Hi I am new, actually have been lurking around awhile but just recently decided to go all in on FTS.  I currently weight 310, and only 5'5. In the last 3 years my health has taken a giant nosedive and I have been through breast cancer, diabetes, sleep apnea, atrial fibulation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc, etc. I had a cardiac ablation done two months ago. My heart dr told me then I have got to lose weight or I will die.  That should be enough motivation right? Well to be honest some days it is, some days I don't care.  You see, we lost our 27 year old daughter 2 1/2 yrs ago. She had a 4 yr old boy and an 18 day old infant girl. Losing a child is something one should never have to go through. Since that time I have really struggled with depression and grief and to be totally honest there are a lot of days that my give a dam is busted!

However, I am still fighting and trying to find a way to regain my health. The first time I Read FTS I dismissed it because I thought I could never do this on 20 carbs a day. I have followed a reduced carb diet before and had lost 44 lbs in 4 months, but at that point the weight loss stopped and I didn't lose another pound even staying with the program for another 5 months. By then my focus was totally on those scales, I got discouraged, and gave up. I put it all back on plus a lot more after our daughter passed away. in hindsight I believe now that I was consuming too many carbs to keep losing.

Since the Dr. gave me the low down in Aug, I have lost 35 pounds, mainly by cutting back. But now I still have a long way to go and I so want a lifestyle than I can live with the rest of my life.  I am so sick of how much mental energy Ive wasted on this subject! So...I have committed to FTS.

I do have a few questions.  After reading the books and forums, I am wondering if most of you do eat a lot of the low carb bakery foods.  If so, do you crave them like I now crave carbs. I am concerned this  intake may keep me from reaching a point where I stop craving sugar and junk all the time.

Second,  what tips do you all have for making all the cooking and chopping up all those vegies go easier during the work week.

I have one.  We always grill on Sunday nights, so we recently started grilling meats for three meals to be used throughout the week. That just leaves the vegies to cook, which is much easier.

Thanks for this plan and this forum!