Karen's Atkins Journal (aka "help a newbie"!)

[MsDisney]

Ok, I've done it, I started my own journal!

I am starting this on my 14th day of Atkins...tomorrow is my 2 week mark and weigh and measure day again. I plan to stay on or pretty close to induction. (I think I'll add a couple of different veggies or food that are basically no carbs and stick to the "under 20 per day" deal.

I haven't lost as much as I had hoped, I started at 204.5 and I'm at 199 now...but I started working out everyday at the end of the first week, and exercised everyday last week, so I think the loss slowed down because of that. I'm pretty muscular by nature and working my legs on the total gym has got to be producing some muscle, which we know weighs more than fat. So I won't be discouraged. My big fear was I would do this and work so hard and never lose...but I KNOW I'm a carboholic because starches and carbs made up most of my diet before this! (not so much sweets) But I'm going to carry on!

I have learned so much on these boards and I learn something new everyday....I have found SO much inspiration here and hope one day to be an inspiration for someone else!

I'm just going to basically introduce myself to get started and hope for the best! I'm hoping to make some new friends here to work along with toward our goals!

My name is Karen and I'm a 35 y/o mom of 2 boys....11 and 9. I'm engaged to the love of my life, Kevin and we met on the DIS! (via the Universal boards...he's MIB999999) We recently bought a house and life is good! We live about 15 minutes from WDW, which is heaven and the real reason I moved here from Boston in 2001. (although, now I believe the *real* reason was to meet Kevin! I have definite self-esteem issues and have been heavy my whole adult life...my heaviest being 212. I lost 40 pounds years ago doing low fat and they crept back. I want to do Atkins because I need a permanent change and I want to never see the scale showing me as extremely overweight again once I get to goal!

I workout 5 days (M-F) and have started doing the 2 mile WATP and I use the Total gym daily. Today I added a FIRM abs workout...I never knew 6 minutes could be SO long! I pulled my neck a bit because I think it was doing some of the work! Abs aren't something that are used normally, so I know that it will be a painful process to get them in shape, so I just did the best I could! I also bought a firm total body workout DVD and a yoga one, so I don't get *too* bored with WATP. I may look at them later in the week.

My mini goal is to lose 25 more pounds by my birthday, Dec. 6th and I want to lose 55 pounds total. (and we'll see where I am, as I said...pretty muscular and big boned...so I think I'd look good at 150)


Anyway, I hope I haven't bored anybody to tears...I'd love to get to know some of you better and I could sure you some help getting through this, especially when the scale moves so slowly!

Thanks for reading!
Karen

 

[Castillo Mom]

Alright Karen! Now that wasn't so hard was it? You have two boys huh? I have three boys and mine are 9, 11 and 14 so two of them are the same age as yours. Aren't boys great? They're hard to keep up with sometimes but they keep me laughing.

If you're exercising regularly, don't worry too much about the scale. You'll know that you're losing by the way your clothes fit. To be honest, that's more important. I know what it's like to be overweight for such a long time. It's difficult to make such a drastic lifestyle change. But remember that our boys are counting on us to stay healthy and be around for a long time.

Congratulations on your engagement. When is the big day? Will you be getting married at WDW? What a dream to live so close to the World. I bet your boys love that!

You're doing great with the exercise. I wish I had as much energy as you. You've inspired me to start sooner than I had planned. I'm a little sore right now, but I know I have to keep plugging away.

Anytime time you're feeling down, just come on over to the Wish board and I'm sure you'll find words of comfort. We can do this!

 

[lulu201]

Hey, Karen, you did it!!!!! I loved reading your journal entry this morning! You can be sure I'll be checking up on you on a regular basis for inspiration!

How do you like WATP? I know MeMe's going to try it. . .I've got to hear everyone's reports and then maybe I'll give it a go when I need a break from the treadmill.

Maybe you mentioned it, but how tall are you?

What a Disney love story you and Kevin have! When's the big date? I love wedding details, tell me all about it!

I didn't have to time to journal last night, and I'm rushed like a maniac this morning, so I have to go, but I'll check back in with you later. Have a great day and remember I'm in your corner as you make lots of healthy decisions today!

 

[Auntmeme]

I'm happy to read your journal, I was not bored at all. Wow all boys! I have one and what work it is, some day maybe I'll have another.

Congrats on the upcoming nuptials, what a story. Did you move there to be close to your fiancee or Mickey? tell the truth when is the date? I love weddings, did all my own planning, saved a ton of $.

I know you'll hit the 25 mark for your b-day, all that exercise will do wonders. Have you tried the yoga tape? I did yoga once and didn't feel it was a hardy enough workout, I like to feel my heart race & get real sweaty. Watch your neck w/ the ab workout, I was told to pick a spot on the ceiling and look at it the whole time.

