Due to a malicious action in 1993, I ended up gassed and crippled for a period of 3 years, during which time I lost a battle with fat, turning from a heavy 40 yr old, into a totally disgustingly obese person in a wheelchair. I fought with this condition during my time in the wheelchair, and after I managed to get out of the thing. Many diets, fads and failures followed in rapid succession, some increasing my girth rather than reduce it. This went on until I felt rather ill and went to a medic to see what was going on. At 350lb, my body had about given up, and diabetes was rapidly approaching. My blood was messed up, and my health was shot. If I did not get my life in control, I would loose it, said the doc.

I panicked and ate some more, like all obese people, and gained weight. Then a friend told me of a book to read, so I read it, believed it, and am now fighting my way down an increasing health slope. Dr Atkins new diet revolution, was the book, Christmas 2002 was the time, and over 6 pants sizes, 3 shirt sizes, and a whole mess of bad health figures later, I am back in control, weighing in at a much healthier 270 lb. I intend to continue with the lifestyle, and get to a much safer weight. My waist is now well below 50" instead of nearer 60" and I fit in XL shirts instead of XXXXL.

This is not a boast post, but rather a call to those other of our bretheren who cannot see their feet, or other parts. There is a pleasant and very safe way of getting your health back, before diabetes kills you. Look up all you can on Dr Atkins, and read his book. In it, you will find out why you cannot walk past the fridge without grabbing a meal, why you gobble down candy like there is no tomorrow, and why your body behaves like it does.

I have gone down nearly half of the 165 lbs I need to loose, in only a little more than 3 months. My Blood pressure is now very good, averaging at 116 over 73 most of the time, and my cholesterols are now very safe, along with my triglicerides.. My energy has increased in leaps and bounds, and I no longer ponder on the big question, "Is Viagra for me?"

I encourage any guy who no longer fits behind the wheel of his truck comfortably to read Dr Atkin's book.

As a side note, I went to a fancy steakhouse in Memphis last night, and had a 30 oz Porterhouse steak, with creamed spinach and sauted mushrooms. All allowed on my diet, no cheating. I eat a lot of spinach now, and cabbage. I used to have gout, so could not eat steak, but now, I eat steak often, Salmon, Cod, Chicken etc, all bad for gout, but great for me now. I have not wanted bread at all since Christmas, nor Potato, Rice or other simple carb, like sugar or pasta. I feel great, and feel the need to spread this word, along with those I usually spread.

So, my tubby brethren, take heart, and take heed, there is a way to see your feet again! I will answer any questions concerning this program I have embarked on, and maybe be able to increase my conversion total from 75 folk in 3 months to a much higher figure.. By the way, the Doc I saw said that I should continue with what ever I was doing - he said I look 10 years younger, and a new man. My health is great, considering the abuse I put me through.

Wm.

 

Hi Theo,

First let me say it's good to hear from you again friend, it's been a while since I've read a post from you. Either welcome back or thanks for posting where I could find your post.

Secondly and most important congratulations. Speaking as one who wages (and usually loses) that battle of the bulge, I know where you're coming from. I've never been wheelchair confined but sometimes I think desk bound can be nearly as bad. The older I get the more true this becomes.

Whether you know it or not by posting this you have added just a bit of emphasis to your goals, because now you have shared them with 88,593 FTE members!! Talk about a cheering section. The other thing you have done is encourage and inspire others that it can be done.

Thanks for sharing your accomplishments.

 

Hey Theo:

Nice to see you back.

Thank you for sharing this. I do hope you stick to it.

I have a friend that is terribly overweight. She did the Atkins diet about 1 1/2 years ago and was doing very well with it. Her mistake was that once she got close to the weight she wanted to be, she just quit the diet. Her weakness is pasta, breads and pastries and now she's right back to where she was before plus a good 50 lbs added to that. She's been talking about getting back on the Atkins diet for the past few months, but hasn't done it yet. I've known her for going on 20 years now and that was the only diet I've ever seen work for her.

I'm proud of you for taking your life back into your own control and you should be too.

Carlene

 

congrats! i look farward to reading your posts

 

Keep up the good work Theo !

I too have a story of weight loss to share. After 17 years of living on the road in a truck a "great big hot meal" became a major point of my day, of course that came after a full day/night of eating quickie garbage food. I know some long haul drivers can keep things in check, but this gear jammer had no control. I'd go through 2 litres of Coke a day, junk food for breakfast then for lunch, it was easier than pulling over and reaching into the fridge and grabbing something healthy. The other factor was go go go no time for exercise got to be first truck to the coast. Two weeks straight on the road living like that. Then home for one week, 2 bottles of whiskey and 48+ beers in that week, steak on the bbq baked potato smothered in sour cream at least 3 times in my week home don't forget the Sunday roast with all the trimmings then pasta night then ect.....+ pie or cake for dessert. My wife would spoil me with great home cooked meals, baked goods and treats. And don't forget the 2 litres of coke a day

I couldn't hold back my intake. And while being home I was highly active snowmobiling,canoeing,dirt biking,camping,hiking,working on my trucks,wheeling,hunting ,fishing,drinking.

