I tried Atkins a while back and lost weight (28 lbs.) Then, personal pressures and family problems (mother with Alzheimer's and warring siblings) depressed me so I stopped dieting. Period. Now I'm 5' 4" and got on the scales today - uh-oh- l95 lbs. Don't look that bad, says daughter. I know better. No matter how well you carry weight, l95 is obscene for me as hubby is 6'7". I look like a blonde soap bubble bobbing next to him when I catch our image in windows. Soooo, South Beach I didn't like - found it too confusing. To me Atkins is easier; and maybe if I eat less meats better for me - and more fish I can have best of both worlds. Started this thing Sat. and have crossed days off on calendar. I need to do this - run/own an orchard and work is too demanding. I know my health will suffer is I don't get this off. Need more energy, too. Sorry for such a long post, but I'm so darned mad and discouraged at my weight I could run away from myself! Thought maybe I'd weigh in at l85 tops; that extra 10 lbs. was a "weight" on my shoulders I didn't need. I'm going to have to share this with someone and hubby isn't that interested. I guess being short I've dieted on and off a lot in our marriage. Difference is, I'm way overboard and ready to do something. Rock bottom, here folks.

I had to laugh about the image you created. I've seen myself that way many, many times. Brought back some memories.

I've tried Atkins and SB but found them to be very restrictive. I'm on WW and have not felt deprived. I like to eat a variety of things and found this to be the most flexible for me. I've lost 36 pounds since January.

Being overweight is depressing, but also being on a diet is depressing! Vicious circle! Ugh! But I just had to make up my mind that it's ME that can change things. I've had to stop making excuses and blaming everybody else for me being a lard butt. They didn't hold that gun to my head and make me eat that french fry or piece of chocolate. Good thing you don't get bubbles over your head that show your thoughts! People would think I'm insane with all the mental conversations I have with myself!

Just hang in there! The hardest step to take is the first one and it sounds like you've taken it!

Shawnee, You've come to the best place for encouragement and support! Join us in the weekly chat And good luck

Hi Shawnee -

I know that feeling. I am 5"6 and I too felt horrified when I stepped on the scale to see I weighed even more than I initally thought.

Don't get discouraged though! Find a diet that works for you and something you can live with. The point is to find a diet so you don't fell like you are ON a diet. Sounds strange but if you can find a diet that works for you, you'll like it, change your ways of eating and voila! The goal here is to change the way you think about eating right?

I found that coming to this website helps so much. I check back here often as do a lot of others and it's very nice to have so many people encouraging you. Sign in here and add your weight on a scale. Ask everyone questions about diets you want to do -- Atkins.

I am on Atkins too. I had a few hiccups along the way since starting on May 8th...but I really like the diet and even when I have lost my way and got off track, the new way I approach food is still there and I have not gained one pound back!

Good luck to you -- I have faith in you!

Welcome and Good Luck with Atkins. It has worked wonders for me. I never could stick well to any other plan without using diet pills. Wishing the best for you. Post often and let us know how it's going.

This is really odd I must say. I'm 5'4", my hubby is 6'7", we're from Kansas. The difference? I'm a redhead

Well Ann, I'm a blonde. I guess we both have quite a lot in common! I lag behind my husband when possible or take the lead! Thank you all for you warmth and support. It's been 7 days and I haven't cheated. I believe if I incorporate some of the good carbs after my 2 weeks with Atkins instead of bad carbs I'll feel better about this diet. I worry about the effect on one's heart - health in the future. But I can and do get results on this diet and this weight can't be good for me so I'm going to buckle down. Helps to have those low-carb tortillas - they take the place of the bread I have to give up. That is my downfall. I'll have to goof around and find out how to enter weight and scale as I've seen on other posts. I need something to boost my ego with and make this journey easier. Every little trick helps, I believe. I have so much to lose and want to be as close as possible by Christmas for my goal. If I don't, that's OK. Whatever I lose by then will be better than where I am now. Thanks again all and God bless you for your encouragement!

