavier years said "I want to see the thin you, the old you. You do so well in business. Put that same dedication you do with work into you. You need to be thin again to accomplish what you want to do."

And they are all correct!! I would be more confident, feel better about me, be more of a success in life! It IS so easy to do now .... if I would just stick to it. Duh. You would think all these "aha" moments would make me dive in and stick to it, but they only make me feel even worse about myself.

I used to preach and teach about walking in divine health at churches, bible studies, etc. Teaching about taking care of our bodies as God wants us to, being all we can be for Him. I stopped preaching 4 yrs ago, because who the heck wants to listen to a fatso preach about divine health I know I am disappointing God by not walking in what He has called me to do.. as Paul says, I am disqualifying myself by not disciplining my body. Yet disappointing Him isn't even enough to keep me on track. It is excruciatingly painful when I run into people who knew me as the dynamic, energetic, thin preacher lady.. I want to run and hide in a cave.

I feel much better when I eat low carb, but even when I went really clean from Feb 15 to Mar 15, and lost 17#, I still didn't feel good. I felt a touch better, but everyone says "WOW, I felt so wonderful! My energy went through the roof! My whole life changed!".... I never got that. That made the despair even worse, because with all that dedication and hard work, it felt like I still didn't deserve the prize. I fight that feeling most every day, even with my close relationship with the Lord. I know it is what makes me not stick to plan... why bother? if I do it all right, I still don't feel good? Good girls are supposed to get the prize and doing it all right doesn't seem to get it for me.

The last time I went to my counselor she said "You just don't want it badly enough yet." I really think I do, but she must be right.

[The Bionic broad]

Divine,

I haven't experienced the horrific things that have happened to you, and I'm deeply sorry that your family can't value you as you deserve to be valued. If my family member, even my wonky bro-in-law, were almost a murder victim, I would praise God every day for his or her survival. I am thankful for yours.

My sense of self-worth is irrevocably tied to the scale. My family would slap my face for my weight with one hand while the other hand was giving me a bag of candy. I got the message, very early on, that image is everything, especially body image. I have struggled for years to truly believe that I am more than a weight, but to no avail.

I have a question for you, though. Is it possible that the struggles that you are having are because God has put them upon you to be an example to others who are wrestling with the same health issues? Maybe the destination isn't your message, but the journey.

Personally, by just reading your posts, your personality, your "voice," come through loud and clear. I think that you rock!

[DivineHealth]

Well.... good news! One day back on and down 2.6#


Thank you, BionicBroad, for your kind words. Yes, sometimes I think I am experiencing this to be able to help others more (or differently) than before -- but come on!!! HOW MUCH LONGER?!?!?!?!??!

When one is still part of the problem it is hard to be part of the solution. Ughh.

I'll get there.... it's just so agonizingly slow and painful.

[msbaggypants]

I'm jumping in here with you all. Wow, Divine, what a story. I'm so sorry about what you've went through. I had a very traumatic experience which also led to a symptoms of adrenal fatigue/failure. A gal in our church is losing her entire personality because of adrenal failure. It's not as easy as will power or dedication!!! You have to heal, and it might take a long time. Another thing, JMHO, if you were real before you gained weight, and you are real now, your testimony is still real, and it still has value. God WILL still use you!

Anyway, I need to stick to plan. That is my goal for Sept. We go to the Black Hills for a backpacking trip so I will be getting some exercise for at least the first couple weeks. I am really in a slump on what to fix for meals. We have plenty of beef so if any of you have great menu ideas, let me know!

So start weight for Sept, 192.

Bionic- really enjoyed your blog!

[verbqueen]

Welcome, Ms BP. What a cool user name--makes me laugh!

Divine, you are SO MUCH more than what you look like. We all are. Please give your body AND spirit time to heal, and in the meantime love yourself unconditionally, the way your Creator loves you!

I'm out the door and headed to the beach. Back later!

(P.S. Feel better, Darlene.)

[The Bionic broad]

Angela,

Thank you for the kind words about my blog. I love your user name, too. Mine is currently more akin to Ms. BaggyBUTT.

[DivineHealth]

Yes... your blog is great, BionicBroad!!

[msbaggypants]

Originally Posted by The Bionic broad

Angela,

Thank you for the kind words about my blog. I love your user name, too. Mine is currently more akin to Ms. BaggyBUTT.

