[Mr. Jeeves]

...the high-protein, high-fat, low-carbohydrate Atkins diet...

They mean, the normal-protein, normal-fat, low carbohydrate Atkins diet.

The only reason people gain the weight back is that they return to their old eating habits. Doing Atkins right means no more sugar, ever. No more pasta, ever. No more potatoes, ever. No more white bread, ever. People just won't follow the rules - they say, "Just this once won't hurt", then it turns into twice, then ten times, then they are right back where they used to be.

[right wing]

The only reason people gain the weight back is that they return to their old eating habits. Doing Atkins right means no more sugar, ever. No more pasta, ever. No more potatoes, ever. No more white bread, ever. People just won't follow the rules - they say, "Just this once won't hurt", then it turns into twice, then ten times, then they are right back where they used to be."

I agree with your first sentence, but IMO doing Atkins "right" doesn't mean one can never ever have sugar, pasta, potatos and bread. Doing Atkins right means allowing oneself to have those foods occasionally. I've lost 40 llbs on Atkins and plan on losing another 15 to 20 more. I weigh myself everyday and routinely exercise to stay fit. I will NEVER go back to eating the way I used to. I will, however, allow myself to enjoy certain forbidden foods a few times a week. It's all about moderation & will power. I hated being fat and have set up my own alarm bell, if you will. I don't allow the scales to go up more than three pounds after I've indulged too much. It keeps me honest and I like having 3 llbs to play with.

[L,TOWM]

Doing Atkins right means no more sugar, ever.
For the most part true. However, if you have some birthday cake or holiday pie, and plan on inducing afterwards to make sure your sugar addiction and weight does'nt come up again, some sugary stuff CAN be had. Gotta be disciplined and careful, though.

No more pasta, ever. No more potatoes, ever. No more white bread, ever.
Not quite what I got out of the book, just can't go over your daily carb budget. Again, with starches and junk food, if you're gonna play, you gotta pay.

People just won't follow the rules - they say, "Just this once won't hurt", then it turns into twice, then ten times, then they are right back where they used to be.

I hear 'ya. Sweets and sugary yummies are meant to be occaisional treats, and that is possible if you are disciplined about the diet, and don;t mind inducting to keep the carb addiction from returning--The big problem is that people don't see their gut coming back right away, and by the time that they do, their carb addiction is back all the way...

[Aquinasfan]

The only reason people gain the weight back is that they return to their old eating habits.

Exactly right.

[KneelBeforeZod]

I don't think there is a diet ever invented that some people don't gain weight back. more of a problem with not staying on the diet for the rest of your life...or never exercising.

[BibChr]

One pretty much has to view those "just once's" the way an ex-drunk views "just a sip," don't you think? Broadly speaking, it's never "just a sip."

Dan