LOW CARB Testimonies

[JeanieH]

How about we all share our personal stories of doing low carb? Some of you have reached goal weight already and I bet you have a great story... others of us are just on the journey towards that goal... but we all have our own stories... how about we share them and hopefully the newbies and even us long term low carbers will get a push of motivation to keep up the good work? If this sounds good just join right in and share here is a list of a few things you might include.

Why you started low carbs?
What differences has low carbs made in your life?
" " in your health?
What key things have helped you?
How do you motivate yourself to keep going?
What helpful hints can you share?

Can any of you think of other topics to cover? Let's make this a long encouraging/informative thread.

I will post my Testimony after a bit... hopefully some of you are game to share... Thanks

[pastis]

Hi everyone

I started low carb (Dr Atkins) about 1 1/2 years ago when I realized weight watchers wasn't doing it for me and I was addicted to carbohydrates. I was 240 pounds and initially lost 20 pounds before I found this board. I have dropped another 8 pounds which is a bit discouragiing but I am experimenting to find how few carbs I need to lose weight and how many it takes to maintain.

I used to wake up every morning discouraged because my weight was such a huge part of my thoughts and I would go to bed every night feeling like a failure. I was also really feeling the effects of hypglycemia and after a breafast of toast/ juice and fruit I would be lightheaded, have the shakes and numb lips by mid morning.

Now even though losing is still a struggle I wake up knowing that I can stay low carb and have no ill effects from a carb high diet. I know this is working for me but I won't be an overnight success story. It takes time and commitment.

This board and the support of everyone here keeps me going. I check in first thing every morning and several times during the day. Even though I have only met a few of you in person I know I'm part of a family that truly cares about me, applauds every little success I have and encourages me to keep going.

I also have a favorite dress shop and once a week I go in an look at the clothes I'm going to be able to buy soon.

Since March this year I made a commitment to make exercise a part of every day. I am continually amazed that I can get through an hour aerobics class , dance class or paddling session and not only enjoy the time I spend there but feel so great afterwards. There really is something about exercise and endorphines.

Every day I post a "tip of the day" on the no cheating thread. I would also invite every one to join us over there. This challenge has really kept me on track this montha and as we have nearly three weeks left it's not too late to join.


take care

Rae

[JeanieH]

I started low carbs on April 14 2003…. A lot of things had brought me to this point of deciding to give low carbs another try…a few years earlier I lost some weight while doing Atkins…. Some things came up though in our lives that kept making me think I had to give up on Atkins because we were traveling here or this dinner or that birthday or that Holiday…always something and more of an excuse I suppose then a real true reason, but I would give up and gain it back…although I wasn’t losing but a few pounds each time.

Then I injured my back, shoulders in a fall (high deck steps collapsed sending me on a fall 10 feet or further down with me landing on steps that were teetering on rocks below) which left me in severe pain. Dr’s told me I needed surgery in both shoulders, and my neck and spine would always be tender. As time went by my soreness lessened however I had gained a lot of weight from just sitting most of the time. I was unable to keep up with cleaning and exercise was out of the question. Then a time came that I had a bad cold/sinus trouble and I went into my DR to see what could be done…. I was weighing 275 pounds by then and very very uncomfortable and self conscious about the weight gain. My blood pressure was now not able to even be controlled by blood pressure meds…although he tried various meds on me which made me feel worse then ever. It was at the DR office that day that he told me that my life was in a downwards spiral…that I was going to keep getting worse until something took me and I would be dead… well he just said took me but I knew he meant I would die. As we drove back from the DR that day… tears stained my face… something rose up within me that I just knew that I would not settle for what this DR was telling me…. I made the decision to go back on low carbs and to add exercise to the mix to get me thru this….I WOULD LOSE THE WEIGHT AND I WOULD SHOW THEM!!!

I had found these boards a couple of years before when I had tried dabbling with losing some weight doing low carbs… well I had the bookmark still…. So I popped into the lobby and started reading…. I made the commitment to myself that I could do this and nothing was going to stop me!

