Am I the only one?

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

I used to be a carb-o-holic. Incredible amounts of cereal, breads and sodas. I also used to make myself very full at virtually every meal.

But I've lost nearly 20 pounds in 4 months. The thing is I don't think I'm near as strong as most people on here claim to be. Am I the only one who occasionally indulges in sweets or on hamburgers (with the bun)?

I mean really. Can you really go MONTHS without even having a bite of this stuff?

The thing is I seem to be losing weight no matter what I eat now because my stomach is so much smaller and can no longer fit the vast quantities of food that I used to. Also I make a point of stopping long before I feel over-full. This way I can eat small portions of virtually anything.

Now granted, I can't make a meal out of rolls or pancakes. But I certainly can have a small side of potato salad or a tiny taste of mac & cheese. Heck I can even eat a Hershy's chocolate bar (or Snickers) for lunch! Not the healthiest of snacks but at least I dont gain weight.

Is it just me or does it all boil down to burning more than you consume?

S-C-P

[bnzstar]

OH GOD...you went there....you are in trouble now, buster! I'm not even going to comment any further. I've been chastized enough today. I'll just sit back and watch how this plays out (LOL)

[spazzyhilo]

Re: Am I the only one?

I mean really. Can you really go MONTHS without even having a bite of this stuff?

Actually I can. I'm happy knowing that not even one hamburger bun will cross my lips the rest of my life - and I'm 21 and plan on living a very long time.

I look at it this way - If the snickers and the buns are what got me where I am today.. why would I want to keep eating it? just because eating something, like candy, and you still lose weight doesn't make it healthy for you. I'd much rather get my sweets from the veggies I eat.

Plus just because a food isn't allowed - doesn't mean its forever not allowed. Like fruits. I love apples, always have and I look forward to when I get to that stage in atkins to reintroduce apples to my diet. Eventually I'll be able to add whole grain buns to my diet if my body allows. I try not to think of it as foods I'm not allowed to have, its more like foods I'm not allowed to have YET.

Not to mention - eating sweets or buns now is not doing Atkins. Its doing your own low-carb diet. Plus eating those things causes cravings - and those cravings are what made us fat in the first place.

[not2late]

The first time I've eaten a potato since beginning this diet was this past Monday: I'm on the starchy veggie rung of OWL, so it's "legal" for me to eat a bit of potato.

I was a potato/rice/pasta fiend before I began Atkins. In fact, I considered skipping the starchy veggie rung completely because I didn't want to risk the potato trap.

I'm glad I didn't skip the rung, because after eating that long awaited potato, I was like "who cares". It wasn't as super-delicious as I had remembered them. And I used to love potatoes---boiled, baked, mashed, fried, whatever. As long as it was a potato, I was happy to eat it. It didn't make me as 'happy' as I thought it would have.

I guess once you learn that YOU control the food and the food doesn't control you, you've won most of the battle. I think that's what Dr. Atkins was aiming for us to learn to take control of our appetites and our food---the lack of which is what lead many of us to be in the situation we are.

In a way, I'm glad that I'm learning to control my appetite and my foods. I can see now how out of control I was before I began this WOE---even when I was a vegetarian.

As for eating whatever and still not gain weight, that's part of Atkins too. It's really, really sad to see folks stress out because they think they can't eat more than 20 net carbs for the rest of their lives. If they only go through OWL and find what their Critical Carbohydrate Losing Level is, they would be much happier people, imo. I can eat up to 40 net carbs and still lose weight. Loonatika can eat over 100 net carbs and still lose weight.

I think that's the second key to this weight loss program: moving onto OWL and finding your CCLL. When you wholly understand the concept of an individual carbohydrate level, it's easier to figure out why someone can "cheat" and still lose weight while someone else cannot. The folks who can "cheat" have a higher carb tolerance level than the other people.

[ttdriver]

I mean really. Can you really go MONTHS without even having a bite of this stuff?

Try years. 4 years nearly.

I don't miss this stuff in the least. This woe allows me to eat the foods that my body can use as FUEL. I don't miss the carby bloated feeling that I used to have. The sleepiness I felt in the afternoons after bunned hamburger and fries.

There is no comparison to eating a steak and broccoli and a salad with full-fat dressing. None. Nada. Zilch.

4 years on Atkins and running 32 miles a week at age 49. What beats that?

Betty

[Kent]

I have no desire to return to my old way or weight for that matter. For me the days of eating white or even wheat buns is over. I am stricter than most, but there is certainly no prize in it except for me and my continued happiness and health. Your diet and/or appetites SCP may be different than mine as mine is different from Megs. I probably (almost assuredly) will not be partaking of the potato part of the starchy vegetable rung, but those are choices. It's been over a year for since not having potatoes, buns, or chinese, I can certainly make it another 80.

If you are losing and happy doing what you are doing, fine. I make recommendations almost every day for people to progress through the rungs even touching rungs I have no desire to touch. Why? I believe it will make them more successful at losing. As for eating less than you take in being the real reason we lose weight, well I still take in quite a bit and haven't suffered yet.