I'll trade you! My poor BUTT is the last to go and hopefully...someday...maybe... it will be baggy too!

[The Bionic broad]

Originally Posted by DivineHealth

Yes... your blog is great, BionicBroad!!

Divine,

Thank you! I started that blog because some people on the banding forum were downright caustic about low-carb, and some people on this forum were nasty about the Lap-band. Even now, on LapBandTalk, there's some nutjob who posts in the "Low Carb Bandsters Unite" forum against the low-carb lifestyle. Wish she'd stay on her own turf.

[BellaHMB]

My goal for September is to keep to 20 carbs per day and exercise 5-6 times
per week (which I already do). I have about 5 more lbs to lose to reach 140 and my low side of maintenance again.

Bella

[The Bionic broad]

Here's today:

B: Coffee with EZSweets and 1 T. coconut oil.

L: 8 oz protein drink with Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze, whey protein isolate powder, and SF Torani syrup.

Snack: 1/2 oz. chicken skin fried in clarified butter.

D: Laura Dolson's low-carb chicken pot pie.

Dessert: A tiny low-carb fresh mint pot du creme (for my 4 t. of cream today).

Calories: It's hard to do exactly, since I can't put the pot pie into FitDay, but definitely below 1500, easy. Carbs = <20.

[calee]

Hi Everyone,

Whew, you all were talkative today! I'm going to need to go back and read through everything, but not until tomorrow. It's been a long day and I want to go put my feet up and relax a bit.

Today was a good day, but I did eat a little more carbs, still at 20, but the most I've had since starting induction. Carbs all came from lettuce, cucumbers, 2 carbs of salad dressing and 1 ounce of nuts. I feel like the BooM Princess hasn't been in awhile. Hoping the greens will help.

Calories 1383
carbs 20
fat 101
protein 97

Back to VLC tomorrow!

It was a lovely day and I walked to work 1 mile each way.

[verbqueen]

We had a lovely day at the beach. The water was warm enough that I even ventured in (but only about hip deep.) This is the only time of the year that I will even consider sticking a toe in the Pacific.

Today's menu:

B: hamburger patty, decaf with CO
L: 4 Jack in the Box grilled chicken strips with a bit of ranch dressing, iced tea (on the way to the beach)
D: romaine salad with grilled tri-tip and a bit of bleu cheese and ranch dressing

I came out at 1500 calories and 8 grams of carbs. 78% fat, 21% protein, 2% carbs. It adds up to 101, but hey, it's what Fitday said!

[dbglasgow]

Good morning everyone... I just read through all the post from yesterday. I was feeling well and we were also very busy so I didn't get a chance to check in.

everyone has great goals for this month!!

There are too many posts to respond to all but I do want to send my love to Divine.... thank you for sharing your story with us. I don't even have words to say about family and friends who would say such things to you. I'm sorry for what you have been through.. but God protected you and spared your life for a reason. I pray that you will be able to continue the work that He has called you to do. I too struggle with "body image" issues and have always had a very low self-esteem... but I've never experienced the things that you have but I know that even though it is important to have a healthy weight... we should also learn to love ourself and I pray that God help you learn to see yourself as He sees you... you are beautiful..."you are the apple of His eye".

My menu on Monday was higher carbs but still a little under 20g... yesterday I kept the carbs lower... only about 5g. Today the scale is back down about 2 lbs but still no real loss... just the 2 lbs that I was up... just hope it doesn't bounce back again.

[calee]

Good Morning!

My little higher carb (20) experiment yesterday was disastrous. I'm up .8 this morning which is not the direction I want to go. I'm going to stay under 5 carbs today. I'm hoping that the digestive enzymes I took this morning will help as well. I have today and tomorrow, then my two week induction is over. I'm going to stay on vlc but would like to see that scale go down. I've never lost much on induction but want that script to change. I'm so ready to be the biggest loser.

b. a little queso in butter
s. 2 oz ground beef
l. 7 oz ground beef and a couple cucumber slices
d. 2 pork chops and a pat of butter


Bella, I love your pictures! You look fantastic.

Divine, I'm spiritual, not religious, but I don't think God is ever disappointed in us. Life is a journey and there's a big picture, even though most of us focus on the smaller picture. BTY - down 2.6 is phenomenal!!!

Angela, I'm really happy you joined us here.

*waving hello to everyone*

Let's make this a healthy day!

