New...sort of.

I have come here many times in search of advice, but this time is different.
For the first time, I'm serious. I have peaked at a weight that I cannot
bear, folks. I'm 6'4" and large. I weigh probably between 350 and 400
pounds. I can't find a scale that'll weigh my ass. Most importantly, I've
noticed differences. When I sleep on my back, I snore and occasionally have
apnea. Bending too low causes muscle cramps. Though I'm physically strong,
the negatives are outweighing the positives. Not only can I barely go up
stairs w/o breathing heavy, I feel short of breath at least a few times/per
day. Not used to this ****e. I've started to drink too much and eat way too
much crap. I'm going to start low carb tomarrow. That is my plan. I usually
stop because I feel like crap and justify it by thinking eating carbs are
healthy. But when I eat carbs, I feel terrible. I have OCD and when I eat
whatever I want the OCD becomes dominant. When I don't it disappears. The
main reason I am writing is because I know what the answer is and I want
support. I am dreading the beginning of low carb anmd just want people to
encourage me. Also, what are good exercises with low carb?

Thanks,


RSG

X-No-Archive: yes

"valhalla" wrote in message
...
I have come here many times in search of advice, but this time is
different.
For the first time, I'm serious. I have peaked at a weight that I cannot
bear, folks.
=====================
You may want to start with a good physical checkup. If all is ok, start
your diet and WALK, WALK and WALK some more!
--

Wysong
Age 60. Height 5'6"
Starting date: 1/8/05
171/ 164 / 140 lb
Starting date LC 7/01 at 207lbs
Stopped losing on LC 11/01 at 165lbs
==========================================
NOW WALKING 1.5 to 3 MILES DAY.
==========================================

"valhalla" wrote in message
...
I am dreading the beginning of low carb anmd just want people to
encourage me. Also, what are good exercises with low carb?

Be encouraged : ) I think it's an excellent diet, and considerably less of
a PITA than any other diet I've tried before. I'm confident I can do it as a
WOE for the rest of my life.

If you're exercising already, carry on - if you're mostly sedentary, take it
nice and easy at first. Walking or swimming until you're fitter - you might
want to try the 10,000 steps a day as a target, and get up there nice and
slow.

Nicky.

--
A1c 10.5/4.5/6 Weight 95/78/72Kg
1g Metformin, 87.5ug Thyroxine
T2 DX 05/2004

valhalla wrote:
snip
The
main reason I am writing is because I know what the answer is and I
want
support. I am dreading the beginning of low carb anmd just want
people to
encourage me. Also, what are good exercises with low carb?

Thanks,


RSG

There are those here that will coddle and cajole you with "support" and
"encouragement" on your first 20 or so pounds of weight loss. Then as
you enter into your first "stall" you'll come back for more pointers as
to how to proceed. The process will degrade until you'll come back
whining incessantly about how the low-carb approach to dieting doesn't
work because;

1. I'm taking thyroid medicine.
2. Its my hormones.
3. Broccoli sucks as it is not scrumptuous.
4. My teeth were made for grinding not tearing meat.
5. I can't accurately count calories so I'll blame the author[s] of
low-carb diet plans.
6. ad infinitum.

If you do not have the internal fortitude to proceed with a low-carb
approach as described in numerous FREE links such as those found in the
FAQ, then you are doomed to low-carb failure.

The "JCDK idioms" are correct and succinct. Google is your friend.

You have an additional advantage that "normal" folks don't have: You
have OCD.

Use your OCD to your advantage and become a carbohydrate, protein, fat
and exercise hyper-managed fiend and you'll be guaranteed success. But
it has to come from within not from some silly group of cyber-posting
community of unknowns.

welcome RSG!
have you had a physical exam lately?
if everything is ok, i would suggest that you start your LOW CARBING
and some walking daily.
stay close and read and post!
rosie

--






"valhalla" wrote in message
...
: I have come here many times in search of advice, but this time is
different.
: For the first time, I'm serious. I have peaked at a weight that I
cannot
: bear, folks. I'm 6'4" and large. I weigh probably between 350 and
400
: pounds. I can't find a scale that'll weigh my ass. Most
importantly, I've
: noticed differences. When I sleep on my back, I snore and
occasionally have
: apnea. Bending too low causes muscle cramps. Though I'm physically
strong,
: the negatives are outweighing the positives. Not only can I barely
go up
: stairs w/o breathing heavy, I feel short of breath at least a few
times/per
: day. Not used to this ****e. I've started to drink too much and
eat way too
: much crap. I'm going to start low carb tomarrow. That is my plan.
I usually
: stop because I feel like crap and justify it by thinking eating
carbs are
: healthy. But when I eat carbs, I feel terrible. I have OCD and
when I eat
: whatever I want the OCD becomes dominant. When I don't it
disappears. The
: main reason I am writing is because I know what the answer is and
I want
: support. I am dreading the beginning of low carb anmd just want
people to
: encourage me. Also, what are good exercises with low carb?
:
: Thanks,
:
:
: RSG
:
:

On 27 Feb 2005 06:17:58 -0800, "warehouse"
wrote:


valhalla wrote:
snip
The
main reason I am writing is because I know what the answer is and I
want
support. I am dreading the beginning of low carb anmd just want
people to
encourage me. Also, what are good exercises with low carb?

