[satthackacibe]

Just wondering do all of ye tell people you're on this eating plan, or do you surreptitiously avoid mentioning it and try to be discreet. It's hard for me because I'm such a private person, and I've been trying to lose this weight for so long that I'm afraid if I tell people and fail I'll be pitied.

[boxcigsnick]

I haven't told a soul. I don't want to hear the reasons other people (who don't understand what MY body needs... which is limited carbs to function well and lose weight) think it's bad. Don't ask, don't tell. LOL

I did experience a little of this today. I went to buy Ketostix. I looked in TWO stores and could NOT find them myself. So I went where no one knows me (a Target) and asked the pharmacist. He found them and handed them to me. I said, "Yup, that says ketostix, guess it's the right thing." He said, "They monitor ketones in urine... usually diabetics and people on Atkins buy these." I pretended my mom had asked me to buy them and that yes, she had started Atkins recently. He said then you've got the right stuff.

My dh is used to seeing me eat mostly lean protein, fruits/veggies and whole grains since for the last 3+ years I've been on South Beach (fell off HARD and couldn't muster up any enthusiasm for it again). He hasn't asked me why I'm not eating nuts, berries or whole grains though... and I hid the ketostix. He doesn't question what I do. He knows how I am when I'm overloading on carbs (it's NOT pretty... just imagine very bad PMS every day, all day). If I'm happy and losing weight... HE'S happy.

I don't think you need to tell anyone so long as you have a place, like here, to ask questions and get support so you don't feel all alone. It gets tough when you can't eat something and you don't feel like you can share why.... that's the time you have to get creative. Especially if it's something someone has made special. If it has sugar in it, simply say that you've decided to not eat sugar anymore, but thank you for offering... and then CHANGE THE SUBJECT. If it's something like chips, just say you don't "feel" like chips right now or you're not hungry. Or claim you have a headache. Don't feel like you HAVE to say you're doing Atkins yet... eventually they will ask you how you're losing SO MUCH WEIGHT. And then you'll WANT to tell them.

[smazibummigue]

Only person that knows is my husband. I didn't tell anyone else because I want to see if they start noticing and tell me I'm losing weight. Can't wait for that feeling of happiness. If I could have kept it from my husband I would have but that would have been to hard.

[mensforyouthis]

I tell people only because it is harder to keep it a secret but most people that know me are used to me being on some kind of diet, either low fat/cal or low carb. It is one or the other. I am lucky that my DH is actually following the program with me this time.

[Equackasous]

If you feel compelled to answer - or if someone comments on how you are eating (I eat out a lot) just reply that you watch how many carbs you eat - no need to mention Atkins by name... so you can eat more good foods.

It's just how you eat...

If you don't make a big deal of it, they won't either.

[boxcigsnick]

"If you don't make a big deal of it, they won't either."

LOL... you don't have MY family, then.

[rfceicizgm]

I just tell people that I'm cutting back on pasta and bread its sort of the truth

[satthackacibe]

Thank you for all the tips! I think I have enough now to get around most situations. I say most...people can be frightfully nosy and persistent!

[joanasevilyboaz]

I tell people if they notice how much weight I've lost and ask how I did it. I also tell people if I'm eating out with them, if it comes up. Some of the people at work don't seem to approve of Atkins, but that doesn't bother me.

I once lied to a waiter and told him I was allergic to gluten because it was an Italian restaurant I'd never been to before, and am unlikely to return to, and I did not want any breading on anything.

When I saw my daughter's in-laws after not seeing them for a while, the first thing her mom-in-law said to me was, "Looks like Atkins is working for you!"

If people start to talk about what they've heard about Atkins (mostly misconceptions), I usually shrug and say, "I feel great and my doctor is happy too." That's usually enough to silence them.

[eFDMBwKH]

Ugh! I was at a Japanese hibachi restaurant and asked the cook if the sauce had sugar in it and he said yes and I said to my friend, who has done atkins in the past, that I probably shouldn't have it. The cook asked why and I just told him i'm on a diet. A man sitting at our table goes "Well if you need to diet you shouldn't be here" That was so rude - so I said "Well I come here often and eat the filet mignon and the veggies."

I always get the weird look from people and the "why do you need to go on a diet" or when I tell people what my goal weight it they roll their eyes and freak "that is so low". What people fail to understand is I'm barely 5'3" and according to the BMI chart I am borderline obese. I retain most of my weight in my stomach, giving me more of that "apple shape" than "pear shape" - which could out me at risk for diabetes as it runs in my family. I do tell people that I am on atkins and I love to challenge and debate with them every myth they shoot my way. I do feel irked, however, when people have to sit there and try to lecture me about the fact that they believe i don't need to diet - its nobody's business but mine (and my fellow atkins friends )
I am fortunate to have a hubby who supports it because he knows I can do it and it makes me feel good. Atkins has been the easiest for me compared to other methods of eating in the past. He also came to know it from his family in Colorado, who were all on it as well and look amazing!

I am 5'3" and my goal weight is 120. I am currently at 145 and still have a great deal of weight to lose primarily in my midsection from pregnancy. Does that seem odd to anyone for a goal weight?

[boxcigsnick]

Doesn't seem odd to me at all. The old rule used to be that for the first five feet you get 100#, then for every inch over that you get 5#. So at 5'3" you could go as low as 115 and it still wouldn't be odd to me. I'm 5'4" and my goal is to get back to 118. My range is 118 - 120. Only my mother has ever said I was too thin at that weight.... until I asked her how tall she was when she got married (5'4") and what she weighed (118). Then I said, if it wasn't too thin for YOU, why is it too thin for ME? LOL No more comments.

