what are your fave reasons for being on atkins?

[ttdriver]

1. Butter
2. Beef (I am a carnivore to the core!)
3. Heavy Cream
4. Cheese
5. FULL FAT EVERYTHING. Savoring the fat on my meat, knowing that it has totally replaced the fat on my hips.

Eating to satiety, not feeling stuffed.
The total absence of irritable bowel syndrom that had plagued me for years.
No more acid reflux.
Cholesterol ratios that have the low-fat purveyors scratching their heads.
Being a full-fledged marathon runner at age 53.

7 years maintaining and never ever feeling deprived.

Betty

[SunnySmile501]

1. Not having to weigh and measure every bite I put in my mouth.
2. Not having to eat almost all processed foods because they were easy to weigh and measure to make sure I didn't go over in calories or fat.
3. Not having acid reflux and not having to take 160 mg of Nexium a day to control the acid; and it still didn't.
4. Not having asthma (wheat/grain allergy) and no longer having to take those nasty asthma drugs and not having to be within a few feet of an inhaler at all times.
5. Eating steak, prime rib, the skin on poultry, butter, cream and mayo without guilt, and I don't have to weigh or measure anything.
6. Eating full-fat cheese, watching it melt into a gooey, yummy puddle, instead of trying to melt fat-free cheese, only to watch it start to look even more like the hunk of plastic that it is.
7. Having my nails grow long and strong instead of peeling, cracking and breaking.
8. My hair is the silkiest and shiniest in years, and my ultra-dry skin is smooth and moist without using near the moisturizers that I used to slather on every few minutes.
9. Never, ever having to be hungry. I had to starve to lose weight on low fat, low calorie.
10. Being rid of diverticulitis, irritable bowl and leaky gut syndrome.

[chinadoll]

Mine are similar:

No bloat
No acid reflux
Lessens depressions
More energy
Lessens sinus problems
Don't feel weighed down and leaden all the time
No blood sugar drops to drain the energy right out of you

Easy to follow--I know what I can have. I don't have to count every morsel and determine where the "points" or "colors" or "calories" go on some system--I hated that. All I could think about all day was food because these diets are built that way!

I can have lobster with drawn butter and cheesecake with Splenda (eventually). What's not to like about that!

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

Originally Posted by Jodes

I sleep better than I have in years - is that really one of the side effects of this plan?

wow - for that, i must say, i'm VERY jealous - i'm an insomniac. without sleeping pills i don't get sleep.

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

it's so funny - but after reading everyone's reason's here AS WELL AS knowing my own and having BEEN a Low-Fat dieter for I can't even tell you how long - I actually feel sorry for all those people out there who still believe that low-fat is the way to go (and aren't educated on the differences of low fat vs. low carb)...I mean specifically those people out there like I used to be - thinking that overly processed foods - because they're "easy" to "weigh and measure" are the right food choices instead of all these natural whole foods that taste AWESOME (go fat!) and yet make you skinny! :P

I totally agree with the weighing and measuring and counting points that everyone here has talked about as I am technically a lifetime member of weight watchers. And I am SOOOOOOOO happy I will NEVER count another "point" that goes into my mouth again! :P

the only measuring i do now is for recipes.

I honestly don't think you could PAY me to go back to low-fat dieting.

[Peej]

1. The fact that its actually working instead of just making me miserable.
2. Totally controlling my food rather than being controlled by it. Very very few cravings that are usually satisfied with water and a little exercise.
3. Actually enjoying exercise. I never have before. It was always a chore. Now it makes me feel great instead of tired and overworked.
4. Cooking. I love to cook (though I do miss baking quite a bit) but its so hard to count exactly how many calories is in everything you make! Now if I want to add more butter or oil to my dish, I can do it without having to measure exactly how much and how that will contribute to my calorie restriction.
5. Most of all, not having to feel guilty for eating when I'm hungry. Its the worst feeling in the world to have your stomach still rumbling but know that if you eat more you'll go over your points/calories/whatever for the day and therefore gain weight. I'm hardly ever hungry now and if I am, I eat. No guilt involved and I'm still losing.

[carlae]

I enjoy the way I feel.
I enjoy seeing the looks on people's faces that haven't seen me for awhile.
I enjoy being able to turn down ice cream cakes and brownies
I enjoy my husband bragging about me.
I enjoy cream cheese. I never did eat it before in my life until I started this WOE

My daughter made a comment when she hugged me goodbye this morning. She said I felt like a different person. I AM A DIFFERENT PERSON!! I can hold my head up high now.

That's why I love this WOE!

carlae
SW/206
CW/180
GW/145
Restarted Atkins on January 1, 2009

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

Originally Posted by Peej

5. Most of all, not having to feel guilty for eating when I'm hungry. Its the worst feeling in the world to have your stomach still rumbling but know that if you eat more you'll go over your points/calories/whatever for the day and therefore gain weight. I'm hardly ever hungry now and if I am, I eat. No guilt involved and I'm still losing.

ohmygod - this is another one i TOTALLY understand and agree with. i mean seriously - the GUILT over eating!!! if you're hungry you should eat, and you SHOULDN'T feel guilty about it - whether it's going over calories or going over "points" (wow i see a lot of ex-weight watchers around here!)

but yeah - looking back now - that's something that just makes me so angry about low fat dieting - feeling GUILTY over EATING!!!! now - granted, there are still foods I "can't have" but I know that it's because, for my body, it's NOT a good food and I don't want it - but the fact is I CAN have something else in place of it. I don't have to "starve" myself to lose weight.
that one's a great one. thanks!

[MrsChesterDogg]

Some of my favorite things about Atkins:

No longer being obsessed with food.
Not constantly being hungry.
Feeling so much better.
Very few sweet cravings.
Getting to eat all the luscious steaks, chops and burgers, along with chicken, and eggs and butter that I've always loved.
Having great control of my blood sugar once more.
Oh yea...and losing weight too!

[chiloe]

not having to count or measure
eating full fat foods without guilt
I love my daily lunch salad loaded with dark greens, chicken, avacado, grated cheese, cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers and olives - YUM! followed by a handful of mixed nuts and some 6% fat plain yogurt with frozen blueberries and strawberries which have had a chance to thaw by lunch, and I add a little splash of heavy cream!
-no heartburn
-no bloating
-more energy - I can get through the day now with energy to spare instead of feeling overwhelmed by all the demands
-being active again - I just joined a ladies dragon boat team! What a blast! and have almost daily walks with my dh and dog
- being healthy and eating real food, fresh food