Hi everybody, I've been on and off CALP for a couple of years. I can never refrain from overdoing it at the reward meal because by the time dinner rolls around, I'm starving like I had not ate in 5 years. My reward meal turns into a big binge. I've managed to only gain about 10 pounds back from the 40 that I lost by doing this. I want to lose about 20 pounds. I'm 5'4" and 150-160 pds, depending on which scale I use. I do not know my exact weight. I guess what I need is a basic menu of what I should eat everyday, and how much to eat. I've heard more good things about Atkins than bad things, so I know the WOE works. Thank you, Amy

when i started lowcarbing, i got copies of the CAD book and a copy of atkins. i picked atkins for the very reason you just described... i knew that "reward meal" idea was going to sabotage me.

since it's a stricter plan, you should really get a copy of the atkins book to familiarize yourself with the processes. as far as menus go, how much time do you have to cook each day and what's your cooking skill level at?

The all you can eat reward meal would kill me. I have never lost weight when I did Calp. Atkins is a more strict woe but also contols hunger better.

There is no way we can tell you what to eat and how to do Atkins. You can get the plan online or pick up the book. Either will answer your questions and get you on your way. Good luck!

kvonm, I'm ashamed to say that my husband does all the cooking in the house. He is not on a diet, though, and I couldn't get him to cook special dinners just for me.

There's nothing to be embarrassed about someone ELSE doing the cooking! That would be a dream-come-true for me.

But if he loves you, I would think he could help you in this jouney to better health and losing weight by making meals where the starches are at least in a separate dish, allowing you to pick what you can eat.

I'm consistently amazed at the lack of support from those people who claim to love those whom they refuse to help. I hope he comes around.

i agree with elle about not having to be the one doing all the cooking ALL the time (our version of having my fiance cook consists of "hello dominos!"), but i can also completely understand his aversion to making 2 separate meals. i used to have to do that for myself when i was lowcarbing the first time and for the most part, unless it was steak my ex didn't like any of the food i'd make. i constantly had to make 2 meals just so i could eat what i needed to and he could eat what he wanted to. fortunately now, my fiance not only loves my cooking, he also loves most of the food i need to eat too so i just cook one meal, with maybe a small thing of noodles for him and just broccoli or some other veggie for me.

i don't think this is a case of special dinners, it's a case of learning to tweak what you're already making... if i make burritos for my fiance, i split up the ground beef and sauce and half becomes chili for me. if i get REALLY lazy or we're low on groceries, i might make him pasta and scrounge up leftovers for me.

what you could do is buy him some lowcarb cookbooks to help him learn how to cook for you.

I also have the Atkins books and the original CAD book-- interesting theory about meal lengths and the RM. Now I try to limit all meals (even an all out buffet) to under an hour. I eat my grapefruit, prepare my meal and try to eat it 20-30 minutes later. I try to avoid snacks except at night, I dislike waking up hungry or having those food dreams!

Here's some links to get you started, but you do need to get the "New Diet Revolution" book.

http://www.atkins.com/articles/atkins-phases/phase-one
http://www.atkins.com/articles/atkins-phases/phase-two

Hiya, I'm new to Atkins (it's the only Low-carb WOE I have tried!) and have lost 9kg (nearly 20lbs) since I started on 22 September 2006, and so I don't know too much about the other plans out there.

I'm thinking CAD might be Carb Addicts Diet (correct me if I'm wrong!), but what is CALP?

The reward meal concept sounds interesting, although I agree it might sabotage things somewhat!!

Carbohydrates Addicts' Life Plan