For those of you that are having a tough time losing weight and those sig. problems..

[RaySharpton]

I have had a very slow weight loss for someone my size. And at times it has been very discouraging not to see my weight drop faster on the scale.

I started the Adkin's Diet eight and a half weeks ago and I've lost sixteen pounds. I now weigh 312 lbs..

I started Adkin's Diet eating less than 20-gams of carbs per day. Then the 3rd week I gave up caffeine and sodas. The 4th week I went on Webmaster Alex's zero carb. challenge. The 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th weeks, I ate less than 10 to 15 grams of carbs. per day. Last week, the eight week I added 5 grams of carbs in approved vegetables. This 9th week I cut back to less than 15 grams of carbs. per day because of 4-lb. weight gain.

Here are my loses each week: -6, +1, -2, +1, -4, -8, -2, +4, and weigh in Saturday.

So I've lost 16 lbs. in eight and a half weeks from 328 to 312.

BUT...

1. I do not feel hungry anymore.
2. I do not crave Hershey's 16-ounce chocolate bar and 16-ounce Ben and Jerry's chocolate-fudge-brownie ice cream.
3. I feel better in general.
4. I sleep better.
5. My clothes are much more lose fitting.
6. I am starting to get compliments about losing weight.

These six things override any frustration about the up and down weight loss on the scale.

So you guys can do it. I know you can.

Off topic...it took me the good part of the day to take off one item at a time from my signature so that I could post. I kept getting that sign saying to go back and change my signature when I tried to change my cheat free star...lol.

Well, I took off my hugging bear link, and the sign said to go back change some more. So one at a time, I took off my links to nativetxn's links to the DIS MEETS board and DIS PHOTO MEETS board, then Pandypaws link to all the DIS meets, then the link to my low carbs. info thread, then Webmaster Alex's Challenge clippie, then the W.I.S.H. link.

Well, I really want to keep my patriotic 911 clippies, so I gave up my cheat free star and then my W.I.S.H. 15-lb.-loss clippie and then I accidentally lost my patriotic flag display clippie at the DIS-Con Dolphin balcony. (insert sad smilies here...I give up on the smilies...lol.)

I did find an old Santa Ray picture of me with a set of twins that are about to leave the hospital.

So...I guess I can have two clippies in my signature.

I sure do miss my W.I.S.H. 15-lb. clippie and my 35-day cheat free star, but at least I can post now...lol.


God bless you, best wishes, and encouragemet, RaySharpton (insert smiley face here...lol)

[TigH]

Ray, what a beautiful post! I am so PROUD of you! I understand how frustrating it is to see a slow loss, but you did the right thing by listing those other benefits that outweigh (pardon the pun!) the slow weight loss on the scale. And if you are already getting compliments and your clothes are fitting looser, then I suspect you have lost quite a bit more than the scale is registering!

Keep up the great work! We don't need to see all your clippies and links to know that you have been given one of the kindest, largest, most caring hearts in the world! I am so happy that you are part of WISH and that you're here to support us and to be supported. What a trooper you are!

Hugs, TigH. xo

[mowsie dreamer]

Ray, thank you for your very inspirational post. Aren't those "side effects" of weight loss wonderful? I love that I'm starting to feel better and sleep better AND that food doesn't have such a hold on me anymore!

And congratulations on your 35 days cheat free!!! Even if we can't see the clippie anymore!

[d.kurz]

Ray, I loved hearing your story. God bless you too!

[mum4jenn]

Way to go Ray!!! You are an inspiration to me and I want you to hang in there!! It is great knowing that people are realizing that you are losing isn't it??


I am looking forward to seeing if my co-workers notice my weightloss or not when I go back to work the 8th of August. (I work in a Middle school lunchroom) I have enjoyed my summer and I feel so much better since I have been on Atkins. It will be hard on me having to be around all that good food but I am determined to stick with it!! Believe it or not my school has GREAT food!!

[loisg1]

Ray,

So glad to hear that despite the obstacles you're encountering, you're able to look on the bright side and continue on toward your weight loss goal.

Stay the course and good luck,
Lois

[disboo]

Way to go! Slow or fast, it's off for good, right? My benefits have been the same as yours - and the one I really like is that my appetite is stable - no cravings or terrible hunger pangs. We can do it!!

[Mom2Princesses]

Ray

You always have such nice words of encouragement for everyone and you have such a positive outlook in your own "ups and downs". I truly believe that the positiveness is half the battle. This is not a race, it's not a sprint or a marathon...it is a day by day, and even hour by hour, challenge to yourself to live your best life! You don't need numbers to prove that, you only need your own satisfaction of a job well done. And you have that! You know you are doing the right thing. Keep it up, and, even if it is slow, it WILL happen!

Congrats on the 16 pounds, the clothes being looser is big reward!

[perfectmatch300]

For those of you who haven't met Ray in person, he really is as wonderful as he sounds in his posts! :teeth: I had the pleasure of getting to know Ray at DIS-CON I, & II, & he brightened up my day every time I saw him.
Ray, you're doing an awesome job. You didn't get to your highest weight overnight, so it's not going to come off overnight either. You are on the right track, & just look at how much better you feel!
I'm sorry you lost all your pictures, but as long as you are still here, that's what matters the most. I'm so glad to have you as a friend & also grateful that you found your way here to WISH.

[Fantasia Sam]

Ray you are doing so well and are an inspiration to me sweetie :)

[Minniespal]

Ray ~

You are trully an inspirational lady!!!

You are doing so well ~ O carbs how did you do it??

We are all here for you, as and when you need us, keep up the good work!!!

[Nancy]

Keep up the good work Ray. I also get discouraged when I haven't lost as much in 1 week as I thought...but like they posted, you didn't gain it all really fast, so you don't want to lose it all really fast (ok, yes i do, but that's not healthy!):)

[glo]

Hey!!!!
You should be proud of what you have accomplished so far. I know I am..16 pounds is not a little thing...I know you can do it!! You are an inspiration :)

[d.kurz]

Originally posted by minniespal
Ray ~

You are trully an inspirational lady!!!

You are doing so well ~ O carbs how did you do it??

We are all here for you, as and when you need us, keep up the good work!!!

Hold on! Ray's a guy I think. Right?

[dizneegirl]

Ray...

I can never see the pic of you with the twins (I think it's just too big...), so I downloaded it, resized it, and uploaded it to the DIS photo gallery... here is the link, if you'd like to use it.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/data/500/321santa_ray_w_twins.jpg

:)

-dizneegirl

PS - If anyone has a copy of your flag display, I'd be happy to upload that one for you, too. (I can even make a couple of pics into one, so you can have a cheat-free star, or WISH banner, or something else, too).

[RaySharpton]

LOL...yes, I am a male!

Thank you everyone for your kind words.

Dizneegirl, that would be wonderful.

I can't remember who turned my picture of USA flag balcony lights into a clippie. They had to crop it from a photo and make it into a clippie.

I really appreciate you putting my Santa Ray picture in the DIS photo thingie. I use a WebTV instead of a computer. I just took the picture out of my WebTV Scrapbook/PageBuilder thing and added height and width to my signature. I don't use a mouse or have a "property" button to check for size. I also can't add pictures to the DIS site.

I would love to take up your offer to have four clippies put into one, or however you do it. I would like to keep my Santa Ray and 911 tower clippie and add my 15-pound WISH clippie and today would be my 39 day cheat free star. Could I still change the cheat free star every day, and WISH pound loss clippie when I need too?

I'll send you a pm.

Thank you in advance, Ray