Good to have you here, stay focused & have a great week!

 

[MsDisney]

Hi guys! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and post to my "journal"! You guys are awesome!!!

I actually met Kevin online here on the DIS after I moved to FL July of '01. It's a pretty small group and fairly intimate on the Universal boards, so I've met a number of the folks from there and some really great people! As for Kevin, we met at a Universal "meet" (when for some reason I came out of my shell and agreed to have lunch with 3 men I had NEVER met!) and we had already established a pretty good relationship online (friendly banter, etc.) and our friendship grew and grew. It's actually a much longer, involved story, but I'll spare you now and perhaps one day you'll want all the gory details! Or not...LOL

We don't have a date set, I want to be at a point where I will feel I can put on a wedding gown, or dress and look GOOD for him and for my pictures! It's motivation, not the reason behind my wanting to lose! It won't be a very big production since we don't have any family in FL and we both have small families to begin with. I don't know many people in FL yet either. Some from the DIS universal board would plan to be there when we get around to figuring it out! Money is a thing too, we just built this house and closed on it in April, and my ex has been sending WAY less than he's supposed to, so hopefully things will even out soon!

Lisa, I'm glad to hear I can be some kind of an inspiration to somebody! That does wonders for me, and I hope you! It's amazing how quickly the boyd adapts to the exercise! Great job!

Lulu, I like WATP's, it's MUCH more than a walk! LOL I did the 3 mile today for the first time since I decided I should skip the total gym on T&Th to give my muscles a break. I was calling out to the gods by 2.5 miles!!! But I did it, and I didn't even modify my workout, so I'm feeling good...now that it's over! LOL It's a great indoor workout and I find having someone telling me what to do keeps me focused and motivated. It sure gets the heart rate up too! Oh, and I'm 5'4"...I'm all hips and stomach (well, not all, but that's where I have the most, anyway!) My legs are (if you'll excuse me for seeming conceited, cuz I'm not!) really in great shape...my inner thighs have/had some excess, but that's tightening up. It's from my stomach up! Yikes!

Meme, in all honesty, I moved here to be close to Mickey...I moved from the Boston area and after working myself up to 4 trips a year, I decided to make a change! I was miserable up there...and this is where I've wanted to be for some time. I was still married when I moved with the boys, and DH (at the time) was supposed to move down after we got settled and after tax season (he makes big bucks doing taxes at Block during that season), but he had other ideas...and well, so did I, in time! (part of gory story out of way, LOL)
I believe somewhat in fate though, and Kevin is from Indiana and has been here 12 years or so, what are the odds of our paths crossing? So I SAY I moved here to be with him...otherwise, he'd be jealous of Mickey and might cause a scene whenever he appears at the parks!
Thanks for the tip on the ab workout. I decided today I need to do my own abs to strengthen them, those FIRM people are insane to think anyone but them can do what they're doing!!! LOL

I guess this is my journal and I'm just chit-chatting! Yesterday was a great day...I had 2 eggs and a slice or two of ham for breakfast, a fairly small salad with tuna for lunch, a mc d's cheeseburger, patty only for a snack when I realized I couldn't get home to have dinner on the table in time to feed Kevin and I before Ryan's boy scout meeting...so dinner wouldn't be until 9ish. We had boar's head hot dogs (2 for me) grilled for dinner with zucchini and a few tomatoes cooked in butter. (Kevin had sauerkraut, blech!)
I did the 2 mile WATP yesterday, then did the total gym and the abs. Today I did the 3 mile WATP and my own ab workout. So far I've had an egg and a half deviled. I think I'll make something very proteiny (I made that word up!) for lunch!
Dinner will be hamburgers with some onion and garlic and worcestershire sauce mixed into the burger, and a few sauteed onions on them, with swiss...probably lettuce and a little tomato as well. Yum.

I went shopping yesterday and all I can say is thank goodness we got 2 fridges!!! Our fridge in the garage is stuffed with veggies and meat! LOL It all has to be refridgerated! My boys aren't even teenagers....I hope we don't need a third someday!

Have a great day/night everyone! I'm going to treat myself to a new pair of sneakers today, mine have seen many, many theme park miles and have no support left, my heel is starting to hurt! I hope they have amazon sized shoes that I like somewhere! (11)

Onward and hopefully, someday soon, downward!

Karen

 

[Auntmeme]

What a great day and a great love story

Keep it going, I know you'll look amazing in that dress when the time comes.

Onward & downward

 

[FEEBEE]

HI KAREN,

WELL YOU HAVE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE I AM A NEWBIE TOO, AND HAVE FOUND ALL OF THE GUYS ABOVE VERY MOTIVATING.

