Hi ladies! I'm new here as of yesterday, so thanks for the warm welcome!
My story in a nutshell is that I've been on Atkins with varying degrees of strictness since January 2001, and its helped me lose and keep off more than 65 pounds. My highest weight was 238 (a lot for my 5'3 frame), and I'm currently at a much healthier 173, but definitely trying to keep losing. After a while of being off the wagon, I'm just rededicated myself to being strict on Atkins and regular exercise.
So, I just had to share my new secret weapon in the weight battle -- a personal trainer! I know, I know, it sounds pretty extravagant and expensive. Let me explain!
I got married about a year ago and was determined to look great in my wedding dress. The only problem was I had NO motivation to actually drag my lazy butt out of bed and get to the gym before or after work. I hate exercise, but I love the results. Plus, I recently moved to a major metropolitan area, where fitness clubs are really expensive. SO, I looked into everything, different clubs, even fitness boot camp (horrid torture!), and finally in desperation met with a few personal trainers. A few were sort of meatheads, but one guy and I really hit it off. So we worked together before my wedding and it did wonders! After the honeymoon, I slacked off.
Now I'm back in the swing of things with him, but only meeting him one or two times a week. He charges $40 per session which is pretty good for our area (it would be cheaper in smaller towns). The beauty of it is this: He comes to me! All I have to do is roll out of bed at 6:45, he arrives at 7:00, and he walks me through a workout tailored especially for me. There's no excuses (I can't very well not show up), and I've got his full attention and guidance regarding proper form, etc. as we work out. He's literally standing over me or behind me and guiding me through exercises. He knows what I can do and what I can't, and works with me. It's really great... He even calls me sometimes on off days to ask if I've been doing my cardio or what I've been eating.
So, I just wanted to share this as an idea, because its something I never thought I would do. But it really can be affordable -- or at least within reach. I figure I'll spend about $320 a month max on our training sessions, comparable maybe to a car payment. Considering I don't have the expense of a gym membership, the expense is easier to justify. I figure my health is worth it....at least to get me kick-started for a few months.
Anyway, ladies, just thought I'd share my secret weapon. Thanks for all the support.