Thanks,


RSG

There are those here that will coddle and cajole you with "support" and
"encouragement" on your first 20 or so pounds of weight loss. Then as
you enter into your first "stall" you'll come back for more pointers as
to how to proceed. The process will degrade until you'll come back
whining incessantly about how the low-carb approach to dieting doesn't
work because;

1. I'm taking thyroid medicine.
2. Its my hormones.
3. Broccoli sucks as it is not scrumptuous.
4. My teeth were made for grinding not tearing meat.
5. I can't accurately count calories so I'll blame the author[s] of
low-carb diet plans.
6. ad infinitum.

If you do not have the internal fortitude to proceed with a low-carb
approach as described in numerous FREE links such as those found in the
FAQ, then you are doomed to low-carb failure.

The "JCDK idioms" are correct and succinct. Google is your friend.

You have an additional advantage that "normal" folks don't have: You
have OCD.

Use your OCD to your advantage and become a carbohydrate, protein, fat
and exercise hyper-managed fiend and you'll be guaranteed success. But
it has to come from within not from some silly group of cyber-posting
community of unknowns.

Hi, welcome to the group. I have been here - doing low carb - for
seven whole days without a flop. That is good for me - I can be good
for 3 days, and then on the 4th, well, I have failed in the past.
Reapeatedly.

In this round, I was serious when I started, really disgusted by the
way I look and the way I felt. I am feeling really good today, and
proud of myself. I can see the differences, mostly the lack of bloat
in my abdomen and my face. I am also pleased with the fact I have
made it to Day 7.

I am not OCD; in fact, if I try to be rather controlled and log
everything I eat, I go crazy. It really bothers me. What the one guy
said about using OCD to your advantage makes sense to me - if it is in
your personality and it works, use it. Being free form and adapting
to things as they happen is much easier to me. For me, I have found
having what I need to eat on hand important, and if it is easy, such
as premade salads from Trader Joe's available (that are low carb of
course), leftovers, etc., for lunch to take to work, it makes life a
lot easier.

The biggest chore in the morning is making breakfast - I have to
scramble eggs or something, and it just is not me. I prefer to do any
cooking for the evening meal alone. My usual breakfast of choice is
oatmeal. I am looking forward to the return to that at sometime in
the future. Meanwhile, I make time to make breakfast, and intend to
pre-make things as well, such as making a crustless, low carb quiche
that I can grab and warm up in the microwave.

Also, lots and lots of water helps (I am drinking about 3-4 quarts a
day) and lots of leafy vegetables with my meals. I am not measuring
things, but eating till satisfied, and then stopping. As I am not a
nibbler, I seldom eat more than 4 meals a day, and the 3rd is really a
snack around 5 as my husband I do not eat dinner till 7 or 8 when he
gets home from work.

The other thing is that, knowing myself and my tendency to be a
failure on Day 4, I focused on that. I knew I could fail myself or
say, hey, I can delay gratification and a need for chocolate - or
whatever - today. And I have done it for Day 5. Day 6 was easier.
Day 7 was a challenge as I was house hunting and did not think about
bringing lunch. What to do?? Next time I'll bring some snacks, just
in case I may miss lunch, but I am sort of confused about what I would
want.

Obviously, the key is to know your personality and work things so you
can do things which will encourage your success. Balancing immediate
gratification (food, chocolate) with delayed gratification and
self-loathing and self-approval are important to me, and possibly to
all of us who are challenged by change. Change is slow, and not easy.
Recognizing this is also important. Changing habits means focusing on
the habit you want to change, and being conscious and conscientious in
instituting that change.

Earlier in my youth, when low carb was just made popular, the
restriction of carbs was much higher. I just about fainted a couple
of time one day and decided it was awful. It was. For me, really low
carb may not be good, but the amount I am eating is fine. How many
carbs, don't know, but I know it is enough for a weight loss. The
first day was toughest, so I just focused on "no white foods" (meaning
sugar, rice, potatoes, bread), and focused on salads, soups, and being
satisfied. It worked and the second day was easier.

There are some people here who may think they are funny, and feel they
have the right to "tell you as they see it," but are really, IMHO,
just nasty. Avoid reading posts from the ones you don't like. Why
stress yourself out? You will also find yourself reading posts from
those you like.

I also make myself read here every day. It reminds me why I am here.
And what I am doing.

Best of luck to you!
Kaede

176.5/??/115
http://knakao.blogspot.com/

See a doctor to investigate getting a CPAP machine to help breathing at
night.

Buy a copy of Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution (DANDR) and read it.

Figure out a large variety of low carb foods you like and stock the kitchen
with them. Throw the carby stuff in the trash can.

Buy a scale:
http://www.valuescale.com/bathscales.htm
I know someone that has the Tanita model.

