huh?
i am totally confused on the restrictions and comments on "when , how , where , and what to post.. and multiple advices..

gosh... i thought the point here WAS to get multiple opinions.. and i sure dont know what you mean by the who what where and when..

kim

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i thought about adding something in here since i had lost a great deal of weight fell off the wagon and gaind most of it back..

I think one of my biggest down falls was at BIG family gatherings if i would decide to have a very small portion of something that i shouldnt have i had many people looking at me like i just killed their cat beacuse "I thought she was doing that no carb or atkins diet"

So now i have decided that none realy needs to know how im eating. if someone offers me something i shouldnt have ... i will probly just say " I'm trying to eat more natural foods" if that dont help matters i will just say no thank you im full or not even explain my self and say " no thanks"

I think i got so tired of people pointing out what i was eating after loosing nearly 60+ lbs or how ever much it was... just beacuse they can't stick to a diet they have to point out everyone elses splurges or treats.

There is always someone out there trying to "sabatoge" your "diet" comeing from a very big PA dutch style family of potatos and noodles and rice or pasta filled casarols its hard to have a family meal and actualy come away w/ food on your plate if you decide to eat 100% on plany... example normal spread at family gatherings..

stuffed cabbage (w/ rice in them) w/ spaggt sauce over..
stuffing
some kind of meat (yeah i can fill my plate w/ all meat and watch everyone stuff them selfs on carbs.
mashed potatoes or scaloped
macaroni and cheese (baked) for the kids.. usualy
taco salad (w/ tortial chips broke up in them coverd in catilina dressing i love the stuff beacuse that is how i grew up haveing it)
there is usualy a veggie platter but.. once agin.. 2 items on plate...
broccoli salad...
then an entire other table w/ pies, cakes, cookies ect..

i did so well not eating to much of the REALY bad things.. for a long time... but if i would have a dinner roll or a small helping of taco salad i had everyone looking at me like OMG what is she doing..so i started getting snippy w/ people instead of saying im allowing my self a treat ..

in that i just wanted to add that sometimes the only down fall to this way of life is if you go somewhere else to eat and your not bringing food you may not have alot to choose from.

but i will prevail and not let people comment on what im consumeing bother me.

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01/02/04-248{ 4/29/04- 218} 6/30/04- 204
7-05-04 198 8/30/04 - 190 (got lost after that-)
4/03/08- 261 -
Goal-140-145

Kim,

I just wanted to feel free in my postings, instead, I get redirected all the time. This thread was MENT to be a part of the support to all members who did not think the LC works for them in the past or present. Instead, I get comments like this :

I don't understand the point of asking this, Rafaella. If you have a specific problem in mind, then by all means ask it, we will be glad to help. But otherwise, as Goddess said, we prefer to provide positive energy.
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Trina

Makes me feel that it was NOT the desired content for this forum and I should NOT be posting anything negative here. I did not think my posting was pointless.


Gilley,

Thanks for sharing your side of the WOL. I too believe that outside of my home ( work, friend's house and other places )I am empty without my water, protein snacks, cheese, ham pieces, and jello. Not too many places have the variety of Atkins choices. But, lately, more and more restaurants are offering nice salads, meat /chicken and fish options.
In regards to the family reunion, it is hard hard hard. Most of the meals are carbs.Try to eat before you get there: and when you are there, may be you can have some cuts of cheese, meats, and fruits.
Who am I to advice ? A newbie? LOL !@#$%^^&*(())_+

I have lost about 26 ponds since July, not much but working on it. Only 8 (!) pounds contributing to Atkins LC WOL. I am proud. I put on some clothes I was not able to wear for a long time - people complement me at work. "What do you do for weight loss?" I smile
Also, this is funny, but true - when I see someone is eating candy or cake, I go " Oh, no, take it out of your mouth, please."
Most people laugh. I am not going to change or convince anyone. Just help.
Thanks, again.
Best wishes,
Rafaella.

Katie,
It is great that you understand how HONESTY to yourself is important.
I too love the wh/cream and jello, and I have to be careful with the amnt of it.
I think, I am understanding the principles of the Atkins, and trying to follow them every day. My problem is exercise. I don't get much of it. I walk 3 x/week, yet this may be NOT enough.
My brain knows to say "no" to all junk food and sweets. I am still learning how to cook LC meals, and this is the question of "variety" for me. I get tired to eat the same meals,and I am trying to be creative. Working full time, doing school full time, and having kids and taking care of my mother is not easy. But, I am doing it.

