Hi all! I'm re-introducing myself after about a year absence (and my weight shows it). Due to my crazy job, I might not be able to post much, but I WILL be lurking, and soaking in the encouragement I found here.

I began low-carbing at 320 lbs in 2000, getting to about 225 lbs. Unfortunately, I went off LC and gained back up to 265. THEN, went on again on this board, and lost about seven pounds, got discouraged, and dropped out again - also got busy. On the day they asked me here to be a mentor, my life got so dramatically crazy, I had to say thanks, and then a day later, no thanks. Again, I went off low-carb, gaining back to 283 lbs.

I began to really look at LC again in February, and have lost 25 lbs since that time. I found that the following were misakes I made the first times that caused me to stall and get discouraged:

1. LC bars - bad, bad, bad. It doesn't matter that they say Low carb - they are classic stallers, AND they don't do anything to help those of us who are sugar addicts learn to live without junk. It just went from one "junk" to another.

2. I complicated things - I HATE to cook! So, why was I forever trying to motivate myself by copying recipes and telling myself I'd cook them? This leads me to:

3. KISS - keep it simple, stupid (telling myself, not you) - I find that I do MUCH better by just keeping it simple. Meat, eggs, 4 or less ounces of cheese, 1 to 3 cups leafy greens or 1 cup other allowed vegi. That's it. If I have a major craving for chocolate (such as at certain times), I get a lower quality, waxy individually wrapped in small pieces type (those brachs foil wrapped little eggs work great), let two melt in my mouth over a 45 minute period, and I'm good to go for another week.

I found that when I was doing the "allowed" cheats like sugar free jello, heavy cream, cream cheese, etc., I stalled...why? Because being addicted to carbs and sweets, it kept my tastebuds wanting them all the time. And, for some reason, even when I didn't eat more than I was told of those things, they stalled me.

So, that's where I've been and what I've learned In the meantime, I'll enjoy getting re-acquainted to the board, even if I can't post often.

Shalom,
Sh'ra