What to do about skeptics?

[Tissle]

Week one, day 6 and I feel great, my blood sugar is fantastic. Yet my mom is still.. I don't know what's it doing to your arteries? Are you sure it's safe?
I'm really sorry that I told her what program I was on.
Other than not talking about it with those that I know are skeptics, how do I answer those questions?

[Elizellen]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

Unfortunately to many people who have not read Dr Atkins' books the word 'Atkins' when talking about ways of eating means the 'bacon, steak and butter' diet

They assume we are not eating any vegetables too and even if they do know the induction food rules assume it is the whole Atkins plan and that we can never add the foods which we know we do introduce in OWL if our body can handle them.

There are many websites with info about how cholesterol in our body (which I assume is what she is worrying about) is not directly related to the cholesterol we eat, and in fact our body produces 80% of its cholesterol regardless of what we eat as far as I remember.

A web search for the phrase "the great cholesterol con" should bring you many websites with scientific proof of this fact.

[IrishIrish]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

Do the plan by the book. Follow DANDR 2002. When you start to lose weight, you can answer by saying, "is it better that I keep this weight on?"

I think our loved ones need evidence of some kind and happily my family took the time to read the book at my nagging, insistance, persuasion ... call it whatever you want. But the results spoke for themselves. And it wasn't just about weight for me. It was also about my health indicators.

[imagood1]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

Give your mom a copy of the 2002 DANDR book -- show her this website and the success stories.

BTW -- I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes last July. Until January of this year I didn't do anything about it except take the pills the endocrinologist gave me. When I was diagnosed my A1C was 10.3 -- when I went to my endocrinologist last month my A1C was 5.0 - thanks to Atkins.

[liv]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

I tell them that I have read the studies, done my research and discovered that what I am eating is very natural and safe. I understand where they are coming from. There probably was a time when I thought like that as well. So I understand and forgive them for their ignorance. It does not bother me. I know what I am doing.

[Sd1136]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

I usually dont mention it, I do what I have to and no one seems to notice what I am eating

[stacy3477]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

Is your mom a reader? Like others have said, have her read DANDR! Otherwise, she may just have to bear with it. Give her your daily eating plan - or even better - what you expect to eat after you're a couple rungs into OWL. I don't tell people (very often) that I am on Atkins. I tell them that I'm cutting out sugar and starch, and I'm eating more fresh veggies and meat.

Good luck Tissle!! In the end, we're doing this for ourselves! Nothing else really matters...even mom!

[Tissle]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

Thanks everyone... Great advice

[Grant]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

The thing to do is arm yourself with knowledge. DANDR does a great job explaining why the low-fat mentality is mistaken and why the low-carb way of eating is healthy for you. Read and re-read those chapters at the beginning of the book and you will be able to respond to your mother's concerns.

[FwL]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

Get her to watch Fat Head... or at least the extended interviews provided as special features.

The main program spends most of its time poking holes in Morgan Spurlock's Supersize Me documentary. Unless a person is interested in that aspect, the important info on low carb, high fat eating will probably be missed. The extended interviews, however, do a pretty god job of laying out the lies we've all bought into regarding eating fat vs eating flour and sugar.

[eginon]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

Usually what I do is ask them to do a food diary with me. Write down what they eat for a whole day and I will write down what I eat for a whole day and we can check them out the next day. To be honest I find that generally I only eat slightly more saturated fat than them (suprise, surprise the sat fat in a cheeseburger is the same bun or not but a small side salad winds up with less fat than the french fries). Except that unlike them I eat 3 cups of high fiber, nutrient rich veggies a day. When most people I've met talk about fruits and veggies they mean all the high sugar, high startch ones. I also explain to them that I'm on the lean end of the carbs right now. I will add more and most of them will still come from veggies. I don't eat ANY empty calories compared to their, chips between breakfast and lunch, and the candy bar in the afternoon, and the 3 bottles of soda. As a result of this, and because meat is "fundamentally self limiting", I eat fewer calories than they do. In fact, my Atkins way of eating is way closer to what they consider a "healthy diet" than what they are currently eating. Then I do this: and offer to let them borrow my book if they want.

[Elizellen]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

Great tactics, Eginon

[msanjelpie]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

Strange that she wouldn't worry about your health at 222 lbs...

Be PROUD that you are on Atkins... sing it to the top of the world... the more people that sing its' praises rather than shrink in embarrassment will help the perception that Atkins is positive for the body, not negative.

Compare a daily food log of what you USED to eat with what you are eating now. Fat/Calorie/Carb/Protein wise... You might be surprized that the fat isn't really all that different...

[tasteslikechicken]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

Thanks to the person who started this thread and thanks all for your 2 cents. Much needed today – been on the phone with an ex who thinks my dental abscess is Atkins-related () and a friend who is "concerned" about my health (i.e. really freaking out because she’s going to lose an eating ally, told her she needs to ).

[not2late]

Re: What to do about skeptics?

Have her read these articles:

Myths and Truths About Nutrition

What Causes Heart Disease?

What Causes Heart Attacks?

http://www.informyourself.com.au/The%20Cholesterol%20Myths.html

What Did We Know and When Did We Know It?

WAPF: Know Your Fats

They aren't Atkins, but they explain why we do certain things on Atkins