I have been doing Atkins now for about 18 months. In that time I have lost 94 lbs. Weight I gained as a result of two pregnancies. The last one was very difficult and brought me to my highest weight ever. 267 lbs. I also had high blood pressure, a heart murmur and I was suffering from post partum anxiety/depression.
When I had my son I felt pretty good, I asked to go home early. My blood pressure as a little high but other than that I was fine so the Dr let me go home to rest. The next day was fine but the day after, I started shaking uncontrollably, I had a constant feeling of adrenalin making me feel like my nerve endings were on fire. I was scared and knew something was wrong. I could not get a deep breath and I had chest pain. I called my Dr and they sent me to the hospital. They thought I might have a pulmonary embolism. Something that can be fatal.
It scared me. When I got to the hospital they did a complete work up. My BP was really high 169/100, I could not stop shaking and now I was having panic attacks. I had toxemia after the fact. My blood pressure continued to get worse after the early delivery to prevent this very thing.
They got it under control and I was put on a lot of meds. I hated that. I felt like my life had taken a turn for the worse and I would never be able to escape. But when I got home and held my new miracle baby, I just knew I could not stay like this. Fat, unhealthy, miserable. That was not who I was.
In June of 2008, I got out my old Atkins New Diet Revolution from the 90’s and started reading. Dr Atkins words always inspired me. As I read I remembered how good it felt to be on Atkins. To live the lifestyle while eating good and have no trouble keeping my weight under control.
So I started. And within the first month I had lost about 15 lbs and I just felt so amazing. It was frustrating in the beginning to lose weight and have no one really see it. But as the months went on, The weight kept coming off and now here I am 94 lbs lighter.
My entire life has changed. I exercise. Not because I have to but because it feels great. I can run with my kids. I can carry things, I feel full of life and no where near my 43 years.
This plan will not only help you lose weight it will change your life. If you follow it and use it the way it is meant to be done, You will not only gain control over your daily eating but really enjoy it and never ever feel like you are dieting.
YOU CAN DO IT!
Traci
Living Atkins Everyday 
This is great! Thanks for sharing! You are very helpful to those of us starting out and it is very appreciated! Most of the time I think they should be paying you, can’t believe they haven’t offered you a career as an atkins support team!
Thanks Shar. I am glad that I help out. Believe me, if I could think of a way to make Atkins my career I would. Thanks for taking a peek!
Hi thanks for all your help.I need to know the net carb count as I’m in induction But I know your recipes will help me thru Thanksgiving which is my favorite holiday.
Every recipe that I post will have the net carbs for at least the whole dish. You can just divide it into however many servings there are.
I am in Pre Maintenance and carb counts are still very important. If something is unclear, Please comment and I will get back to you with the answer.
I love Thanksgiving too!
Baylor thanks for letting us know about your blog. You are an amazing woman.
Jacq
You are so sweet! Thank so much. I am glad that you came by for a peek. I will be putting more things on as I make sure I have the recipes down correctly!
I have bookmarked it and signed up for updates. You inspire me to continue with ANA.
I know you can do it. Just remember to make it about you. Not anyone else.. Take the plan and make it something that you can live with everyday. I am always here for you Jacq.
What a great blog! Thank you for the inspiration and your recipes look so yummy. Please post more. Laura
Thanks Laura! I am getting there. I have lots of recipes they are all just in my head. So I want to make the dish before I post it to get it all right and turn my pinch of this or that into real measurements for people who need it to be exact! I am glad you like it!
Hey, Baylor!! Love the layout. Great stuff. But I need more pics!!! You are so good to the Atkins community. Keep up the good work. The Blog is awesome.
LOL… All this and pictures too?! I will post pics I just have to get all this stiff figured out first.. lol. It is good to see you!! Thanks, Lenny!
Baylor, how do you make time for all of this? You are one busy lady! You must just love doing this, it’s your passion! I am glad you have this blogg. This really helps me stay in the program because i belong somewhere out there among those who are doing the same thing.
Jodi
Jodi, I am glad that you like it. It was more time to set it up than you keep it updated. I really love the ease of being able to post links to recipes rather than type them out each time.
I hope to have more and more for the coming Holidays!
