Health

Our low carbohydrate way of life is not new, dear readers. Last time I told you that the world's very first diet book was a low carbohydrate plan written in the mid 1800s by William Banting. Banting was told about this approach to obesity control by his ear doctor, Dr. William Harvey. Dr. Harvey said that he had heard about healthful advantages from a diet low in sugar and starch while he was in Germany and Paris. He related that he had traveled to attend a lecture given at Stuttgart by a celebrated physician and professor, Dr. Niemeyer. Dr. Harvey had also gone to Paris to hear a certain Doctor Bernard report on using the diet plan for treatment of diabetes.

Kristina from Indiana is 5' 5" tall and 46 years old. She started her low carb journey weighing 178 pounds and wearing a size 16. She currently weighs 148 pounds and is wearing a size 10. "I started with Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution and Protein Power," Kristina told me. "Now, I am drifting toward The Zone and Protein Power."

It's bound to happen. You're going away on vacation for a week or need to take a business trip for a few days. You'll be in a new city or visiting relatives who might not be familiar with the way you eat. Don't fret it, you can maintain your low carb lifestyle with very little effort.

On July 7, 2002, the New York Times had a feature story on the truth about low fat vs. low carb dieting. And you know what? The article was totally supportive of our lifestyle!

Suzy from Indiana is 45 years old. Suzy's top weight was 198. She is currently just below her goal weight of 138, weighing in at 137.5! Suzy wore a size 16 when she began low carbing and is now sporting size 8's!

Peggy from Georgia is 43 years old and is 5' 7" tall. She has lost 46 pounds to date following the Atkins program. Peggy began low carbing in July of 2001 weighing 224 pounds and wearing a size 24. Now, at 178, she is nicely in size 16s. Her goal is around the corner; she would like to weigh 158 and wear a size 12.

Kellie from Illinois has reached her goal weight of 132 pounds and overcome bulimia while following the Atkins program. Kellie is 5' 7" tall and 31 years old.

I'm coming to the conclusion that for me (note: I said 'for me'), being fat is a 50 - 50 proposition. 50% physiological, 50% psychological. And I've turned the corner from physiological to psychological. I'm making the right WOE food choices automatically, without pain or agony. Therefore, I can only conclude that I'm into mental housecleaning territory. This kinda goes along with those emotional motives for getting/staying fat and about having to deal with (perceived) inappropriate feelings of sexuality.

Lyndi from Georgia is 38 years old and 6' tall. She has been following the Atkins program since January 19, 2002, and has lost 41 pounds to date. Lyndi started her journey weighing 304 pounds and wearing a size 26. She now weighs 264 pounds and is wearing a size 22! Although Lyndi is unsure of her goal size, she is working toward a goal weight of 180 pounds.

We've been talking about diets and dieting. Dieting for weight loss has really only been a potential issue for the average person in the last few hundred years because prior to that, most people's problem was getting enough food, not getting too much. But by the mid 1800s obesity was becoming a problem for some people.

Linda from Florida is 57 years old and 5' 7" tall. Linda has followed The Schwarzbein Principle since mid-January, 2002, and for four years prior to that followed The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet. Her pre-low carb weight was 275 pounds; she currently weighs 205 pounds and has dropped from a size 24 to a size 16.

Do you tell people what you weigh or what size you wear? In the dark of night, when you're lying in bed and can't sleep, do you admit to yourself what you weigh? Do you tell your family you don't want clothes for your birthday because you don't want to tell them what size to buy? Do the numbers haunt you? Do you wind up asking yourself, "How did I let this happen?" Are you embarrassed, ashamed, or frightened?