Hi...

Just happened upon your post and couldn't resist putting in my "two cents"...

I've been thin and overweight, and prefer being thin...and being able to go places as you mentioned with confidence...

...wear stylish clothes

...feel good about myself...be in control

Mid October when invited to be the Maid of Honor at a friends wedding, was the moment of truth for me. I shudder when I look at the pictures...

I began a sensible eating plan after reading several books on the subject of low carbing...and the difference that two and a half months made in my appearance is startling!

I kept it very simple. Allowing myself 60 carbs a day...when I reach that point the ingestion of carbs stops...and I snack on protein.

Rather than record the foods that I was eating I wrote down their carb values as I went along...some days I didn't reach half of my quota...some days I was limited to chicken breasts or liver cut up in bite sized chunks to sanck on in the evening because my limit had been reached at dinner!

I hate water...and drank diet pop...tea with sweetner...coffee with sweetner...soda water with sweetner ...etc...no juices. If I drank water it was with lemon and lots of sweetner.

Bread was only touched ...not eaten...to make sandwiches for family...in any form. No potatos, pasta,corn,beans or rice. They were off limits.

Fruit was limited to one piece a day... half a banana with sour cream...if I was unable to keep my mind off of bananas. A rare treat! Limited my fruit to grapefruit, peaches, strawberries, canteloupe...all the low carb fruits.

At first the portions that I consumed of chicken, roast, bacon, etc., were huge! But that was O K. It seemed like I had to go through that stage before my mind and my body adjusted and required less. It's my only explanation. When I started out it seemed that all that I thought about was food.

Cabbage was my friend! A big pot of soup made with meat and cabbage and tomatoes...a few raisins... or stuffed peppers, rolled cabbage with hamburger, a stew with meat and carrots...was always handy...cooked the night before. Ate lots of veggies...cauliflower, brussel sprouts... Chicken soup with lots of garlic and onions ...staved off the cravings as well.

I snacked on green or red peppers and creamcheese sprinkled with soy sauce...celery and carrots dipped in dressing...

It worked ...Recently when faced with personal challenges I strayed off the path...the Holidays didn't help...did a fair share of entertaining...but QUIT never! Not until the thin me comes forward.

Sharing your experiences does help! There are so many wonderfully supportive and caring people to be found at this site. It's important to communicate your feelings. Recognize the "traps" that we set for ourselves and that others set for us!

Weight loss is inevitable with a sensible a combination of limited caloric intake...lack of carbohydrates ... and excercise..

"It will not happen overnight!" this is the message that sustained me. My common sense told me that my goal had to be reasonable. My reward was being able to tie my shoes with out puffing. The seat belt in the car was easier to buckle. My legs crossed with ease. These rewards came after two months not two weeks.

My scale went haywire...and that was a good thing ...I find that it's better not to weigh myself. I don't test to see if I am in Ketosis. I just keep it simple.

Don't give up...give this way of eating a chance. The weight will come off.......

Gwen