WHAT A ROMANTIC STORY, WE ALL LOVE A HAPPY ENDING AND I'M SURE YOU WILL BE A REAL CINDERELLA TOO COME YOUR BIG DAY!


I'M SO JEALOUS OF YOU LIVING SO CLOSE TO THE MAGIC, HAVE YOU SEEN MY COUNTDOWN!! MY PLAN IS TO MOVE OUT THERE ONE DAY. I HATE ENGLAND!! (MAYBE THATS A BIT STRONG!) BUT I SURE MISS FLORIDA!!

WELL DONE FOR YOUR JOURNAL.
I WILL BE WATCHING.........

 

[Castillo Mom]

Kaaaaren, where are youuuuu?

 

[MsDisney]

Was I missing?

I knew yesterday that after I posted, I wouldn't have much chance to be back on here...I had to prepare dinner ahead of time because Kevin gets home about 6 and we had to leave at 6:30 because Ales (9) had scouts and Ryan (11) and I were going to be dropped off at Ryan's school for open house. What I didn't count on was my pokey son missing the bus yesterday so I had to drive the 13 miles to get him and my younger son lost our mailbox key in the grass somewhere (never did find it! ) So I didn't get to HAVE dinner at the set time...but, I didn't skip it, I just ate later than I should have (9pm), but I think it's better that I ate, I didn't pig out or anything!

How are you all doing today? I have to catch up on YOUR journals, so I got my workout done early today!

FEEBEE, great to see you, I've seen your posts and I've been reading your journal...not sure if I've posted to it, but I'm here with ya! I'd love to visit England someday! There aren't many countries I have a desire to visit, but that's one of them!
It's very cool living down here...well, it's very hot, but I LOVE living in FL...there is so much to do! I love the weather too! I am looking forward to more fall-like weather because it is more comfortable and the crowds thin out a bit in the parks!

Ok, I already posted what I ate and planned to eat yesterday and that's what I did! So far today, I did the 2 mile WATP and worked hard on the total gym (legs and arms) and I've had 2 eggs with a few bacon bits on them and about 4 grape tomatoes cooked in butter. I just had a snack of a very small portion of blueberries and cream. I know they aren't "allowed" but I've been well below in my carbs and I think it was a nice treat...and heck, everyone else does it, Mom!
I plan to have a leftover burger patty for lunch with some salad and dinner...I dunno, it might be roast beef.

Oh, I made the cauliflower (mock potato) salad yesterday and Kevin enjoyed it. I didn't have any because I ate so late, but I'll maybe have some today with lunch. It's not bad...I'm still not past the fact that I'm actually eating cauliflower though, but I'm trying!

Have a great day and thanks you guys for checking in with me here, it means the world to me!

Karen

 

[Auntmeme]

Congrats on another good day. Let me know how the cauliflower is?

Would also love to live in florida but dh is more of a montana man, don't know how we matched up. Must be his good looks and sense of humor

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by Auntmeme
Congrats on another good day. Let me know how the cauliflower is?

Would also love to live in florida but dh is more of a montana man, don't know how we matched up. Must be his good looks and sense of humor

Good looks and a sense of humor would do it!!! A nice butt helps too!
I'll let you know how the cauliflower is and if I'm successful in pretending it's potato salad! LOL

Have a great day!

Karen

 

[DoeWDW]

Karen, sounds like you're doing GREAT! I'd love to move closer to the Mouse. Hubby and I plan to retire near Orlando and get part time jobs at Disney for spending money. Your love story sounds wonderful and I'm sure you will be a lovely, glowing, happy bride - no matter WHEN you and Kevin decide the time is right.

Keep up the good work!

 

[lulu201]

Hey, Karen, how are you today? Sounds like you're exercising up a storm down there in Florida. . .I admire the fact that you're doing those ab exercises. I'm sorry, but that's where I draw the line. I'll lift those dumb weights that my husband makes me do, but I just don't have the personal fortitude to do the abs. You're my hero!

Uh, I don't want to get too personal, Karen, but can Iassume anything about Kevin after reading your last post? Hee-hee!

Keep up the great work and congrats on that beautiful clippie!

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by lulu201

Uh, I don't want to get too personal, Karen, but can Iassume anything about Kevin after reading your last post? Hee-hee!

Keep up the great work and congrats on that beautiful clippie!

Um....well...yeah, go ahead! I like his butt...of course he's 6'4" tall, so it's practically always directly in my line of sight! LOL

In all honesty, we're totally wrong for eachother...but it seems to work for us! (he had an internal "list of qualifications" and I didn't really meet any of them, LOL)

Now I feel guilty...I didn't do the abs today I think for now I'm going to work them in slowly, every other day or something...they're just too tough and they're too far gone!

