Lessons from a used atkins book

[mygoyal]

When I looked at some of the postings on this board about why we should read the book again it convinced me that I should since I haven't been on this in a year and was only on it a few months then, so I went to look for mine and couldn't find it. I remembered seeing one at the thrift store months ago so I went there to see if they still had one and they did. It was in relatively good shape so I got it for .50 cents.

I started reading it this morning and a few yellow highlighted areas done by the previous owner. My first thought was that this person must have been very determined and probably lost a good portion of weight. I told this to my husband and said "probably not" and when I asked him why he said that they probably would have kept the book rather than giving it away. I told him that he or she may have known it and wanted to pass it on. Then he replied that when I stopped being on it my book disappeared.

Further along in the book I came to notice that all of the parts that were highlighted weren't exactly the parts that probably should have been. For example when in the beginning of chapter 2 Dr. Atkins says it's true that gaining weight results from taking in more calories than you expend but only when you are eating a lot of carbohydrates along with fat, it was the first part the previous owner highlighted not the second.

I went through and read all of the stuff the person highlighted and it was all the negative aspects of the diet. What you can't have or shouldn't do. Then in the very back I found a pink long sticky note that says "Day 1 total carbs appx. 10.2 Day 2 appx 4.6"

It's now apparent to me that my husband is more than likely right. This poor person was limiting even the good things and after being on and failing multiple diets where you can't having much of anything to eat I can relate. This person probably failed to change their life but they have given me a good lesson. I'm going to take note of the unhilighted good things the book states and make sure that I eat my good carb allowance for each day...

And if something happens, like I give in to cravings and cheat or jump off the wagon so to speak, I won't let my book disappear and I won't give it away. I'll keep it close to remind me to get back to what I know is right.

[Razzle39]

Good for you to notice that the previous owner only remarked about the negative. You obviously know better about how much healthier you will be on this life change.
I wonder if they stopped at day 2....that would be sad huh?

I can honestly say that without this site I would not be succeeding like I am. Thank god for the !

[redfoxglove]

Heya Brandy, what a great story. Your husband sounds like mine in his thinking.

You are so on the right track by keeping your book handy. I keep mine right on the desk where I do most of my reading, computering, and hanging out.

I'm big on focusing on the positive, looking at what's right, finding the good, limiting my exposure to negativity. It would drive me crazy to have to see all those highlighted areas that didn't give me the right message. But if it works for you, it's working.

This ADBB is a big, huge, tremendous part of my success so far. Glad to see you posting, good luck on your journey...

[momtomany1]

Good thoughts... I was waiting for you to tell us that halfway through you realized it was your own old book, LOL!

[DLS]

Why not get your own highlighter of a different color and mark all the things pertinent to you and I'm sure there will be far more positve highlighted than negative. Especially since it would seem the previous owner didn't stick with it for very long.

Good luck!

[mygoyal]

"Why not get your own highlighter of a different color and mark all the things pertinent to you"

Will do! Thanks for the suggestion.

This board really does look like a ton of support. I'm glad I'm here.

[justfitz]

Hi,
I really enjoyed reading your story about the old book. Good luck on Atkins!
--J.

[RitaCeleste]

I recently picked up the book and read a section I never got to before. I reread parts. I paid better attention after loosing so much weight then going off and gaining ten pounds back again. Unfortunately, I have to learn the hard way sometimes. There is so much information about how your body works and what food is doing inside of it. I've found this to be very helpful. Atkins works where other diets don't work for me because it helps control my hunger. I am a carb junky, I know this now. I will do the maintance plan when I get to my goal weight and eat more like this for life. I got tired of gaining weight and being hungery, finally. But it took me years of going on and off Atkins to get to this point. This time, starting back was like coming home. Some people can loose weight other ways, and that's great if it works for them. This is just what works for me. Hang on to the book this time!

[Morrigan]

I'd also like to recommend the book Good Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health by Gary Taubes. I'm about 3/4 of the way through it and, although the first 150 pages or so are a bit dry (mostly about medical studies but trust me, they're going somewhere with it) it explains how the USDA's food pyramid is basically a bunch of crap and all the low-fat, high-carb diets don't work. It's fascinating reading, really.