At this time I could not even stand for more then 10 min. at a time because I was suffering from a pinched nerve in my back which would hurt so bad and send numbness down my left leg…. So I would dabble at house cleaning for 10 min then sit for 5 or so then do some more….my life was narrowed down to sitting and watching life pass me by….. then wonderful news. My youngest son and daughter in law had been trying to conceive for several years to no avail…..but miracles do happen…even though DR’s gave them no hope unless they would use invetro…. They left the situation in God’s hands… and not only did they conceive 1 baby…but the news was TWINS…. During this ordeal with my back my middle son had a baby… it was so special to be at that hospital and see my new Grandson… but when they let me hold him, tears rolled down my cheeks because of the terrible pain I was in to even hold this precious baby….. now I was going to be a grandmother again… and I decided along with what the DR told me that I was not going to be this sick Grandmother who couldn’t hold or play with her grandkids…. I set out on induction and never looked back…. The weight that first year came off about 2 pounds a week for the most part… I started exercising and joined The Beginners Exercise Challenge…..the inches just started pouring off… I started being able to stand and do dish's and not have to sit down and rest but could do them until they were done! I could clean more…. I started exercising on my bike… at first only 10 min and my seat would go numb…. But now I can exercise for an hour if I so desire…. My blood pressure has come down….and Grandma is able to get down on the floor and play with her grandkids…let alone carry them up stairs! I still have weight to lose…the weight is not coming off as quickly…. But 100 pounds gone and I am still on my way to goal. Thanks to all the encouragement that I found on these boards and the determination in making a quality decision.

With me the keys are the encouragement from these boards!
Prayer
Drinking lots of water
EXERCISE
Keeping the carbs low
Keeping calories within reason
Posting menu’s and reading what others eat too
Keeping POSITIVE
Living in the moment enjoying the journey

I am enjoying wearing cloths that are not in the plus sizes… enjoying my body looking more fit and toned… Just enjoying life overall better then I had for years… now I don’t watch life go by me as I sit… but I am active and enjoying being apart of the action. I encourage all of you... give it your all... make that solid commitment to do this for you and just watch the results! Life is awesome

[blboopsie]

I have been fighting weight all my life. Because I wanted children in the '70s I found Weight Watchers and lost 70 # in a year and was able to conceive and have my wonderful children. But with the birth of my last child my marriage began to fall apart and my former husband had heart by-pass surgery. I think all the stress of dealing with everything in my life just added weight until I was at least 250. Then I sat morbidly obese for at least 25 years, developed high blood pressure and then diabetes. I tried Weight Watchers again and then low fat diet. Both didn't work at all and added even more weight. My doctor was after me to lose this weight especially since my diabetes required more and more meds and my knees were giving out. Finally reaching 279 and I probably had gone over that and managed to drop off some, I got really mad as I realized that my life could come to an end much sooner than I wanted. I also realized that diabetes was like a sword hanging over my head. So in Dec. of 2002 I saw that Dr. Atkins had updated his diet plan and lots of people were having good success. I got the book and decided to sign on. DH also needed to lose 150# me 120#. So we really did well for the first 3 months losing about 30# then it began to slow but by the end of 2003 he had lost 60# and I had lost 45#. This year it is creeping off but I have dropped 55# and he has lost 70#. I know the first big loss contributed to lower blood pressure and I got to give up one pill and cut another one down. For my diabetes I am on one Actos and 2 glacophage and I hope to lose at least one of those as my blood sugar has been in the normal range for 9 months. I feel so much better and am pushing hard to drop below the 200#. That will be territory that I haven't seen for over 30 years. This board has meant the world to me. It keep me on track, focused and I have made some very dear friends. I really hope to meet more of you in the next few years. I sure appreciate that you do care for each other and me and that we have so much in common and share our neat experiences. to you all. Betty

[redslipper47]

Jeanie H first let me say that this a great thread. Congrats to you on losing so much weight. YOu and Rae stories are truly inspiring.Edited to say Betty, loved reading yours too.

