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Carboholic is a good term, it is an addiction for some. My mom and sis and I are convinced that we are more inclined to be carb-addicted than other people might be, that some people are affected by carbs in general more than others. For me it's not a sweet thing, but I love the bread and potatoes and pasta etc. Of course I haven't had spaghetti in about 6 months so I don't remember what it tastes like, haha. And frankly I don't miss it at all. The bread I struggle with, probably because I let myself have it more than any other carb. Anyway, I digress.

There's type 2 diabetes in my family - mom has it, aunts have it, I had gestational diabetes with my third baby, which puts me at greater risk for type 2 later. My mom has yoyo-ed with weight for decades, diagnosed with type 2 about ten years ago, and ever since it has been a struggle for her to lose weight, keep it off and keep her drs off her back. They finally put her on oral meds for the diabetes a couple years ago, plus one for high blood pressure. She would constantly say things to me like, when I eat certain things - chips, cookies etc - I sometimes can't stop til it's gone. And her sugar, when she would test it, would spike over 300 and scare both of us.

Then she decided to try Atkins, around last April I think. Since then she has lost over 30 lbs, is below her goal weight, her cholesterol is normal, her blood pressure is normal, her blood sugar is normal and maintained, she feels better, looks better, her fingernails are stronger, and she is OFF the meds for diabetes and HBP.

My sister on the other hand (back to the carb addiction thing) is having a really hard time staying on Atkins because she is so carb addicted that she actually goes through withdrawal. She has severe headaches, feels utterly useless and washed out, irritable, nausea etc for days. And she enjoys her carbs so much that I think she is having a hard time feeling like the suffering is worth it. :) She'll get there though. I experienced the same thing the first time I really cut carbs only not as drastically. But once it is out of your system, the difference is remarkable. More energy, alertedness - I used to think my dragging through the afternoon was due to lack of sleep from being up with my infant, HA! It was the food I ate for lunch. Right now I'm not doing Atkins in the strictest sense because I'm nursing, rather I'm doing lifetime maintenance, which for me is keeping it under 50 carbs or so a day. Not losing, but maintaining, and the baby weight is long gone. After I'm done nursing, I'll start losing that last 20 in earnest.

And back to addiction - my mom has found that she can't even eat low-carb bars or candy because it triggers that sweet addiction. Once the switch is flipped, it's a struggle. Unfortunately for a lot of us that's just the way it is.

Re #133 -- Amazing results, that's wonderful! I've actually heard of the type of "carb addiction" you talk about. They think it's a similar reaction that alcoholics have; that's why many who quit drinking make up for the booze with desserts and carb snacks. My dad was a functional alcoholic for years and finally quit after having a stroke -- but he substituted ice cream and potato chips!

Congratulations on your new baby. My girls are 21 months and 3 months, and I'm in serious need to lose the baby fat (plus the 20 lbs that I should've lost before they arrived, LOL). My husband could use it too, as his cholesterol and triglycerides are out there even with meds...

And back to addiction - my mom has found that she can't even eat low-carb bars or candy because it triggers that sweet addiction. Once the switch is flipped, it's a struggle. Unfortunately for a lot of us that's just the way it is.

Many low-carbers report that the glycerin in Atkins Advantage bars (one of its sweeteners) either causes them to plateau or outright gives them carb cravings. These people are miffed that Atkins claims only 2g net carbs for their bars - they think "he" should add the glycerin grams for a more accurate figure. Fortunately hubby & I split a bar over coffee for dessert every night & we never had a problem. But some people do.

It's amazing how specific ingredients can affect some people in weird ways - it can make you think you're a hopeless exception to the rule. :-)