The unexpected benefits of weight loss.

[Biggirl]

I've lost a few pounds (35 to be exact-- and counting) and I knew that my health would improve, I'd feel better and people would say I look better if I shed a ton or two. But things I didn't think of started happening. Things that I will call unexpected benefits. I like puttng positive spin on things.

It's less hot.
It's been a brutal summer. Usually, when the temps and the humidity go anywhere near 90, I melt. This year I've been hot, but I have not felt the need to find a shady tree to lie prostrate under, strip naked and beg strangers to either pour ice water over me or kill me.
I spend less on beer.
Much more bang for the buck alcoholwise. The money I save on beer is all spent on the next unexpected benefit. . .
Twice monthly clothes shopping sprees
Well, I really hate shopping and it irks me to no end to buy something that looks like crap on me 3 weeks later, but I'll still count it as unexpected benefits, 'cause it really does feel great to see those sizes drop.
Less time wasted walking.
I live in a walking-type city and I like to walk. The walk from the railroad to my house is a 15 minute one. Or it was. Now my kids can yell into each of my ears a whole 10 minutes earlier.
I'm no longer refered to as "that huge fat bitch".
I'm just a regular fat bitch. I'm working my way to "Mrs. Bitch".


I know there are some more of you out here like me, struggling with a weight problem. And I've read right here on this board all the fatty bashing that goes on. This is a feel-good thread-- just good thoughts and no bashing allowed-- I'm still a fat bitch and I'll get you if you do!

[Khadaji]

Congratulations on the loss. I am striving for my own loss. It is slow, but I'm seeing a little progress. Keep up the good work.

[Daowajan]

So while you're still losing weight, you could just refer to yourself as "Bitch of Unusual Size." :cool:

[TVGuy]

I've been a fat bitch all my life.:D

Up until I broke my ankle earlier this summer in a motorcycle accident.
(It wasn't all that serious - nothing else got injured except my male pride and the bike)

I suddenly discovered that a few things were contributing to my weight loss (i've dropped 75 pounds since May 21st - and I've still got a good 75-90 or so to go):
1. I was no longer able to stop at Starbucks every morning for the triple grande extra hot mocha
2. I was no longer able to stop at the pizza place every night for take-home slices
3. I was forced to eat just what was in the house, and that came from an online grocery delivery service, so I could be very careful about ordering just what was right and good for me.
4. The healing that my leg is doing takes a certain amount from the rest of me.
5. I get daily forced excercise from having to ambulate on crutches all the time (very nice upper body workout, that)

The bottom line is that I now fit in to clothes that I haven't been able to fit in to in six years and assuming I can keep up with these changes after I'm back on both feet again, (or accelerate them, since I'll be able to walk and ride a bicycle again) then I'll still feel good a year from now and on from there.

Women have it hard with wieght and body image. To a lesser extent in some ways, but more in others, I deal with it through the gay male community that is so bent on the "perfect body image" that it's very easy to cast someone like me aside without a second look.

I'm healthier now than I have been in years - ironic considering I've never been seriously injured before... My resting heart rate is where it's supposed to be for my age, I have normal blood pressure and my cholesteral numbers are back down where they belong (oddly enough, they were never very high.)

So, I applaud you, Biggrl on your achievement. It's something that I've fought all my life (I'm 41 now) and it'll be something I'll fight for the rest of my life. But maybe these forced lifestyle chanes have finally taught me a thing or two that I wouldn't accept before.

[jools]

Congrats Biggrl,

I'm on the same road as you... not as much loss yet but I'll get there.. can't wait for those shopping spree :)

[Biggirl]

Originally posted by Daowajan
So while you're still losing weight, you could just refer to yourself as "Bitch of Unusual Size." :cool:

"Be bitchy to Biggirl? It can't be done!"
"Your only saying that because no one ever has."
"What about the BOUS?"
"Bitches of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist."