I know what you mean about worrying about your heart. I have RA and it affects the heart anyway and I've been really awful about staying lc because of worrying about that too. When I did really well on lc my blood profiles were 'ideal' to quote the dr. I don't know why I'm so hung up on it now. Even if I eat a lot more meat, it has to be healthier than this excess weight I'm carrying on me. I don't eat much red meat at all, it's mostly chicken and sometimes fish. I cook with olive oil, I choke down vegetables when I can (I'm not very good at getting enough veggies) and I drink a lot of water. I am a total carboholic though. I binge on them terribly, there is no such thing as moderation for me. I do better to remove them completely and that's just what I'm going to have to do. I had been doing sugarbusters but I'm bingeing something awful with it. It's not strict enough for me and I've been everywhere on my diet in the last few months. Looking back on my diary from years past, it was low carb that was the only successful eating plan for me.

WOW! You're doing low carb and worrying about your heart/health? Sorry ladies, I find that amazing....and interesting. Most people don't get to be overweight by eating healthy. THAT worries me about my health/heart. Considering the main source of my meals now are veggies I don't see a heart issue in that. The only problem I find with my health/heart is when I don't stick to this WOE and eat junk (carb-filled foods). To me, the smartest thing to do was switch to Atkins---it's also the healthiest (IMO)

Brenda, I gained this weight from steroids and "healthy whole grains". I dont' eat a lot of refined grains but I do binge on things like shredded wheat and 100% whole grain breads. Most of this weight is from 2 years of prednisone though. I'm off it now and feeling better and I'm getting off all grains, even the healthy ones. My family has a high rate of cancer and heart disease and the dr. (who recommended low carb btw) even told me to be very aware of the meat intake and be diligent about leaner meats. I never was a junk food eater, I never had it growing up and never developed a taste for it. It's the so called healthy carbs I have trouble with.

shawnee-just click on anyone's ticker (the weight tracker's at the bottom of posts), and it will take you straight to the place to create your own. When your done, highlight and copy the text it makes, then click on "user cp" at the top of the page. From there, click on "signature", and paste what you have in the box, then save it. To change it when you lose weight, you just do the same thing.

I agree with Brenda that being overweight is more unhealthy for your heart, and in general, than anything Atkins can do to you. Most people while on this plan actually see great improvement in their heart health and cholesterol/triglyceride levels. If you're losing excess fat, that can only be a good thing!
I also am not so sure about the fact that doing Atkins permanently wouldn't have an adverse effect on heart health. There are too many studies that suggest otherwise, and it's not a plan that's recommended by most doctors. It's a proven way to lose weight, and therefore a proven way to get healthier-don't get me wrong. I think Atkin's is a great plan, and it works well. I'm just not convinced that it's the way we should eat FOREVER.

Ann, I know what you mean about the prednisone contributing to weight gain. I have been on it for 3 1/2 yrs. and am still taking 20mg. daily. My specialist put me on a low-carb diet and I chose Atkins. It has been great for taking the weight off inspite of the prednisone. I did try low-fat, low-cal plans while on prednisone and couldn't lose the weight, would get frustrated and give up. I plan to always eat this way except adding a little more fruits and whole grains.

Thanks to my computer-minded daughter I know have a sliding weight scale! Appreciate the helpful directions!

Coming back to Atkins, I did Atkins last year for 5 or 6 months and switched to counting calories and lost 54 pounds but unhappily I have gained back 30, I am back to counting calories and have lost about 4 or 5 pouinds. I am going to go back to Atkins though, It will be a couple of days before I get to the store, I have made my shopping list, though. No more , ice cream, bread or candy bars! It took longer than 5 or 6 months to lose 54 pounds that is just how long I stayed on Atkins.

I'm from Central Kansas too, small world. I have been on atkins since Thanksgiving 05. I love it!!