I started atkins on Jan. 2003. I remember weighing on New Year's day and realizing that I had gained another 10# over xmas. Only the biggest clothes I had fit ( or were the only thing I could get on.) I begin searching the net for something I could stick with. I had done stillman when I was very young and lost 25#. I found the Atkins site and thought this is something I could stick with. I was very lucky, about a week into the program I found the goldies. I had just started induction when my Aunt Died. She had lived with us and then two years in the nursing home. (She was 94) Her passing had such a prfound effect on me. I could see the handwriting on the wall. I was not an active person another more. At the time I was still working in a child care setting. I could hardly do my job any more. Thanks to the support of this BB I lost from 240 to 216 by May of 2003. I had not been exercising at all . My DD got me interested in Curves and Got me a one month Memebership. I loved it and have been exercising ever since.Tomorrow will be one year with them. I struggled all last summer and got down to 205. then With x-mas I gained up to 214. Somewhere I lost my strong committment and thought I guess this is the weight I am supposed to be at. You can talk yourself into anything. I have now found LFL and have a strong re-committment. I know that some of this is due to the No-Cheater challenge and also the Goldies LFL. I am happy to say I am now at 207.5

I guess what I feel now , is never give up. I really feel so much younger and am enjoying life. Now if I could just get my DH to exercise. LOL

Stay positve, we all can do it.Without all of you, I don't think I would have come this far. I would have giving up as usual. I know if you guys can do, so can I .love all of you

[CorgiGirl]

Thank you all for sharing your stories. They are inspiring. I was never overweight until I had my second child. I gained 35 lbs with her and had to fight really hard to get that weight off. When I was 40 years old, I was in the best shape of my life. I played serious racquetball, lifted weights, and jogged on a regular basis. My lowest weight then was 105 but I maintained between 115-118lbs. A couple of years later I changed jobs and while it was a great opportunity for me, it was extremely stressful. I started gradually gaining weight and ended up at my highest weight of 187lbs. Like other people, I had my share of adversity (death of a brother, my father, my mother, two auto accidents where my car was hit by other people, two spinal surgeries, one sugery the result of the 2nd car accident. Although I started many diets since then, I would lose a few lbs and then give up and regain the weight. In August 2002, I started a low fat/low calorie diet (at 181lbs) because I really wanted to be at goal weight by my 55 birthday. I hated being on the low fat/low calorie diet--I was sleepy all the time and had no energy and my weight yo-yo'd. I lost just under 17lbs on that diet over 9 months but was a very long way from my goal by my 55 b'day. I started Atkins June 9, 2003 and am very thankful to God for leading me to this WOL. I don't feel as if I have been on a diet at all. I have lost the weight slow but steady. My original goal was 125lbs but I dropped that to 120lbs which I attained this week. I am still a work in progress in that I would like to go down to 115lbs and then really concentrate on building muscle through weight training which is my favorite exercise.

Things that contributed to my success:

Strength and committment received from God
Following Atkins strictly (only 1 cheat day since starting Atkins)
Exercise (did not start a formal program until January 2004)
Drinking water throughout the day instead of diet coke
Keeping frankenfoods to a minimum (I use the SF syrups like Davincis and SF pickles. I had meal replacement bars a few times while going to school and have used the protein shakes but no SF candies or other processed type foods)
Finding low carb versions of favorite recipes

My favorite quote: "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels" (Oprah Magazine)

Vickie

[LoveMontana]

I began my low carb life style 6 ago. I had lost weight on the Atkins plan back in the 1970's. I lost 14 pounds in two weeks, and got back down to 100 pounds. My problem was that I thought of it as a diet and not a lifestyle, and I went back to my old eating habits. Needless to say, over the years, I gained it back and then some!

When I was 155 pounds, at 5'1", I went on a low fat, low calorie plan and lost 15 pounds. I was hungry all the time and I felt just awful! My all-time high size was 14P when I weighed 155 pounds; at 140 pounds (after losing the weight with a low fat, low calorie plan) I wore a size 12P.

