BuffyBear's Journal, 22 Apr 11

You need to work out the balance of what works for "you". Atkins, other educational and medical resources, and other people can give you the tools. It's up to you to use them in a way that only you can to achieve a lifetime WOE. You will get there when you get there. As long as you do it in a healthy way, it's all good :-).. it's all about freedom! Freedom to be at weight goal, to eat without guilt or shame, to be "healthy" and happy.  

Uh, the only problem I see with this is that you should, under no circumstance, have to apologize for living your own life. You are not doing this for anyone other than yourself. If you do it 100% by the book or if you cheat non stop and gain a million pounds it shouldn't be anything you have to apologize for. This is your life and no one else should have room to make you feel bad for it. Now, Atkins is not a one-size fits all diet. What works for me will not work for everyone and vice versa. If what you develop as far as your WOE works for you and you are satisfied and content with it then that is all that matters. If anyone calls you out on that - they can see me and kiss my a$$. Sorry but this bullying around is rediculous. 

Oh, I almost forgot. Love ya. 

Kelly, I totally agree! Well said. Atkins bullying has got to stop. I know those were not your words, I stuck the "Atkins" part in there on purpose. But any type of bullying and disrespect is not helpful to anyone and NO ONE better than or more "doing things right" than ANYONE ONE ELSE. You do what you need to do BuffyBear.  

The only issue I see (and I don't even know if it's the case for you) is when people say they are following Atkins, ask for advice, and when people actually doing Atkins tell them what the plan says they get all defensive and start talking about doing things their own way. There's nothing wrong with doing things your way - it sounds like you're getting it figured out. What grinds my gear is when people call it "Atkins" or some particular plan and that's NOT what they're doing. It confuses everyone, especially new people. It's just best to just say you're doing your own low-carb thing (which is what you did, so yay!).  

I concur!  

I'm not trying to pick on you, either, BuffyBear, I'm thinking in particular about a post on the Atkins site a week or two ago where the person said they were asking for help and "Doing Adkins" (don't get me started on that either), and everything we said they argued with. Eventually they said that their nutritionist had decided that Atkins was "unhealthy" long-term and so they were modifying a bunch of things. In effect, they weren't following Atkins AT ALL (not even the eating vegetables part, which was insane!). So after a few hours of trying to help and explain things we were all kind of like, why are you even wasting our time here? Good-bye. :) 

I completely understand your reasoning behind your comments Amethyst, however I also don't push that the only correct information out there comes from the Atkins site. Yes, it is an invaluable tool or great information but they push the new version of Atkins. And well, I don't agree with all of the modifications to something that was written and proven successful many years ago. Again, to each their own.  

Well here's the thing. Dr. Atkins has put this diet into action before many people on it were even born. Perhaps reading everything about the diet since it's inception, and reading and learning about how Dr. Atkins came up with the diet, learning the most you can about human biology, chemistry, nutrition and medicine behind the basis of the Atkins diet and where he himself got his inspiration(it wasn't originally called the Atkins diet, his work was inspired by an even earlier version of this type of eating)...perhaps then, one could judge others on whether they can say they are doing Atkins or not. It goes far beyond one New Book. People have been doing Atkins for many, many, many years.... losing weight and becoming healthy. Just sayin' 

Amen Trill. I couldn't have said it any better.  

im still not sure why everyone cares so much about what other people are doing.... be here for yourself, not to tell other people not to call it this or they need to add this.  

Gosh Buffy, being a litte hard on your self aren't ya? We all have to do what is right for us. And you have a right to vent any time you want. Just do what you do and have fun with it girl..Sending love and hugs to you.... Bren 

I have to agree, with Keli and Trill...I followed the "old school" Atkins...don't do net carbs, etc. and I have learned a lot in the last, oh I don't know, almost 40 years of doing this off and on...the most important thing I have learned is that it has to be sustainable, and it needs to be a life style. There is no such thing as low fat Atkins, HCG Atkins, or any other myriad of things I see discussed by those that profess to be experts. We all have to learn how our bodies react to the carbs that we eat...I for one, am extremely sensitive to the white carbs...sugar, flour, starches. I stayed on Induction for 14 months...it worked for ME. Now, I have increased my carbs to a mid level of OWL, after reading some other low carb books. That is working for me also. YOU have to do what is best for YOUR body!!! Good luck and keep up the great work! 

Thanks again - I knew my buddies would understand.  

Yes we do and we will always be there for you when ever you need! 

Absolutely right, Keli! 

Adkins. lol. every time I see that it cracks me up. I wonder if it cracks the Dr. up, too? 

Oh Buffy, apologising again when you really don't need to. You are the one in control of you and we are not here to judge, just encourage and support - if it works for you and makes you happy....we are happy ☺ 

thanks everyone for sharing some of the thoughts I was thinking.I'm old school atkins(well technically-my restart is monday ;/)Buffy Bear-if you think that you are doing ur best?then at the end of the day thats all that matters!No one is perfect and all of us are infalliable.In fact the higher some us are (snicker) the harder the fall.No one's journey is the ONLY path.Each of us have our own routes to take.And hopefully,we'll meet at that destination.(or someother kinda haiku stuff) :D.Keep rocking and kicking butt!!I'll join in on Monday! 

Bren and Tracy - Here is the deal - I am the mouthy one who tends to get on people's cases when they are not eating healthy (not just you Aaron). So then I feel like my diet should be an example when someone checks my diary (and it is not). I do not want to be viewed as a hypocrite.