::A humongous bitch rips Wesley a new asshole::


Mebbe I should break an ankle or something-- couldn't be any harder than the plan I'm on now! What say you, TVGuy?

[EggNogg]

"You go girl!"
Why cant British people say that without looking like pillocks?

egg

[bump]

Originally posted by Biggirl

It's less hot.
It's been a brutal summer. Usually, when the temps and the humidity go anywhere near 90, I melt. This year I've been hot, but I have not felt the need to find a shady tree to lie prostrate under, strip naked and beg strangers to either pour ice water over me or kill me.


35 lbs- that's impressive! A word of warning though- the temperature stuff works similarly in the winter. I'd never shivered in the winter until I lost 40 lbs a few years back! You'll definitely feel colder in the winter!

[Lsura]

I've been working on my own, and I do still have a way to go, one benefit I've noticed in just the last couple of weeks:

I can walk around campus without huffing and puffing my way around. Granted, I've only been walking around campus off and on since last Monday, but I know that before I had trouble walking up the hill to the train station from my old apartment. I just motivated myself all over campus this last Friday trying to learn my way around, and this is not a flat campus by any means.

I have noticed that I actually sweat now. Whether that's because I avoided physical movement or whether it's because my body is able to do a better job of regulating it's temperature..well, I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm sweating a lot more now than I have in years.

[Biggirl]

You reminded me of a story bump. Me and a skinny friend were walking down the street one winter night and she tells me "I'm absolutely freezing!" and I say, "It's not that cold." and she answers, "Yea, easy for you to say. You've got that insulating layer of fat."

So there are advantages to being fat!


Thanks Khadaji and Eggnog. You go jools and Lsura. And remember, you all are fabulous, every single pound of you!

[Zyada]

Originally posted by Biggirl
I'm no longer refered to as "that huge fat bitch".
I'm just a regular fat bitch. I'm working my way to "Mrs. Bitch".


I don't think you are aspiring high enough. You need to go for Bitch Diva

[mnemosyne]

I am not particularly overweight, although I do know that I could benefit from the loss of a few pounds (maybe 10-20). But I just can't motivate myself. I can only imagine the overwhelming thought of trying to lose 35 or 40 or even more pounds....I applaud you all for your efforts to do so, and in your successes. Keep it up, you all ARE fabulous!

[Zyada]

Originally posted by Biggirl
I'm no longer refered to as "that huge fat bitch".
I'm just a regular fat bitch. I'm working my way to "Mrs. Bitch".


I don't think you are aspiring high enough. You need to go for Bitch Diva!

[Flutterby]

When I was about 12 I weighed quite a fair bit.. it took a move to get out of this little town to the big city to get me to lose weight. In about 3 months I dropped a good 20-30 lbs and I felt much better. Right now I'm at the lightest I've ever been, it's not really that light though because a lot of it is muscle. Whereas before I used to sit around doing nothing but reading and eating at home, I now get out more and do lots of walking. I need to get my bike fixed though so I can start riding it around. Of course I still do a lot of sitting around I just make sure I get out.

I've actually noticed another drop in my weight since moving out on my own. I need to go buy new jeans because the ones I bought after Christmas I can now slip off without even unbuttoning them! :D

One thing that bugs me though, according to BMI (and yes I have talked with several people who do say it's not really that accurate) I am bordering on the verge of obesity, but I am nowhere near overweight. I could stand to lose a few more pounds (about 5-10) but I've noticed, though I seem skinnier, it's just the fat being replaced by muscle, which means my actual weight doesn't change, just how big I actually look. As well I feel much better because I have muscles that are toned and can actually handle the job.

The best part of it is I can usually trick those fair guys who guess your weight into guessing me a good 30 lbs lighter.:D

[elf6c]

Obsidian Flutterby

Pick up a Tanita Body Fat scale. The upper and middle end models are quite accurate. I have had one for a while and like it (the numbers do not lie if I have been slacking off too much).

