Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

[Papa Deuce]

Am I pretty much alone in NOT telling people I am doing Atkins just to avoid the hassles?

You know....

"Isn't that the diet where you only eat meat?"

"Isn't that the diet where you don't eat much but fatty foods?"

"That diet will give you a heart attack."

"Don't you, you know, have to eat eggs every single day?"

"My MIL did that diet and lost 22 pounds in the first month, and then gave it up and she gained 50."

............

[Elizellen]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

Lots of people seem to have similar problems/comments when they mention the 'A-word' it seems from posts I have seen here and on other lowcarb boards.

I don't get many of them nowadays as I have lost a lot of weight and so can disprove lots of the uninformed statements. Particularly when they can see I am eating salads and other veggies alngg with the meat/eggs/cheese, in fact probably eating more healthily than they are!!

I do get a lot of 'I couldn't do without my bread/pasta/rice/doughnuts' comments, but only said more in a spirit of admiration rather than a criticism of my chosen woe.

However I did find when I started out that using the alternative description of my way of eating as 'avoiding starches and sugars and eating more vegetables' was accepted as being a healthy woe if I didn't use the 'a-word'

[Regina]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

It is your private business what you eat and why. Do what is comfortable and beneficial to you.

[Chef Kevin]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

I avoid it, just say "I can't eat that" if offered, tell them I am diabetic (since I am).

People are stupid and have no clue how we really eat,

[not2late]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

I did what Elizellen did in the beginning: tell them "I'm cutting out processed foods, added sugars, refined grains, and eating whole, natural, minimally processed foods." It avoided the typical "Atkins will kill you. Atkins is bad for you." comments. It also gave me the great excuse for turning down things like bread, cake, and stuff that looked like it came from a laboratory rather than a farm.

Nowadays, I don't get hassled as much. However, I DO get the occasional comment like "I KNEW you wouldn't last on Atkins!" ---that is ususually accompanied by the person looking at the slices of peaches or the half serving of rice on my plate.

[Elizellen]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

Megs

I love it when that happens So many people assume induction is all of Atkins!!

[APanthesilia]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

Only my closest friends and family know I'm actually doing Atkins because we've all had the conversations and debates about it and they know what I'm doing is good! But for people I barely know who want me to eat something I can't have I just say I've cut out sugars and starches to avoid the hassle of explaining myself to them. But if someone wants to lose weight and asks me how I'm doing it I tell them Atkins because I want them to be able to have the same good experience I'm having. Though I do usually preface the word "Atkins" with a spiel about exercising, eating veggies and cutting out sugars so as not to turn them off right away... Some people are just closed minded about it but really, that is their problem! We know how good and healthy it is!

[neihu]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

When I did Atkins the last time, I didn't tell people in the beginnining, but as the weight fell off I became more open about it - I would just say I have a wheat intolerance and I am cutting out sugar. It worked.

This time I am telling people right away - so far I haven't had any negative comments - but it has only been 2 weeks!

[SouLThinKing]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

I know how you feel. The most common thing I get is "you'll gain it all back when you stop". I always counter with "Isn't that true if you stop any eating plan?". They never know what to say. I also hear "I can't eat all that fat!". But they are saying this while they are eating foods that are so much worse. But agreeing with the previous posters, if you just say I am avoiding starches and sugars and eating fresh foods "meats and veggies" they seem to take that better.
Nichole

[tfek70]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

I am very open about it. I am in the military and everyone in the military is trying to keep within weight standards. I've dropped 24 lbs in the last month and everyone wants to know my "secret". My results speak for themselves. I am so sold on this WOE and have done so much research on low carbing that I can address any argument against this WOE. I love the one that most people are first to bring up:

Uninformed person #1: "Dr. Atkins died from following that diet."
Me: "No, he slipped on ice and hit his head. He died from complications from a bleeding brain."
Uninformed person #1: "He was in such poor shape from following his insane diet and that contributed to his fall and death."
Me: "No, he was 72 years old and walking to work. 72 year olds in poor health do not walk to work. Most don't work at all."
Uninformed person #1: "Well, his heart was so messed up that it contributed to his death."
Me: "Show me any proof you have of this."
Uninformed person #1: "He was 258 lbs at the time of his death."
Me: "Wow, that's the first true thing you've said. When he fell, he was admitted to the hospital at 195 lbs. The weight gain was due to fluid retention. All stories of his poor cardiac health have been retracted by all major press as inaccurate. His possible heart attack was caused by a viral infection, not diet or lifestyle related."
Uninformed person #1: "All that bacon can't be good for you."
Me: "Is that the best you have left to argue with? Shut up and read the book."

[dewdropinn]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

I tdont tell anyone ususally. Once in a while I will order a steak from a resteraunt (hoping no sugars!) and always ask to substitue the potato with an extra serving of brocolli. This looks like I am trying to be healthier! Which I am

It's just annoying to me to hear those comments when one is uneducated, not worth the hassle.

[ready2lose]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

I, too, refrain from saying Atkins. I tell people I am following a controlled-carbohydrate diet for my diabetes. Works for me

[Magicsmom]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

I tell them loud and proud that I'm doing Atkins and have a tone in my voice that says "I dare you to hassle me about it, bring it on!". I haven't had any takers. As for the "you'll gain if you go off of it", I tell them that is absolutely true. Everyone has a way to eat that is right for their particular metabolism. This WOE is right for me. I simply cannot handle sugar, either from a metabolic sense or from an emotional one. A taste of that poison and I lose all my sensibilities.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

I rarely say "Atkins", but for one reason only... where I live (Italy) most people have never heard of Atkins! I explain the way I eat, but get little flak. Here, people are more amazed and interested, though most admit they couldn't give up the three "P"s (Pasta, Pizza, Pane).

[EverLosing]

Re: Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

AWESOME answers, tfek70! I had some cute responses too but yours are perfect!! I know I can't handle carbs...all those years of trying, prove that! Someone wanted to argue with me about it last night and I had many silent thoughts about her arguments as I looked at her really huge body lodged into the corner of a couch in a pile. I was happy I chose to do the opposite of what she's doing. Please God, with a different plan than hers, please let my results be the exact opposite! She's completely given up meat too, can't argue with those folks!!