Thread: No wonder some people put down Atkins

I went to a restraunt, Outback steakhouse. As I was ordering, the waitress asked me if I was on the Atkins, and I told her I was.

She then told me that she is on it right now (mind you she looked like death warmed over). She then began to tell me that all she eats is cucumers with salt. I asked her why, she said "So I drink my carbs in beer at night"!!!!

I started to say something back to her, and my dh kicked me under the table, and shook his head, as to say for me not to even waste my time.

People like her is one of the reasons people have negative ideas about Atkins.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Some people, I'll tell ya!

Kristie

168/158/115

When I am blue.....I remember to breath again

That doesn't sound like Atkins to me... sounds more like a cucumber and beer diet! Sheesh... I wish people like that couldn't even claim to be "on Atkins." Should be some sort of registry or something...

Mada
210/204/160-140 (size 8-10)
Re-re-started LC 1/5/04

"Self delusion is pulling in your stomach when you step on the scales." - Paul Sweeney

That's what I was going to say, before dh kicked me

I was all ready to say "How dare you even call that Atkins? Do you have the book? Do you have any idea what the Atkins wol is? Do you know what AA is?"

But noooooo, I have to sit back and be good No fun when I have to be good, lol

Kristie

168/157/115

When I am blue.....I remember to breath again

I'm afraid a kick wouldn't have stopped me.
I would have said something like, "Oh, you mean you're on the Beecumber diet. That's that diet people do when they just want to drink beer and on Atkins you can't have beer. The Beecumber diet can kill you! It'll make your hair fall out and cover your face with zits." I'd probably get really worked up and concerned for her and go on for quite a while, about destroying her kidneys and liver...






Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002

Kristie,

Well, sounds like you behaved yourself, at least according to DH standards. Yeah, this same kind of misrepresented, uninformed comments sometimes torques my doors too. Then I think, these people apparently didn't take time to even read the Cliff Notes version of any LC plan...what would make me think I could correct their stinkin' thinkin' in the few minutes I have here with them?

I beleive these are the same people who claim to be able to drive an automobile...yet they don't know what a turn lane is for, or how to turn on a turn signal (or turn it off either). The only thing they know how to do is to blow the horn and annoy others. Just my anaolgy. Did someone say sarcasm?

Well, anyhow, I like Brightlady's approach of using humor (and possibly some exaggeration and embellishment) to defuse the situation. 'Cause they ain't gonna' take you serious anyhow...so have a little fun with 'em. Kinda' like annoying the telemarketers who call ya'...make a little game out of it.

This place is a ton o' fun! Yee Haw!!!

Have a great LC Day,

Ron

LC since 09/01/2003
283/228/180

" Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it each day, and at last we cannot break it." --Horace Mann
"Men don't determine their future. Men determine their habits and their habits determine their future!" -- Mike Murdock

dont be a hater so the ditzy waitress had no understanding of Atkins does that mean she needs to be demeaned by someone who is so successful??????? people are people wether they are ignorant to the plan or not but there is no reason to form a new kind of Atkins Racism is there enjoy your success and dont look down on those who dont really have a clue.....

What???

Atkins since 11/11/03

5'3" 140/128/115


I used to be indecisive...But now I'm not so sure!

Troy,

My post, as well as others I am sure, were in no way intended to be demeaning or mean spirited. It's just a great place to share our frustrations, pet peeves, humor and opinions concerning the LC WOE. You will find this forum loaded with folks who are serious about their newfound healthy way of eating and are eager to help all of us, as well as those we come in contact with in our everyday life.

This is the most supportive LC site I have found. By far the most "user" friendly. And one of the neatest things about this site is that there is never any bashing of other diets or eating plans. The folks here just seem to want everyone to succeed!

Have a great LC Day,

Ron

LC since 09/01/2003
283/228/180

" Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it each day, and at last we cannot break it." --Horace Mann
"Men don't determine their future. Men determine their habits and their habits determine their future!" -- Mike Murdock

I have to echo Jen's what???

Troy, I'm sorry that you completely misunderstood our posts.
I think if you go back and reread what we wrote, knowing that they were written in harmless jest, you'll see there is no "Atkins racism."



Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002

Troy,

Your reaction is completely out of line.
This has nothing to do with our being *successful* or being what you so wrongly termed, "Atkins racists."

