email/penpal buddy

[Mrs_Tammy94]

I am a Northwest Indiana wife/mother who has just started the atkins diet as of 1/4. I have lost 8 pds. My overall highest weight was 243. (YUCK!) I am tired of this. That is why I am here. I am looking for a buddy who is approx. at my same weight and who we can share the roller coaster ride. I have a all time goal to get down to 165 lbs. Can anyone help me?

[Mrssillymom3]

Hi MrsTammy - I have been on Atkins since the 7th of January and I have lost 6 lbs. Feeling pretty good at this stage, and have found that there is alot of support on these message boards. I would be happy to share the ride with you if you like. I am a 37 yr old wife and mother in Iowa, I have 3 great kids, 10, 3 1/2 and 5 months. I am a stay at home mom, and my heighest weight was 316 just before birth of my daughter... lost all that weight and now I am at highest non-prego weight...282, well actually I am now 276, but I would like to get down to a weight that is comfortable for me, not sure what that is yet, but determined to get there. Let me know if you are interested.

[Mrs_Tammy94]

I am happy to say I made it today. I didn't cheat. I was worried about the weekends being home. But I did it. I return to work Monday and have to get over yet another obsticle and that is.... cut back on my splenda in my coffee. It is going to be really hard. I feel like that is my one thing I am holding on to. Any suggestions?

Tam

[Mrssillymom3]

decrease a little at a time. My hubby and I drink coffee still... the kind you aren't supposed to have. and we used to use lots of sugar and powdered creamer, well we have both cut down on our coffee slowly and I don't use any creamer now, but I do use one teaspoon of splenda. How much do you put in there? Because Splenda is okay on Atkins... but remember it does have carbs in it. So you have to count those. Good luck, I know it is hard but you can do it!!

[Im_Rosey]

Hi... Can you guys handle one more in your little group. I really would like to find someone to help me be more accountable. I am doing this alone and have lost 40 lbs so far. but it is getting harder with no one to help me or encourage me to be good.
So I have been cheating more and more often so have not lost any weight for the last 3 months. I figured you guys would be good for me as my name is also Tammy and I am from Iowa kind of a combo there..lol

[Mrssillymom3]

Always room for more and hey we can all support one another. WELCOME
Melissa

[Mrs_Tammy94]

You sure can join. I am happy to have you. This is very hard for me too. I am tired of being over weight. It just sucks! I think this is the hardest thing I have ever did. But I am going to some how make it.

[Mrssillymom3]

hi girls just wanted to invite you to join up on the pen pal board at the 123 plan thread. Everyone there is very supportive and helpful. I think you would get alot out of it.
So come on over and join in we would love to have you!!

[Mrs_Tammy94]

always room for another. The more the better.

[Mrs_Tammy94]

I had such a busy day yesterday. I quess back to the Monday rush. I did do pretty good though. 16 carbs and the best thing is I a very satisfied. YIPPPPPPIE! I am on my 8th day now and finally I am noticing how much better I am feeling. I am not even as tired anymore and I am sleeping a hole lot better.
Mellisa I want to thank you for the suggestion about the Port Rines. I picked some up on my way to work and had them with a wrap which include a slice of cheese, letttuce, turkey and two pickles. A total of wrap 3, cheese 1, and pickles 1 equals 5 carbs and it was a delicious lunch.
Thanks Tammy

[Mrs_Tammy94]

I am having a hard time with not having anything in coffee. I was sad to finally find out that I wasn't counting splenda as a point per packet. Now that I look back I was having way to much. I am trying to cut it back and I am finding that something is missing again just like in the begining of the atkins diet with sugar.
Mellisa I cut back half way and I am trying to do it slowly too.
Tammy

[Mrssillymom3]

Great job cutting back Tammy. I know how hard it is...I had to cut it back too... I wasn't measuring it and it is such a small amount but you do get used to it, and just think all those carbs you cut out you can actually be eating something instead. That is how I look at it. I would rather be able to have an ounce of cheese or some pepperoni slices instead of that extra tsp of Splenda in my coffee. Try drinking water in place of some of the coffee you drink too. YOU will find that it helps you get over the Splenda withdrawal quicker by flushing your system. And it helps to make you feel full. Glad to hear you are feeling good and sleeping better. Sure wish I was..... I go to bed exhausted and I can sleep great for about 4-5 hours and then I wake up and it is very hard to fall asleep again. Not sure why...hoping someone knows the answer... LOL
Have a great day and keep up the good work you are really doing it girly!!!

