Atkins Success Stories
Mark Fairgrieve
Mark Fairgrieve - Pennsylvania
I lost 40 lbs.
My Story
I loved food. I overate for all the wrong reasons resulting in a steadily increasing waistline. I would eat for something to do, out of habit or out of mood (happy, sad, tired, etc.). At 6’1’’ and 215 lbs, I was not vastly overweight. But at 47, I was realizing I wasn’t able to consume and burn off all the food I once could. My clothing didn’t fit as well as it used to and I was out of shape. By the end of the day, my feet and back would hurt. I decided it was time for a change – not just to go on a diet, but to change my lifestyle.
MY GOALS:
I had dieted once before using the low-fat approach. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I had to watch how much I ate and was always hungry. I lost the weight but decided that this was a diet – not a lifestyle that I would ever be happy with. I had a number of friends who were on low-carb programs and would see them eating what I considered to be “reasonable” amounts of food. While I was putting on weight, they were eating larger portions and actually losing weight. I found the key was; they were consuming foods higher in protein and lower in carbs.
Unlike my low-fat dieting experience, these friends never reported being hungry. It was also enticing to discover the lower carb diet was made up of most of my favorite foods (meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, cheese, and healthy fruits and vegetables). It seemed like the ideal lifestyle without having to worry about being hungry or heavy again.
HOW ATKINS HELPED ME GET THERE:
I began the Atkins diet combined with daily exercise (riding my bike two short miles to work). Before I knew it, I was losing weight like never before. Best of all, it was effortless compared to any type of dieting I had done. Friends and fellow employees were all wondering what my “secret” was. In just over two months I had lost almost 40 lbs. It was so gratifying to see so much progress so quickly. When I reached my target weight (175 lbs), I was able to gradually increase my carbs for an even more satisfying weight-maintenance lifestyle. It was then that I began finding a huge variety of foods at grocery stores and restaurants that I could enjoy every day. Diet…what diet? To me, “diet” is a four-letter word. Instead, what I have achieved is a healthy, satisfying lifestyle that I truly enjoy!
At the height of success in my diet, a friend happened to call me (we both work in the field of food quality) and informed that there was a Quality Director position opening at Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. Not only was I interested; I was downright passionate about the possibility due to my success with the program.
It seems like such a rarity in this day and age to be able to base a job or career on one’s passion. But after a number of interviews, I was fortunate enough to join the Atkins team. For me, it was a dream come true to achieve my lifestyle, passion and career in such a short period of time. “Atkins for Life” is just that – a life full of food, health and happiness.
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