The difference a year makes - 5 stone gone!

Since I have just passed my one year "atkinsversary" plus also hit goal this Friday, I wanted to share my story. For all those just starting this January, or restarting, or keeping going - hang in there and it will come.

So January 2011 after 2 solid weeks of eating and drinking I decided enough was enough. Felt rubbish plus I was basically getting too big for my already enormous trousers. Something had to be done and it had to work!
- If I could get back from 112kg to 100kg which was my post baby weight then that would be ok.
- If I could get back to 90kg which was my pre-baby weight - well life would be fabulous.

Did some research - Low Carb looked interesting so set off on the Atkins journey. Well what a surprise - cutting the carbs for me was a revelation. I didn't even know that I was addicted After the first week of withdrawal I've been feeling better ever since. I seem to have created new habits - I easily choose alternatives to potatoes and pasta and actually rarely want them. It's not willpower - it's choice (but THAT only works if I dont eat them )

I've stuck with it on holidays abroad, special events and over the festive season and now willing to say this is a way of life. But I also know that I can never let go - I am just starting the maintenance journey and I know that will be tough in a different way.

This week I dipped below 80kg - now I may not be down at 25 BMI but this is pretty well the lightest I have been in my adult years. I tried my wedding dress on yesterday (from '97) and it fit. I dance a lot, enjoy the gym and generally feel fantastic

I'm not sure where I'll end up - no more weight goals but I wouldn't mind losing another 0.5-1 inch on my waist. In the meantime I wish everyone well on their journeys

Congratulations! You look great and I am sure in terms of health and fitness it has been worth it. I find low carb suits me too but I am just following my own healthy eating rather than a diet plan. I hope I am as successful as you have been.

Wow! Katie you've done brilliantly! Adn you look great! I'm not doing Atkins yet as I am on Cambridge but want to think about what steps take once I am nearer goal to get me into maintenance. I had a quick skim through your diary (will read properly at some point) and I noticed that you still had alcohol. I presume you were in ketosis when you first started Atkins? I thought it was dangerous to have alcohol when in ketosis? Presumably you have been fine and it did not affect your losses?

Sorry of all the questions!!! I'm not planning to have any alcohol for some time I'd rather like to give it up if possible! But one step at a time!

That's our Katie, the Atkins wunderkind.

Kira, I'm not sure if it's dangerous or not in ketosis, but I did drink red wine most Friday nights when i was on atkins Induction, it does make you very drunk though, you can't drink the same quantity of alcohol as you would normally.

Thanks Jim! I know on a vlcd it isn't allowed as no glycogen stores for body to process alcohol. I imagine on Atkins you still get into ketosis in induction. I'll look into a bit more before I decide what to do after Cambridge.

Well done x

SilverSlimmer said:

Congratulations! You look great and I am sure in terms of health and fitness it has been worth it. I find low carb suits me too but I am just following my own healthy eating rather than a diet plan. I hope I am as successful as you have been.

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Thanks SS - i hope you are making progress too. The thing i really love about low carb is the complete lack of cravings while still enjoying lots of yummy food

Kira said:

Wow! Katie you've done brilliantly! Adn you look great! I'm not doing Atkins yet as I am on Cambridge but want to think about what steps take once I am nearer goal to get me into maintenance. I had a quick skim through your diary (will read properly at some point) and I noticed that you still had alcohol. I presume you were in ketosis when you first started Atkins? I thought it was dangerous to have alcohol when in ketosis? Presumably you have been fine and it did not affect your losses?

Sorry of all the questions!!! I'm not planning to have any alcohol for some time I'd rather like to give it up if possible! But one step at a time!

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Hi Kira, thank you. Atkins specifically does allow a glass or two of wine after you have done the initial 2 week induction. I imagine that one big difference witha vlcd induced ketosis is you also have an empty stomach - on atkins i was eating 2000 cals a day so a glass of wine isnt much. Although as Jim says you do need to be careful as impacts you more. Also frankly the empty calories stop you lsing - great idea to stay off it all together!

Jim said:

That's our Katie, the Atkins wunderkind.

Kira, I'm not sure if it's dangerous or not in ketosis, but I did drink red wine most Friday nights when i was on atkins Induction, it does make you very drunk though, you can't drink the same quantity of alcohol as you would normally.

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Thanks Jim - you found me! You are of course my inspiration as well as having been my mentor on the atkins WOE
I wanted to encourage january folk as i still cant believe my last year

lose10stone said:

Well done x

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Thank you

Thanks Katie. I'm doing well on Cambridge but it really is the last time I want to resort to something like this. I'm working on combating my over eating and bingeing. Just want to maintain the weight and I have accepted I simply have to change my lifestyle I can't go back to eating the way I have.

The Cambridge steps to introduce food do not appear to be as good as the earlier steps and I know I have reduce carbs to now and again. Hence I am looking at either Atkins or Dukan for moving up steps and reintroducing food again. You really look fabulous!!

Wow i hope i can do as well as you!! You must feel amazing!!! Good luck on your road to maintenance =D

Kira said:

Thanks Katie. I'm doing well on Cambridge but it really is the last time I want to resort to something like this. I'm working on combating my over eating and bingeing. Just want to maintain the weight and I have accepted I simply have to change my lifestyle I can't go back to eating the way I have.

The Cambridge steps to introduce food do not appear to be as good as the earlier steps and I know I have reduce carbs to now and again. Hence I am looking at either Atkins or Dukan for moving up steps and reintroducing food again. You really look fabulous!!

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Thanks Kira. Good luck with cambridge and i hope it works for you. I do think atkins makes a good maintenance diet - definitely a lifestyle choice and for me means mainly avoiding sugar and bread for ever!

Yolande said:

Wow i hope i can do as well as you!! You must feel amazing!!! Good luck on your road to maintenance =D

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Thanks Yolande. Good luck with your journey

Kat1e I'm sorry I'm so late to this thread. CONGRATULATIONS!

I've honestly not seen anyone quite so level headed and dedicated to their weight loss mission as you, and so helpful to others following the same path. You deserve it. Many thanks for all your tips and info. You've kept me on an even keel and I can't wait to be able to post my success as you have.

Enjoy it, I'm really, really pleased for you.

Thanks Boggins and looking forward to reading your story too

I decided that i should put as much attention on understanding and planning weight loss so i could be healthy as anything else in life! All of which would be meaningless if i hadnt discovered low carbing so my monster went away

Wow well done that's amazing .
I have been doing weightwatchers since nov and I seem to be stuck nearly at the same weight going up n down since Xmas 11 st 10 .
I was thinking of trying give myself a kick start tomorrow with a very low carb diet. And see how I get on as I suffer with something like pocs and heard that's suppose to help (although google told me that )
Your great inspiration
I haven't a clue where to start so I will have a nose through your diary probably lol
Well done x

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Hi Junk - i do think the key is to find a way of eating that suits you and your body. Now i'm in maintenance i still enjoy my WOE and not planning to go back to those poisonous carbs lol. Good luck

Hi kat1e, just found this thread, wow well done, so pleased for you, you look amazing!

Thanks Slaj