Baylor you are amazing and such an inspiration. I really look up to you and appreciate the things you say because it makes me feel like I’m not alone. I loved it when you said that it’s frustrating at first when people can’t see the weight you’ve lost — I’m at about 20 lbs. lost and I can tell people are looking me over when I tell them that. I also love your posts about ignoring other people’s comments — it’s hard to answer people when they say “How is it that you can eat a pound of bacon but can’t eat an apple?” But you’re right, the results speak for themselves.
….. do you happen to have a good answer to that one by any chance? 🙂
Thanks again!
Sure. You can have apples. Just not now. You will work them in your program if you want them in the right place and time. Atkins is not about never having just finding the right place for it.
Remember it is about you. You are on your way. It may take a awhile for others to see it but when they do, It will be wonderful! You can do it!
Thanks Baylor my Thanksgiving was great and b/c I used yoyr recipes I didn’t gain a lb.Now if I can just make it thru Christmas
YOU CAN LINDA!! I am so glad for you!! plan well and make sure there is enough good foods for you to enjoy for you too.
YOU CAN DO IT!
Baylor,
Thanks for all you do with ANA if I hadn’t found the atkins forems and alot of your post within a couple of days I would have probably either quit or lost all my weight in the first phase and gone back to my old ways. The forum is a great thing. Thanks for putting this link up for me. I like your site it gives alot of hope.
Thanks
Jerry
AW Jerry, I am so glad that I helped you. I know how tough it can be to get started. I am so glad you stuck around!! Sounds like you are on your way and doing fabulous!!!
Baylor,
I have ready a bazillion posts of yours on this stie and the atkins site in “Getting Started’. My friend mzrobin suggested I ready your stuff…I am losing ambition for this because I started the program approximately 3 weeks ago, and while I’ve lost some weight…maybe only 6 pounds or so, I am not having the tremendous reaction that you and many others are….I do feel better and have more energy…but hey, where is my big weight loss????
I used to eat Subway every day with a LARGE coke and also had 2 other cokes practivally daily….I too have approx 100 pounds to lose….:(
Now, I eat eggs scrambled with heavy cream in a pan with a pat of butter, and usually bacon, although I’m getting a little tired of the same breakfast every day. I also have coffee 2 cups with heavy cream and sf hazelnut creamer…I just bought the liquid sweet and low sweetener….no carbs for that. I have the Kroger carbwatcher yogurts, slim jim beef stix, eggs, string cheese, salad stuff/avacado, etc, cauliflower soupd, etc etc etc…I have just tried making the pumpkin MIM, and enjoyed it half at a time….
What can you suggest to me???? I am really sad that this is my outcome…I do feel like giving up…what’s the difference? I wasn’t losing before and I’m not really losing weight now. Any input you have will be greatly appreciated. Your pics are awesome!!!!
Thank you, Looking for your ideas that might help….more ideas re: meals especially breakfast!!!
Miriam
mbweiner@chartermi.net
oops, I meant “read”, not “ready”….
Baylor — l really admire you and appreciate you taking the time to maintain this blog. You are always positive and friendly on the Atkins site. I just have one question: what kind of sweetener do you use like in coffee, etc.. ? I want to make sure I am using the best one and not the worst! Thanks so much! Keep up the great work!
Tina
aka gillespiegirl on Atkins
I use sweetnlow in my coffee and splenda when baking. A lot of people love splenda. I would limit the use of Aspartame. That is the one that seems to cause the most issues for people.
You are sweet! Glad you came by!
Awesome thanks — that’s what I’m using too. 🙂 Thanks so much for the reply!
Tina
Traci (Baylor), my name is Rhonda King and I’m 44 years old. I started Atkins, again, on January 4, 2010. To date I have lost 27 pounds. I have been a yo-yo dieter and on every diet since the 5th grade. My heaviest weight was 280. I couldn’t believe I was nearing 300 miserable pounds. What had I done to myself???? My husband and I have been off and on Atkins since the late 80’s and thank goodness it has changed since then as I am thrilled to be able to have the 15-20 net grams of carbs during induction and happy that we can add to that as we go on through the different phases. I read all of the posts on Atkins.com daily and you are so inspirational to me and everyone else that visits the website. This is the best that I have felt in years. I am already sleeping alot better and I just have so much more energy. I’m grateful for people like you who share your life stories and who is so helpful and knowledgeable about Atkins. My user name is One_More_Time so I’m sure I’ll be posting from time to time. Thanks for sharing your story and your photos as you look amazing. You are my inspiration that Yes this time I can do it. It’s not a diet but a way of life. Thanks, Rhonda
Rhonda, thanks so much for coming and visiting me here!! I am so excited for you and all the you have to look forward to. I will be looking for you at Atkins!!