[AllieCat0817]

Re: Am I the only one?

I mean really. Can you really go MONTHS without even having a bite of this stuff?

Uhh yeah. Try YEARS. Not a bite in 23 months, don't plan to. Because what I DO eat is the daggone bomb!

[ttdriver]

Alliecat ... 28 pounds below original goal! NUFF SAID! See where not cheating gets you?

:guns

Betty

[Streetcorner Philosopher]

I look at it this way - If the snickers and the buns are what got me where I am today.. why would I want to keep eating it? just because eating something, like candy, and you still lose weight doesn't make it healthy for you. I'd much rather get my sweets from the veggies I eat.
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I agree with everything you say. But I didn't get fat eating an occasional snickers. I got fat by a breakfast of waffles and syrup 3 days a week. I got fat by eating a ham sandwich with 3 pieces of bread + potato chips. I got fat from eating multiple slices of cheese cake and a bowl of ice cream in the evening. THIS is why I got fat.

I've found with my body that eating a snickers bar is actually better for weight loss than say -- eating grilled chicken fingers. First of all, a snickers bar is the same every time. There is no no need to measure anything, and there's no temptation to eat more. How many chicken fingers can you eat? 3? 4? Plus vegetables? If you were to weigh your chicken and vegetables on a scale compared to the snickers bar, the healthy stuff would probably weight 2 or 3 times as much.

Anyway, to tell you the truth, I don't eat snickers very often. I'm just making a point. I actually have cut out 80-90% of my bad carbs and sugars. Honestly I have. But I do occasionally indulge in small amounts. However I DO try to make up for it later in the day.

And by the way. I LOVE vegetables now more than ever. Given the choice of a snickers bar or steamed veggies I'd go with the veggies almost every time. S-C-P

[spazzyhilo]

I think you might have missed my point...

Its the foods we ate (be it potato, candy bar, pancakes, donuts, extra large stuffed crust pizza with extra cheese) the caused the weight gain. Atkins gives us the oportunities to drop all the foods that caused us to be overweight and to eat only the wholesome healthy foods.

and actually yes, i'd rather have chicken fingers - provided they are unbreaded and dont contain anything illegal then a snickers bar or any other candy or unhealthy food any day of the week. I like finger food like that

And veggies - oh Ilove me some veggies. Give me sauteed mushrooms any day of the week. I've said this before and I'll say it again - I wreak havoc on the mushroom population!

[AllieCat0817]

Do whatcha like!!

[Heather150]

I'm actually quite envious of you. I think it boils down to two words
Moderation and Occasional. You don't seem to have problems with food if you can have one piece of candy or a bite of something and be happy with it.
I know myself and there are just some foods that I just can't bring myself to eat ever again because they are "trigger" foods. Foods that I can just gorge myself silly on. I'm a all or nothing gal so there are just somethings I'd rather never eat again, that to have a bite and go crazy wanting more.

As long as you keep things in check and go the occasional and moderation route....then more power to ya!

I can't say if I'll never have a piece of something or a slice of something later on down the road...but when I do, it will be with my eyes wide open and knowing that afterwards..its right back on plan.

Some people can't do that. One bite can lead to months of thousands of bites.

You're one of very few that has a grasp on things...and I think its great.

I one day hope, in the future, I can treat those "forbidden" foods such as they are..one time treats to have occasionally and in moderation. Until then...I am one of those who can go months...and years without it.

Just don't forget what you've learned on your Atkins journey. Know your limitations. And if you feel yourself slipping...you have the knowledge and power to do something about it!

[Pam_C]

After 4 months of no cheating my in-laws came down. My weakness is pasta. Well we wound up at olive garden. I was almost in tears I just couldn't help myself. I had lasagna :yikes Four bites to be exact ( Iwas hungry) and I quit it was the most horrible thing I had eaten in a long time. It was always my favorite breakfast lunch and dinner. My tastes have changed and now I can go anywhere and eat and besides it makes me feel sick. I don't miss it at all. My whole family can sit and eat pasta, hamburgers or cheesecake. I don't care I enjoy seeing them happy and this kind of food makes them happy.

[mauiman]

I think the best way to some it up is to think of this as a lifestyle rather than a diet. A true vegan doesnt have an occasional cheeseburger. Yes we can make mistakes, or mis informed choices.. and yes we may cheat do to addictions, cravings.. or just plain old enjoyment of eating certain things. But think of this as a lifestyle and your questions will make more sense.
Aloha
Paul

[cleochatra]

I think the best way to some it up is to think of this as a lifestyle rather than a diet. A true vegan doesnt have an occasional cheeseburger. Yes we can make mistakes, or mis informed choices.. and yes we may cheat do to addictions, cravings.. or just plain old enjoyment of eating certain things. But think of this as a lifestyle and your questions will make more sense.
Aloha
Paul

I really agree with Paul on this one, SCP. The alcoholic doesn't have the occasional adult libation without detriment to their lifestyle.

{{{SCP}}}