intertwingly

Ben Hammersley: Atkins goes on about sugar causing ‘brain fog’, with fluctuating insulin levels really messing with your mood. Given the evidence so far, he may well have been right.

I started Atkins most decidedly not by accident.  Last December I turned 41.  I noticed that my father was not attending to his health.  I decided not to follow his path.  I got a physical in January.

I basically got a clean bill of health.  The one issue the doctor was concerned about was my weight.  He suggested I lose 40 pounds based on some silly formula.  I had not been that weight since grade school.  We negotiated and settled on 30 pounds which was roughly what I was in college.

My plan was to achieve that goal in 12 months, in time for my next physical.

I achieved it in two months.  Effortlessly.

The first three days were hard.  I had weird cravings... I never have cravings.  I was also in a bad mood.

After that, things were smooth sailing.  In ways that I can't precisely describe, I feel much younger.  Which is strange as I never thought I felt old.  I definately have more energy.  I bound up staircases.  I also sleep through the night... something I rarely had done since college.

Clothing that once was tight now falls off of me.  My shoes don't fit right.  I can fit in clothes that I haven't worn since college.

Once I reached the 30 pound target, I realized that 40 pounds was achievable.  But this seemed too fast. 
What I really wanted to find out was if this weight was sustainable.  So I went off of Atkins.  Completely.  Or tried to.  I found that to be hard.  My appetite is smaller.  I don't enjoy potatoes any more.  But I do like pasta.  ;-)

The most I have been able to put back on was 5 pounds, but I keep slipping back.  This is fine.  My plan is to stay roughly here and make sure I am exactly at my 30 pound goal at my next checkup in January.

I can't attest to the long term affects on mood.  My mood changed permanently on March 21st.  The last thing my father said to me was to notice that I had lost weight, and he inquired if it was intentional.  I replied that it was.  He liked that.