On top of the excess weight, my blood lipid levels were very high in spite of the low fat diet. I attribute that to good old genetics. My former physician wanted to put me on a cholesterol-lowing medication. Working in the medical profession for many years, I knew what those medications can do to a person's liver and refused. It was back to low carb for me.

I started with the Atkins program. I never felt deprived and lost the cravings after a month or so. I have never looked back! I lost the excess weight and have been maintaining my weight between 93 and 101 pounds for over 5 years. Now I wear a size 3/4 P!"

My lipid levels now put me at one half the average risk for heart disease, CVA and diabetes. My new physician and cardiologist are very happy and strongly recommend this way of life to many of their patients.

Here is a comparison of my blood lipid levels:

Before Low Carbing After Low Carbing
Total Cholesterol 285
LDL 189
HDL 32
Triglycerides 415

After Low Carbing
Total Cholesterol 238
LDL 138
HDL 98
Triglycerides 58


I never feel deprived or hungry, and I don't miss any of those high carbohydrate foods that put me at risk for heart disease, CVA, and diabetes. I think everyone should follow this wonderful and healthy way of eating for life!

Lots of people over the past three years have told me how very unhealthy this way of eating is. I just carry copies of my blood work and strut my stuff. I couldn't care less what those idiots think. And now I have many of them asking me all about low carbing. I've even converted a few!

Things that contributed to my success.

I NEVER cheated even though I was tempted to at times and would just crave things something awful. I just kept telling my self that the craving will go away whether I feed it or not so I just waited it out and drank water.

I never ate the processed low carb products either because they are mislabeled, contain hidden carbs and contain soy which harms the thyroid.


My advice? DON'T EVER CHEAT! It isn't worth going back and forth to induction and having ridding yourself of those nasty carb demons over and over again. Oh and what it does to your body is just awful. Think of those insulin spikes and what they do to you.

As far as stalls? Just wait them out. If you are doing the program by the book, the stalls will eventually end. The most important thing is to READ, READ, READ, and READ THE BOOK. Search out many low carb sites for information. STAY AWAY from legal treats until you are maintaining, and even then go easy on them. Drink your body weight in ounces of water and take the recommended supplements!

[Jewels]

Ok, here goes....

I started gaining weight after I had my first baby. 15-20 lbs. Over the past 39.5 years, I bet I've lost and regained them at least 100x or more. I'm not kidding either. My high was 155 lbs. I'm just a hair under 5'2" It doesn't sound like much to some of you but here's my problem.

I have done just about every diet plan there is. I was always successful on them. I'm compulsive so I would stick to them to the tee. As soon as I would lose, I'd start eating just like I use to. I never ballooned up too high. 155 lbs. made me look bloated and I think I was in a size 14 at my highest.

My problem is keeping those darn lbs. off!!!!!!! I started low carbing in Sept. 2002. It lasted only a short time and then it was the holidays.

About this time, my sister developed diabetes. I read somewhere that if you had a sibling with it, you're chances of getting it are much, much higher. Higher than if a parent had it. Now, don't quote me on this because I can't even remember where I read that. Anyway, it scared me to death.

I was suffering something awful with GERD. They put the tube/light down my throat and found out I had a hiatal hernia, gastritis and esophagitis.(sp.?) I was in so much pain, and waking up so much at night, couldn't wear my bra past 3:00 in the afternoon. My jeans came off about the same time. I was just plain miserable. Of course I was on medication too. Taking double the norm even.

We went to Mexico on vacation in Feb. 2003 and the very day we returned I came back to this bb and have never looked back. I still take meds for the GERD but it's much better now. I'm hoping keeping my weight down will keep me from getting diabetes. I feel so fortunate to have found all of you. I would've lost the weight but I'm not so sure I would've kept it off. I've never maintained for more than a few days. This is a miracle!!! I do yoyo a few lbs. but that is natural water fluctuations. I just can't believe I've been able to maintain this weight. Even losing another 5 lbs. after my original goal.

It's YOU!!! Only you who have helped me stay here. God bless each and every one of you. Thank You!!!

