Advice Needed

[ZOESMOM]

o.k. i have a friend who did Atkins a couple of years ago. She's been off the plan for a while but has re-started since I did. She strongly believes in the Atkins frankenfoods. I mean she's got it all. She had me over for an Atkins friendly lunch, which was good but has me worried. There were Atkins potatoes, tea, soup and ice cream. They even have a catalog of Atkins foods and list which phase you can eat each food in. I carefully ate very small portions of everything because I wasn't prepared for this. I believe in following the book and eating whole foods. I want to support her and she me but we're going about this differently and i don't want to be sidetracked. She used all of these products before and had success therefore she believes this to be true Atkins living. She has the book and even records her measurements in the back but still believes in the frankenstuff. She feels that Dr. A supported this because they bear his name. Another thing we differ on is following the phases. She feels that she can just jump in there and haphazardly eat things from each phase and doesn't really want to re-do a clean induction. I feel that whenever you go "off" plan you need to re-start with a clean induction and work your way up the rungs. Tell me how to help my friend and not allow her good intentions to sabatage my own efforts.

p.s. i posted this in the main forum and got absolutely no response. help me out guys. please!

[not2late]

Re: Advice Needed

I'm amazed that your friend still has this stuff because when the Atkins company filed for bankruptcy they eliminated alot of their products!

I can only speak about my experience when confronted with food I cannot eat (for the sake of this diet and for the sake of my food allergies) and food I don't want to eat: I don't eat it. I am responsible for everything I choose to put in my mouth. I don't try to make people "happy" by eating alittle bit of everything---if I eat even a tiny amount of my allergic foods, I know I won't be happy for several hours due to the stomach problems and breathing problems. That's how you prevent your friend from sabotaging your efforts: by remembering that you are responsible for you. No one can force you to eat or drink anything, unless they have you tied down and are physically shoving the food or drink down your throat. You have to find it within you to make a stand for you and your health.

As for following or not following the Rungs.....The Rungs are a "new" concept. Prior to 2002, once you began adding carbs and foods, you could do it any old way you want. BUT Dr. Atkins put in the Rungs for a specific reason: it helped people. The lower rungs have a lower glycemic impact and the rungs are arranged in order of their allergic properties (more or less). By following the Rungs, you 1. reintroduce lower glycemic foods, so your blood sugars won't get too screwed up and 2. you reintroduce foods that are less likely to trigger food intolerances than the higher rung like grains. I know there are people who did not follow the rungs and they did fine. I also know there are people who did not follow the rungs and they did not do fine. Again, it's up to you, imo. Just remember Dr. Atkins put that step in for a specific reason.

[killerbombshell]

Re: Advice Needed

This is a tough one. The first time I did Atkins was back in 1999--back when no one knew what Splenda was, there were pretty much zero products (including appropriate vitamins!), and I remember (being the Ketchup addict that I am) trying to make my own in a food processor. Disasterous.

Therefore, I can understand the appeal of the frankenfoods. I must admit, I have the ice cream in my freezer (getting burned, actually, it's kinda gross) and a bunch of tortillas. However--if she thinks she can jump around and go in and out of different phases, then it's going to be hard to change her mind unless she can see that you're making progress and she isn't. There's not much you can do about that. Make sure that you emphasize to her the importance of being in ketosis and how it does take two full days to restart after you kick yourself out, regardless of if you go up the rungs again or not. TWO DAYS of not losing weight is a depressing spector to some people who set and stick to goals.

I would also talk to her from the point of view about how many great recipes there are out there that don't require you to buy all these weirdo products and can be used over and over again. Finding recipes is a lot more fun, and a lot less EXPENSIVE, than shilling out money for all these other products.

[Desertthorn]

Re: Advice Needed

I don't like the idea of using all those ATKINS products cause they are expensive as heck and whats the point when we can just about make any substitute that they can, cheaper and healthier
Stick with us kid, and away from the junk food. You won't be sorryl

[ZOESMOM]

Re: Advice Needed

thanks for your input. i'll be better prepared next time around. if those things work for her that's fine but for me they won't! and i agree desert they are costly.

[Desertthorn]

Re: Advice Needed

If you ever need a substitute idea, do what I do and ask Not2late, She is awesome and our official ADBB food guru.

[ZOESMOM]

Re: Advice Needed

speaking of substitutions i want to use spaghetti squash to make spaghetti tonight but i need a low carb recipe for my sauce. got any? not2late?

[not2late]

Re: Advice Needed

It depends on what kind of sauce you want. Cream-based sauces are simple. Tomato sauces can be lower carb, but you have to use tomato puree or diced tomatoes instead of the jarred tomato sauce.

In terms of cream based sauces, I've been experimenting with them and have found that by mixing equal parts of sour cream with mayonnaise plus a couple of ounces of grated or shredded cheese, then heating until hot and the grated cheese is melted produces a much better cheese sauce than using a base of cream cheese and heavy cream.

[ZOESMOM]

Re: Advice Needed

Thanks!

[artgirl7]

Re: Advice Needed

I faced a similar challenenge the other day so I can completely relate. When you are in that situation, it can be very tough not to mention awkward.

A new co-worker and I had a meeting scheduled and instead of ordering lunch for two of us, she offered that we both make a meal and share. I was very nervous and mentioned that I am on a very restrictive plan and that may not work. So, we brown bagged it with enough to share should we like.

Well, I brought salad to share and she made a homemade gnocci soup, with tomotoes and basil. It was just the two of us and it was all homemade. So, I kindly ate the broth and tomotoes but felt like a jerk because she made the gnocci herself. I briefly explained my lifestyle, while she understood, she was still hurt.

So, when in your situation with LC atkins foods, I know how tough it can be. Even though they may be friendly to some, not so to others. In this situation, I would have dabbled at a few of the foods but explained that you experience lots of discomfort later in the day. If she is a friend, she will understand. A co-worker/business associate is tougher... I can't exactly say I will have an explosive BM. Do what you need to do to make the situation pleasant and amicable is all I can say about lunch.

In terms of your method vs hers, stick with what you know and what works for your body. As friends, hopefully you can agree to disagree and go to the gym together more than eat together.

Good luck!

[Elsie150]

Re: Advice Needed

I am confused on why this is an issue between your friend and you. She can follow her way and you follow yours without either of you being hurt. My best friend and diet buddy is doing WW and counting points and I am doing Atkins. There has never been a problem. I respect her choices as she respects mine. When we get together for lunch at each others house's we each either bring our own or serve something we both can have and tweak it a bit...tuna..she can have bread and her lowfat mayo and I can have it wrapped in lettuce with real mayo. Since you both are on Atkins you could have had ceasar salad with some chicken.

If your friend can eat that stuff and still lose then all the more power to her. If that what it takes for her to be successful and stick to her plan then don't worry about it. I commend you for doing it without Frankenfoods. Everyone has to find the plan that works for them and what they will be able to live with for life. In the long run...if you are doing it strictly by the book you will most likely do better than her and when she hits a wall with her way of eating you can be there to give some advice to her.

Now that you have experienced this with your friend it is a great opportunity to talk to her about the differences in your plans. Best of luck!

Sidenote: I weighed 27 pounds more than my best friend when we started on the same day. I now weigh only 15 pounds more than her.

[Peytonn]

Re: Advice Needed

buy her the new book