Wed, Nov-20-02, 17:54
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Lowcarb since 7/2002
Posts: 5,991
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Plan: Atkins
Stats: 360/232/180
BF:BMI 53.2/34.3/?
Progress: 71%
Location: U.S.: Mid-Atlantic
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Hi everyone
I've been lurking around this forum, reading other people's posts and getting lots of helpful information for about a month now, and I thought it was about time I registered and introduced myself. I identify most with the Triple Digits Club, so I'll start here rather than in the general introductions section.
I started low-carbing back in July after a miserable check-up with the gynecologist -- my blood pressure had shot up to the range where medication was indicated and my weight was beyond the upper reaches of the scale (350 pounds). I gave up on lowfat dieting years ago. Everytime I went on a lowfat diet I would lost a few pounds and then gain it all back, while making myself and my family miserable. However, my weight kept creeping up and I didn't know that there were any alternatives to lowfat out there. I've always been active (swimming and walking), but I reached the point where I was getting out of breath climbing small hills and I was worried I would have a heart attack. I seriously discussed gastric bypass with the doctor in July (she thought it was a good idea) but I'm terrified of anesthesia and surgery.
By some miracle, the weekend after my miserable doctor's visit, an article appeared in the New York Times magazine talking about low carb diets. The article made sense and I immediately cut all sugar and refined carbohydrates from my diet. In a few days, I got over craving them and suddenly I was not hungry between meals and ate less at each meal. A month or so later I bought and read Atkin's book and cut back further on the carbohydrates I eat -- I am now on OWL and eat between 30 and 50 carbs a day.
I've lost a bunch of weight -- I'm not sure how much since the scale at the doctor's last July only went up to 350 and I was above that mark. The first time I stepped on a scale after July was in mid-September and I was 335 at that time. Right now I'm about 315 and have some clothes that used to be too tight to wear that are now too big to wear. My blood pressure has come down to about 127/83 (without medication), well within the normal range, and I'm hoping it will come down even further.
On a personal level -- I've been married for 20 years (mostly happily), have two teen-age children, and a high-pressure job. I've had issues with my weight as long as I can remember, but mostly kept it under control until the two kids were born, when it just started going up and up and up. I gained 75 pounds with the first pregnancy and had a 7 1-2 pound baby, not a good combination!
Reading all your posts has been a big help to me and since I've finally registered with the forum I will try to contribute to the discussions. I'm not a big journal keeper and I don't really want to write down everything I eat as long as I keep losing (I can get obsessive about that kind of thing and it's not good for me).
Liz
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Welcome, Liz!
Hello
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