Click here to see
more "Before" photos!
Click here to check
out my full
Cholesterol Profile
AFTER - 106 pounds, after 3½+ years at goal
Tuesday, May 24th, 2005
BEFORE - 140+ pounds, size 10
Fall 1999
NYC - top photo, in front of the WTC
August 17th & 18th, 2006
Almost 6 Years on Atkins!
MY STATS & ATKINS STORY - AT GOAL SINCE LATE 2001
Before - August 2001                                       Now - July 2008
Height:  5'3" (1.6m)                                             Height:  5'3" (1.6m)
Dress size:  10 (a U.K. 14)                                 Dress size:  0's or 1's (a U.K. 6 or Euro 34)
Measurements:  39-29-39 (or 99-73-99 cm)  Measurements:  36-23½-35½ (or 90-60-90 cm)                                   
Weight:  141 (63.9kg / 10 stone)                         Weight:  109 (49.5 kg / 7.8 stone)
Shoe Size:  6 (Euro 36 / 3½ U.K.)                       Shoe Size:  5  (Euro 35 / U.K. 2½)
Body Fat:  Not measured until making goal.       Body fat:  13.92%   
BMI Before:  25 ("Overweight" Range)            BMI After:  19 ("Normal" Range)

My name is Sheila Pike-Pereyra, founder of SugarFreeSheila.com and author of Sheila's Super-Simple Low Carb Weight Loss Workbook, as well as
cookbooks Sheila's Super-Simple Low-Carb Desserts and Sheila's Super-Simple Low-Carb Induction Meals, each containing 150 all-original low-carbohydrate
recipes.  My success story has been published in several international publications, such as FitnessRx For Women magazine, SHAPE, Low Carb Living. the
January 2005 AOL "New Year, New You" (I was honored to have my photo featured on the Welcome Screen for the entire day),  Ms. Fitness magazine, the
July/August 2005 issue of Best Body magazine, and most recently in 2008, popular low-carb blogger Cleochatra was kind enough to feature me in her
Lighter Side of Low Carb blog in February & late May.

I lived in NYC (Manhattan's Upper-West Side) for a few years and graduated university there both summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa before relocating
back to my hometown of Dallas, Texas.

Never was I able to lose weight by restricting calories and/or fat grams - even with regular treadmill-walking exercise, which I have done consistently since
the age of 10.  I had attempted a multitude of programs, each for months at a time; every possible variation of calories under 2,000 with every possible
variation of cardio yielded no results for me.  I gave SlimFast a shot, as well as the Blood Type Diet (which recommended vegetarian, high-carbohydrate
eating for my blood type of A positive), and even tried the vague "everything in moderation"/portion-control method.  None of these programs or
techniques took an ounce or an inch off my medium-boned 5'3" frame (my doctor recently referred to me as "moderately petite") - and even with all of my
struggling and dedication, I never had anything to show for my stringent efforts.  In fact, I was almost envious of the yo-yo dieters ... because at least they
had a taste of weight loss success to begin with!  Having said this, I must illustrate here that motivation has never been something I lacked - I possess
drive and ambition in all areas of my life like no one else I know.  But up until 2001, I didn't find what worked for me.  As I entered the second decade of
my life, I felt  that I was doomed to carry around extra weight forever:  maybe I was just meant to be this way.

Though I had maintained a weight of approximately 130 & a size 6-8 (still a bit too heavy for someone so short), I settled at around 140 by 2001.  I was
suddenly up to a size 10!  Well, since I'd discovered through the years that pasta rather bloated me, it suddenly occurred to me to start eliminating it, along
with bread with dinner, crackers, and to eat mostly vegetables with the same amount of meat I had always consumed (I've never been a big meat eater).  
By as soon as the very next morning, I immediately felt better & more energetic.  I ran out & bought the book, read it from cover to cover, and started
Atkins that very night.  It must have been a sign from God Himself, because I was a half a pound lighter by the next morning, and I couldn't believe my
eyes when I stepped on the scale.  That was over 30 pounds ago!  Amazingly enough, I found on Atkins that I actually almost doubled my caloric intake -
while keeping the same treadmill-walking exercise regime I had always done - and that it ultimately took only the elimination of unhealthy starches and
sugars to finally get the 30+ pounds and 4-5 dress sizes off 5 months later that inflicted me with stubborn drumstick arms, back fat, upper-inner-thigh rub,
those loathsome tummy rolls, and kept me forever in one-piece swimsuits.  After a trip to Century 21 in downtown Manhattan January 2002, I wore my first
bikini ever on a cruise in Aruba.  So emancipating that was to have finally found my ace in the hole through Atkins.

