No to Atkins for fear of missing bread and pasta?

[ttdriver]

Re: No to Atkins for fear of missing bread and pasta?

I've been in Atkins lifetime maintenance since 12/2002. I can tell you, I *do* eat pasta and bread. Dreamfields is the best of the best. I eat it at least once a week without any problem. As for bread, I enjoy Nature's Own Wheat & Fiber on occasion.

6 years on maintenance and absolutely no weight gain.

Betty

[sexywannabe]

Re: No to Atkins for fear of missing bread and pasta?

Most people say the same thing to me also when we talk about diets and I tell them I'm doing Atkins, the first thing they say is that they could not give up their bread and pasta either. They don't even seem curious about the diet. I know when I first heard about it years ago, and I heard all the stuff you could eat on it, I was curious! I asked about it and then bought the book.

I think when people respond that way, it's just another way in saying they are not interested in trying to lose weight right now, and most have heard bad things about low carb. That's it's bad for you, dangerous, etc. They just don't want to believe the truth.

[dreamof145]

Re: No to Atkins for fear of missing bread and pasta?

You know, when I first started Atkins, my husband wasn't supportive at all. He thought I was heading into more failures and maybe it wasn't healthy for me. But, after a while, he started participating in the foods I eat and found he really liked them. I substitute a lot of foods to still make the dishes I always loved. I don't feel that I am depriving myself of bread, pasta or anything else. Instead, I've found wonderful foods that help me stay healthy and lose weight. When I look at the taste of those foods that I've substituted to the way i feel now -- there is no comparison. None.

My suggestion is to discus getting healthy together, form your plan together and give each other positive actions. Take measurements every couple weeks and once she sees the results from this new life-style....thats the biggest motivation to see your body shrinking. Sending you both the best of luck and wishing you the best success.

[Chicklady]

Re: No to Atkins for fear of missing bread and pasta?

There will come a time when it hits her-----the need to lose weight. Until then, you're probsbly just listening to yourself talk, and possibly building resentment and delaying her realization.

[aelt]

Re: No to Atkins for fear of missing bread and pasta?

Thank you for all of your ideas! I will approach it as something that she needs to initiate, but at least I have good information on women that have successfully overcome the strong desire for bread and pasta (until later phases of the plan) to have her reconsider trying Atkins when she shows an interest in my success.

Mark

[brandywine1241]

Re: No to Atkins for fear of missing bread and pasta?

Aelt, the reason your wife is resistant to your diet suggestions may be that she is afraid of failure, and that fear of the punishment her inner parent will inflict if she fails trumps any logical appeals to try. Not being able to live without bread and pasta is just an excuse to get you off her back.

However there are other reasons (probably more important) than weight loss to do Atkins. I'm talking about the elimination of insulin spikes in particular. Ask her to take the blood sugar symptom test in Chapter 12 (p. 150 in my paperback 2002 version of DANDR). If she scores positive for blood sugar stress, read Chapter 5, Understanding the Importance of Insulin, and propose that she commit to trying the program for 2 weeks (settle for 1 week if you have to) to see if she feels better. Take the issue of weight loss off the table all together. Tell her you will never ask her how much weight she has lost, only how she is feeling. Read up on induction flu so you can support her through that if need be. If she has never experienced the feeling of stable blood sugar, I guarantee you she will be amazed.

If you find yourself obsessing about how much weight she has lost, perhaps you should carefully examine your own motives for pushing this. Is it for her health, or for your needs?

[hopejoy]

Re: No to Atkins for fear of missing bread and pasta?

I know you love your wife and want her to be healthy and happy. Believe me, your comments aren't going to help her get to the point of wanting to try it for herself... you need to do it for you. (like Joy said) and completely embrace it, enjoy the process, and enjoy all the changes you go through in the process. Let your wife know you love her unconditionally... weight is a very very touchy subject. The more you push Atkins on her the harder she will push Atkins away... We can't control anyone but ourselves. Hard lesson to learn. but it's true. just love your wife and stop all the comments. Focus on correcting yourself. That's the only person we can ever change... and that's hard enough!
liz