Got room for one more?

Hello!
I have been lurking around and figured I would finally post today.
Had a hard time finding the forum, but after a few tries, here I am.
I  am carb addict and in need of help, I never seem to get full.
I have been denied WLS, so I need to get myself together.
I just dont think I can do WW again.
I did well with Atkins a few years back, but I dont know if I can do it again.
I guess I am just feeling confused on where to go from here.
A little about me, I am a 42 yr old mom of 2 boys. I work full time is a cardiac surgery icu,(talk about feeling like a farce!) been married for 14 years to a wonderful man.
Ever since the birth of my first son, I have struggled with my weight, so the past 13 years I have been as low as 138 and my high was 221, and at 5'1" its not good.
I find myself limiting what I am willing to do. This summer I did not get on my hubby's motorcycle at all. I did not bring my boys to the beach (I love the beach) did go to the pool reluctantly a couple of times. I dont want to go to restuarants, I feel very self conscious.
But the worse part is I am afraid for my health. I am borderline with my sugar and bp. My cholesterol is high. I have horrible heart burn at times. Not to mention after a 12 hour shift I am exhausted! Everything hurts. Currently seeing a counselor, but not sure if its helping.
I need some help!
It gives me hope and encouragement to see what you guys are doing for each other.
Thanks so much!
Maria

Welcome, maria!!!!  I am super busy this week, but please, babe, jump in anywhere.  You can do this, and together we will succeed!

 Welcome. I know how you feel about those carbs. It took me a while to get serious about dieting, well my oldest is 5 so I would say 5 years of doing one diet, and not lasting long before I started the next because I wasnt giving it time to actually work. But, I now have the mindset that I am getting what my body need with atkins, and plus way more protein and veggies than I did in the past. I get days were the sweet try and over power me, but I have only been doing atkins for 2weeks and you just get back up and keep going, and I feel great. The best person to talk to is Mary, she has alot of information about dieting especially the RIGHT way to do atkins. I have lost with WW in the past, so that is a good way if you think that you have to live with carbs.  
Good luck hun, and we will support you in your time of need, thats why we are th OH family!! 

Hey Maria - I feel your pain.

I had lap-band surgery to help me lose weight, but after a period of time, it stopped working; my body stopped caring about calorie intake and I had to do something different so I turned to Atkin's.   I was a regular on this board before my surgery, so I still frequent it because I love these people.

We can definitely help you and support you through any diet you choose.  Congratulations on being ready to get "on track". 

Neen, we loves you, too Baby Girl!

  Mary

Hi Maria,

I hear ya on afraid for your health.  It's a scary thing!  Last nigh****ching The Biggest Loser I heard someone say her friend died at age 34 from some kind of problem from obesity..  That really gets ya thinking about us all playing Russian Roulette with our lives. 

I'm glad you decided to join us.   This is a great group of people,   There is so many different walks of life on this board, and a very successful board too I might add.   Hope you started your plan today! :)   

I am currently seeing a therapist for my eating issues, but I don't feel that's enough either.  That's why I attend meeting of Overeaters Anonymous and pray everyday for God to help me moderate my eating and make healthier food choices.  It's rough, especially when you have a high stress job and children.  I'm glad you're married to a wonderful man - so am I!  By attending OA meetings, calling OA people, praying, and seeing a therapist, I am slowly losing weight and making better food choices.  I failed completely three times on WW, so I know what you've gone through.  I am currently on a managing your diabetes food plan, not a true "diet" with alot of restrictions.  I pray every day to have abstinence, which is refraining from compulsive overeating, and to eat moderate portions, and to eat healthy foods.  I simply cannot do this alone, because I am a food addict.

Denise Phares/kitties4

 

 

 

Hey Maria, welcome to the board.  The first thing I noticed about what you said is that you are borderline with your sugar levels and that you are addicted to carbs.  That to me is a red flag that you are insulin resistant.  Have you had your levels checked by an endocrinologist?  If you truly are insulin resistant, then that is the reason you are craving carbs...once you eat sugar and starch, it triggers an insulin response in your body that says you didn't get enough carbs and your body needs more, and all of that extra insulin turns to fat.  With me, all calories are not created equal, nor is it for most ( not all ) who are morbidly obese.  I'm not diabetic, but I am VERY sensitive to carbs, that's why I do Atkins.  But if you feel like you can't take the deprivation of Atkins, at the least for you I would say you need a low glycemic diet.  Which is basically Atkins maintenance...that's what I'm on. 

Stick around, we're all on a lot of diverse plans, cuz we're all wired differently.  What works for one may not work for someone else.  What is common in all of us is that we are trying to work out what is going on in our heads that makes us succeed or fail.  Fair warning, there's some scary stuff going on in heads around here, (especially mine), but it's OK, cuz by the time you have made it to this board...well let's just say we all have ISSUES!

Mary