Thanks for the bump, you guys! Seeing this here reminded me to get my packet sent off, after a couple of months of procrastinating on finding appropriate before/after pics.
Meg, thanks for posting the article about Low Fat beats Low Carb. I feel better about switching now to watching my cals and fats. I know that the LC plan helped me take the wt. off. It just didn't end up being what I wanted to do for a lifetime. I actually felt like it was causing a lot of my chronic stomach problems. I simply couldn't get enough fiber and had to resort to unnatural methods to try to control constipation. My stomach was a mess. I really was in fear that I'd end up with another bowel obstruction.(You can only imagine how fearful I had become that I'd end up with a colostomy). I felt that changing my way of eating was in my best interest. I know there are others are on Atkins that aren't having as much trouble as I was. It makes sense, I've had multiple surgeries and I need the fiber. Taking fiber tabs, laxatives and enemas is no way to live. I was fearful to leave the house for when one of these methods might finally kick in. I have found that the increase in dietary fiber is helping greatly. Much better than anything else I was doing for the problem. For some reason, chewing 16 grams of fibertabs a day doesn't work the same as eating 24 grams of the fiber in your food.
As for LC foods on the grocery shelves. They are super difficult to find. I do most of my shopping at walmart and I couldn't ever find any Atkins products. I think a lot of stores have gotten away from carrying them. I had even called health food stores in my area. They had lots of low-cal/low fat options, but not low carb. I totally felt like I was existing on meat, cheese , eggs and salad.
The premise with Atkins was that as you moved through the phases, you could increase your carbs slowly and lower your fat and protein. This didn't work for me. I never got above 35 carbs really. I tried adding in a 1/2 of a baked sweet potato and started gaining. I hated feeling guilty and off-plan if I succumbed to eating a banana, apple or an orange. I wanted and needed the fruit. I can't understand how a person eating 90-120 grams of carbs a day is really doing Atkins. What could you eat? If my carbs were that high on Atkins, I would have put back on every lb. I've noticed the last few days that my carbs were 150-188 for each day. This is with watching fat and keeping cals around 1400.
It took me a long time to be ready to make the change, but I am so thankful for the support and guidance that I've received. I'll probably ask a lot of dumb questions so I hope everyone will have patience with me.
I read the Thin For Life book a few months ago. At the time , a lot of it didn't really pertain to me as it didn't seem any of the losers were doing LC. I'm going to read it again and I'm sure more of it will strike me as interesting this time.
I am no where near my goal weight, but until I started on this site I have kept off 42 pounds since 2003. I signed up with them, and can't wait to get started on the surveys & what not.
I am also interested in being a member of the NWCR. I want to wait until I have maintained at my goal for a year. Would I still qualify to be a member with changing my maintenance strategy midway thru the year?
After reading through this thread I've decided to apply to NWCR to see if they will have me. I've maintained a 30 pound weight loss since January 2005 so that ought to be sufficient! Wow, that's 2.5 years! My weight has gone up and down a lot during that time but I've never touched those 30 pounds, if you understand what I mean.
I had decided long ago that I would use healthy BMI anniversary (it was more than 30 lbs, but it was my first REAL goal). It just occurred to me that it must be soon. I looked it up and it was 3/15/07. Guess I should look up how to do this
I have looked forward to this day marking my 1 year of a 30 # loss and the opportunity to join. I am looking forward to filling out the questionnaire when it arrives.