[murflaw]

This is a great thread - Thanks for starting it Jeannie.

I'd like to suggest that we ask Cheri to make it a sticky - I'd hate to lose these stories. Would you do that Jeannie?

I'll be back later when I have more time to post my story.
-beth

[Sandy56]

This is a wonderful idea. I started gaining weight with first dd - gained 60lbs. Just before I got pregnant with our 2nd dd I lost all the weight on low carbs. After I had her I lost right away (gained 60lbs with her too) - again with low carbs. Then I got pregnant with ds and gained 60lbs - again. I've had problems with weight ever since and my ds is going to be 26 in July. I jokingly say I still have "baby fat" but it's really not funny. I'm 56 now and I've been overweight most of our 35 yrs. of marriage. It not only affects looks but now also my health. I've been a terrible example to our 3 children - all have a weight problem.

I started low carbs again on April 23 of this year. To date I've lost 14 lbs and even though I'm happy about that I've weighed less before so right now I'm not real excited about the loss. That may not be the right way to look at it and I'm trying not to look at it that way but I weigh more now than I have in a long long time and I'm not happy about it at all. I have to take one day at a time I know and I will. I know this is a lifestyle. I can't eat sugar and flour and keep the weight off - I've tried so many different "diets" but they just don't work for me. I'm learning that I can do low carb and not feel cheated - I even eat low carb candy sometimes. As long as I don't eat to much I'm ok, if I eat to much it does not agree with me AT ALL.

Right now I don't crave anything and that is WONDERFUL. Before I craved sweets so much all I thought about was what I was going to eat next, caught myself binging on sweets way to often. I don't do that anymore. I could go all day without eating except I've had problems with low blood sugar so I have to eat and with low carbs I can eat small meals all day and still lose weight.

Thanks for listening and I give credit to anyone who stays with it. I know we can do this - we just can't give up! "One day at a time".

Sandy

[la.lady]

I begain my first try at Dr. Atkin's in the 70's. Of course this diet was not popular at this time and people said that you can't lose weight on it. It really got a bad rep.
Well to start off I lost 17 lbs. that first week and I should have kept up with it all these years.
At the time I had babies and did a lot of cooking for company, so needless to say I got off of it.
Well about two and a-half years ago my Sister-In- Law got on it.
She did so good that I thought I would give it a try again.
Less go back to how I was feeling before I started. My Blood Pressure was high, high Chol. high Trig. and I felt extrememly tired all the time.
I couldn't wear the clothes I wanted to and I just didn't like the way I looked.
I haven't lost a whole lot of weight yet, but I have lost a lot of inches.
I fell so much better now that I am back on this and I know it is a life long way of eating.
Good luck to all of you and much success.

[pjnz]

my story is the same as most - slim and active as a youngster, then a gradual weight gain, but i really feel a major prob for me was using depo-provera as a contraceptive after the births of both of my children - i am certain of this now after going back on HRT recently and regaining 10kgs without any change in eating!!! - that was a tremendous shock - but proof to me that hormones (probably estrogen) are a big problem for me. I started Atkins (again after a not particularly serious attempt in the 70's) in 2001 (Jan) so 4 years for me soon. I read the book and did the blood test thing before starting - terrible results - type 2 diabetes, ridiculously high cholesterol, shocking triglycerides - and me at 5'3" and about 210 lbs give or take a few on better (or worse) days. My family was not too happy with this change in my diet - all the dire warnings re 'fad' dieting were flung at me - i compromised and told them that if, after 3 months, my blood levels were better i would stop. (I must admit at that time, after seeing what other people could and did lose in 3 - 6 months), me, in my usual state of food denial, thought that 3 months should just about do it for the diet thing so eating could go back to 'normal' (aka out of control) again. Well, I'm still losing - not a fast loser at all, but in many ways - now- i feel that is a good thing as it gives us time to adapt and adopt lc as a wol. I have lost about 35 kgs now (thats heading for 80lbs), I have no interest (and surprisingly have never) in cheating, i stay at about 40-50g of carbs a day and almost all of that in veges, salad, lc fruits etc - i always thought i would add bread back in, but had half of a slice about a year ago and felt terrible for days - talk about eating glue!) I have always been a Diet Queen - you name it i tried it (temporarily)- but too me perhaps the most compelling reason for staying on track was that original 3 month blood followup - everything was normal! no longer a health disaster, and more energy and vim than i have had for years. I weigh around the 130lb mark now, i wear a size 10 UK, I think that is about a 6-8 for you guys, my bust size down from a 24
DD to a 16C (UK) and life is good! Mostly i think that the thing that is most important to me is that i have taken control of my life again - no longer berating myself for being 'weak' and spineless - in fact in many ways i feel angry now that for so many years we have listened to health professionals and the 'food triangle' that is so good for us - NOT!!!!
good luck to you all - stay strong and stay positive

