About Me
Well over a decade ago I was diagnosed with cancer, not once but twice. Uterine then Breast Cancer.
And on top of that, I had a slew of other health issues. Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, morbid obesity, fibromyalgia, acid reflux, arthritis, chronic back and neck pain just to name a few. Basically, I was and felt chronically ill all of the time.
After I had finished with chemo and weeks of radiation my Oncologist told me, "Janet, you are going to live long enough to get cancer again". It was at that time that I was given a 5-year survival rate. And because of the kind of breast cancer I had, cancer would most likely metastasize in my bones, my brain or my lungs. I knew that I was in big trouble. I was more afraid than I had ever been in my life. After I arrived home after that visit I just cried my eyes out. I couldn't believe that I had been through so many surgeries, chemo, and radiation to end up with such a bleak prognosis. I cried until I couldn't cry anymore. And then I became angry. And then I prayed. I prayed for a miracle because I believed that I truly needed one. And it was at that time that I decided to fight like hell. But what in the world would I do? Where would I even begin? I had many questions, very little answers, much uncertainty.
Sometime after that, I was watching a tv program in which they were talking about a Doctor. They were not saying kind things about him. They were using words such as misguided and snake charmer to describe him. Even the word "dangerous" was being used. And they were accusing him of malpractice. What was it that evoked such emotions? This Doctor was promoting and had written a book about a low carbohydrate diet in which his patients had lost a significant amount of weight eating foods such as butter, steak, eggs, and bacon. All while restricting carbohydrates to only 20 a day. I also thought that this sounded crazy. I had never heard of anyone utilizing this kind of diet to lose weight. It went against all the advice I had ever heard about weight loss or ever been given to lose weight. Which was always to seriously restrict fat, eat less red meat, eat more whole grains, intake more fruits and vegetable, and to exercise my behind off. I had tried all of this advice before. MANY times before. It was the advice I was given after my first cancer. I was then diagnosed a couple of years after that with breast cancer. So, I thought to myself, "What do I have to lose"? So I bought Dr. Atkins' book, read it cover to cover and got started. I did the Atkins Induction for the first 7 months and I lost 68 lbs. I knew this was the answer that I needed. I knew now what needed to be done to get my health back on track. Doing a low carb diet is what has changed my life. It not only gave me a second chance and much more time with my friends and family, but I felt better than I had in a VERY long time.
Fast forward, it's now about 14 years later and although I no longer follow the Atkins plan I do continue (a majority of the time) living a carb restricted lifestyle. Many times taking the carbs down to levels (20 a day) that puts me into a state of "ketosis" so that I can lose more weight. I have so far lost 167 lbs and I have more to go. The journey to lose weight and get my health back to normal hasn't been a quick or easy one. I have made a ton of mistakes along the way. But I have also had many more successes than I can count. For me, a low carb/keto diet has been the easiest and most sustainable way I have ever found to lose weight while also keeping all of my past health issues in remission. There was no magic bullet. I just eat real food, real and healthy sources of fat, while maintaining a diet low in carbohydrates.
One of my main goals with this blog is not only to inspire those that also have big goals of weight loss and healing to do but take you along with me during my own personal journey, the last leg of my weight loss adventure, to lose the last 60 lbs. It's one of the best ways that I can think of to hold myself accountable while encouraging others.
These days I do not call myself a survivor. My life has become much more than that. The diabetes has been reversed and I no longer have high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, acid reflux, insomnia, arthritis, or any other of those dreaded ailments that left me sick and tired all of the time. Nor do I take any prescription medications or over the counter pain meds. So no, I am not just a survivor, I am a thriver!
I hope that you will follow along with me to not only encourage me during the last battle of my weight loss, but also give me the opportunity to inspire and also encourage and cheer you on during your weight loss battle. I will tell you what I tell myself, "You've got this! Everything little and big thing it takes to get this done you have within of you. Now get your behind in gear"!
Janet
(LowCarberista)
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Fast forward, it's now about 14 years later and although I no longer follow the Atkins plan I do continue (a majority of the time) living a carb restricted lifestyle. Many times taking the carbs down to levels (20 a day) that puts me into a state of "ketosis" so that I can lose more weight. I have so far lost 167 lbs and I have more to go. The journey to lose weight and get my health back to normal hasn't been a quick or easy one. I have made a ton of mistakes along the way. But I have also had many more successes than I can count. For me, a low carb/keto diet has been the easiest and most sustainable way I have ever found to lose weight while also keeping all of my past health issues in remission. There was no magic bullet. I just eat real food, real and healthy sources of fat, while maintaining a diet low in carbohydrates.
One of my main goals with this blog is not only to inspire those that also have big goals of weight loss and healing to do but take you along with me during my own personal journey, the last leg of my weight loss adventure, to lose the last 60 lbs. It's one of the best ways that I can think of to hold myself accountable while encouraging others.
These days I do not call myself a survivor. My life has become much more than that. The diabetes has been reversed and I no longer have high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, acid reflux, insomnia, arthritis, or any other of those dreaded ailments that left me sick and tired all of the time. Nor do I take any prescription medications or over the counter pain meds. So no, I am not just a survivor, I am a thriver!
I hope that you will follow along with me to not only encourage me during the last battle of my weight loss, but also give me the opportunity to inspire and also encourage and cheer you on during your weight loss battle. I will tell you what I tell myself, "You've got this! Everything little and big thing it takes to get this done you have within of you. Now get your behind in gear"!
Janet
(LowCarberista)
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing
1 Thessalonians 5:11
