Control vs Obsession

[Patriciabuon]

Atkins and the low carb WOE has been of great help to me. Given that, reading through this bulletin board has caused me to question the almost obsessive attention given to food intake and weight. I read so many anguished comments from people (usually women) distressed about possibly having thrown the weight loss process off track by eating just one small but unacceptable item. There are a few great pleasures in life and culturally food has always been one of them. In every society we find the sharing of food to be at the heart of many family, cultural and religious celebrations. Reducing this joy associated with food and company to a morsel by morsel accounting of carbs, undermines one of our most significant sensory pleasures. Some of my most glorious memories involve my family and friends seated around a dining table enjoying conversation, wine and wonderful food. How do you tell an Italian to cut out the pasta, an Asian to end the centuries old love affair with white rice or a Frenchman to cut out the pastries and the morning baguette and strawberry jam? We have an obesity problem in the western world born of supersizing, fast food and soda drinking. I see people in the supermarkets so fat they cannot walk. Instead they drive their motorized carts around and fill them with chips, sodas, high sugar, highly processed 'foods' that I would only ever regard as treats. Let's move towards moderation instead of obsession. I'd much rather be the rounded woman I am and still be able to share a piece of pecan pie or have an icecream at the beach on a hot summer's day, that be whispy thin and counting every carb I consume. I need to be able to share a bowl of pasta from time to time with my Italian husband. Rubens painted wonderfully rounded woman. Marilyn Monroe was a size 14. Let's not be sucked into the 'one model' view of women - thin and boyish. I'll stick with my curves and thank Dr Atkins for making sure I have a way to keep my curves from becoming flab. Please, let's not become obsessive and lose the love of all the wonderful cakes, sauces, wines, breads and more that are a part of our culture. Moderation, not elimination.

[*Emma*]

Re: Control vs Obsession

i aint obsessed, and i may partake in a treat in the future, when i'm where i want to be, but to get there, those little bits of "pleasure" are just going to lengthen my journey.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Control vs Obsession

At goal, I will gladly choose my new healthy lifestyle and body over that garbage ANY DAY.

I can still enjoy my family gatherings (and do all the time) without eating the garbage that made me fat. I still enjoy a meal with my husband every single night. I eat the foods I enjoy and he eats the foods he enjoys. I observe EVERY single holiday with my family and friends without eating foods that made me sick and fat before. I still have very beautiful curves because I work out and have added beautiful sleek muscle that allows me to be fit and active. I LOVE looking in the mirror and at pictures of the body that I have uncovered from the layers of fat I had accumulated over the years. My Curvy, supple and healthy body.

I also do not miss ONE MINUTE of the anguish of blood sugar spikes and crashes. I do not miss ONE MINUTE of the cravings for sugar and junk food. I do not miss ONE MINUTE of high cholesterol, high blood sugar and heart health risks that I was living with daily.

I will continue to count carbs and banish those types of food from my body. Obsessive? Yes. Healthy? Yes. Happy? Yes.

[Richt]

Re: Control vs Obsession

The only obsession that I have is that I don't put on all of the weight I have lost back on.

[Patriciabuon]

Re: Control vs Obsession

Interesting responses. ValidRouge, I'm not suggesting for a moment that we should return to eating 'junk food' and 'garbage'. I stay away from them as do you. But I'm not prepared to demean the foods that are front and central in cultures that understand moderation better than we do. I'm sure you are not lumping the French bread, wines and patisserie, the Italian pastas and the Asian rice in either of those categories. Heart disease in Asia is far lower than here, as are deaths from various cancers.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Control vs Obsession

I absolutely am including those foods as "forbidden foods" for me and my diet and my choice to follow the Atkins WOE for a lifetime. I could include wine if i choose to do so, however I know how it makes my body feel and I choose NOT to incorporate it except on the very rare occasion. The bread, pasta and rice are not foods which I choose to eat any longer.

You know, Patricia, there are other low carb forums that are not as strict as the Atkins lifestyle. Maybe those would be a better choice for you since you feel so strongly about it.

