Not tell people you do Atkins to avoid the hassle?

[not2late]

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!!

That is my pet-peeve. Before I started Atkins hardly anyone ever told me that I needed to get healthy. In fact, they would push food over my way. But when I started Atkins and had a specific foods list and exercise plan...I got more "advice" than ever!

But I always got (and still do) get a kick from the folks who are stuffing cookies and cake down their throats as they tell me that Atkins or eating low carb is bad for me.

[Magicsmom]

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!!

I must admit, the snarky side of me likes tfek70's last response the best. I've been low carbing off and on since 2004. My family members easily see the benefits of it, versus the price I pay when I go off. I hope to God I've finally learned my lesson and have regained for the very last time.

[Kathi22]

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

I for one am not saying anything. I just say I don't eat sugary foods or processed and starchyfoods. Most people don't even ask if it is Atkins, but get some that say low carb, and I say kind of. When I first lost a lot of weight with Atkins I became tired of explining myself. In fact, I have cut back on all the social events I do and going out with distant friends to eat or to alcohol style parties. Call it seclusion if you will, but I need to get my health in order without he pressure of answering questions and feeling like a spot light is on me. Funny thing is, it only took a few events of my absence and my phone stopped ringing. What a relief LOL

[Magicsmom]

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).

Please forgive a question from an ignorant American, but what is pane?

[tangotori]

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

Generally I don't explain myself, but when I do I say I'm cutting out sugar, processed foods and such, replacing them with good for me veggies. I have a friend I chat with on MSN (she lives on the other side of the country) who is a great proponent of moderation. For the most part she's been great... but because we were chatting electronically rather then in person she didn't at first grasp what I was doing. When she finally did she said "Be carefull!" I'm fortunate that she's a very supportive friend, but her answer reminded me of the lack of knowledge the general public has about Atkins!

[Papa Deuce]

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

That's what I will say now, as I am also diabetic. I may leave the diabetic part out as that really isn't anybody else's business.

[adkins]

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

I have heard all the same stuff as well Dr. Atkins died of this or that etc. yadda yadda yadda.
My last name is Adkins and I just tell them I'm on the Adkins diet and it works.
As far as I'm concerned it's the only diet I have been on and the only diet that has ever worked for me. To each their own and what might work for you might not work for me and visa versa.

[Brook]

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

I refuse to side-step and not call Atkins Atkins. It's my opinion that side-stepping it so that those who are ignorant only fosters their ability to remain ignorant. Dr. Atkins is the one who helped me find the *me* I am today, helped me get healthier, and helped me find a way to help others too.

I shout "ATKINS" from the tallest tower when people ask. He deserves the credit.

[NoMoreFoodBaby!]

I agree with those of you that mentioned just not eating the starches and sugars, etc. The double whammy for me is I teach health and nutrition classes - and am a registered dietitian - but my philosophy is that diet plans are individualized and need to fit the person depending on what your cravings and food needs are. I am not one who really cares about chocolate, for example, but like the salty and crunchy foods. My theory behind that is those types of foods represent comfort foods for me. I know that I can sit and eat bowls and bowls of crunchy things - cereal, nachos, etc. I actually am a very high energy person and resent when food cravings interfere with me - what I like about Atkins for me (or low-carb - lol) is that it takes away the mental cravings. I really don't think about it! (Lots of water and coffee with cream help fill in the cracks)

So, what works for your neighbor may not work for you - but I have lost 5 pounds and 3 inches in a few weeks without really making it terrible on myself. I look at it, too, like if I DIDN'T choose to eat like that, the 5 pounds might be in the opposite direction -as well as the 3 inches.

I just want to feel good. That is what makes me feel REALLY bad about myself is I teach health to kids and adults all the time and didn't feel that way myself. I'm getting there, though.

Thanks for listening to us all!

[sallyseachange]

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

Please forgive a question from an ignorant American, but what is pane?

Sorry Magicsmom... forgot to put the translation in. "Pane" is Italian for bread. You're not ignorant at all... it isn't a word that's become international like pasta and pizza.

[Tooder]

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

I get the comments:
"Oh, you have to eat tons of fat don't you?"
I tell them I'm actually eating less fat because of the hidden trans fats in the junk food I'm not eating anymore, plus I'm eating more veggies. That usually shuts them up. Then when I lost the weight before they all started whining I was getting too thin!

[Jeremy]

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

I have to deal with "Dat wil give you sum hart attax" or "Dat werx short term but then teh waits will come back" all the time.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of people who have abused the diet and ate a pound of bacon for breakfast and ribeye for dinner every night so they may have had health issues (or it could have simply been due to their long term obesity before the diet).

Then there are a lot of magic pill fat people who think they can get on a diet and get skinny in a month or two. They find reletive ease in the weight loss with Atkins and then bail at the first temptation and get murdered with carb addiction relapse.

I try to simply explain that I too have known people who have not had success with the diet but based on my experience it seems to be working well.

That said, I don't advertise that I am on a diet anyway. It is kind of a personal thing, so unless someone notices, I dont say anything.

[zoewmu]

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

It depends. If you're my friend or relative and I need you to know so that you understand why we're not going for Mexican tonight, I'll tell you I'm on Atkins. But, in the middle of a party/work funchtion where I'm snacking on cheese and I don't want to have to defend my dietary choices to people I neither know nor care about, I just say that I don't eat sugar or white flour.

[charks1]

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

I've said it before like most of us here when someone asks me, aren't you on that Atkins diet..I say NO....It's a Way of Life for me not a DIET as they shove a donut/pizza/poptart in there mouths..and then they'll say yeah i tried that diet for a few days and it didn't work..I just smile and walk away!!!

[hu11aba1oo2]

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

I agree with Susan. It depends on who I'm talking to. Most of my friends and family know I'm doing Atkins, some are curious and ask for more information, others are naysayers and I just tell them we have to agree to disagree. And for people I don't know very well or know at all, it's really none of their business, but a controlled carbohydrate or low carbohydrate diet would suffice if I felt compelled to explain my eating habits.