"Yeah... 'cept I'm not starving."

[FwL]

This was my response when my MIL recently compared me to her friend who has been on a sef-imposed low-fat, low-cal starvation diet since the first of the year. In that time, he has managed to lose 20 -25 pounds and is looking quite a bit slimmer.

The trade-off, as she was pointing out, is that he is extremely hungry "all the time". I know when he first started this starvation program he was complaining about laying awake all night thinking about food. Any conversation with him invariably turned to food and eating.

The biggest thing I have noticed is that with his weight loss he looks much older. He is taking on a gaunt old man appearance. He doesn't look healthier at all to me.

I've also noticed how he seems to have lost a lot of muscle tone on his arms. This is most surprising when you factor in that he is a very active person... Skiing, hiking, weight lifting, kayaking, gardening...


Anyway... As MIL was praising how this person has shown real fortitude and really stuck with his diet she capped it off with "just like you"... to which I responded, "Yeah... 'cept I'm not starving."

Her response to this was... "Well, you're on a different type of diet. He needs his carbs."


The unspoken implication of this statement is that I'm on some sort of "fad diet" and he's on a "real diet". It's even been suggested to me that the way to control your weight is to count calories... not whatever it is I'm doing.


What really struck me about this whole exchange is just how ingrained the "low fat = health" rubish is in people's minds. I'm reminded of that old saying "My mind is already made up. Don't confuse me with the details."

[somethings gotta give]

I totally agree with everything, I don't feel like I am "dieting" or trying to be miss skinny minny, I feel myself getting healthier and more energetic everyday. No lowfat, always starving, counting calories, praying for the day the weight goes and going right back to my old ways. Here's to sticking it out!!! We know what's good for us now don't we?

[not2late]

Similarly, when I was a newbie here, I remember there was someone who wrote that he/she was quitting the diet because "there's something wrong with a diet where you don't feel hungry all the time." I thought that was a very revealing and very sad thing. It showed me that we've been so brainwashed into thinking that you *have* to starve to lose weight in a healthy way that if you don't feel hungry, something is definitely wrong.

[pagliaccia]

People constantly shout at me "Woowwww! You're so driven! I could never have the willpower you do!" And all I can think is that I have slightly more willpower than a bowl of Jello. In my opinion, I only needed my willpower to last for like 5 days, and then I was trained to properly think about what I should be eating. I feel logic is on our side, and when the plan makes sense, it's easy to stick with. Atkins may seem counterintuitive to others, but I've known for quite a while that high-carb diets are the wrong direction for people like me.

[Divadevilsmom]

Funny thing, this brainwashing! I have "done atkins" many times in the past and my hubby has always supported me. I recently recommited to it and I usually post updates on my facebook and myspace pages boasting if I've had a particularly good day. A girl who is on my friendslist works with my hubby and the other day was commenting to him how great I was doing. Then she asked what I was doing. When he said to her atkins she immediately began with the "oh, that is really bad for your health! I have some reading material I need to get together for her to go over so she can see how unhealthy it is!"

Well of course I wasn't there to back up my claims that this woe is perfectly acceptable and he just told her he'd pass on the word. I got so mad. I told him first of all I am not changing anything. Second, I have thoroughly gone over the why's and how's of what I am doing. Third, if anyone else asks DO NOT TELL THEM I AM DOING ATKINS!! Just say I am moderating my carbs. That always seems acceptable, go figure.

[pagliaccia]

Make sure to scan in any "reading material" she gives you... I'd love to see it!

I bet it will be a comic strip with one pane being a caveman eating a big cut of meat, and then the next pane will have the same caveman with X's over his eyes. Am I getting close?

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

I LOVE your response!!!

Having lost weight (god knows how many times) doing those low-cal low-fat STARVATION diets...it's amazing that people seriously think that SELF-DEPRIVATION is something to be praised.

And yeah - i've been there...it's like "WOW! YOU'RE NOT FEEDING YOUR BODY??!!! GOOOD FOR YOU!" i mean - seriously um. wt?

But then again, this world is bass-ackwards in its way of thinking and that IS how MOST people think today. it's really really sad.

Congrats to you for how far you've come WHILE NOT STARVING!!!!

[phil h]

I have lost considerable amount of weight by low fat dieting,Atkins diet and extended Atkins induction.Only one preserved my muscles and made me look lean rathar than skinny, and that is the latter.The Atkins climbing the rungs preserved more muscle than the low fat diet.I looked emaciated then.This along with other reasons is why I choose to stay on extended induction.

[LageNomAi]

Originally Posted by Divadevilsmom

Third, if anyone else asks DO NOT TELL THEM I AM DOING ATKINS!! Just say I am moderating my carbs. That always seems acceptable, go figure.

I've learned never to tell anyone I do Atkins. I'm not interested in the lecture, particularly from people who most likely don't really understand this WOE. Like you, I just say that I'm watching my carbs, which doesn't seem to trigger the same vehement response.

[Lacypie]

I just tell em that if this is so bad for me, then how come I feel and look so amazing!? Something that feels this good, cannot possibly be bad... I am living breathing proof that it works. and it is an incredible way to change your life for the better, forever!!1