[misplaced southerner]

Re: Control vs Obsession

i am just curious why you are posting your thoughts here....only in that you don't seem committed to this exact program/lifestyle. we welcome your thoughts of course....it just seems to me that you are asking for our "ok" not to follow what we are already committed to

well said joy....i LOVE my new body and i am not at ALL thin and boyish. i have "guns" and i have a much harder belly and i have muscular thighs and my bootie is finally where it used to be (and i DO have a bootie.) i never feel deprived at any function i attend...most of all i feel marvelous because for ME, all that "white food" makes my body feel like crap. it makes me feel tired, lazy, bloated, headachy, grumpy, frumpy and gross....i have worked with what i know long enough to know that putting ANY of that into my system is not just breaking the rules, it physically makes me feel awful

btw.....i exercise now much more than ever...i eat VERY yummy things...EVEN italian food (my trip to rome was heavenly....so many good things to eat!)

you are right in stating that many of us are obsessed with what we eat and its effect....for me it is because the effect is terrible. for many of us, ONE unacceptable item is the "beginining of the end." many of us HAVE To be vigilant. i am glad this site has been helpful to you. i am curious how you manage to have success while you are eating pasta.........i don't love cakes, sauces and breads and they don't love ME!

[Patriciabuon]

Re: Control vs Obsession

No, no no. I haven't had pasta, bread, rice etc for some weeks now. As I said at the very beginning "Atkins and the low carb WOE has been of great help to me". I lost over 30 pounds about four years ago, kept it off by watching my carbs. Recently I put on about 6 lbs and went back into induction to deal with them and get rid of another 10. I am very strict about following the rules and did a perfectly 'clean' induction. Two things motivated me to air my thoughts. 1. I have read so many anguished posts from young women afraid they have blown everything because they had a handful of nuts before getting on the correct rung, and the like. I worry that instead of good food being a joyful, sensual part of their lives, it has become a painful, obsessive focus in their lives. 2. Many of the posts seem to regard some foods as essentially bad. My suggestion is that these foods are not bad. They have, as I stated, been an important part of various cultures for centuries. What is bad is the effects these foods have on some of our bodies. There is nothing 'bad' about pecan pie. It's not 'garbage'. There's nothing bad about white rice. It's not garbage either - asians don't eat garbage! The problem is that my body, and maybe yours, can't handle these foods very well so it is best for us, because of our bodies, not because of the foods, to stay away from them.

[julirama723]

Re: Control vs Obsession

Exactly. My body can't handle those foods, so to me, they're garbage.

Nutritionally, they're garbage also. Please tell me the nutritional value of pasta, white rice, croissants, etc. Zip. Zero. Zilch.

The reason that people "obsess" is that one bite can lead to disaster. First it's an extra handful of nuts here, then it might be a piece of bread there, and before long, it's an all-out carbfest. I'm not saying this happens to everyone, or it happens everytime, but there are some who have been here long enough to know that it's a good possibility. I prefer to call it diligence--it's not an obsession. Staying diligent with the foods we choose to consume and the exercise we choose to do keeps us on the right track.

Food is still sensual. Tell me that cheesecake isn't sensual. Tell me that wine isn't sensual. Tell me that strawberries and cream aren't sensual. It's just a matter of what we eat. Food can still be enjoyable. And for me it is enjoyable now, rather than a dirty, messy addiction like it once was. I celebrate holidays, I go out with friends, I do all the social things that people do, but NOW, the focus is not on food--it's finally on what it should be--the people.

[Patriciabuon]

Re: Control vs Obsession

Nutritional value of 100 g white rice: 2.38g protein
RDA of vitamins: Thiamin (B1) 13% Riboflavin (B2) 1% Niacin (B3) 12%
B6 4% Iron 12% Magnesium 4% Phosphorus 5% Potassium 1% Zinc 4%

and Pasta RDA - Iron 10% Thiamin 30% Niacin 15% Riboflavin 10% Folate 30%

Not garbage - both sources of essential micronutrients.

[Hoping]

Re: Control vs Obsession

The topic of food in relation to obsession and control has always been around. In the 17th century, I believe *sorry can't remember exact dates*, there was a surge in eating disorders. It was a time when women were repressed. Jobs such as caring for the sick, that had once been "a woman's job" was given to males. Women were put in insane asylums. Later women were labeled as "hysterical." I'm sure you've heard of Hysteria, do you know what it's called in men? Shell shock.
In essence food is the only thing that you can ever truly control. So yes, people do become obsessed with what you eat. You can only control what goes into your system. I guess to some extent it's a way to "fight" the oppression that one might feel, whether it's weight, their life, etc. How many people eat when they're sad, angry, happy? And how many stop eating?
The subject is much deeper than you think, my friend. It's all very psychological.

And yes, it is difficult being from a different culture and not being able to eat those foods that are very traditional. But right now, my goal is to get back to a more healthy state when it comes to weight.

Am I obsessed with my weight? Yes. Why you may ask. Because I'm unhappy with my physical self; however, I'm improving myself by taking care of my body and making the outside match the inside.
For many people atkins is a last resort, for some it isn't.