[fla gal 57]

i began my low catrb diet over three yrs, ago and did really well with it, i know its the only diet that i could ever lose weight with. i am also a diabetic type 2, am not on insulin but really have to watch the carbs or my sugar will go way up fast.
i lost most my weight before i had to have multiple back surgeries for herniated disc, but before the surgeries i was in so much pain and i knew i had to lose it for my back or i was going to end up in a wheel chair the rest of my life and i didn't want that. so i had the surgeries to repair some of the disc and leg pain i had so bad and during that time i was layed up for over 6 months and did gain some back but since have lost it and now fighting to lose the rest of it. i was way over 300 lbs. when i began and now nearing 200lbs. which i feel has been a life saver to me. i now can wear clothes i haven't worn for many years and get out and swim and do some exercise and enjoy life more.
for me keeping my carbs low was easier at first than it is now for me. the weight came off fast then to but now just creeps off. maybe a lb. or so a month and sometimes not even that anymore.
i got rid of all junk food from my kitchen and only keep low carb foods now in it and thats helped me mostly i think. i plan my meals out now with a weekly menu plan and i read and check all labels in the stores whenever i buy anything. i made up a low carb cook book and keep that handy and read it often to try new recipes. i go to the recipe site and print up the ones i want and then i put them all in a binder note book.
i also go on the board alot and write my friends for support to.
i feel that i fight this battle of the buldge everyday of my life and will until i lose it all and even after that to.
but i lost it mostly for my health, my back mainly, and i now feel so much better than i have in years. yes i still have arthritis of the spine and my back still hurts alot but at least my legs are in walking mode now and i don't need that wheel chair much anymore. i swim just about everyday now and do what exercise i can and that feels good to for me.
i have amazed my doctors of all the weight i have lost. most doctors don't like atkins low carb, they think its bad but i know its been great for me and my back and sugar, and high blood pressure. my doc did put me on vitamins because of a low posstasium level but other wise the low carb has been good for me no matter what others say about it.
i hear so many things about how bad it is for you that i could scream sometimes, i think the ones who thinks its bad is the ones who have failed with it...........
well thats my story............
i will keep on going until i lose it all to.

what a great site tis is and reading everyones testimonies..

[Biddy]

Hi, I am new to this site, and am not sure of the protocol so apologize if I inadvertantly step on somebodies toes. I have been dabbling in low carb dieting for a couple of years now, losing 10-12 lbs, then regaining and losing again. I started at 205 and this am weighed 194.5, so am not making much progress. my new commitment was made about 6 weeks ago at 199.5 so in that time have re lost 5 lbs, am being really faithful this time but because of the yo-yo abuse my body is being very stubborn, but thus far have not lost heart. Perhaps that is because of how good high pro-lowcarb eating makes me feel. I have an acid reflux problem and by not eating sugars and starches I seldom have to even take so much as one Rolaid. As I say to my husband, even if I don't lose any weight, how I feel on this method of eating makes it worth while and perhaps over time the weight will slink away. After all i did not gain it overnight so I can't expect it to go away any faster than it crept on. What i have seen so far in this site is very encouraging and plan to stick around awhile if you will have me. Biddy

[cutevic]

...to give my testimony.
I've been here a few weeks already and I figured today is as good as any to share a little about myself.

