Hey ladies ( and gents if it applies ) , I thought it would be fun to know why each of chose Low Carb and what are expectations are with this WOE. Here is my story:

I have struggled with my weight all of my life. Obesity runs in my family, my Aunt had a bypass surgery back in the 70's as she was over 200 pounds overweight. My Mom and Grandmother also had obesity problems, my Mom currently is about 100+ overweight. I have tried to stay on top of it but it has been a lifelong struggle. I have been or a roller coaster since my teens and have never gotten to the point the many in my family have, the most I ever weighted until now was 160 (I am short barely 5'1). I thought I had my weight under control when I turned 32 and went from 160 to 130 and maintained it for two years. I quit smoking in Jan 98 and have gradually ballooned to 172. I was not prepared for that. The key to weightloss for me has always been excerise, not anymore. The only effective weightloss I had was that I lost 20 pounds two years ago on 800 calories a dayand taking Metabolife. Of course I couldn't eat that way for ever and once again gained the weight back. Last year I joined a gym and worked out almost everyday for 8 months and did WW points and proceded to gain 10 pounds over the course of the 8 months. I also started on Depo Provera which I stopped in December and switched to a low dose pill.

I started looking to Atkins in December and read the articles online and decided that maybe this is for me. I am sick and tired of losing and gaining the same wieght over and over. I am also sick of being hungry all the time in order to lose weight. It is no way to live. Since on Atkins, my progress has been slow but it is still progress! Of course I would have loved to have been one of lucky ones who lost 15 pounds on induction but that is okay. I haven't wieghed in two weeks but measure and I am down almost 5 inches

I am not hungry anymore, I am eating full fat foods that were banned from my house a long time ago, and I am losing weight! I have not cheated, at least not intentionally , since I started this WOE on Jan 6. On WW I went off program at least 2-3 times a week. Do I miss bread, potatos and pasta? Of course I do! I can still have bread (Atkins) and when I reach maintenace I can have small amounts of potato and maybe occasionally pasta. I look forward to reaching my goal hunger free.

My choice was simple--it chose me! I have to eat low carb because I have PCOS. I was undiagnosed till last year, a condition I have had all my life. I never gained any weight till after the birth of my daughter and it stayed on and grew some! I realized very quickly that low carbing was the way to go--less cravings, less fuzzy headedness and the weight loss. Most important to me was my health and my hormones. I am hoping to get through the other side of hormonal imbalances and lose the weight I have had on my body for 4 years.

For me, the choice was no choice...... I began Atkins on doctor's orders...... I have always had high (over 300) cholesterol and my blood sugar got to the "watch out" range... my dad was a diabetic... I quit smoking and gained almost 60 lbs.... (remember I am "only" 5' tall!)..... after 3 months, cholesterol was down 67 pts (total) - also the hdl and ldl numbers were each moving in the right direction, my blood sugar was down by 40 pts....... at this point, 10 months after beginning, (I started 4/15/02) I am down 32-33 lbs......... I didn't lose anything for about 4-5 months and keep going back and forth within 2-4 lbs (altho today the scale showed a loss of about 2 lbs)..... but I am STILL KEEPIN' ON KEEPIN' ON!!!!!........ I've got to back to the dr for more blood work to check again....... but, I feel good, and to me, that's what counts.

I too had no choice. I was diagnosed with type2 diabetes late last year and didn't want to start meds right away. I have a great doctor who has given me the chance to try to control my sugars.
My weight gain started in high school and has kept going up over the years. In 1997 I reached my heighest weight of about 265 and hated who I saw in the mirror. I went on a strict 1000 cal a day diet and lost 67 pounds which I maintained for almost 2 years. Then I miscarried and put back on 20lbs. With my son's pregnancy I actually lost 28lbs solely from severe naseau. But in my 7th month I developed Bell's Palsy and gained 20 plus back due to the steriods.
I have played with WW and had Bell's Palsy two more times. When I recovered last fall from the second bout I promised myself it was time to get life on track. I started Atkins Jan2nd of this year and have lost around 20lbs so far. I am around 228lbs.
Each day has its strugles but I like the person I am without the sugar. I haven't tried to kick my hubby out of the house in 6 weeks and have much more patience with my little boy. I don't like the moody person I am eating sugar and this is how life is going to be for me from now on.

Thank you for asking this question Ellie. I have also been wondering how everyone decided to try the low carb lifestyle. It is so nice to hear that many Drs are actually willing to reccomend a low carb program. I find it fascinating that low carb seems to benefit so many different health issues. How did the low fat lie ever become the standard weight loss program, is a mystery.
My onocologist also encouraged me to try a low carb lifestyle. I was having severe medication side effects. I can't believe how much better I feel when I stay low carb. Unfortunately I have fallen off the program now and then. How can I be so dumb when I know what works for me
I appreciate you ladies sharing your stories ( by the way are there any fella's here?? ) Thank you..Lori