You should be able to get one through Amazon.

:)

[Gazelle]

Hey Biggirl, congratulations!

I've lost 24.6 since I joined Weight Watchers in June 2000. I went back up about 15 within the last year but lost it again and this time, for good, DAMMIT!

Another unexpected benefit:

Well, maybe not unexpected but I can't believe how good it feels.

I fit comfortably into bus and airplane seats, with some room to maneuver!

23 or so pounds to go.

[Eve]

Woo-hoo! Congrats to all. Inspiration for me to lose 10–20 pounds. Also . . . The magazine where I work has an article coming out in November about obesity, and it casually mentions my exact height and weight as being "overweight." No more kiddin' myself . . .

[lurkernomore]

are we gonna have to call you [b]Notsobiggirl? [b]

[El Elvis Rojo]

So, just out of curiosity there Biggirl, what exactly are you doing to lose the wieght?

Oh, and congratulations as well.

Bitch. :)

[OldBroad]

Few things feel better than fitting into clothes a size smaller than what's in your closet.

Congrats.

[Biggirl]

I'm doing Weight Watchers Elvis and that's Bitch Diva to you! (BTW, congrats to you too, on this the anniversary of your death. Good to see you're still out and about.)

If Eve is fat, then I'm still a very big girl. A gargantuan girl.

[Tir Tinuviel]

TVGuy and jools she's loosing weight, not vowels! Its Biggirl! :p

Good for you! Loosing weight can be a bitch, but stick to it, I feel a damn site better since I lost a stone or so!

Not sure about the beer thing though, I like being able to drink lots, yeah, it would be nice to get pished for cheaper, but then I would have to go home earlier...
Swings and roundabouts I suppose! ;)

[SaxFace]

Hey, congrats Biggirl!! That's super.

I'm even more impressed that you did it in Brooklyn, the land of a bar on every corner and a fattening pastry shop every other door.

Since I left NY, I've quit smoking and lost 40 pounds. The biggest benefit I've noticed is that medicine hits me a lot faster. I took a couple Midol last week and I felt completely wasted.

Maybe you'd like to join me in a triathlon next spring? :cool:

[Scylla]

That's great!

How are you doing it? What's working for you?


Share. Share. Share.

[Eve]

You didn't lose 'em, Sax, you left them here in NY on me. They are fine, thanks, they miss you very much and want to know when you'll be back to pick them up.

[screech-owl]

I've lost 130 so far (still about 30 or so to go)**, but even after the first 20, I noticed a lot of changes, all positive. Especially being able to walk or jog without my underwear getting twisted up, or worse, set on fire from my thighs chafing.

Two of the biggest changes, after all this time?

1) Guys seem to be interested in me again. (Big improvement over before, and I can afford to be 'pickier' [not shallow, but I don't have to 'settle for the first one who talks to me']). Though I still prefer to rely on my 'charming personality'.

2) No one is telling me "you would be so pretty if only you lost weight" anymore. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Don't EVEN get me started on that phrase. :mad:


Drawbacks to weight loss?

I had to buy another comforter for the bed, since I am FREEZING at night!!!!!

And I had to go shopping for new bras. Nothing fit anymore: I dropped ten inches there, but my shoulders and back don't hurt anymore (and that's a very good thing). The nice frilly onesand the leopard print ones made up for the disappointment.


**Yeah, bariatric surgery, but it was the last act of a desperate woman. But my resting pulse is back to normal, and my blood pressure is no longer in the triple digits on both sides of the line.

[miamouse]

Unexpected benefits of weight loss:

I can't tell you how much I've lost because I don't and won't own a scale. But over the past six months I've lost almost two sizes. The clothes thing is so fun. I want sex again. I get doors opened for me more often now. I sleep better. I could give a rats ass about certain previously stressful items. (Punching bag, Mmmmmmm.)

