Category: Discussion

Andrea’s Story

In 1997, I worked for Lucky (now Albertsons) as a checker, I started to gain weight. Perhaps it was due to not exercising as much (after all, checkers just stand in one spot all day), or maybe it was the dining out. I had never heard of the now infamous “Atkins Diet”, until a certain regular customer told me about it. He was very fit, bulging biceps, basically he looked like a body builder. After seeing him regularly come through my line, I noticed a pattern. He always bought the same items; mostly steak (rare occasions other meats), cheese, occasional vegetables, and water. That was all he bought.

I had never heard of the now infamous “Atkins Diet”, until a certain regular customer told me about it.

– Andrea

One day I asked him why that was all he bought. He mentioned it was the healthiest way to eat. Of course, I was shocked and disagreed with him. After all, this was at the height of the “low fat” craze. I mentioned that I wanted to lose weight and his advice was to eat meat, nuts, and cheese. I didn’t give another thought to it after that because of course it sounded like it would never work. On the next visit through my line, a week later, he gave me a book.

That book was “Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution.” I was surprised and I thought I’ll just read it for the hell of it. After I read the whole book, it all made sense and it would soon literally change my life. I decided to try “Induction Period” for two weeks. After a few days on the “diet” I felt my energy soar, clothes looser, and just overall healthy. After two weeks, I lost 7 pounds. I really felt great and decided to make this a lifestyle change, rather than a diet. To this day I’m still a strong believer of low carb, high protein, high fat (the good fats).

— Andrea

Rich’s Story

I had heard of Atkins before. Back when my three buddies and I used to go to SJSU’s Gym, there was a guy who worked there who was on Atkins. We didn’t know until they put up a poster of him and his story. It mentioned how he had at one point weighed like 300lbs and wanted to take lose that weight, so he got on Atkins and dropped to like 160lbs. It was quite amazing. But at the time, I was not the wiser and had believed, as many still do, that Atkins was dangerous and how it could cause brain damage, etc.

It mentioned how he had at one point weighed like 300lbs and wanted to take lose that weight, so he got on Atkins and dropped to like 160lbs.

– Rich

It was until I met Andrea, did I think more of it. She truly changed my life by introducing me to a healthy lifestyle that I had previously known before. I started Atkins in September 2003 and have since lost 60lbs forever. Because of her, I have never felt better or more alive. It’s a wonderful feeling when I was able to put on size 36 pants…especially since before I was starting to wear a size 42. I went from shirt sizes of XL-XXL to medium. Where I was content before being a couch potato, now I enjoy going out and experiencing life. Since reading the Atkins New Diet Revolution book that Andrea gave me, it has been a huge impact on my life in a very positive way.

An example of what I used to eat was: fast food for lunch and dinner. I ate big meals too. Supersize, quadruple size, seconds… everything! It was crazy. I also used to drink nothing but soda. I could finish 2 liters of soda like nothing. I never drank any water what-so-ever. Whenever I was thirsty, I reached for my Pepsi to quench my thirst. All the most sugary of stuff, I used to love. I had stashes of snacks of chocolate, cake, potatoe chips, etc. I was horribly unhealthy then. I believe that if I didn’t stop the was I was eating when I did; I probably would be diabetic now or have suffered my first heart attack. I never used to eat any vegetables or fruits either. My diet was mainly sugar and high fat…the worse combination possible.

— Rich