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**Brook** · September 3, 2005, 05:23 PM

Re: Just my opinion

It's been my experience that it's just as easy to carry an insulated lunch bag - and in some cases a small cooler in the car packed with good, legal foods to eat - not to mention cheaper and I know what's in the food I'm eating. Planning and preparation are key. Without them, we find ourselves in positions of going too long without something to eat or without something legal to eat.

We all have busy lives and those of us that plan ahead stay on plan just fine without the products.

If you're maintaining your weight, I question why you're still in a weight loss phase? Why are you only eating 30 grams of carb a day? Congrats on your success by the way! Well done

Lots of people find success modifying Atkins or other plans to their liking, and that's totally cool. Lots more need the structure to relearn to use food properly and learn to eat properly. Those with more than 50lbs to lose, again in my experience, have very different issues with food than those with less to lose - but to say that it's not an option to stay completely Atkins legal because we're busy isn't fair or accurate! It is. It's totally doable. You just have to want it.

Continued success to you!
~Brook

**Finelly** · September 3, 2005, 05:40 PM

Re: Just my opinion

Thank you for sharing. Hpwever, your post really belongs in the "other low carb diets" forum. The Second Time ARound forum is about the Atkins woe.

**Teelightful05** · September 3, 2005, 05:52 PM

Re: Just my opinion

If you're maintaining your weight, I question why you're still in a weight loss phase? Why are you only eating 30 grams of carb a day? Congrats on your success by the way! Well done

Lots of people find success modifying Atkins or other plans to their liking, and that's totally cool. Lots more need the structure to relearn to use food properly and learn to eat properly. Those with more than 50lbs to lose, again in my experience, have very different issues with food than those with less to lose - but to say that it's not an option to stay completely Atkins legal because we're busy isn't fair or accurate! It is. It's totally doable. You just have to want it.

...I don't eat more than 30 carbs a day because I am simply not a big carb person...I eat a lot of lean protein, salads, spinach, etc....I only "guesstimate" that I don't go over 30 carbs based upon my typical menu...I don't find it to be restrictive...it works for me...

...& I DID NOT mean to intimate in my post that it was ABSOLUTELY NOT an option to do Atkins the legal way because of scheduling...I simply stated my opinion that I have found this WOE harder to manage outside of the home...

...*sigh*...I have only posted one other "substantive" comment/question and I've found that the fact that I am not, nor have I ever been, 50+ lbs. overweight to be raised as some sort of explanation as to why my opinion is not valid "fair..or accurate"...People who are overweight in general have issues with food and I consider myself to be one in that number...Because I've chosen to reign in my weight before it became a health issue does not mean that I have had not had to relearn to eat properly or face the same type of issues that my heavier counterparts have had to face...

once again, just my opinion

**Teelightful05** · September 3, 2005, 05:53 PM

Re: Just my opinion

I understand that this forum is about the Atkins WOE but I wanted to post it here...thanks

**cleochatra** · September 3, 2005, 05:57 PM

Re: Just my opinion

Hi, Teelightful, and welcome to ADBB!

Congratulations on your success so far!

It looks as though you are following the Maintenance Atkins way of eating. You haven't followed the rungs of the ladder, per se, but you are seeing what foods agree with you and which do not, well within acceptable parameters of this way of eating.

I have to second what Brook asked.

Why are you eating only 30 carbohydrates per day at maintenance?

What works for you at maintenance won't work for so many of us who are still in the active weight loss phase, but I am excited that you are maintaining your weight loss and that you feel satisfied and without hunger.

I would like for anyone who thinks Atkins is too restrictive as a negative to please read the first few chapters of the 2002 DANDR to understand why the first phase of the diet is so restrictive.

Or, in short for anyone who doesn't plan to pick up the book:

Junkies who don't go cold turkey remain junkies.

**Brook** · September 3, 2005, 06:23 PM

Re: Just my opinion

Teelightful - I wasn't trying to be rude or arguementative, and I certainly wasn't attacking you or your opinion, but simply stating mine.

I know most of the board is pro DANDR but- considering the increasing unavailability of low carb products in stores and restaurants- it simply isn't an option for most people who are forced to eat on the run daily...

That is what I was responding to. You did say it wasn't an option. I was trying to point out that it is.

Your never having been extremely overweight *does* make a difference in the way that you need to address food, and I say that having been on both sides of the fence. I started out with almost 100lbs to lose and mixing and matching and tweaking didn't work, and in my experience on the boards and in life is that it doesn't work for most people or we wouldn't have the obesity problem that we do. I hit my goal and bounced back up about 15-20lbs, and the issues I have with food now are vastly different than they were when I started. Again, I can only speak from my own experiences - which is exactly what I stated. I never said it made your opinion any more or less valid and am not sure where you came out with that.

Because I've chosen to reign in my weight before it became a health issue does not mean that I have had not had to relearn to eat properly or face the same type of issues that my heavier counterparts have had to face...

See, but therein does lie the difference, and I congratulate you on your ability to do it when and how you did it. Not all of us found our way there as fast - because of the differences in issues we were dealing with - in my opinion. I'm not sure I think making all the low-carb products part of your day to day life, as intimated in your original post, is relearning to eat properly - but again, that's just my opinion.