My health was my main reason for trying Atkins. I had to retire early because of it. I was continually going from one illness to another. It wasn't until I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, 3yrs. ago, that I said to myself that I had to try and do whatever it took to get my life back and get back control of it. I've had 2 potential life threatening diseases, that I came through without incident. I had radiation for the cancer, and I'm cancer free.

It was at that moment, I'd said to myself that God had seen it fit to keep me here and I wanted to stay. I'd been hearing about Dr. A for years but never really "heard" him. I decided too give it a try,(March '04) what did I have to lose, except of course some weight. I'd made up my mind to give it 100%, my all. From that point this woe/wol has been extremely easy for. Cheating has never been an option for me. I still can't believe I've come this far, from 429 lbs. to 278 lbs. I still have a ways to go, but I know I'll get there. The best thing about all this is that I have control again, actually more control than I ever had.

I have the best Dr. ever. He is behind me 100%, and is very proud of me. Am I lucky or what?

I thank Dr. A. for giving me my life back, and for the new and improved me. It only gets better from here.

I want to thank you all for allowing me to share my story with you, and for you all sharing yours with me.

to you all. Vicki

[Sandy56]

WOW!!! What a testimony and a tribute to how the Lord can work in our lives. You make me want to try harder. I haven't been doing very well at all. I know I have to make a committment to do this all the way or not at all. That's all there is to it. I thank you for your testimony, it's helped more than you'll ever know.

Sandy

[Verleen]

In February 2003, I read about the Atkins diet in the newspaper and decided to try it. I got the book and followed the Induction menus religiously for those two weeks. At the start of the diet, I was taking the maximum allowed oral meds for diabetes. After a week, I didn't need any meds at all. After two weeks, I lost 18 lbs. So I know how beneficial this diet is to a diabetic. It is important for a diabetic to monitor their blood sugar before taking meds because this diet produces results so quickly. However, for me, all the cooking had a negative affect because of a neuro-muscular disease (I use a power wheelchair). I ended up bed ridden from all the cooking I did and the diet fell to the wayside. I am trying to find a way for me to do this diet. I know there must be a way to do it.

[la.lady]

Firt of all. Are you type 1 or type 2 diabetic? My daughter is type 1 and that means she can't do it by diet alone. She has a pump that controls her blood sugar. If you are type 2 then this diet should be good for you.

[Suej1946]

I started low carb , well it will be a year in Aug. I started at 186 and am now at 162 with a goal of 155. I just got tired of looking at my fat belly which I still have.
I had half of my colon out and a cyste from my liver so I am cut all the way down from under my breasts to below my naval. I then had surgery again in my stomach for mulitple hernias so I find it hard to exercise my belly at all. still sore from scar tissue after all these years.
I saw myself getting closer to 60 and saw an image in the mirrow that I didnt recognize or like very much. I was getting fatter and fatter and much to close to 200 lbs.
I take meds for high blood pressure and for cholestorol. My cholestorol at start of atkins was 199 (with meds) now its down to 167 (with meds).
thats why I did it and am trying very hard to continue it. I just want to be one person insted of 2.

[Biddy]

hi Suej, what a testamonial!!! Hang in there, it sounds like you are on the right track. Someone with so many obstacles to overcome is an inspiration to us all. Check out " oxycise.com" the breathing exercises may help you strengthen your stomach muscles. Biddy

[Suej1946]

Ah thanks Biddy. but a lot of people on here have it worse then me Im sure. Im fine now.
thanks again. you made me smile.

[Verleen]

Way to go Suej! You are doing good with the diet. Its amazing what a change the diet can make.

Patty, I'm a Type 2 diebetic and when I did Atkins for a little over a month in 2003, I went off diabetes meds completely because my blood sugar stabilized in the normal range. I was on the highest dosage possible. The next step was insulin. Also my triglyc. plummeted to normal and cholesterol dropped. My doctor was initially against this 'dangerous' diet, but was changing her mind after my blood test results.