[Diver Down]

No worries, shelly, I just took offense at the notion I wasn't on Atkins as I sit here going through a difficult Induction phase. What other diet do they think I'm on?! I've worked hard to reduce my carbohydrate intake to far less than 20 carbs per day, I've eliminated breads, fruit, pastas, and the like, and basically subscribed to the fundamental principles of the diet. Am I living according to every single word in the latest revision of the Atkins bible? Perhaps not, but for that I shouldn't be cast a heretic.

Of what am I guilty, drinking caffeine? I don't recall where it was written in stone it was absolutely forbidden (advised against, naturally, but forbidden...since when?!). And the net-carb products, Atkins sells them as safe during Induction so it's hard to throw stones at me for using them during emergencies. I am aware that Dr. Atkins caved in to pressure to offer such products and does not endorse them, but that doesn't change the fact that at their most one of them is considered 5 net carbs (and 9 total). Considering I'm primarily eating meat, I've got about 20 carbs to blow on whatever I feel like, ideally vegetables, but it's up to me to decide.

I've always found the strength of Atkins to be its flexibility - by that I mean, it lays down simple-to-follow principles, but allows the individual so many choices for how to fill in the blanks. Other diets prescribe what you eat, when, and in what portions. I get the feeling some of the people here are taking that particular approach to Atkins using that book as dogma. That kind of mentality will do far more to discourage newcomers to Atkins than any mention I make of drinking some Coke Zero during my induction.