Doe, thanks for your kind words! I don't know how far away retirement is, but be sure to look me up when you get here!

I feel like I have a bottomless pit for a stomach today and I don't know why!!! Is it the exercise...my muscles are demanding more today? I'm only eating protein when I nibble, but still...I'm not happy about it!

Karen

 

[lulu201]

Karen, even the fact that you THINK about abs keeps you a hero in my book!

Glad you're keeping your nibbles to protein! It's becoming apparent to me that some days are just TOUGH as far as appetite is concerned. On Tuesday I was feeling like a chow hound all day, but yesterday I was able to be OK with much less. Sounds like you're going with the flow quite well.

Kevin is 6'4"? That's tall--no wonder you get a good view of his butt! Does he know we're talking about him??? My DH is 6'3", but being 5'8" I spend most of my time looking at his neck (not as interesting as your view, sorry to say )

I'll be away for a few days, but I'll be thinking about you. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend, but STAY OUT OF TROUBLE! We've got to be sporting new clippies before the weather gets cold! Uh, wait a minute, you never get the cold, only I get the cold. . .how fair is that??!!!

Talk to you next week,

ONWARD AND DOWNWARD!

 

[Auntmeme]

Are you still nibbling? did you do your abs? I know my abs are tightening but I can't see the muscle behind so much pudge

My dh is 6'2'' but I like looking at his shoulders, not much in the butt dept. He's the person we all love to hate who eats whatever w/o gaining an oz. Icecream, shakes, brownies everyday - It's sooo hard to go in my kitchen!

How was the cauliflower? my dh was talking about mashed pot yesterday I was about to wring his neck. I need to know if i should bother cause I'm not much of a cauliflower woman

 

[DoeWDW]

We all seem to have so much in common! My husband is 6' even....and while we're on the subject he also has a cute bum. He sounds like your husbands - he eats whatever he wants for the most part. He is small boned and on a bad day he weighs 150 pounds and has the nerve to complain about how fat he is!!!

Karen, you've been doing great! That ab work is hard and I think every other day is a good idea. If that's too much, then to every 3rd day and work up to every other. You'll get there!!

By the way, retirement is probably 10-15 years away, but a girl can dream, right?? Maybe I'll win the lottery...LOL! I promise I'll move to the Orlando area as soon as possible and we can be WISH buddies in person!

 

[MsDisney]

I just wanted to write a quick entry since I haven't for a few days...I was blindsided Friday and haven't been on since.

I was just finishing up my exercising on Friday when my fiance came home to tell me he had lost his job. No warning, no real reason...just that the new guy who came in and took over was hiring friends. The "new" guy came in late Feb. and cleaned out most everyone, but DH2B was left and his dept. is the only profitable dept. in the store (he is a construction parts manager) and so we thought it was OK at this point when WHAM...he was let go, just like that.

So....while I have had no problem sticking to my "diet" and I only skipped Sat. for exercise (I usually take the weekend off), I DID drink quite a few rum and diet cokes Friday night since the kids were elsewhere and well...I needed to! We went to Jellyrolls and had a good time and it kept my mind off of things. He's been great about it and already had put in a couple of applications even before Friday was over. It's just that he lost the company truck he had, so now we have one vehicle and he made pretty good money. We just bought a house in April, so I'm very nervous about how this will all play out. He's proud of me for only crying a little, but I figure, I can't do a darn thing about it, so we just need to hope for the best, crying won't change it!

Anyway, due to my little drinking binge, which I thought would only stall me, I'm slightly up, by about a pound. The scale had been moving a little each day and the day AFTER (Sat.) I was lighter than ever...but I guess that's changed. I won't do that again much, but I don't feel bad about it either...I had just enough to help me sing along and relax and I'm still on track with my Atkins eating, which is what I think, is most important!

So that's my story, and I'm sorry I haven't posted to anyone's journals, but I will...I'll probably be on a little less with him home. I'm going to enjoy having him around for a bit, but hopefully not long! He rarely took time off, so it will be nice to have him to myself. Hopefully it is really temporary!

Thanks all and I hope you are all doing well...I'll be around soon!

Karen

 

[Auntmeme]

So sorry your dh to be lost his job, hope he can collect unemployment. You did pretty good, considering

I believe things happen for a reason and it was probably meant to be. He is bound for better things

Keep focused and everything will work out for the best.

 

[nancyj_pa]

Hi Karen,
What a shocker for you! Just keep on sticking to your goals and you'll do fine. Like Meme said, things happen for a reason. Maybe he'll get a job he likes a lot better.

I would have had a few drinks if it were me. If you need a few more, switch to white wine...chardonnay is very low in carbs.

Keep your chin up and let us know how you're doing.

Nancy