Again, my congratulations for your success so far

~Brook

**LindaJay** · September 3, 2005, 06:41 PM

Re: Just my opinion

I have often bristled at the whole "junkie" or food addiction notion, but I think I have been in denial! I have lost almost 100 pounds, and need to lose about 25 or so more -- but I have "stalled" or "maintaining" since for several months -- and gradually added in a few more carbs here and there -- kind of testing the limits. Here's what I've found:

1. I can have a bit or two of something at a special occasion and be fine.
3. I cannot bake brownies or cookies and have even one -- unless the rest of the them go out the door immediately. Otherwise, I have one or two everytime I walk by them. They call out to be. I crave them. Hmmm -- sounds suspiciously like an "addiction" problem doesn't it?

So, I am reinducting --- going back to that super-restrictive first couple of weeks. I have never reinducted before, but have been following Atkins for about two years. Almost 80 pounds came off in the first year, and the rest very slowing in the next few months, tapering off to stalling. I have started to put some pounds back on -- I can still wear the smallest clothes I bought, but I can feel some snugness!

Teelightful -- it is great that you have reined in your weight before it was as out of control as many of usl In fact, your "beginning" weight is my goal weight! I do believe that we have to find what works for us. Some of us can eat more carbs than others and maintain their weight, while others find that they end up low on the carb level to maintain -- but if you are "guessing", you might want to record your food in FitDay for a week, just to see how accurate your guessing is.

You may be surprised to find that you are eating more carbs than you think -- or less. But it will also give you an idea if you are eating a healthy balanced diet.

FYI --I am interested in your comment about the availablity of low carb products in restaurants and stores. With the exception of condiments (LC ketchup, BBQ sauce, SF pickle relish), I find most of that stuff tastes disgusting and has weird stuff in it or provides almost instaneous release of my entire lower GI system!!! I have never been in a restaurant in the last two years where I could not find an Atkins-friendly meal (from McDonalds to "expense-account"). My standby is some hunk of meat and a salad!

Again -- I wish that when I was 165 that I had figured out what to do to reverse the onslaught of flubber! Of course, that would have been elementary school for me! Best of luck -- just make sure to eat healthy and in a way that you can maintain over time!

**Finelly** · September 3, 2005, 07:00 PM

Re: Just my opinion

Once again, I want to point out that the Atkins part of this board is "By the book". People who are participating in another low carb diet version should post in the "other low carb diets" forum.

Feeling like you want to post about another diet on an Atkins forum is not a good reason to do so. So stop, please.

**cleochatra** · September 3, 2005, 07:09 PM

Re: Just my opinion

I have often bristled at the whole "junkie" or food addiction notion, but I think I have been in denial!

Linda Jay Girl, you and me both! I remember thinking "junkie" was too strong a word. It's NOT! *lol* Welcome back to induction, and congratulations on your 80 pound loss!

**Teelightful05** · September 3, 2005, 07:53 PM

Re: Just my opinion

Feeling like you want to post about another diet on an Atkins forum is not a good reason to do so. So stop, please

hmmm...sorry Finelly to cause such a ruckus...it WILL NOT happen again!!

**cleochatra** · September 3, 2005, 08:01 PM

Re: Just my opinion

Teelightful, I hope you'll stick around! When Finelly is not practicing being a pirate (she made me squawk and tried to feed me low-carb flax crackers but I wouldn't fit on her shoulder), she does a really good sock puppet routine of "I got you, babe".

{{{Teelightful}}}

One of the wonderful things about ADBB is that we aren't always going to agree with each other.

Still, above all, there is respect, understanding and civility.

We can all agree to disagree, be amicable, and get along marvellously. Especially if you let me borrow those adorable shoes, darling!

**cleochatra** · September 3, 2005, 08:05 PM

Re: Just my opinion

she does a really good sock puppet routine of "I got you, babe".

I mean, you can't even see her move her lips!

**Kiasmama** · September 4, 2005, 09:11 AM

Re: Just my opinion

Originally posted by Teelightful05

For the past month I've had to re-start Atkins numerous times (not due to a desire to eat carbs but simply because I am at work late and hungry!!) and I think I've finally found the key to success...I know most of the board is pro DANDR but- considering the increasing unavailability of low carb products in stores and restaurants- it simply isn't an option for most people who are forced to eat on the run daily...

I have to echo what Brooke said. Preparation is the key. I spend a lot of time traveling on the weekends (for a fundraiser I got involved with at the begining of the summer) and I ALWAYS pack a cooler full of acceptable foods. When I do daily trips...the cooler goes right along with me. Same drill...and I do find it's much cheaper than eating out. As far as selection, a resteraunt will always make a burger without the bun, make up a salad for you, or work with you. Just cause it isn't on the menu doesn't mean they won't make it. Store bought lo carb products...yuck for me.

I allow myself to eat nuts and other low carb treats that are reserved for the later phases...to me, this WOE, allows me to have fulfilling snacks without feeling deprived for 2 weeks and increases the variety of foods I can eat...

I have the occassional few nuts and berries even though I consider myself on extended induction since April. In the summer I just have to have a few berries here and there. I'm talking less than once a month so I don't really see it as an issue.

I think the reason many people struggle with this WOE is because of its restrictive early stages...I am a witness that you can modify Atkins and still find success...

Well I think people "struggle" cause they aren't ready to make the change to a healthier WOE. It's what you make of it. As a diet...it won't work and people will struggle and gain the weight back as soon as they go back to their old habits. If you have the mindset that it's a WOE, WOL then you won't have many issues with it. I don't find it restrictive at all. Maybe takes some effort by cooking your own stuff....but restrictive is not a word I would use to describe this WOE. Maybe that's an issue right there. Why not think about the things you can eat....instead of what you can't.

Good luck and great job!!

elle

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