[zev_steinhardt]

For me it's been about 15 pounds over the last six weeks. So far I've noticed that I have a lot more energy. When I walk down the hall at work, I practically bound. Also, I find that I don't miss the junk food nearly as much as I thought I would.

The down side: My pants are getting to big on me, and I haven't yet gone out and bought a new belt... and I haven't lost enough yet to justify going out and buying a bunch of pairs of pants...

Zev Steinhardt

[seawitch]

I'm barely started at this point, but I love hearing about you Dopers who are making it work - the more inspiration I get, the more I'm able to stick it out through the plateaus. Congratulations to all!

[Biggirl]

If this quadruple posts, some hamster is gonna die!



Plateaus are horrible, horrible things, seawitch. I almost gave up at about 15 lbs. 2 weeks I had no loss and then 2 weeks of gain. I knew I was doing everything right.

But for a month, a whole friggin' month I was below 1550 cals and all I had to show for it was a 3 lb weight gain. I talked to both my doctor and then the WW conselor. That PCOS is a real PTA and I had to go way below my normal point spread before things improved.

I have become a Weight Watcher's cultist. They don't tell you what to eat, they show you how to eat. When a fat person says "I really don't eat that much" no one believes them. Before I joined WW I really didn't eat that much. In fact I believe I eat more now.

I'm going to go have me a sammich stuffed with Boar's Head honey coated ham on Branola with (light) mayo and a Stewart's orange and cream soda. At 5 points a pop, I think I'll have two!

[Cat Patrol]

Congrats on your weightloss, Biggirl.

I've been on a diet as well for a couple months and I've lost 24 pounds.I've got a system for keeping myself motivated in case of a plateau.Heres what I do:

I weigh myself once a week on Sunday morning before eating. I also measure my waist around my spare tire, under my spare tire, and in the fat part of my upper leg near the crotch. Now, even if my weight doesn't go down, I'm sure to lose a half or quarter inch in one or more of my measured areas. This way I keep my momentum going and I don't become discouraged. Sometimes it's a case of not losing any actual weight, but losing inches.

[diku]

I'm chiming in with the Weight Watchers thing. Any plan that will allow me to go to a Reds game, eat two Big Red Smokies(Stayed under my points for the day still) and lose three pounds over the past week is ok by me. Congrats Biggirl, I know it feels good. I'm down 12 pounds since joining, and feel better already. Sure, I've got a looooong way to go, but it's still good.

[TVGuy]

Originally posted by Biggirl

Mebbe I should break an ankle or something-- couldn't be any harder than the plan I'm on now! What say you, TVGuy?

Nope. That's one weight loss program I CANNOT recommend :)

[Grimace]

I've loast about 20 pounds in the last month, trying to get back into shape and all, and i've hit a slight plateau, but it'll break, just have to be determined like I used to be.

But I LOVE the fact that i'm not winding myself going up stairs anymore, nor my back in pain all the time from carrying all teh extra weight around. Plus I love the fact that I have a LOT more energy, like back when I was in my early 20's late teens.

Still got about 70 pounds to go, but i'm looking forward to pulling out those 36 inch waist jeans again!

[jackelope]

I've been genetically gifted in this regard, never had to worry about this sort of thing, but you all sound so positive! Hooray for you, and keep at it!

(And if you're already thinking about being cold and have never faced winter as a skinny person, for heaven's sake get some long-johns. When the daytime temps get below 50, I'm wearing long johns every day, and I would absolutely curl up and die without them.)

[RTFirefly]

Originally posted by Biggirl
It's less hot.
It's been a brutal summer. Usually, when the temps and the humidity go anywhere near 90, I melt. This year I've been hot, but I have not felt the need to find a shady tree to lie prostrate under, strip naked and beg strangers to either pour ice water over me or kill me.Now, why didn't you tell me about this before??