[Im_Rosey]

How are you guys tonight?
I don't drink coffee so not having the same problems with the splenda. I hardly use mine. This is day 2 without cheats, for me right now that is a record. I have been going to curves for my exercise 3-4 times a week. I am interested in what you guys do for exercise? Once it gets warmer I will start walking daily again also.
Sorry to hear about your sleep ploblem Melissa hope everything equals out soon with that.

since there are 2 Tammys here I will just use my initials for signing off...Take care

TB

[Mrssillymom3]

Thanks for not confusing me with the two Tammy thing... Great job not cheating, don't you feel good about yourself? I know it is hard, but hopefully it will become easier as times goes by. I am on Day 8 and I haven't cheated yet. So this is a record for me. Even though I really wanted to eat a tater tot off the kids dish the other night when I was cleaning off the table. That is terrible isn't it? Well I had hubby put the scale away. I was driving myself nuts with it. I would get on everyday and if I didn't see a change I was starting to get upset. I got on this morning for last time till Feb. 1st. I am down 10 lbs in 1 week....woooohoooo! I was so excited. SO I must go in and change my profile and stuff to reflect the change. I am also going to measure myself and see if there are any changes there. I hope the sleeping thing goes away soon too.. last night I went to bed at like 11pm and I woke up at like 1am and it took me till around 3am to fall back to sleep, then our son came in around 4 :30am and woke me up, he went back to sleep right away, but I was awake till around 5am and I heard hubby come in from work at 6:15am, and I got up at 7am cause I had a MOPS meeting this morning at 9am I had to be ready for. So I am hoping that I can get some decent sleep this weekend now that hubby is off till Sunday. I always sleep better when he is there anyway. As for exercise, I don't do anything like Curves, but I have been cleaning more around the house and I also started playing the Twister Moves game with the kids at night to work off energy they have and I figure if I am moving around too then it will help me as well. I can't wait for spring so I can get out and push the stroller with the baby in it and our son can ride his bike and I can take them to the park and stuff. Winter is a very hard time. I also want to start doing a walking tape and body flex tape I have, but I can never seem to find the time, I am either changing a diaper, feeding a bottle, chasing a 3 yr old who is chasing the dog...cooking, cleaning or helping the 10 yr old with homework and stuff. I need to find some time to work in there for me to just do it. Well I need to gt off here. Havea great day and keep up the good work!! You are doing great!!

[kruella]

Hi everyone,

Just breezing throught and thought I would offer a tip. Some people don't care for it but I use it all the time. I don't put it in coffee but I cook with it and use it in deserts.

It has NO CARBS and its called Stevia and comes in a liquid and a powder form. You can get it at your health food stores. Here is a web site to read about it, cookingwithstevia.com.

I sometimes mix it with splenda depending on what I am cooking per cheesecake I will use 1 teaspoon stevia and 1 pkt Splenda.
Dr. Atkins says you get the best taste by mixing. Hope you like it.

[Mrssillymom3]

Thanks Kruella, I have heard a little about Stevia but wasn't really sure what it was and where you get it.. I don't use too much Splenda and haven't started experimenting with desserts yet... Still trying to work the plan with no desserts except maybe jello sometimes. That is a really great tip though. I think I really get scared with the desserts because the amount of Splenda I would have to use I am not willing to use carbs on that, when I can use them on my meals. LOL Thanks again.

[Im_Rosey]

Don't quote me on this but.....in a magazine I was reading . It was called: Let's Live
It was saying something about that some people on a low carb diet can have sleep problems. They recommend that if you do to eat low amount of protein for supper and if that was not possible to eat your supper earlier.

Protein is suppose to interfere with your brains ability to produce serotonin.....I am not sure if this is a true thing or not but might be worth a try.


TB

[Mrssillymom3]

Hey TB....That is great to know. Now that I think of it the earlier I eat the better I sleep. I also think that I don't need as much sleep anymore either. I am staying up a bit later and it seems to be helping me somewhat. I think as you lose your body just doesn't need the extra sleep as it did. Not sure if it is a proven medical stat, but it seems to be the case for me.
Hope everyone is doing good...haven't heard from you guys in awhile. Email when you get a chance.

[Mrs_Tammy94]

It does make a big difference. I don't eat anthing after 6:30. Sometimes, I even read when I am not ready to go to sleep. It really relaxes you. A good read is a new book I borrowed from The Vitamin Shop (ya you can borrow books there) It is called "Patient Heal Thyself" talking about carbs you will not believe what you will learn. Anyways, it talks about just healthy stuff. Mainly bacteria's.
I find that if I keep my books open to help it really keeps me motivated.
Another good book is by Dr. Barefoot called "The calcium fator"
I hope it might help you guys. Have a great evening
Tammy