[BellaHMB]

Lee, thanks so much! It's a good idea for even me to look at them because it reminds me of how far Ive come....and helps me stay on track when Im working on losing those few lbs that I gained. It takes me about a month to drop 7-8 lbs now as I am so close
to my prime weight, and take focus. Im on day 17 and wavering, so I need to post here!

Everyone else, kudos to you for your good work!

Bella

[verbqueen]

Good morning, all you classy '72-ers!

My weight held steady this morning, but I definitely feel smaller today. I had one of those terrible insomnia nights last night. I felt hot and agitated and squirmy, and must have made five potty trips by the time I finally got up this morning. I think this is ketosis sleep disturbance, and I seem to get it every few days. I hate it.

But the sun is out now and it's a beautiful (if hot) day, so I'll just get on with things. There may be a nap in my future, though!

I'm taking my son out to breakfast on the way to John Wayne airport. I'll be having bacon and coffee, and then some sort of hamburger creation for lunch, and probably dinner, too.

Have a great day, everyone!

[PiDevil]

Happy September!

I just skimmed through yesterday's posts to try to catch up with you gabby people!

Divine - You certainly have been through a lot. Its too bad your family is so critical.

Verbqueen - glad you enjoyed the beach. I am looking forward to vacation in only 9 more days - lots of time on the beach as well as plenty of sightseeing!

Welcome, Angela.

Bionic - I will need to take time to read your blog soon. I am interested in getting a lap band but I am wary of the cost. I doubt the insurance would pay.

Yesterday I moved my youngest son back to college for his very last semester. Where has the time gone? By Christmas time I will be the proud mother of three college grads. Yikes!

B: Omelette with bacon
L: Small salad w/feta & cheddarwurst
D: Steak tips & broccoli
S: ??

[The Bionic broad]

Me, too! Since I've been in deep ketosis, I cannot sleep! My school starts on the 10th, and I'd better not start the year exhausted, or those kids will eat my lunch. I saw on Dr. Eades' website to take 100mg of 5-HTP at 5pm to help with ketosis-induced insomnia. I'm going to try that this evening. GNC had it on sale.


Pi - I'm a self-pay for my Lap-band. (Erk) It's like financing a car. I wasn't heavy enough for a gastric by-pass, according to my medical insurer. They wanted me to do a year-long medical fast. They told me that if anything goes wrong with my band, they won't try to fix it. They'll remove it. Suckwads.

[verbqueen]

Originally Posted by The Bionic broad

I saw on Dr. Eades' website to take 100mg of 5-HTP at 5pm to help with ketosis-induced insomnia. I'm going to try that this evening. GNC had it on sale.

Thanks for sharing this! I'm going to look into it.

[calee]

Sign me in as another that's been having the up and down all night ketosis blues. Last night I finally got a sleep that didn't wake me up. It was heavenly.

Pi - I was looking at the lapband as well. I'm fat enough at 40.1 BMI, but I decided to come here and really put 6 months into this to see where I am. At that point, I will hopefully be too small for it! Three college grads is very impressive!!!

Darlene, if you get lonesome for the family, come talk to us here.

I have a friend coming over for dinner. I told her I'd have protein fixed and she should bring whatever else she wants to eat. Works well and she understands perfectly since we've known each other for 20 years. She comes over once a week so I'm very happy to not need to make explanations etc.

My day was much better. I was afraid I'd be hungry after the salad carbs yesterday but I just ate a lot of meat and stayed very balanced. I've been noticing mouth hunger as in " I want a sugarless candy" etc, but I can't afford the carbs so I won't do it. It's still very interesting to watch myself just craving something in my mouth. No wonder I'm 100 pounds overweight!! No judgement, just a fact.

b. 3 oz queso fried thin in butter
s. 2 oz ground beef
l. 6 oz ground beef - 1/2 cup cucumbers, less than 1 carb of blue cheese dressing
d. 2 pork chops, a pat of butter
s. maybe a cup of decaf earl grey tea with a T of HWC if I want something after dinner watching my friend drink wine

[calee]

Question - did any of you purchase the desktop Fitday? Do they have more foods in it? Quicker to use? This morning I tried Fitday.com where I've had an account for 12 years, rather than Sparkpeople. I honestly just want the fastest system with the most entries. What I like about Spark is that you can search all the foods other people have put in. It has tons more than fitday.

Thanks!!