If this urge ever finds you again, I've got a fairly private backyard with shady trees, and a pitcher of ice water in the fridge. Both would be at your disposal. :D

Seriously, congrats on the weight loss, and good luck in keeping it going! :)

[Space Vampire]

Originally posted by EggNogg
"You go girl!"
Why cant British people say that without looking like pillocks?



If "pillocks" is an adjective meaning "stupid" or a noun meaning "one who is stupid," don't worry, I don't think anybody can.

[Squish]

Brava, Biggirl, and to the rest of you, too!

Sadly, I've gained two sizes (I never weigh myself) over the last year. Whatever's wrong with my back (can't afford a doctor to find out) has gotten worse; it feels like my lower spine is in a vise grip if I walk a block. Before, I used to walk all over the place.

Hopefully, I'll be able to drop the weight by this time next year! I've been heavy and I've been thin, and thin is so much fun. :)

[Gorgon Heap]

Squish, I hear ya on the bad back. I've always been thin, but since I broke my back a year and a half ago I've put on a sh**load of weight and I can't do a lot of exercising to help burn it.

Rather bothersome, really.

F'neh!

[Morgainelf]

Yea Biggirl! I've lost 20 lbs since January, but have hit a major plateau. I got pretty demotivated and regained about 9 lbs (I had lost almost 30), but restarted my diet this week.

This thread was exactly what I needed. Thank you for sharing!

By the way, another benefit, is having your thighs not get totally chaffed when you wear a skirt with no pantyhose. (Well, this is what I hear, anyway. ;))

[DeadlyAccurate]

Congrats on all these wonderful weight loss stories. I wish I could lose weight. I get so incredibly frustrated to hear stories like a friend who recently lost 35 lbs that he'd put on when his wife started eating more for her pregnancy. He started walking about three miles a day and watching what he ate.

I wanted to pull my hair out. Three miles a day? That's it?! Sheesh. I get 6 HOURS of exercise a week. SIX FREAKIN' HOURS of exercise, and all I've done for the last six years is get bigger. I have all these nice beautiful muscles I can't see (except in my legs and butt; I have little fat on my legs or butt). I think I even have ab muscles, but I have no idea because all my damn weight is centered around my middle, which is an absolutely wonderful place to have extra weight if you're a woman. You should try it sometime.

Being an simple-minded optimist, I decided to give it one more go before I try a pay system to lose weight (probably WW). I decided to forego sweets on every day of the week except Sunday (call it the year round Lent diet). No cookies, candy (except breath mints), ice cream, cake, pie, etc. When I want something sweet, I eat a piece of fruit, or maybe something not so healthy like a cereal bar or Pop Tart. I try not to do that too often, though, and just stick to the fruit. It's been two weeks now, and I enjoyed a single-dip sundae one Sunday and some chocolates and two single-serving packs of mini Chips Ahoy last Sunday. I even avoided the sweet snacks during our all day D&D session this Saturday. No small feat, I'm tellin' ya.

I can't tell if it's working or not, but I like to think it is. It's just not fair to hear of these stories of people who drop weight so easily because they just started taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or some such nonsense as that. I'm healthy, dammit. So why can't I also be thin?

[Gorgon Heap]

Originally posted by DeadlyAccurate
I even avoided the sweet snacks during our all day D&D session this Saturday.


Sweets? Jeez. All we ever have is pretzels, pizza and beer.

Oh, yeah. Now that Goblin-whompin' food!

[MsRobyn]

I lost fifty pounds last year when I changed my diet. I didn't even know I'd lost the first twenty. :)

What helped the most was that I had to change my whole attitude. It's not about the weight anymore, it's about my health and well-being, and that's sufficient incentive to be a good girl. If I want junk food, I will eat it in small amounts. If I can find an acceptable substitute that's healthier (like yogurt for ice cream), I'll do it. Since being pregnant, I've learned to reach for fruit instead of candy, and I've been much better off for it.

The biggest benefit of losing all that weight was that I got healthy enough to get pregnant and have Aaron. And because my eating habits had improved so dramatically, I didn't have a really bad weight gain (I gained ~40 lbs, but I've lost more than half in the two-and-a-half weeks since I delivered). My knees have improved to the point where I don't need regular pain meds. And I look and feel much better than I did when I weighed 280.

Robin

[hedra]

My favorite benefit of losing :eek: 55 lbs? (from prepregnancy weight, a year and a half, total, including the pregnancy)

No more peeing when I sneeze. I'd just noticed that when they came out with the study of nuns and urinary incontinence, showing that vaginal birth has nothing to do with it (the nuns had the same rate of UI as other women) - weight, depression, and repeated UTIs were the risk factors. So, I lose weight, I stop having to cross my legs when I sneeze. YAY!

The most annoying benefit? Sending the same coat back, twice, because my weight loss was outpacing their shipping speed. Ordered one size for xmas, it was too big when I got it. Selected the correct size (again), by the time it arrived, it was too big. Decided to return it and NOT get a new coat until my weight stopped dropping.

People keep asking what I've done. Not a lot, or a huge amount, depending on how you look at it.

1) I'm still staying generally with low-glycemic-index foods. That is, avoiding wheat and processed foods, avoiding some types of fruits, loading up on the oatmeal, rye, and barley. Use multi-grain or oat-based breads. Avoid potatoes. Try www.glycemicindex.com (University of Sydney site) for a nice searchable database - check out which foods you eat are pushing your bloodsugar through the roof! I had to do this diet while pregnant because of a high glucose tolerance test (on the 1-hr version - I was fine on the 3-hr with this diet).

2) Nursing. Hooray for those 500 calories a day dumped straight to the baby. :)

3) No milk products - not even traces. Unfortunately, baby is allergic to dairy (breaks out in hives, bloody diarrhea, etc.), so I am off dairy completely. Not even most margarines (they have whey), most snack foods (cassienate), even my favorite salt-and-vinegar potato chips have milk in them (go figure). My ped would rather I modify my diet than put an already-proven-to-be-allergy-prone baby on formula. I agree. So, I'm off dairy. And my skin cleared up, my feet shrunk one and a half sizes (they're now smaller than they were in HIGH SCHOOL!), and it has helped me stick to a better quality diet. It is extra helpful for cheating, because if I cheat, a baby suffers - MY baby. And when he suffers, everybody suffers along with him (he screams for two days when I get dairy in my system). Interestingly, I now only occasionally crave dairy foods. And when I have done dairy challenges, I've found the stuff doesn't taste as good as I remember.

Now, my next task is to increase my fitness - I'd like to swap off the remaining 10 lbs or so for some muscle. :)

Oh, and last bonus - I can once again carry my older son into the house when he falls asleep in the car. And he's gotten heavier since I stopped being able to do so, not lighter!

[medstar]

Deadly Accurate, I feel your pain when it comes to laying off the sweets. I have a lot of weight to lose and secret I have is to drink a lot of water, especially if I want some junk food. I have a glass of ice cold water and usually the craving passes. I feel a lot better and even my sinuses cooperate. I'll have to try cutting way back on dairy.

[Brynda]

I lost 100 pounds last year. I did it by correcting my insulin resistance with meds, following a low carb/los fat diet, and walking practically every day. I know what you guys mean about the clothes--I had to replace everything I owned, down to and including my undies and bras.

Recently, I have regained about 10 pounds. Unfortunately, it is happy fat, which is the fat you get from eating ice cream with your sweetheart. Hard to fight happy fat. :)

Those of you who carry your weight around your middle, crave sweets and carbs, and get really, really sleepy after meals might want to read about insulin resistance. If you think you fit the profile, it might be worth getting your insulin level checked. It made all the difference to me. I had dieted for years and didn't lose at all. When I got my insulin under control (it was 5x normal), the weight dropped off.

Congrats to those of you who are losing!!!

[DeadlyAccurate]

I actually recently had my blood sugar level checked, out of fear that I might be diabetic, and everything checked out normal. I only get sleepy after heavy meals, and my sweet cravings are dropping. Mine are purely psychological/habit-related. Bored? Eat something sweet. Watching a movie? Need that bag of candy and a drink. I have to fight it, just like a cigarette smoker has to fight it when the psychological reasons for smoking hit (such as going to a bar and seeing others smoke). Fortunately, it's not as hard as I heard quitting cigarettes is.

I think I may be noticing some small measure of weight loss, but it's too soon to tell. Maybe in another month I'll actually be able to tell a difference.

[emulsified]

Here's my advice after losing 45 lbs to hit my goal weight (6', 175 lbs)...

(That all of this is in my experience should go without saying.)

Exercise is important, but it is not the most critical part of ongoing weight loss. Before becoming dedicated to my goal, I used to exercise my fair share, but I wouldn't lose weight, I'd gain. Once I got serious about it, it was easy to see why. 40 minutes of running for me at my beginning weight of 220 would result in about 600 calories burnt. Going three times a week, I had a net of -1800 cals from exercise. My basal metabolic rate would burn about 2000 cals/day. Add that in and I burned roughly 16000 calories a week. Now, not watching what I ate, I'm sure I could've eaten near 3000 calories a day. So for a week, I had an excess of 5000 calories, which equates to almost a pound and a half of body weight.

The lesson I learned was that it was absolutely necessary for me to track and count every calorie that went in my body to ensure that I was maintaining a healthy deficit every week. I built a spreadsheet that tracked this data for me and even predicted my weight loss based on the data I entered. My jaw nearly dropped when I saw over time how closely it predicted my actual results.

My experience showed me, after many many failed attempts, that weight loss (again, for me) is not a mystery. It's not impossible. It is a predictable, achievable task, if you have the dedication to see it through. All in all it was an edifying experience.

I never had a plateau of any sort and, really, while it was challenging, it was not the most difficult thing I'd ever done. I would do it again, but hopefully I won't have to.

Too bad I had just bought three business suits before starting my quest... I look like I'm playing dress up in my father's clothes now. Such problems!

Good luck, everyone.

[Leifsmama]

I started walking today. I got up at 6 am with my husband, woke the kids and put them in the stroller. I was only out for 20 minutes because my back started to hurt, but it's a beginning. It's wonderful to hear the success stories. Best of luck to everyone!

[ResIpsaLoquitor]

I just started Atkins last week and I've already noticed some changes. I tried on some old pairs of pants and found that they all fit again (one was a bit snug, but felt better than it ever did before). I also went to the gym last night and found myself sweating a lot more than usual; I must be able to burn more than I could when I was eating a lot of carbs. (I had the same problem as a lot of other people: I'd be exercising 4 times a week, but the fat was never coming off.)

My goal is to get down to about 180 lbs for my 6' 1" frame. I've got about 20-25 lbs to go, so wish me luck!

[nashiitashii]

I'm working on losing weight while I'm away at college. Firstly, the campus is set up so that you have the option of walking or taking the bus. I've walked everywhere so far. Secondly, the university has an athletic center that's free to students, so I'm taking advantage of that. I've been walking around campus a lot and I've been using the stairs instead of the elevator to get to my 6th floor dorm room more often than not. While I've been here, I've noticed that I'm not nearly as hungry as I used to be, and this is a good thing because I'm responsible for making my own meals and buying my own food. It's only been about 4 days up here and I can already feel a difference in my midsection... I carry myself a bit taller and I don't feel like I'm hauling around as much weight. I'm either getting stronger, losing weight, or a little bit of both... I hope this lasts.

[Rocketeer]

I'm really encouraged to hear these stories, because starting just two days ago, blahblahblah..

I'll see how it goes; willpower will be my weak point. It's like there's an evil Rocketeer inside me, saying, "Why not two sandwiches?"

