We weren't eating in moderation and we were eating some foods disproportionately to others. Atkins isn't a "magic bullet," but actually a plan that works. In July, I was wearing size 16; I am now wearing a size 10. When I reach my goal, I'll then go on the maintenance phase. I am looking forward to adding back, in moderation, some pastas and breads, but not yet. Atkins isn't a short-term plan. It is a way of life.
Amen. I'm always flabbergasted by people who say things like "I tried Atkins, but the weight came back." Duh.
Like so many others who have been "freed" by Atkins, I find that so long as I avoid the carbs, I can eat what I want, when I want to, as much as I feel I want to. Atkins was the first diet where I found myself looking at a half-eaten plate of food and thinking, "I not only don't want to eat more, I want NOT to eat the rest of this." I was so shocked by that epiphany, my wife thought something was wrong with me.
My physician concurs, not only from his own study, but from observation of his own patients. Before I went on Atkins, I was pre-diabetic and my cholesterol was 180 (with help from high-dose niacin and Lipitor). Three months later, blood sugar levels are normal, and my cholesterol is 130. Oh yes, I'm 30 pounds lighter too. Only 50 pounds to go!
Doc thinks another 50 pounds, while desirable since it would bring me down to my marriage weight, is overly ambitious. I don't think so. I'm still losing; I'm still satisfied with what I'm eating. And, Doc assures me that if I persevere in moderate exercise 5 times a week, I will reverse the insulin resistence it took me 25 or more years to develop.
No doubt, many will try Atkins and fail. But, it's not Atkins that fails, it's the ones who go back to the high-carb diets who will keep on complaining about diets that never work.