Lori From Illinois’ Low Carb Success Story

Lori from Illinois is 26 years old. “I started Atkins on January. 3, 2001,” she told me. “I guess I don’t follow the plan as strictly as others do; I kind of do my own version, you could say.” Lori began her journey weighing 266 pounds and wore a size 26 at that time. Just nine months later, Lori weighs 181 pounds. That’s fourteen pounds lighter than she is in her ‘during’ picture! She now wears a size 12/14, and is well on her way to her goal weight of 150 pounds.

“I have always been overweight,” Lori said. “I was a chubby kid. I always had to buy clothes in the ‘husky’ department! Over the years the pounds just kept adding up.”

“I have thought of trying numerous weight loss programs,” Lori continued, “but I’ve never had the willpower to stick with any type of weight loss program before finding Atkins and low carbing. My ex-husband suggested it to me when I mentioned I wanted to lose weight. This was probably a month before I actually started seriously considering doing it. He bought me Dr. Atkins’ book and I started the week!”

“I think I’m addicted to eating. I’m not entirely sure if it’s the carbs I am addicted to, the sugars, or just the act of eating. I was sitting at work listening to a radio program and Dr. Atkins was the guest on that day,” Lori went on. “One of the employees of the show had lost 100 pounds on this way of eating and he could not stop praising and thanking Dr. Atkins. He had me when he talked of eating all the steak you want,” she chuckled “I just figured what did I have to lose but the weight?”

Lori adds the great part of this way of life is feeling so much better about herself. “It takes me by surprise if someone tells me I look good. I love it, but it’s hard for me to accept at times. Being able to shop for clothes outside of the plus size section is such a thrill for me! Knowing I am improving my health is also a major plus!”

“As for the bad part…sometimes it takes a bit more willpower than I have. I’ll be the first to admit I have had many rough spots. I have cheated many times, and I seem to trigger cravings when I do. It’s only after falling off the wagon that I have to contend with the cravings. If I am staying true to this way of eating, then I have no problems.”

Lori had never gotten past mere;y thinking dieting before she began low carbing. “I’d think about it, but then would just never do it. With low carbing, I just did it! Some days it is hard, but most days it’s easy. It is definitely something I will stick with for the rest of my life! How could I ever go back to the ‘before’ days?”

There is a history of diabetes and heart problems in Lori’s family. “Although it hasn’t been proven medically, I honestly feel I am decreasing my chances of either disease by losing weight. I can do more physical activities than before. For example, I can go up multiple flights of stairs without huffing and puffing. I haven’t noticed any problems other than an occasional leg cramp in the beginning, but that doesn’t even happen now.”

Lori has thought about all the weight she had lost. “I guess I’ve never really visualized the amount,” she noted. “As I was thinking about this, I looked over at my daughter. She is 5 years old now and weighs 64 pounds. She’s a big girl! I looked at her and tried to tell myself I lost a whole one of her… and then some! I guess just visualizing how much weight that really is just blows my mind. It makes me so sad to realize that I had that much more of me to carry around a few months ago. I can barely pick my daughter up, yet I was carrying her weight around with me everyday! No wonder my knees and heels ached and my back and shoulders hurt! My poor body… It must think I’ve hated it all of these years! Hopefully, it realizes now I didn’t and I don’t. I was just a bit…. lost!”

Awhile back Lori allowed herself a cheat day. “After that, I struggled horribly! I had all kinds of problems sticking to low carb eating. I had gotten to an all time low, then I gained a few pounds back. I felt horrible for allowing myself to get to that point. I was doing so well, and then blew the momentum by cheating. If I can offer you any advice at all…it is: DO NOT CHEAT! Do not fall into the way of thinking that, ‘Oh, this once won’t hurt.’ YES, IT WILL.”

Lori has an absolutely wonderful support person in her cousin, Sue. “She joined the low carb way of life about two months after I did. She has been there for me and kept me in line many, many times! She is always there when I need her. My family is very supportive of me, although none of them ever really believed I would actually do this and stick with it.”

“I feel so much better about myself at 266 pounds. I thought I would never find anyone to date or fall in love with. It’s amazing now, how many compliments I get. It’s hard for me to accept a lot of the time, but I’m enjoying it! I think I carry myself differently now. Before I would kind of stay in the background and not want to draw attention to myself. Now, I don’t mind people seeing me!”

“I have met many people who have told me how bad low carbing is for me. Many have told me that I am destroying my body and my health. I just let that go in one ear and out the other. I know I am healthier now than I was at 266 pounds! I consulted my doctor about doing this way of eating, and she is very supportive! These days I get a lot of positive feedback from friends and coworkers as well as my family. I think many of them are surprised I was actually able to do this and stick with it.”

“I cannot believe how much my life has changed since starting to low carb in January of this year. I feel better physically and emotionally. I know I look better! I highly recommend this way of life to anyone who needs or wants to lose weight. I used to survive on Mountain Dew and junk food everyday! If I can give up all of that and eat low carb, then anyone can and do it!”

“I was going through all my clothes and my ‘fat’ clothes because a friend and I were having a rummage sale. Well, I found an old pair of jeans of mine – the same pair I was wearing in the picture that made me decide to start this way of life. I put the jeans on just to see how big they were. OH MY GOODNESS! I could not believe how big they were on me!! It upset me a bit to realize I was that big just a few months ago, but it was such a wake-up call for me. I mean, yeah, I knew I’d lost a lot of weight. I just didn’t see how much it really was until I put these jeans on!!! I went to my sister’s house to show her because I was just so thrilled. I decided to see if my niece (she’ll be 2 in January) would fit in the jeans with me. SHE DID!!! ”

Lori’s favorite support group can be found here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Atkins_Support_List