P.S. Time for my LC supper: turkey cotlets-fried, salad and planty of water
Best wishes to you,
Rafaella.

rafaella,
i'm sorry you took the comments so personally.. i think that most peoples comments are just meant to convey the positive effects of POSITIVE thinking...
not to tell you NOT to have thoughts that are negative .. we all have them from time to time, but choose not to dwell on em..

you sound like you have a HUGE job with all what you have going on.. and believe me, i KNOW what its like to take care of a parent.. i had TWO of them to take care of...

oh... and btw... we LOVE comments by newbies as well as vets ... everyone has SOMETHING to share that we can ALL learn from..

kim

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

Thanks, Kim,

You sound very sweet. I am trying to respond positively to all comments, and I am not taking this personally. I just want to hear other opinions, and I respect them. I am sure , everyone has different views and stories to tell.
Have a great night,

Raffaella.

I want to throw in my 2 cents into this question on whether anyone is disappointed in Atkins. First off, many of you know me, gospelgyal, from some of my posts. I had the same struggles as everyone else who started this WOL and now am able to say that I have achieved a considerable amount of success. I started at close to 180 pounds and after about a year and half, (i took the long route, lol) am down to about 157/8 or maybe even less as my scale at home tends to add a few extras. Am quite happy with that weight, but am aiming for less.

I think about it all the time and know that if i was on any of those other so-called diets, low-fat, low-calorie, starve-me, poor-me diets, I wouldn't have lost ONE pound! i know that for a fact!!!!

I see my co-worker right now who is as "broad as a ship" trying to eat apples and bananas and yogurt every morning in her effort to lose weight, and she is still as broad as a ship!!

Someone told me just yesterday, "you look like someone who is about to get married," and this is during work, which to me is a huge compliment. I just feel radiant, dressing so much nicer, changed my hairstyle, and just this last week, a close male friend told me that another guy asked him about me, if I am involved with anyone, i guess he has been watching me, and I know that may not have happened if i was the size i was. Not that he's being shallow, its just a fact that when i am slim, i exhibit alot of confidence, and of course people notice that. Plus, i look extra good. (laugh).

I love to new me. So to answer your question, I am NOT disappointed in Atkins. I am glad I was introduced to it. It has done more good for me than anything else i've tried. There is no way I would have lost all that weight on a low-caloried diet. I probably would have been over 200 pounds by now!

I am happy to hear that everyone who tried Atkins is trully loosing weight - more or less, but LOOSING IT.... I just started and this is such an encouragement to me! Sometimes, 8 pounds off is ALL I see, yet, I started my LC WOL on Dec the 4th last year, and this is relatively "yestarday".
I am NOT planning on loose some weight and start eating carbs again- I would like to maintain the weight that would be perfect for me and I would like to enjoy the way I live and eat. I too have tried multiple tricks and "diets", and from what I see this is MOST steadily - reduced and kept off weight program. I am NOT fishing for anything negative, uncontrary, I would like to hear from someone , like you - who has tried and achieved , and ultimately, happy.

P.S.
Gospel,
I know what you mean by male's attention. It says it ALL. LOL - I am trully happy for you!

Raf,
I would like to suggest that not every low carb diet is right for every person... for example... Atkins may not be "the right" low carb diet for you. There are lots of low carb guru's and while South Beach and Atkins seem to be popular, I would like to suggest that you could look into some others.

I am currently feeling successful doing a modified Atkins, modified in the sense that I keep to my OWL carb level but may include some veggies or other things that are not "strictly" Atkins approved.

I would suggest checking out this book:
Living the Low Carb Life : Controlled Carbohydrate Eating For Long-Term Weight Loss

Here is a link to Amazon if you want to look at it more closely. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/14...glance&n=283155

To be honest I have not yet read it, but I ordered it today... it summarizes the various low carb diets and suggests that you can pick the one that is best for you...

I can let you know how it was... the other ladies seem to feel I will like it... see opinions in my other post...

http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=15056


Heidi

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Heidi
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Raf,
I understand that you have just begun you LC journey. And I use the word "journey" because that is precisely what it is. Journies are about travelling through life, learning along the way, and this is definitely a life journey. Some of us here have been on this journey for a long time, and have been regulars on this board. Every once in awhile we get people here who throw a very negative spin on the LC WOL. They are reacted to very negatively by the members here who are serious about their journey.

Losing weight is a very difficult, emotional, and sensitive subject. For the people who have succeeded with it, they do tend to get defensive about it. And IF something is interpereted as being negative, it gets jumped on.

