My friend is doing LC now for a few weeks. He has lost some initial water weight, but now he has stopped. That doesnt concern me too
much, but he said he still craves sweets, and he is constantly hungry. He also is not reaping the benefits of LC, such as lack of heartburn, clear head, more energy, etc. He is sort of following Atkins.....he basically wings it. He does not track his carbs or his eating. He asks me for counts, and he lives at home with his parents and they LC so he just eats what they feed him.

My guess is that he is still eating too many carbs. I offered to help him track for a few days by him emailing his menus to me but he
refused...said it was too much trouble and he would just cut back on his own.

Do you all think I am on the right track in that he has not cut his carbs enough?

Robin

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Thomas A. Edison

Started Protein Power 10/22/03
Doing a hybrid of PP/Atkins
255/238/140

I just don't think there's anything you can do about it. People will do what they want whether it is good for them or not.

Your friend will have to want to do low-carb for himself before he gets serious about it. It is a big change from the typical eating out there. Maybe seeing the benefits from you and his parents he'll take responsibility for himself - you can't do it for him. He is lucky to have a good friend!

Connie

[img]//www.lowcarbeating.com/lcesupporter.gif[/img]

Robin,

Maybe, buy your friend a book (DANDR, Protein Power, etc.), give it to him *, and tell him that if he doesn't do lc right, he can harm his health, and it won't work for him. Explain that the reason he's not reaping the benefits is that he's not following the rules, as much as he would like to think he doesn't have to.

Other than that, there isn't much you can do. It sounds like he is used to others "doing" for him, and needs a gentle push. You're a good friend to be concerned for him.

Good luck!

Trina

*Or, give the book to his mom if you know her well enough. Maybe she will step in and help!

Cooking is at once child's play and adult joy.
And cooking done with care is an act of love.
- Craig Claiborne

Thanks guys!!

Actually, his parents are doing Atkins and his mom has the book. He just feels it is too much trouble to read it. Long story short, he is very spoiled living at home right now, and just figures the weight will magically fall off if he does it himself.

I know personally, I am doing a mixture of plans, and lately, I am letting more slip in my diet. Yet I am still losing......go figure. I think it is becuase I have a lot of weight to lose......but one day, I worry I will hit a huge stall and it will be payback time

I guess I can't hold my friends hand. If he does not want to follow the plan, especiall in the initial stages, he will not reap the benefits, and I do worry he will go back to his regular eating. Oh well.....I can only hope to guide him in the right direction.

Robin

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Thomas A. Edison

Started Protein Power 10/22/03
Doing a hybrid of PP/Atkins
255/238/140

Robin (my sister's name is Robin)
My guess is you're correct that he's consuming too many carbs. It sounds like he's only doing it because of his parents. He eats low carb at home since that;s what's served to him. But I wonder how many fast food trips he's taken at lunch time. He doesn't sound like he's ready yet to start this woe. You're right there's little you can do to help himother than succeeding yourself and letting him see your results. HTH

Rob
310/230.5/180

Me, a skeptic? I trust you have proof.

Yea, I think that is part of it. Yet he does seem to stick to it when he does eat out. I just don't think he is motivated to lose his weight. He is tall, about 6'4", and weighs about 255. Maybe it will take him to regain his weight and then some to wake him up.
Robin

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Thomas A. Edison

Started Protein Power 10/22/03
Doing a hybrid of PP/Atkins
255/238/140

Hello fellow Virginian!

I have a friend who has a weird deal with LCing. After seeing me lose my weight last year, he decided to try Atkins. He dropped a ton of weight..from about 245 to about 147 in about 6 months (he is about 5'6). So he was way too thin! So I asked him how he was following the diet. He responded with "Oh I do a little Atkins and a little Starvation diet..." So what he was doing was never eating and when he did eat he was only eating meat (nothing else). I then had to sit down with him and educate him on how unhealthy his "diet" was and the "correct" way to do Atkins. Last time I saw him, he was up to a healthy weight for his size (about 165) and following maintenance rather well (his past issues were always HUGE sugar binges...).

Bottom line, the person has to want to do Atkins (or some form of LCing) and then properly educate themselves. If not, they will fail, and worse, make themselves unhealthy.

As we all know, LCing works but its not a magic bullet (and sometimes its hard work).

Wolfman
Restarted Atkins 1-02-04
202/188/175

Wolfman.....right up the street from me

I agree with you. LCing can be hard work, especially in a house like mine where everyone else still eats tons of junk and has it around the house, and the world hasn't quite swung to our way of eating yet.

BTW.....do you know of any good stores in the area that carry LC foods? We don't have a Trader Joes or Whole Foods here. Anything like it on the Peninsula??

Robin

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Thomas A. Edison

Started Protein Power 10/22/03
Doing a hybrid of PP/Atkins
255/238/140

I've had a few friends who wanted to LC, but IMHO didn't really have too much to lose. In cases where I have a hard time convincing them to go all the way or not, I usually suggest that they initially become "carb aware". Lay off the "white stuff", bread, rice, pasta, etc., and try to go heavy on salads and veggies. I also council them on hidden sugars in "low-fat" foods like Lite salad dressings, etc. and hopefully just make them more aware of what their eating. Most of the folks I've counciled like this lost the few pounds they wanted to lose, and have no problems maintaining their desired weight.

255 on a 6'4" frame, especially if there's a lot of muscle and bone underneath (and he's young) doesn't sound like he's THAT overweight.

Mikeyrat

Started Atkins 5/30/2003
337/260/237 - 6'2" 43 YO
Wife: 224/194/165 - 5'11"

Hey Robin-
I just posted a complaint about my local store's prices.

It's called Advanced Nutrition and its found in the Kiln Creek Shopping Center off of Victory Blvd (off of I-64). They have most of the stuff we need like Baja Bobs, LC Tortillas (sp?), and such but them seem way too expensive on everything (still cheaper than ordering online and paying shipping though...).

Sample price: A littl itsibitsy bottle of Stevia is about $10.00

There is another HFS over on Warwick Blvd (in the Hilton area... where we just had the big fire...) That is bigger on foods and such but its a little expensive too. (Nature's Trail.. I think)

If you need more details, I can provide.

Wolfman
Restarted Atkins 1-02-04
202/188/175

[This message was edited by wolfman on 02-06-04 at 08:41 AM.]

[This message was edited by wolfman on 02-06-04 at 08:43 AM.]