Reactions to "Atkins" compared to "Eating Better"

[Slapshot]

I've lost 32 lbs since March 17th. I've been getting questions as to how I did it. I've been conducting somewhat of an experiment, dividing my responses in two categories:

1. Group 1: I tell people I'm doing Atkins. The responses are invariably, "Watch out for that," "How's your blood chemistry?" or "Hey, at least you'll be skinny when you have a heart attack!" Some people have OK reactions to Atkins (ironically, my sister who's a dietician!).

2. Group 2: I tell people I've been "eating more veggies, watching my carbs, exercising more, drinking lots of water, and limiting my fried foods and cutting way back on desserts." The responses? "Awesome!" "Good for you!" or "Congrats!"

It's amazing how the term "Atkins" is so often misunderstood out there. Well, at least we - the cool people - are in the know.

[Elizellen]

You are so right
Saying I am avoiding the whites - flour/pasta/rice/sugar/potatoes - seems to be thought of as being healthy where doing Atkins always attracts the uneducated/ignorant comments.

Though nowadays mostly it is my husband who proudly tells everyone "My wife has lost over 10 stone (140 pounds) by eating fryups on Atkins" even if no-one has asked So any critical comments are forestalled.

[planetclaire]

Its so sad how Atkins invokes such negativity amongst those who don't know the facts.

[zoewmu]

Originally Posted by Elizellen

Though nowadays mostly it is my husband who proudly tells everyone "My wife has lost over 10 stone (140 pounds) by eating fryups on Atkins" even if no-one has asked .

Congratulations on the 140 pounds! You look fabulous!

What's a fryup?

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

Originally Posted by Slapshot

I've lost 32 lbs since March 17th. I've been getting questions as to how I did it. I've been conducting somewhat of an experiment, dividing my responses in two categories:

1. Group 1: I tell people I'm doing Atkins. The responses are invariably, "Watch out for that," "How's your blood chemistry?" or "Hey, at least you'll be skinny when you have a heart attack!" Some people have OK reactions to Atkins (ironically, my sister who's a dietician!).

hahaha - GET your blood chemistry done just to show them!

seriously - when people say that to me - I tell them, "well - lemme see - before atkins - when i had my chemistry done at 197 pounds, my cholesterol was 210(shoulda been less than 200) and my triglycerides was 130(less than the 150 but too close to the 150) . After I started atkins and I had my chemistry done at 187 pounds, after losing 10 pounds by eating the atkins way my cholesterol was 192 and my triglycerides was 114."


but for the most part - i have to agree, telling people you're on atkins is looking for an argument... i just tell people I don't eat sugar - they applaud me and then say, "man I could NEVER do that..." really - it's not as hard as you think - i just don't eat potatoes, bread, rice, etc...

BUT - even though i myself just posted a thread simlar to this (about posting about atkins on another board...) I reallly have to say, having been on the other side of the coin - I DO understand that people are just ignorant. plain and simple. they do not understand what atkins truly is - i know i didn't and I didn't listen to my doc for an entire year and I am SO mad at myself that I didn't - when she told me to go on atkins - I thought she was crazy - but I was the crazy one for not listening to her!

but yeah - believe me, I totally understand how it's better to just say "eating better" than "atkins"...course - sometimes when i'm feelin' like it - I LIKE to argue with people and tell them why atkins really is a healthy way to live...

[lowell]

Yeah, just today my supervisor stopped me in the hall and asked if that was bacon I was carrying, I said yes, and she asked me what I was having for lunch, so I said, "bacon, I'm on Atkins". Immediately her face turned pale mean, and she said (get this lol) "You do NOT need to be on Atkins. You need to do something like South Beach". She then added, "the very first guy who was diagnosed with diabetes was put on a high protein diet by his doctor, and they found him dead by the age of 23, of heart disease!". I had to laugh She's an RN

[msanjelpie]

I'm proud to be on Atkins... I always say Atkins... then I see the expression on their face, and the usual 'you be careful with that...' like it's more dangerous than being obese...

Arguments? bring em on baby... I especially like the ones about it being bad for your kidneys...

[Elizellen]

Originally Posted by zoewmu

Congratulations on the 140 pounds! You look fabulous!

thank you

What's a fryup?

Fried eggs, bacon and mushrooms for lunch!!
The usual question then is 'how can you lose weight eating that?!?"