"you look great but I can't follow atkins"

[Momto6ix]

Hi all,

This is something I hear so much...... wow theresa, you look great! what are you doing? and I tell them, Atkins.
and they say, Oh, I can't do that. I can't give up bread, pasta, etc etc etc.

as if this is so easy for some of us. I've been doing this almost 11 months now. I've lost 60 lbs. It's not a tremendous amount, but neither is it a piddly amount. I was highest at 223, I'm 163 right now. I am somewhere between 5'3 and 5'4 inches tall. According to the grafts on the fitday website I am still moderately overweight and I agree with the charts. But, I am the only person in my life, who is on this diet. I am with others all of the time, some overweight, most not; who are not dieting. Only I am.

It's not easy for me to follow this diet each and every day. Sure I want to have ice cream. a glass of milk. lasagna. And, last week it was my 50th birthday, and I treated myself to eating whatever I wished on the menu. You're only 50 once right? the next day I was right back on Atkins.

I am not sure what to say to people who insist that they can't do this. Any suggestions? I don't think any of us have any special powers, maybe just an acceptance of what has to be has to be. and I don't know about you guys, but I struggle often with "wanting" something you know you can't have.

What do you say to those who say, Oh, I just can't follow atkins?

theresa

[Richt]

Tell them that they are probably right and see what they say.

They wont expect you to say that to them, its a trick I am taught in sales. Its called negative selling. If you tell them that they probably dont want it, they will more than likely want it more!

[ttdriver]

I hear that all the time too. My usual reply is something like "what you really mean is "I won't". Its all about choices. Choose Atkins; choose health.

Congratulations on your tremendous success! And happy belated birthday!



Betty

[boonie stomper]

How about something like..."at one you could not feed yourself either. Any good diet involves some learning and discipline. It just so happens this is the easiest diet I've ever done, and I've tried lots of them that I couldn't do as successfully as I've been doing Atkins"


By the way, theresa, welcome to the board, and congrats on your success with Atkins so far!!

[Momto6ix]

wow guys, good answers. they're blunt answers, but isn't the truth often kinda blunt? and sometimes being blunt to those who really need to make changes, is the only way to be. the next person who says to me that they can't do this diet, I'm gonna say, you're right, you can't do this diet because you make the choice to NOT do this diet. it's all about choices.

I think the people who can't do ANY diet are the people who are looking for that sit on your duff, eat any food you want, and lose wieght daily miracle diet...........boy if I could have my choice of miracles, weight loss would not be it. LOL.

I've got it! I'll soften the answer with, I am sorry to be blunt but...............

smile.

[Richt]

Also, in time let them see how well the diet works. They can't argue with their own eyes.

[Adena]

Theresa, I usually say.... "I used to think that, too. I can't tell you how much I love pasta and bread. But this way of eating for me has worked and made me feel better than anything I've ever tired. So, to me, it's well worth it."

Then, when they go on to say... "I just believe in moderation," I say "Me too. I do eat carbs in moderation. I just don't gorge on bread and pasta like I used to. I get most of my carbs from fruits and veggies and (soon) high-fiber, whole grain breads."

I agree with you, Theresa... I HATE that comment. For that reason, I also like Rich's retort.

[Adena]

P.S. I also always explain to people how amazing it is that when you get the (bad) carbs out of your system, you don't crave them. I tell them that now that I'm not going around hungry all the time, I've finally found a WOE that works for me. Frankly, I believe that all "diets" work. The question simply is, do you/can you stick with them. Atkins, I can stick with. That's the bottom line. By giving up what I used to love/crave most, I solved my problem.

[dreamof145]

I wish I had a nickel for every time I've heard this. I'd be rich!! But, what I usually do is explain that I don't have to give up anything. I use substitutes for everything. I still make lasagna-(zuchinni in place of noodles), pizza (hamburger crust and all the toppings), cauliflower for mashed potatoes and anything else that I have an urge to eat. Its all a matter of attitude. I don't look at it as giving up anything....instead I look at it as an opportunity to still enjoy foods and not have to suffer the consequences of living in the fat body that I once did. Most people still don't believe me, but I think I give them a lot to think about.

[Adena]

Great points, Becky!