Hi everyone! Have been living the low-carb lifestyle now since May of this year. This is my first try at low-carbing after slowly inching my way up to tip the scales at over 250 lbs. by living the low-fat life. At 46 years of age, had kind of given up at ever being anything other than a "sturdy" woman. The one day, my daughter kinda off-handedly mentioned about a friend of hers, a chef at an Italian place no less, that had been doing the Atkin's diet with great success. The part that sold me was when she said. "You can lose weight doing all the things you normally do--even sitting there at your computer." The next day--I began and have never looked back!
Working at a hospital and being a member of the medical field, it was extremely hard to erase all the myths about weight-loss that I had been taught all through the years. Realizing that the "food pyramid" and low-fat foods full of carbs were responsible for my weight problem was half of the battle. Every day I heard, "that diet will make your kidneys fail" or "you will have a heart attack eating all that meat and fat." Now, after over 50 lbs. of weight lost, I see even the most stubborn of medical people are starting to rethink their approach. One day, I think the food pyramid could be completely flipped upside-down! (or is it that it will finally be rightside-up!!!)
So, as my final words of encouragement I say, that as with any diet or lifestyle change, you gotta stay committed but you don't have to stay hungry also. I suggest you find yourself low-carb treats (and there are plenty of them) and allow yourself to have them when cravings strike. Before beginning Atkin's, I was the worst carbohydrate offender on the planet and lived on soda pop and munchies. I now truly consider carbs to be my enemy and have gladly traded them for a "well-oiled", well-fed, leaner body!