I've figured out that if I can manage to drink diet pop, it's like 600 calories less a day. Easier on the pancreas, too.... And pickles are only about 30 calories for quite a large pickle; you eat them slowly, too, which is good. I'd eat celery, but 20 years ago, on a diet, I got sick and tired of celery and I can barely stand it.

I suppose it'll be a long road, but I'm feeling more optimistic than ever. So wish me luck!

[Sn-man]

I’m doing the WW thing and it works great if you stick to the program (water, journaling, portion control, veggies, and exercise). I had lost 74 pounds and gained 3 back so I’m at 71 pounds. I do heavy cardio exercise at least 4 hours a week. I’m currently stuck at about 195 and need to get down to 180. I think the current problem is with my mental state, lots of curve balls so I’m reverting to bad habits. Find balance grasshopper!

As far as the Op goes; the nicest feeling benefit I’ve had in losing weight: Actually being looked at and smiled at by some of the fairer sex.

Keep up the good work, and remember, sometimes it’s a good thing to see less of your friends.

[istara]

Diet tips that helped me lose 5 kilos just recently:

1. Laying off the sweet things is hell. The first move is to cut out fatty sweet things (fudge, chocolate) and stick to things like boiled sweets that last longer because you can suck them slowly.

2. The next move is to switch the sweet things for dates. I did this - it's amazing what a good substitute a really sticky date is for a toffee. They are high in sugar, but also have fibre and various other nice, natural nutrients.

3. Then - and this is a few weeks down the line - swap the dates for prunes. You won't eat as many, and if you do, they'll pass straight through. They're sticky, sweet and tangy (I was lucky enough to grow up in the post-prunes-&-custard generation so didn't have an innate horror or them - if you do, start thinking of them as "dried plums" instead) and very very good for you in moderate amounts.

4. Eat loads more soup - especially vegetable and clear soups - tomato soup tastes amazingly "rich" even made without cream, as do things like pumpkin. Soup really fills you up and you look forward to it much more than salad.

5. Don't get hung up on the "water fascists." Personally, I found trying to "fill up" on water made hunger cravings worse, and made me nauseous. It recently came out that the six-eight glasses thing is a total bottled-water-industry fuelled myth (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020819/ap_wo_en_po/med_how_much_water_3) - or at least a misrepresentation of what we need.
Valtin, who has spent 40 years researching how the body maintains a healthy fluid balance, determined the advice probably stems from muddled interpretation of a 1945 Food and Nutrition Board report. That report said the body needs about 1 milliliter of water for each calorie consumed — almost 8 cups for a typical 2,000-calorie diet — but that "most of this quantity is contained in prepared foods."

6. Treat yourself to healthy restaurant eating-out meals - such as Thai food. Go for fish and seafood options, chicken - avoid obvious traps like battered and fried breadcrumbed things - and with salads get the dressing on the side as a lot of restaurants LOAD it on.

7. Season your food better. Use spices, chilli, vinegar - flavoursome things that make a meal more enjoyable. Getting hooked on chilli reduces your cravings for sweet things (I found so anyway). That said - don't overdo it on the salt.

7. Set yourself a "panic" time frame - ie you will be good for two months, or six weeks, and then you will have not a mega-binge, but a few days with the odd bar of chocolate, maybe one feast-out at your favourite restaurant. It may slow things down, you may gain a couple of pounds that week, but long-term you will still lose, and it won't seem such an endless punishment.

8. Because above all that is what a diet can feel like - a punishment for being fat/overweight, which is a miserable enough state anyway. So make your focus on putting good things into your body - a nutritious banana, a fresh tomato, a lean piece of fish - concentrate on the cleanness and pureness and naturalness of the food - and start trying to see processes and sweet/fatty/starchy thing for what they are - often a taste-bud-addicting chemical soup of E-nasties that you can and should wean yourself off.