Control vs Obsession

[Lulubell]

Re: Control vs Obsession

patricia-

i, too, have been reading this thread. unfortunately, the point of your original post was lost, and the invitation to discuss a very interesting and real topic was not picked up on by the other posters. i happen to agree with you in your concern for some young and/or vulnerable women (and men, possibly) who may be on the tipping point for developing eating disorders and related behaviors.

a dear friend of mine was put through the ringer when his 12 year old (now 1, came home from school and announced she was going to be vegetarian. from there is spiraled downwards to vegan eating only, then eating <800 calories, then <500, then nothing. in and out of day clinics, then a specialty clinic in arizona, trouble adjusting to a return to school, etc. it was really horrible for the child and for the whole family. the girl is OK now, set to graduate from HS in june 2008, although she should have graduated this past june.

in any case, i did get the point of your post, and i understand the cultural significance of foods. it's an interesting topic, and one i would love to engage in but i think this not the right forum. that kind of discourse and civil debate is just not always well received here. i am not trying to offend anyone, because there are a heckuva lot of smart people here, but the defensive walls go up almost immediately if behaviors/lifestyle choices associated with anything Atkins is questioned. sorry your attempt at conversation was thwarted.

[misplaced southerner]

Re: Control vs Obsession

patricia, if you are still around, i do appreciate the question you brought up. i am always (i hope) open to discussion. i have strong opinions about what i am doing because i know it works for me. i have other friends, as i stated who feel healthier doing other things...i can't speak for their medical results but i can speak for mine. i am also passionate about atkins because after 46 years, it is the ONLY way i can maintain a healthy weight and as someone stated earlier, i MUST have issues or i would never have weighed 220!! YIKES

i am concerned about anorexia in out culture, especially with a preteen daughter. that is why i hope i am modeling GOOD HEALTH...not just WEIGHT LOSS. she knows that MOM can not eat certain things and she knows why. it is like a diabetic eating candy. it just does not work for me. she eats whole grains and non processed foods. occassional sugar...but i am always vigilant for signs of anything that seems "off"

sorry if you felt offended with the posts here. i guess i am always up for a good debate. please keep in mind, that often times what we are trying to say on the internet does not come across with anything other than printed words. there is no visible or audible emotion here. i think most folks here have everyones best interests in mind. also, many of us have fought long and hard to be where we are and like any battle, we are quick to defend ourselves

i enjoy seeing your posts around the board. your thoughts were good food for thought (NO PUN INTENDED!!) see ya round the board

[not2late]

Re: Control vs Obsession

This is, indeed, a very interesting discussion, misplaced southerner, and I have learned a lot from the various responses. I am a little concerned about the way some of my comments have been interpreted though. Megs, it wasn't me who called pasta and white rice 'garbage' and I have never suggested that committing to 14 days without carbs is "too much to handle". I have always argued that Atkins works. I must also say that while I am new to writing to the ADBB I have, in fact, read a great number of threads. It was reading those threads that caused me to voice my concerns. I also made no "sweeping generalizations" and judged no one. You may well be a person who is careful about the advice you give, taking into consideration the age and needs of the other person as you perceive them. I hope (and assume) we are all such responsible responders.

A few of things.... when you read through ADBB, you should have noticed that the vast majority of our members are female adults (aged 18 years and older), not children, pre-adolescents or adolescents. You should have also noticed that we always ask members to post their "stats", which includes height and weight. Some members post their sex and their age as well. So to insinuate that these things aren't taken into consideration or even asked for is disingenuous and misleading.

White rice and most pastas are "garbage", nutritionally speaking, because they are highly refined which stripped away valuable nutrients like fiber and many of the vitamins and minerals. And I daresay, the consumption of these nutritionally bankrupt foods is what lead many of us onto a weight loss plan.

Finally, if you believe someone is being a less than "responsible responder" then report your concerns to the Board Administrators or to the Forum Moderator.

[Taty]

Re: Control vs Obsession

Carbohydrates aren’t the problem. It’s the Over Processed Lifestyle…

I am walking down a center isle of a modern American supermarket filled to capacity of goods shipped in from across the country. The displays are made to be “just right” and “just so”. Everything from color and design of the tiles beneath myfeet and intentional aromas from a side deli café are efforts to make the me, customer purchase more. Take a walk down the isles with me. Try for a moment.

We are greeted with what appears to be an endless selection of food. Each and all are packaged with complete detail. Many different choices all having the same ingredients. Flip over to the back and notice that most of what you see in the ingredients reads like an ancient language. However, for an individual with a trained eye, reading these labels becomes a breeze. Usually they all contain Trans fat, sugars (masked), Sodium preserves, and Spices (MSG). There are more but to save time, I’ll move along. Still with me? Okay good!

The average processed food today in your grocery store has been sitting in a warehouse for five months. It’s wholesome ingredients have been over cultivated and most nutrients have already left the can by the time it sits staring you in the face in your bowl or plate! Ah yes, the food industry, $10billion dollars yearly advertising campaigns, lobbying still on ingredient and nutrition value disclosure. Remember the lettuce recall earlier this year?

In countries like Japan where rice is consumed by millions, or in Italy with respect to pasta, consider this. An average rice bowl there is the size of a child’s bowl. The amount of vegetables consumed provides a substantial amount of fiber. People consuming extremly high amounts of fiber get full very fast. They live on what’s in season in their unprocessed wholesome world. I chuckle every time my friend Yulia comes to visit me. She is from delightful town of Krasnodar, in Russia and loves to remove the top of her hamburger buns stating, “It’s too much bread” while filling her plate with onions and radishes in the raw and eating them as is.

Moving forward to my original statements, carbohydrates are bad when they are combined with modernization and the “more for your buck” mentality. I choose to live a low carb lifestyle because it is the only way I can win a battle. I wish my parents were as educated as I am about this when I was growing up. Living a low carb lifestyle has given me power to overcome this disease. I can finally walk into a grocery store and only purchase what I need. Everyone has a little obsession I suppose. Just a matter of what you want to be obsessed about.


I would like to note that defining a country by their food is pure ignorance. I've been on the other side of the tables as American's are ridiculed by our food choices and our govenments tolerance. It didn't feel so nice. These anti rice, anti pasta comments only make you look like a simplton. If you cannot consume these things because like me, it makes you "sick" then take ownership of that and for Godsakes own it. Some cultures and or some people in the world don't share your same sickness.

64% of Americans are Obese, I choose to be the other 36%.