Good grief, man, what this woman is describing could be DEADLY for her health! No one is bashing her or calling her stupid. But you know what Troy? We have been doing this woe (way of eating) for a while and this is what we know will happen:
This woman will fail on her "beer/cucumber diet" and BLAME ATKINS
OR
she will become gravely ill and she and her family/friends will BLAME ATKINS
OR
WORSE STILL -- SHE WILL DIE -- and her doctors, her family and the media WILL BLAME ATKINS.

I'm afraid I have to agree with Brightlady here; a kick under the table would NOT have kept my mouth shut.
I'm not saying you should have done more, Kristie (you probably did the right thing! ), but I am SICK of the negative publicity this way of eating gets because people like this waitress are too lazy to pick up a book and read it and care enough about their HEALTH and their own bodies to care what they are doing to them.
And I think that is ALL anyone here was trying to say.
No one here is a *hater* -- this board is filled with the most loving, caring people I have found on ANY board on the web. That is why Kristie was concerned; because she cares not because she is being judgemental.
Just my .02

Summer


www.herstorygirl.com

[This message was edited by Lawbooks on 02-06-04 at 09:54 PM.]

Just to chime in here...I have lost 40 pounds on Atkins (since Thanksgiving, I did really well on Induction). I follow the rules to a T and make sure I'm eating well-balanced meals. Everyone at work asks me how I'm doing it, of course.
Today at lunch, a coworker who doesn't know me so well was talking about the "low carb fad" and how's it's all a bunch of crap. Hmmm. I shut my mouth because I didn't want to argue with a coworker, but what do people have against this WOE?
All of my friends say, "You need carbs, carbs are what give you energy." Oh yeah? Hmmm. Then how come I'm feeling better and more energetic than I EVER felt when I was gorging myself on low fat carb-laden food?
Why do people have such a problem with this diet? Suddenly, everyone around me is a certified nutrionist. Nobody does their homework.

I won't even get into the tons of research money that is currently wasted in an effort to disprove that this WOE life works (and works well)!

I guess I'm just venting, but it would interest me to know how others deal with all of the negative baloney that people dish out when it comes to Atkins. I feel myself getting defensive lately and I'm bored with playing the role of an educator.

Best to all!

grrrrrr, grumble, grumble. People who misinterperet LC yank my chain. This is why my DH calls me an evangalist. No matter where I go now, I run into people who are either LCing or want to lose weight. I have no problem "setting them straight." This is why I am starting my own LC support group, to get the correct information out there.

As for ranting here, this is what we do sometimes. It's a necessary release.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>...people are people wether they are ignorant to the plan or not but there is no reason to form a new kind of Atkins Racism...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Right. There is no reason to form a new kind of racism.

We who are knowledgeable in our field do have a responsibility, however, to let someone know when they are misinformed, especially when they are apt to pass along that misinformation to someone else who may believe them.

This waitress is in the position that she is postulating to her customers what to eat, and not eat, on a low carb eating regimen. She was wrong. Eating a diet of cucumbers and beer is not healthy. Since she picked up on the fact that Kristie was eating low carb, even without being told so directly, she may just convince some other unsuspecting souls that a diet of cucumbers and beer is okay.

It is not okay.

It also is not okay to sit back on our duffs in silence when someone is wrongly dispensing erroneous health advise, expecially when they are apt to dispense such advice to hundreds of people within a food setting each day.

I'm 100% for tolerance of viewpoints, people. I'm also a proponent of setting the record straight to those who may be in a position to unwittingly harm others.

Now, jump on that...

April
352/209/180
Down 143 pounds
29 to go...
http://www.geocities.com/aprilwyatt/beforeandafter

This is wild. A diet of cucumbers and beer is so bizzare!

We have a radio station here that has a commercial currently playing that says to avoid the low carb plans because "studies show they cause memory loss and heart problems!" Then of course they want you to take their diet pills!!!

ARGH

That was my favorite station... Now I'm not so sure.

Sorry, for the rant, but I can so relate!

Blessings!
Sharron
Author of "Low Carb Cooking at Sharron's Place," and "Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine," available where ever books are sold.

www.thelowcarbcook.com

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart." Colossians 2:2

Oh brother Sharron.....give them a piece of your mind!!!!

April, so, so, so, well said. You GO girl!!!!

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER