How going low-carb is helping Anthony with his weight loss and with keeping disease away

Anthony Roberts

-City & country: Kamuela, Hawaii, USA
-Age: 46
-Weight before diet: 342 lbs.
-Weight now: 302 lbs.
-Target weight: 242 lbs.

Embarking on a low-carbohydrate eating program wasn't just a personal choice for Anthony, it had his physician's stamp of approval as well. Similar to the South Beach diet, it had him giving up food and beverages that he used to love; but it's a decision he doesn't regret. Here, Anthony shares how a low-carb lifestyle is leading him on the road to better health, and to a better quality of life for himself with his family.

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program?
Earlier this year my doctor had a serious talk with me that "something has to change and that something is you."  I was classified as "morbidly obese" and "pre-diabetic."  Heart disease and diabetes are very prevalent in my family.  Both my wife and my doctor feared that if I didn't get my weight down I would never live to see my three-year-old son grow into a man.

-What type of weight loss program are you following? 
Both my wife and I are on what is basically the South Beach diet.  Low carb, high protein, some "good" carbs.  My wife is joining me on the diet to lose a little weight but primarily to support me.  We don't count carbs but we have eliminated all the "whites" from our diet as well as sugar and all soft drinks (diet or regular).

-Why did you choose this weight loss program?
I've been getting heavier and heavier since I graduated from College twenty years ago.  Like so many people battling the bulge, I have lost substantial amounts of weight over the years and have always put it back on plus some.  Due to my ever-increasing size and my family history my doctor thought that a "South-Beachy" (her words) diet was best suited to help me reduce my weight and avoid diabetes, which she felt was right-around-the-corner if I did not immediately change my lifestyle.  She has diagnosed me as "insulin resistant" and felt the low-carb lifestyle was a good alternative for me to lose and maintain my weight loss.  So far, so good.

-How long have you been on your weight loss program?
Since May 10, 2007.

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit? 
I ride an exercise bike at home and do a little weight lifting.  I also go for walks at work, and we try to get to the beach on the weekends for a swim.

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming? 
The first one was giving up diet sodas.  My wife has been trying to get me off the sodas since we met.  My doctor agrees with my wife and feels that not only are all sodas bad for your health, but diet sodas may be part of the problem for those who are morbidly obese.  My doctor asked me as a first step toward a healthier lifestyle, and as a show of commitment, to give up all soft drinks for good.  I haven't had one since May 10, 2007.  The first few days "soda free" were very hard.  I substituted Perrier for sodas to get me over the hump.  Interestingly, after getting off of the diet sodas I notice a huge drop in my desire for all things sweet.  I definitely think there is something to diet sodas at least acting as a trigger for sweets consumption and weight gain.

-How do you keep yourself motivated? 
I married my lovely wife, Judith, later in life.  We were both in our early 40's.  And then surprise, surprise... we were blessed with a little boy 3 years ago.  Being healthy (and around) for my wife and son is the primary factor that keeps me motivated.  As I drop more and more weight I am feeling better too and that is another great motivator to keep me pushing.

-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers? 
I try and visualize sugar and "the whites" as poison. I try and learn more about what actually goes into "processed foods" so I can get thoroughly disgusted and avoid them and I avoid fast food like the plague.  I treat my weight problem as a medical problem just as if I already had diabetes.  There are some things that are good for me to eat and some things I must avoid to be healthy.  When I pass by a fast food joint, I think of it as a "house of death", which for me it is.  I also weigh myself daily.  I think I could really back that off to every other week but I'm so obsessed with it right now that it's hard not to hop on the scales every morning.

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern? 
I'm pretty comfortable with my lifestyle changes, but sure, you can always fall back into old, unhealthy patterns.  I've lost a lot of weight before only to put it back on again plus more.  This time, however, I have very strong support, and most importantly, the low-carb diet works for me.  I don't feel hungry all the time and my cravings for "junk" have greatly reduced.  I feel like this is a lifestyle I can live with and maintain without feeling miserable and hungry all the time, which is exactly how I felt on low-fat and low calorie diets.

-How do you prevent this from happening? 
Well, that's the trick, isn't it?  Support from family and friends help a great deal.  Being vigilant and setting guidelines is also important.  When you see your weight going up instead of down, you have to address it right then.  As I get healthier I am also able to incorporate more and more physical activity into my lifestyle.  Keeping track of where I am at and keeping myself on notice is key.

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?
My site: Diary of a Haole Fats I started my "Haole Fats" blog to put myself on notice and discuss my desire for lifestyle change with family and friends in a very public manner.  I invite everyone to check out my site.  It really isn't about recipes or dieting techniques, though you may see a little of that from time to time. My site is about understanding how I got to where I am today and my thoughts on what it means for me to be healthy.  And I do A LOT of ranting and raving about whatever ideas are flying around my brain at the moment! ;-) 

I would also like to recommend two other websites whose owners have given me support on quest for better health:
"Big Daddy D's Low Carb Diet and Recipes" (http://lowcarbohydrate.blogspot.com)
Jimmy Moore's "Living La Vida Low Carb" (http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com)