Cubit
311/187.7/165
chart: http://techmart.com/~cubit/Chart58.gif

"valhalla" wrote in message
...
I have come here many times in search of advice, but this time is
different.
For the first time, I'm serious. I have peaked at a weight that I cannot
bear, folks. I'm 6'4" and large. I weigh probably between 350 and 400
pounds. I can't find a scale that'll weigh my ass. Most importantly, I've
noticed differences. When I sleep on my back, I snore and occasionally
have
apnea. Bending too low causes muscle cramps. Though I'm physically strong,
the negatives are outweighing the positives. Not only can I barely go up
stairs w/o breathing heavy, I feel short of breath at least a few
times/per
day. Not used to this ****e. I've started to drink too much and eat way
too
much crap. I'm going to start low carb tomarrow. That is my plan. I
usually
stop because I feel like crap and justify it by thinking eating carbs are
healthy. But when I eat carbs, I feel terrible. I have OCD and when I eat
whatever I want the OCD becomes dominant. When I don't it disappears. The
main reason I am writing is because I know what the answer is and I want
support. I am dreading the beginning of low carb anmd just want people to
encourage me. Also, what are good exercises with low carb?

Thanks,


RSG

In article ,
says...
I have come here many times in search of advice, but this time is different.
For the first time, I'm serious. I have peaked at a weight that I cannot
bear, folks. I'm 6'4" and large. I weigh probably between 350 and 400
pounds. I can't find a scale that'll weigh my ass. Most importantly, I've
noticed differences. When I sleep on my back, I snore and occasionally have
apnea. Bending too low causes muscle cramps. Though I'm physically strong,
the negatives are outweighing the positives. Not only can I barely go up
stairs w/o breathing heavy, I feel short of breath at least a few times/per
day. Not used to this ****e. I've started to drink too much and eat way too
much crap. I'm going to start low carb tomarrow. That is my plan. I usually
stop because I feel like crap and justify it by thinking eating carbs are
healthy. But when I eat carbs, I feel terrible. I have OCD and when I eat
whatever I want the OCD becomes dominant. When I don't it disappears. The
main reason I am writing is because I know what the answer is and I want
support. I am dreading the beginning of low carb anmd just want people to
encourage me. Also, what are good exercises with low carb?

Hi RSG, welcome to the group! It's fortunate for you that you realize
that the OCD symptoms worsen when you eat high carb, because THAT can be
the key to your staying with low-carb. Whenever I entertain the notion
of going off low-carb, even temporarily, I remember the truly gut-
wrenching digestive problems I had when eating high-carb and realize
that it's simply NOT WORTH IT. I'd MUCH rather feel better (LOOKING
better is an added bonus :-). I desperately needed to lose weight and I
am THRILLED that I did, but my HEALTH is what KEEPS me doing it.

I agree with other posters who recommend using your OCD tendencies to
your advantage regarding tracking your food intake. I never logged my
food in my life until I started reading this group and then tried
Atkins. Now it's a part of my life. It's useful in a variety of ways.
I can see how many carbs I have taken in as the day progresses and,
thus, know how many I have left in my budget. I also can see how many
calories, sodium, fat and fiber I've had or might still NEED to have.
After a while, you get a feel for what works and what doesn't and how
some foods might affect your weight or other aspects of your health. It
boils down to AWARENESS of what you eat -- once you have that awareness,
you are much better equipped and more LIKELY to make changes that will
benefit you. Many people here use Fitday.com to track their food intake
and the nutritional values. I started out doing that, but moved to
using an Excel spreadsheet so I could do it MY way. I have a document
with different worksheets for my own food database, recipes, daily logs
by month, exercise, stats, etc. It's all in one place (with backups)
and I've referred to it often to spot trends over the last 20 months.

As far as exercise goes, begin slowly doing something you like or at
least are likely to continue doing. I have foot problems, so I use an
exercise bike. When I first started using it, I thought I was going to
pass out at 3 minutes. I worked up to 10 minutes after a week and
eventually went to 30 minutes. Now I usually do between 10 & 25 minutes
(my nether regions become numb by then :-). I have trouble with floor
exercises, so I use an Ab-Doer to do abdominal exercises (more for my
back than my abs). I have a Body-by-Jake Total Body Trainer that I use
for weight training. The caveat on that is that it was harder to use at
first simply because my thighs just barely fit on the side of the arm
extension for some of the exercises when I was at 200 lbs, so it could
be a problem for someone bigger. I haven't been exercising much in the
last 2 months for a variety of reasons, and my weight loss has stalled,
so it CAN make a difference.

--
Saffire
205/144/125 - 5'1.5"
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 23:16:25 -0600, "valhalla"
wrote:

Most importantly, I've
noticed differences. When I sleep on my back, I snore and occasionally have
apnea.

If you haven't already done so, PLEASE talk to your doctor about
investigating the severity of your apnoea. Interrupted sleep can be
life threatening and it can increase Insulin Resistance (making weight
loss more difficult). I was diagnosed with OSA last year, and
treating it made all the difference to my loss.

If you have a moderate to severe apnoea, you may require a CPAP device
to help keep your throat open while you sleep. If you are not that
severe, a simple change in how you sleep could be enough. Try raising
the head of your bed slightly (I put a brick under each leg at the
head end) as gravity can help you.

Aramanth