[mitzimarie]

Re: Control vs Obsession

Nutritional value of 100 g white rice: 2.38g protein
RDA of vitamins: Thiamin (B1) 13% Riboflavin (B2) 1% Niacin (B3) 12%
B6 4% Iron 12% Magnesium 4% Phosphorus 5% Potassium 1% Zinc 4%

and Pasta RDA - Iron 10% Thiamin 30% Niacin 15% Riboflavin 10% Folate 30%

Not garbage - both sources of essential micronutrients.

The only reason white rice and pasta contain even this small amount of nutrition is because it is enriched with it... it must be enriched with it because there is none left after processing.

Look, it is common knowledge that one man's junk is another man's treasure. Refined, processed food is junk to me... if a certain culture wants to define itself by the junk they eat, so be it.

I totally agree with Joy, Julie, and Misplaced Southerner. I refuse to live to eat, I now only eat to live... and what I eat is some pretty tasty, natural, unprocessed food. I'm thinking that you may be looking for a little attention by trying to yank some chains around here. You may consider my chain yanked. However, all it has done it to reinforce my Atkins WOE.

[hrgillespie]

Re: Control vs Obsession

Well said Mitzi!!!!!!!! All I can think of when I read this is that you would never say to a now healthy diet controlled diebetic, go ahead and eat some sugar a little bit won't hurt you .. it's cultually acceptable do it .........

You would never say to a reformed alcoholic, have a small drink at this affair it's ok everyone else does it with no issues go ahead ........

The reasons you wouldn't say those things is because you know they could be death to that persons now successful way of life ............

If you had any care or concern for the people here who have learned finally a way to conquer their giants and find a WOE that works for them you would never post like this and say things you've said ........

All you've done here is show ignorance, and encourage good people who have finally found their answer to possibly stray from whats right for them .....

Consider my chain yanked too ...........

[Hoping]

Re: Control vs Obsession

Okay, take a step back.
I don't think she was saying that it was okay for a diabetic to eat sugar and that they'll be fine. I think she was just wondering why we consider these food items such "no-nos."
Secondly, to say that traditional foods of a culture is junk is a bit harsh. It sounds strange, but there is so much history with our foods. Certain foods we eat were made by natives and continue to be part of our diets. Well, not atkineers, but you get what I'm saying. Now the abuse and overindulgence of these foods is what made us overweight.
Yes, that's not the way we want to eat but it's no reason to call their traditional foods or dishes junk. And to be honest, I'm a little offended by that comment.

That is what they choose to eat and I think we should respect that, just as we would like for people to respect our food choices.

[mitzimarie]

Re: Control vs Obsession

I don't think she was saying that it was okay for a diabetic to eat sugar and that they'll be fine. I think she was just wondering why we consider these food items such "no-nos."

Hoping - to many of us, certain foods are a full blown addiction... every bit as much of an addiction as alcohol, cocaine, or heroin can be. Sure, not everyone who is on Atkins is an addict, but many are. *I* definitely am. My first time around on Atkins, I let a visit to a Chinese restaurant turn into a month long binge. It is a sickness with many of us. I think that Heidi made an excellent point when she said that it could be compared with offering alcohol to an alcoholic or sugar to a diabetic. The only way that very many of us have warded off diabetes is because we don't give in to refined carbs.

Secondly, to say that traditional foods of a culture is junk is a bit harsh. It sounds strange, but there is so much history with our foods. Certain foods we eat were made by natives and continue to be part of our diets. Well, not atkineers, but you get what I'm saying. Now the abuse and overindulgence of these foods is what made us overweight.
Yes, that's not the way we want to eat but it's no reason to call their traditional foods or dishes junk. And to be honest, I'm a little offended by that comment.

I am sincerely sorry if I have offended you in any way with my opinion. It was not my intention. Please be aware, though, that not everyone is as hung up on the foods of their cultures as others. Sometimes it is not just abuse or overindulgence that causes problems... it is the ingestion of any of it at all that can spell tragedy.

That is what they choose to eat and I think we should respect that, just as we would like for people to respect our food choices.

Of course we should respect that... and I do respect what others choose to eat when they are not telling me how *I* should eat. Remember, she is the one who started a thread telling people on an Atkins support board that they don't need to be strict with what they are eating. As Joy indidcated, there are tons of low carb boards out there who are not as strict as this board is. And, I know from experience that they sometimes take great delight in talking about what "Atkins ****'s" and "fanantics" we are over here. I just have to question her motives for posting what she did on this particular board.