I love eating this way - and most importantly?  My mission in life 6½ years ago became sharing my story about Atkins and showing
others looking for a way to get healthy and slim that losing weight successfully, safely, and keeping it off permanently can be done
without the nuisance of calorie and fat-restriction.  So, if you are attempting Atkins, and have read the Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution
book as well as through my Atkins FAQ & User Agreement, I am happy to help you in whatever way I can.  As always, everything I do
through my website, as well as the assistance I offer to people who contact me via e-mail, IM's, and phone/text messages
(972-999-5237) from around the world, is free.  I have no affiliations, I have no endorsements, and I am not paid a red cent by any
organization or company.  SFS.com is my way of paying it forward.  Every aspect of this website is courtesy of me and me alone.  No
contributors, no webmaster, I have no HTML savvy - which explains why it doesn't look like the Apple website.  It shouldn't!  
Additionally, I cannot put into words the thrill I get when hearing from all of you from all around the world - the Commonwealth Realm,
Africa, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Canada - and I love hearing from all over the U.S., too.  But wherever you are around the globe:  if
you need help with anything this website covers, scroll down to the form at the bottom of this page or e-mail me:
sheila@sugarfreesheila.com

BUT . . . IS ATKINS UNHEALTHY?
Thrilled you asked.  Check out my cholesterol profile.  Now have I gotten your attention?

Believe it or not, I used to be adamantly anti-Atkins.  Like most people who have not read the book, I foolishly assumed it was all about not exercising
and eating nothing but meats and cheeses - and boy, am I eating my words now!  Because YES, you eat tons of vegetables (just not starchy ones like
peas, corn, and potatoes), YES, you do eat low-glycemic fruits, and YES, you even eat some whole grains (just be choosy and eat the most fibrous ones)!  
As far as the tired - and most importantly, unfounded - "kidney disease" & "elevated cholesterol" arguments and accusations go, this only applies to those
who go about the way of eating incorrectly - and if one is not following Atkins, then it is essential to acknowledge the fact that Atkins could not possibly be
to blame for their folly.  What many unfortunately do not understand about Atkins is that it is not a high-protein diet, but a
low-carbohydrate way of life.  Those who gorge on protein do so entirely of their own accord. (I consume meat only once or twice a day, and
vegetables are the mainstay of my diet.)  Just being able to eat at any restaurant with complete ease and comfort is such a delight with the Atkins lifestyle.
As you inch closer toward your personal goal weight, you will find that there are all sorts of vitamin-enriched, low-carb shake mixes to enjoy on the run,
low-carb cheesecakes and desserts to bake, low-carb pastas (e.g., Shirataki noodles) . . . the list of goodies to enjoy on occasion is endless.  The truth is:  
anything and everything can be duplicated into low carb!

Interested in losing weight by doing low-carb, but don't know where to start?  Well, click here to check out my extensive Atkins FAQ, which covers a lot of
preliminary issues which might be keeping you on the fence.  Also, feel free to examine some food staples via a handy printout low-carb grocery list I
have compiled.  Consider also trying out a few of my original low-carb recipes I created myself along the way; check out my daily-updated low-carb /
Atkins news, and a whole lot more.  Allow me be a relatable guide to get you started - I'll help you out!  Once you have read the book and through my
FAQ, feel free to e-mail me anytime.        
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October 4th, 2005
Another sweaty session of treadmill-walking!
(Cardio is 20-25 min. a day, 3 days a week; Weights 40 min. a day, 2-3x/week.)
See my Motivation Page's Fitness category for my full workout regime)
April 27th, 2004
Dallas, Texas
April 29th, 2005
Visiting a friend in Edmond, Oklahoma
July 30th, 2004
Dallas, Texas
June 2, 2006 - Plano, Texas
After a lovely dinner at a friend's
wedding reception
June 13th, 2006 - Dallas
Leaving a Bikram Yoga studio - the only type of Yoga I've ever done.
** Interested in opening a studio in the Dallas area and want to
pursue the 9-week Bikram Teacher Training?  Please click here.  
I rarely practice Bikram, & won't again until a studio finally
opens in my area.  Fingers crossed!
June 18th, 2006
Coming out of church!
August 16th, 2006
Florida
Labor Day 2006 - Dallas
A little difficult to find restaurants to get out
of the rain - hmph, they were all closed!
September 2006
Chuck's in Plano, Texas
Quick Contact Journal
When you've got just a moment to spare ...
* Fill out only what makes you comfortable
Name & Location:
E-mail:
Height & Starting
Weight or Size:
Current Weight or Size:
Goal Weight or Size:
Have you read Dr. Atkins' New
Diet Revolution, as well as
through my Atkins FAQ?
Please rate your level of
motivation on a scale from 1 to 10:
Feel free to tell your story. Have any questions for
me? Want to share your favorites?  Anything
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an argument with a friend, facing some indecision in
your life)?  Treat this like a diary!
As always, everything remains 100% confidential..
Copyright SugarFreeSheila.com © 2002 - 2008
Sheila Pike-Pereyra:  Low Carb Coach & Self-Improvement Motivator!
March 21st, 2007
On a Caribbean cruise, heading
towards Montego Bay ...
March 23rd, 2007
Mexico
July 4th, 2007 - Frisco, Texas
Fourth of July lunch at Texas Land & Cattle.  I had
the 10-ounce filet & fresh mixed steamed vegetables
(both no seasoning), and the Wedge Salad with bleu
cheese dressing on the side to start.  
I wasn't too crazy about the awful high-noon
shadows, but decided to include this one anyway!
September 3rd, 2007 - NYC
On the Staten Island Ferry
I bought this dress at a street fair in the
Village the day before. You can't try anything
on, so you have to really eyeball everything!