From all the comments you've made on this board, you sound quite serious about your journey. That is a good thing. You sound committed. It's only natural that you would be curious as to whether people have found that this lifestyle does NOT work for them. But those people usually go away and don't post on this board. So if a question you may ask sounds negative, you'll either get no responses (not likely) or you will get "slammed" with incredulous responses.

My question is: Why do we want to hear about peoples' failures? What that serves to do is to discourage others that might be on the fence. They may read something that will push them over that fence, only to quit their program and live their usual unhealthy lifestyle. I don't feel we can learn anything from it.

The purpose of this BB is to encourage, uplift, educate and keep the readers on their better lifestyle journey. So, you probably won't get any responses from people who have followed ALL the rules of the plan and not succeeded. The only way, in my mind, that someone will fail at this is if they don't follow all the rules. And for that, THEY have to take responsibility. They are the only ones that can be held accountable. It's all a matter of perspective and it is always relative.

I personally have had a mostly positive experience with LC thus far. I've lost weight, I've brought my blood pressure under control without the use of meds and my cholesterol and triglycerides are wonderful. I feel great and will NEVER go back to eating the way I used to. The only negative thing I've experienced is to have people tell me it's an unhealthy lifestyle. And THOSE people haven't read the books I have, so therefore, they don't know what they are talking about. I can dismiss their opinions.

I wish you well on your journey, hope you reach your goals and hope you can find the answers to your questions.

BTW Heidi, Living the Low Carb Life by Jonny Bowden is a most EXCELLENT book!!!!

Peace out,

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Barb,


Thanks SO MUCH for your meaninful response. This ONE would never offend anyone!!! LOL

I understand what you said about Atkins, when commented by other people. As I said, I lost 26 pounds, and 8 of them I contributed to Atkins diet during the last month or so... At work, everyone is complementing my new toned look, but when I say " oh, I am doing Atkins," I see scepticism in every face...
I don't care, I eat what I SUPPOSE to eat. I don't go more than 6 hours without any protein snack. I drink my water, and people are thinking "this is funny" ( when I bring 2-4 bottles of water at work). I think " LET THEM BE...."

You are right, I did not see any negative comments so far,and , if complaince is not the issue, I expect to have some success too.

I wanted to hear from someone about their difficulty, and if they did this WOL for a while.... I wanted to see if there are some folks who in the long run, could not achieve the weight goal for some reasons.

I am glad that NO such responses were posted. That means it WORKS for everyone. You are right , the people , probably, would not be here if this does not work for them .

I also understand that complaince with LC WOL is of critical importance and I will NOT give up. I am NOT in a hurry, and looking for quality.

But, again, when read other postings, I respect no matter what posted there, and I would like for other members to show their respect to my threads.

Have a blessful evening,

Rafaella.

I'm here to help, support and educate. Hopefully you are learning something new everyday!!!!

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Dear Heidi,
Thanks for your response. I do read careful ALL responses in order to make an educated decision. I will most defenately look into getting this book . While I am on Atkins, I would like to learn and read about other LC options, as long they are about LC. You are very right, sometimes, things work differently for other people. I will let you know about the book,

Best wishes to you and your family,

Rafaella.

Rafaella-sometimes even compliance isn't enough when someone has conditions like metabolic resistance or food sensitivities. Some people stall on caffiene. Some don't. Some people can eat l/c chocolate with sugar alcohols in them and be just fine, some cannot. I am lactose intolerant, as well as dairy sensitive. My best losses, after months of trying, came when I cut all dairy out of my diet.

For others it may be nuts. For still others, possibly pork, or wheat....or corn. Who knows. We are all different. All I'm (trying) to say is that sometimes a person's body may be having other issues and in spite of their strict compliance, the weight may not come off due to these issues.
So, if you are not losing at the rate you'd like to see (1-2 lbs/week at most is healthiest), you may want to look for an underlying factor.

After a couple of years and much trial and error, I found I cannot eat soy, wheat, dairy, or of course: simple carbohydrates, without gaining weight and/or stalling.

Also, some people have posted their menus here to be "critiqued" by some of the vets....who can spot a trouble spot that some of us may have thought was okay. For example: pepperoni. It's a nice protein snack, but high in sodium....which you know can cause water weight gain. Some people don't realize this and don't lose as well as they'd like. When they modify their diet in some small way, the losses pick up/continue.

One last thing: although I am not sure which ones....some drugs, whether OTC or prescription, may slow down the rate of weight loss in some people.

I hope this is helpful to you.

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