I just looked up a weight chart... for your height:

5'4" (with 3# clothes and one inch heels)
114-127 small frame
124-138 medium frame
134-151 large frame

If you took the 3# off and weighed naked, that would be
111-127
121-135
131-148

Oh... and about that guy's comment, you should have said something like, "If you need to be rude, you shouldn't be here." LOL

I told my first person that I'm on Atkins today. She's a good friend and we were walking and talking... and we met on a South Beach diet forum, so I felt weird not telling her. She's lost 97#!!! She was cool about it.

Tril

[eFDMBwKH]

Thanks Tril for gathering that info for me. It's like I know in my head and from proven information that my goal weight is NOT a bad one - but I'm just so sick of the lecturing, even if I didn't tell them I was on atkins lol. Yeah my mom tells me too that I don't need to lose weight, but yet she is waay smaller than me (but she has always naturally been very small in size).

I should've said some smart comment to the guy but he was with his family and children (lol). So i refrained ;p

I'm glad your friend was supportive -that is why I love coming on this forum. I know atkins is not for everyone but its so funny when my friends want to be in my shoes and lose the weight but are not willing to give it a try - they come up with excuses like "oh I can't cut out my caffeine and my regular pop or drink that much water etc...) if there is a will there is a way

[Scfdglkn]

No.

With strangers (e.g., drive through people that say "why a burger with no bun?) I'll feign a wheat allergy or diabetes.

With family I simply make my own plate or politely state I ate before coming if nothing their suits me. In the rare case I'm actually hungry, I'll pop a portable babybel or two...

Simply put, I can do without the unsolicited advice. It's rarely accurate. Some of the people that don't care about their health will also get defensive if they see you're making changes...this puzzles me to no end.

[Scfdglkn]

No.

With strangers (e.g., drive through people that say "why a burger with no bun?) I'll feign a wheat allergy or diabetes.

With family I simply make my own plate or politely state I ate before coming if nothing their suits me. In the rare case I'm actually hungry, I'll pop a portable babybel or two...

Simply put, I can do without the unsolicited advice. It's rarely accurate. Some of the people that don't care about their health will also get defensive if they see you're making changes...this puzzles me to no end.

[eFDMBwKH]

i know a lot of my friends aren't really educated about atkins, but also don't know too much about the myths either but they are all in the same boat i am .. trying to lose weight .. and they are like "you look so good" and i wear that atkins badge w/ honor and tell them that atkins REALLY works and im living proof

[ApporpSothe]

I have a very nosy roommate who actually was giving me a very hard time about doing Atkins. I tried to keep it as nonchalant as possible, but like I said, she is pretty nosy.

I just laughed her lame comments off though, as she is currently in the middle of that cayenne pepper/lemon juice/maple syrup fast. I think it is pretty laughable.

When I eat out, I say I am allergic to gluten....because the ONE time that I said I was doing Atkins, the waitress just rolled her eyes, smirked at me and shook her head. I think that as I lose more weight I will probably be bolder.

[retrahdggd]

I tell people who are close to me and that's pretty much it. Everyone else can find out after I lose weight and they ask how I did it. =-)

I think it's funny when other people fuss over what you're eating. :P So far everyone I've told has been very supportive, even the people who don't necessarily think I need to diet. My boyfriend isn't excited about me losing weight at all, but he's still very supportive, so that's good.

-June

[boxcigsnick]

I get that, too, June... the "oh you don't need to lose weight" comments. I say back to them, "I don't need to GAIN weight, either."

The only time I get questioned these days (after eating this way for years) is when I'm around people who don't know me well. I'm pretty nonchalant about it... and just say that "this is how I eat". If they push it, I tell them that yes, I eat this way because of my weight issues... I would LOVE to have an ice cream sundae with you, but I my body can't handle it. One time I was "stuck" on a boat with a bunch of couples... the women were curious because I wasn't eating/drinking like everyone else, but also kinda pushy about their opinions on weight loss/dieting (they were overweight). At one point I was getting... not mad... but just wanted the subject changed. It wasn't the time or place to have a diet debate. So I simply said, "Look, as of this morning I weigh exactly 97# less than I did at my highest adult weight. I don't want to go back there. If that means I don't eat french fries or drink margaritas today... that's ok with me." They left me alone after that.

Each situation calls for a different approach, I've found.

[joanasevilyboaz]

When I went back to my family reunion, people noticed, of course, that I had lost weight and asked about it. When I mentioned Atkins, several people said that they had tried Atkins in the past.

It's interesting, because I guess I "tried" Atkins before too. Several years ago, I was on Atkins for about two months and then stopped and gained all the weight back. I remember telling someone that it didn't work for me.

I think the difference is that this time, I'm not "trying" Atkins. I'm doing Atkins. I'm committed. I'm not dieting in preparation for an upcoming event or something like that (although a wedding, etc. can be a good motivator), I'm doing it for my health and future well-being. That will always be good motivation for me. I really want to spend my later years traveling and enjoying my grandkids. I don't want them to have to take care of me or come see me in the hospital or nursing home. I'm planning to be like my grandfather was, and be active well into my nineties. That's forty years away! So I need to take care of my body now so it doesn't wear out before I'm done with it.

[hoarrimilsora]

I told anyone who asked why, because its easier to make people at least appreciate why we are all here if we are honest because if friends and family find out later they start to feel that perhaps we are hiding our eating habits because it really is bad when in fact so many of us have benefited from atkins, and its success is unbelievable if people doubt then thats because they don't appreciate the science behind our way of eating, something which has been proven by scientists even before the particular atkins system.