Hello! What a fabulous and helpful website. There are so many areas that caught my eye I wasn't sure where to say "hello," but this one seems the best fit.
My name is Michelle and I'm 35, married, no kids, 11 dogs (they ARE my kids, and yes I AM crazy, haha) I also volunteer w/different canine rescue groups so I foster home many other dogs who come and go. (and you know, dogs don't care what you look like!)
I've struggled with my weight since late teens and seldom felt "truly" happy about my body. Two years ago I did Body For Life and the results were good... then I had some semi-serious colon troubles and tried a "specific carb" diet, with the intent of helping my colon... that didn't really happen but surprisingly I lost more weight and felt (and looked) the best I had ever in my adult life. I've found now that that "specific carb" diet is actually sort of a combo of Atkins and Sugarbusters. I could eat mostly "whole foods" and NO refined sugar of any kind, NO processed foods. Meats, hard cheeses, fruits and non-starchy vegg's were all fine, in any quantity. Exercising regularly, the whole bit.
Then things seemed to crash down last spring and continued thru the summer, when several "bad things" happened, the worst of which was a close family member's suicide. Being an emotional eater I said "screw the diet" and ate whatever I wanted, as much as I wanted, for about 6 months - with darn near NO exercise. So here I sit in horrible shape and with the guilt and horror of knowing that I *was* pretty pleased with myself and then consciously BLEW IT. I think that is the hardest thing to deal with now... how could I do this willingly? I can't stand to see my "specific carbo clothes" b/c they would not possibly fit now... it is depressing.
In any case, last week I decided I must get back on the wagon and eat right, which for me means no sugar - and exercise regularly. I bought the Atkins book and am sort of doing the "induction" now... but I do prefer the 5-6 smaller meals (like BLF suggests) thru the day. Trying to do BFL-type exercises. I know I need to be able to handle future difficulties in other ways and NOT thru food abuse... and that will be hard to do! But I look forward to the support and info here along the way.
Thanks for reading!
Michelle (rescuedogs)
[email protected]
Introduction, glad to be here (long)
