Hey all. I'm on day 6 or 7 (can't remember which--have to backtrack) of Induction. I've had no problems so far. Not really any cravings.

Well, today we had a birthday party for my two younger children and there was pizza, two kinds of cake, deviled eggs and a poppy seed dressed salad with slivered almonds.

I didn't have any pizza or cake. I had the deviled eggs and salad. They were both so good. But the salad tasted a little sweet. I have to assume there was sugar in it. If there was, then I obviously wasn't technically on-plan with the salad, but I'm not sure, and the person who brought the salad didn't know the ingredients in the dressing. I also had a few slivers of nuts, and they were very good. Again, not Induction, but a far cry from my previous typical party fare.

Well, I did have cravings after that. I kept opening the fridge to put things away and the cakes were there and the whole nine yards. But I didn't eat any of them. For dinner I had barbequed chicken (just spices, no rub or sauce), which was delicious.

All in all it was a delicious day, with a bit of cravings following what was probably sugar in the salad, but compared to the past, when I would have licked the box of the ice cream cake (no joke) and devoured everything else, I think I did pretty well!

Good job! Any little accomplishment like that... makes me feel even more stronger! Kudos to you!!

Woo Hoo!! I know how hard that stuff can be. I just had a huge temptation day myself yesterday. But staying on plan is all worth it when you go to the scale and it's going down and your clothes are feeling looser!

Take care.

You did very well. Way to show your will power. You'll see the benefits of that decision soon.

Good job! And I'll bet you feel so much better today than you would've if you'd eaten pizza and cake!

Went for a bday celebration w/all the women in my fam last night at a very posh and exclusive Portland restaurant. I got tremendous pressure to go off my plan. We were there for cocktails and appetizers (which they have an amazing and yummy selection of, and are known for). I was just looking over the menu and deciding what would work for me, when everyone started in..."You aren't going to have a drink? Not even one? Not ANY dessert??? Not any sushi (rice) ???"... First I just tried to minimize the attention on what I was eating, or was not eating, I should say.

But they were relentless (though I do have to say, my darling Mom did keep trying to chime in with her support). Finally, it was on! I gave a pretty thorough class on low-carb, and fielded a myriad of questions and scoldings from my Aunt (a 50 y.o. nurse who has just learned she has heart disease) about how I was eating far too much red meat and fat and heavy cream (which I asked for in my coffee as they all chowed down amazing foofy sugar-laden desserts and told me how bad the cream was for me).

I did have a moment of wanting to stick my face ina piece of chocolate hazelnut torte on it's way to another table, but I stuck to it and was down a lb and up in esteem this morning. Funny, but the more they argued how un-do-able this woe is, the more committed I was to showing them that I could get whatever I wanted and really enjoy my meal, as well.

When we left, I did not feel gross and bloated, but satisfied and happy and proud. Indicentally, I spent about half of what each of them did on my "high-maintenance meal" and had the best beff satay EVER, oh and several blue cheese stuffed olives meant for a martini.

Anyway, chock one up for the low carb team. Though according to my Auntie, I should be dropping dead at any moment. I thought my use of c.o. would definitely cause need for me to dial 911.

Happy Monday y'all!

Thanks all!

Jball, I definitely do see (and sometimes get) the same kind of "Oh just eat a little of XYZ!" phenomenon. I think there are a couple of reasons for this. One is that, in our culture where we use food to celebrate absolutely everything, people just can't image that you're having a good time unless you're eating and eating and eating. The other thing might be guilt...in any given gathering, there are a few or quite a few people who are also always "dieting" and realize they're going off their own "diets" and it makes them feel guilt to see someone who is sticking with his or her plan.

I know because I've been that person, trying yet another "diet," starving all the time, then pigging out and thinking, "Why don't I have the same 'willpower' as that other person?".

Atkins is a little different in that I really don't feel like I'm suffering. It just agrees with me. Not every way of eating/way of life agrees with every single person but this one just seems to work well for me as something long term. Hopefully permanent. My body just feels "fed" now. Whereas before, there was always a hole there. Even if I was literally nauseated from so many chips and ice cream, I'd still be thinking, "I can't wait until some of this food goes down until I go get more." Isn't that crazy?

Someone said I must feel good this morning. I do! I woke up feeling energized and happy. I really think refined carbs do a number on me, in a negative way. I had bacon and eggs for breakfast and am now ready to go great guns on my day.

Glendora, I completely agree. I feel SO much better without all the refined garbage. I really had fun last night (less the firing squad re: my eating habits), and ate super yummy foods! I really think you are right that our "stick-to-it-iveness" calls into question other peoples' willpower and commitment to their diets. My Aunt really wasn't "supposed" to eat what she did last night, I am sure according to her cardiologist, even from a low fat point of view.

I am definitely a carb addict and an emotional eater. This woe really agrees with me. My fam said last night, "well, no Atkins, when you go off you will really gain it back!" to which I retorted a quote (I think from ElleH - thanks, by the way); what diet/way of eating can you be on and go off of and expect to still see results? That is why this is a way of life. I choose this because it is something I can live with and because I believe in it.

Oh boy, did we ever argue the ol' food pyramid then.

Whatever! Everyon's a critic. Mean while they struggle with their weight and health problems, and bad-mouth something they know nothing about and aren't willing to research! UGH! Kills me because I really think they could benefit from this lifestyle.

When I got up from the table, I was a little frustrated, but had to giggle as I hiked-up my now too big pants! Sweet victory!

Ah, the sweet revenge of the too-big fat pants....

You all did great! I think by and by people see that they can work around any situation. I've come to the acceptance that if there's nothing I can eat on plan, I just skip that meal and eat when I can have something safe. Not a big deal.

OH, and the people always thinking how nice they are by offering crappy carby stuff. Now I start by saying, AGH! Poison get it away!!! they become startled, I laugh, and then just say, no thanks.

I know! I said, "Ladies, if I was a recovering drug addict, would you be saying to me: don't you want just a little? To celebrate? Just tonight?" That gave them a bit of perspective. Hold the carbs, pass the plate of support, please!

probably because people hate to eat the crap alone... they want company as they dive into the bad food.

I know I used to have special 'eating buddy' gfs and they really are upset that I'm not willing to eat all the junk, but still ready to go out with them. They say they feel guilty eating in front of me, but what I really believe is they feel guilty about eating it because I'm showing willpower and good sense and they're not.

I can't imagine every pushing food on someone. Oh just one piece of your addiction... have another drink, AA is always there for later... good heavens...

I also know that other people's successes make those who aren't doing what they should be doing feel guilty and subconsciously want to see other people fail.

Did anyone see X-weighted last night? A husband admitted that he hated when his wife got looking good and he purposely sabotaged her by bringing in the goodies. He complained and complained about her going to the gym (he obviously was jealous about her trainer). He later said that he thought that she would leave him if she was thin. So really, whatever people say, it's usually about them, not you.

getting through the celebrations is sometimes the hardest part of any change of diet or when fighting an addiction.