Then back out on the road for 2 weeks. I thought hey I get lots of exercise my week home and on the occasional lay over. When I would sit around with the other drivers telling lies about how fast our trucks go and how far our CBs would talk and how all the girls love us. This lifestyle was litteraly killing me. I thought I was healthy but I was only fooling myself.

Well it all came to an end July 29th last year. I was rear ended by a guy in a mini van, he was doing about 130 kph I was doing less than 40. The impact put my head through the back window (bench seat) of my F150. My lower back went from 0 to 130 in less than a 10th of a second. After being released from the hospital the next day at 318 lbs I started physiotherapy 3 times a week for 2 hours a day and swimming 3 to 4 times a week. I started to see some weight loss this became encouraging, next I started lowering my intake,
my plate got a little smaller each night. The financial burden put upon me by our provinces not fault insurance program doesn't allow for pleasures such as junk food and alcohol. "well maybe a little bit of beer & a snort of whiskey". Well now I'm down to 260 and haven't had a sip of pop in 2 months and I'm not only lowering my intake but also watching what I eat. Unfortunately the damage the accident and my former lifestyle choices caused to my back and neck will most likely prevent me from returning to the road. Although I'll miss it greatly, it's a small price to pay for a happier healthier longer life.

Now all I need to do is kick this smoking thing and keep up physical activity on a daily basis.

Society needs to get rid of the stigma of "dieting is only for women"

Also I'd like to add, if any of you are still using the old bench seats without headrest's please consider an upgrade! If your ever rear ended you'll thank the lord you did!

 

Everybody who meets me things I'm fat but actually, I'm just full of air and I haven't found the relief valve yet.

Michelle went to get Hynotized for the 3rd time for weight reduction tonight.

You're looking good Theo!


p.s.When I went to meet him, All Rick had for me was a stale cookie and a flat coke.

Probably from his fat days!

 

p.s.When I went to meet him, All Rick had for me was a stale cookie and a flat coke.

Probably from his fat days!

 

Thanks for the nice words, folks. I had tried to loose weight so many time, including hypnosis, and nothing had worked. This one is working, I feel great and see a better life for me now.

Theo

 

Congratulations on your loss!! I have many questions for you Theo; but I will save on asking you till after I read the book. I have heard both good and bad things about the Adkins Plan.

Btw what was the name of the steakhouse you went to. I might be in your neck of the woods sometime in the next month and a good steak is hard to argue with.

 

Theo,
Your story is great.
Congratulations on what you have done.
You should feel free to boast; what you are doing and how you are doing it is a testament to your will and desire to reach your goal.

TC

 

You know, it's funny. You hear uninformed people screaming about how bad the Atkins plan is.. However, if you read the book, it's pretty clear about how to go about it safely.
I tried it while in High School (I've been a big dude for for a long time) but I didn't ahve the dedication to stick with it for long. I did find that it was working, though..

I have been an up and down kinda person for a long time. While I was working 2 jobs, lugging frieght, and running a busy quickie mart, I dropped about 140 lbs in a year or so, just never stopped moving.
Now, as others have said, I'm stuck behind a desk all day. I have all the energy of a coma patient.. Well, now it's spring, the sun's out, and I'm sick of being fat again. Looks like I'll have to dig out the Doc's book (somewhere in the house), and give 'er another try.
Another added motivation is seeing my 56 year old mother have a heart attack last fall. That'll catch you off guard, let me tell ya.

 

Dr Atkins died last week.

 

The steakhouse is the Butcher's Shop, on Germantown Parkway, just south of the Walnut Grove overpass.

Dennis,

I was very much saddened to hear of Dr Atkins death - he fell on the 8th, and died on the 17th. It is a terrible tragedy that has touched millions. I

hasten to add that the Atkins diet had nothing whatsoever to do with his death, or his ill health last year - rather the contrary. He recovered from a heart infection because of his strength and general health, and he walked 2 miles a day at aged 72. It was his walk to work on slippery sidewalks that caused his death.

I am still available to answer questions on the Atkins Approach, and have now managed to get down to 265 pounds -

I was on a trip for 10 days and couldn't eat properly all the time, but at least I am now back on track. I had some now pictures taken, to compare with the then pictures, and I am way thinner, but still too big for my liking. The pictures are too gross to even think of showing them, so don't ask.

Theo.

 

I am on the Atkins for life as well. I went on the program because of reactions to carbohydrates, with this diet I can be healthy and boy has it opened my eyes. (Lost a bit of fat too)

I recently went on a trip to the west coast and was looking forward to having fish and chips, but I can't on the diet. However in a restaurant in Crescent City, CA. I was introduced to a really tasty substitute: Parmesian crusted Cod. Let me tell you that is better than fish and chips. If anybody is interested in other fine safe foods I have a whole mess of recipes.

Well done Theo, on your weight loss keep it up. If you are interested, today I found splenda sweetened ice cream with no trans fats. Isn't that great! It is made by Pierre's and is called Slender. They have a bunch of flavors all low carb!!!!!!!!!

Anybody that wants information on low carb stuff, I have researched a mess of them.

 

Due to my parents diabetes... I have found that the brand Velvet Ice Cream also has a splenda sweetened version.