Traci
Baylor, I follow you on the Atkins site and you are so encouraging and I love to read your post. When I see ur weight lost results I get soooo encouraged and want to keep going. When I started 65 pounds looked so impossible and now I am 29 pounds down. Thanks for the great post and you look amazing.
HOW AWESOME!!! Congratulations on the 29 lbs!!! You are almost there!
I am just starting Adkins and I am around 240 pounds. I am disgusted with myself. I find that I am hiding instead of going to events with my husband. I just want to feel beautiful again and confident. I found your story to be very much like mine. You are my inspiration. I can do this!
I know how you feel but you will not believe in only 1 month the difference in how you look and feel!! You CAN do this!!
i was just wondering if there was a ever a periiod when you just didint lose weight..im very inspired by all this, and want to know…for 2 weeks ive stayed the same. (im 145 now) afer losing 14 lbs in the previous 2 weeks. so i wanted to know if it was normal or if maybe im doin somethin wrong..thanks 🙂
Yes. In the last almost 2 years there have been plenty of times I did not lose. But over all it was still a downward trend. I focused on that. I made this my lifestyle so I don’t feel like I am missing a thing. Think more about eating to live instead of dieting.
I followed your posting at the Atkins forum.
The reason you caught my eye was that your starting weight and mine are the same. Also, around 5 years ago, I did Atkins for roughly four months and lost 50 pounds, which unfortunately I regained (and more) after getting of the diet and going back to my old habits.
I turned 49 on Sunday. I am now 270 and my blood work is the pits. I find your results and attitude highly inspirational and hope to return in eighteen months or so when I hit my goal of 160 lbs.
Thanks!
I cried when I read your story. It sounds a lot like me. You have motivated me that I can do this. I have had a great start so far and have lost 12 lbs in only 7 days (definately no starvation involved). My heaviest was 238 and I am now 225.6. after 7 days. I want to get to around 140 but would be happy at even 155 (considered within my weight range). It just seems like so far to go and I know this rapid weight loss will slow way down eventually.
Congratulations on your new found health!
Posie
Hey Baylor….I had spoke with you on the atkins site…You had replied to one of my threads about me being on BP meds and cholesterol meds…You wrote to me and it really helped me so much…I cannot read your information enough!!! I love it! You are so awesome for your success and sharing it with us…I was wondering about something…Someone on one of the atkins threads told me that I would have a very hard time losing the weight because 1 of my BP meds is a beta blocker..Were you on anything like that? Was hoping you could make me feel a little better about that…
Thanks:)
I did not have an awful time losing on the beta blocker. It can be an issue for some but not everyone. Being on Atkins will help lower your pressure so you can get off them altogether hopefully!
Hi, I have been following your story and I am so happy for your success. You make it seem so possible to do. I am 31 years old a mother of 3 and I have never felt comfortable in my own skin. I am short 5’1′ . so 10 pounds on me seems like 20. I recently had my 3rd child well he’s 10 months old , seems like yesterday, but i still can’t shake this weight. I have been trying to follow a low carb lifestyle since feb. meaning I try not to eat bread or pasta during the week on the weekend maybe i’ll have a hamburger bun with my hamburger. well I can go on forever , but what i’m trying to get at is I would love if you could post a meal plan on what worked for you. I can’t seem to loose anything no matter how little I eat. the sugar in my coffee is the biggest setback in my day but I am a walking salad. lol . If you have any advice for me that would be great. Thank you
No more sugar. Not even a little bit. You will sabotage a great day with a little sugar. You need to understand what it approved fro induction to be able to eat well and lose the weight. If you can get the new book. NEW ATKINS FOR A NEW YOU. Or go to the Atkins.com site to the PROGRAM tab. Click on phase1 and download all the information and the foods acceptable.
It does not have to be complicated. I eat simple. Eggs with cheese and veggies for breakfast, lunch can be left over dinner or salad or tuna salad with lettuce, a greek salad. Dinner is what I make for my family. roasted chicken or beef with 2 vegetables for me. My family eats what I eat. I just add things for them. Whole milk, sweet potatoes. try and make things that will not appeal to you so that you can feel safe until you get your Atkins legs. You can do this!
Thank you so much for letting me be a part of it!