I have been low-carbing for 5 years. It was the most important and beneficial gift I've ever given myself. I lost 35 pounds 5 years ago and successfully kept it off. My Acid reflus went away. However, this past year I gained about 15 pounds. Actually it happened in about 3 weeks. One day I weighed 158 and the next week I weighed 168. Then it jumped to about 175. The other thing is I'm really retaining water.

And I know why. My husband I moved to Arizona 2 years ago and I started cheating. I guess it finally caught up with me. We still do not eat hardly any carbs at home...no bread, pasta, potatoes, sugar. All I drink is water. A typical day is eggs and meat for breakfast, Atkins shake or tuna salad for lunch and grilled meat, salad and a vegetable for dinner. However, we also ate out alot and instead of Outback, it was Mexican. The chips are killing me!

So I've made a committment to get back in the saddle! But I think my body has changed and I'm really discouraged. It's not working like it did the first time. Before this weight gain, the pounds just melted off. Now it's now coming off at all. Nor do my clothes fit any different. I've even purchased a treadmill and am walking every other day. The most worrisome is how much water I'm retaining. This wol is a natural diuratic...now I wake up with puffy eyes and swollen hands and feet. It was also that way before I lost the 35 pounds.

I keep telling myself to not give up and accept this weight. I've been "serious" again for about 2 weeks. I keep a food diary and have been staying at about 30-35 carbs per day. Interestingly enough when I lost weight the first time, I probably ate 50-60 carbs perday. I started with Protein Power and didn't go as strict as Atkins.

I really need some encouragement.

Thanks for letting me vent.
Regards,
Nancy