Originally Posted by Reija(admin) Do the high protein diets (Atkins etc) really work for losing weight and keeping the weight off permanently? What diet has been the most effective for you for losing and keeping the weight off? Call me a diet junkie...have had to go on a magazine diet, escape-into-romance-novels-diet, you name it weightloss diet I've done it-diet, not-look-in-the-mirror-diet...whew...marketing strategies, real tv (really???) smutty more-than-I-needed-to-see programs...so, the last thing I truly ever thought I'd actually commit to doing full out (this is after Sugar Busters, Stillman, Scarsdale, Body Type, Blood Type, 5-day miracle, fasting, colonics, this/that n' the other from high this to low that) was Atkins. We're talking about compulsive/obsessive behaviors that can really only be managed when facing the truth that underlies the symptoms (the what-we-actually-do-stuff). If anyone has any genetic predisposition toward chemical imbalances from whatever extra-curricular guilty pleasure that is ingested, what often goes un-recognized is our body is affected in the physical, while our emotions/mind/psychology/behavior/consequences are affected like a parallel universe. Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde opposites may be tolerated if that's all we know & see as 'normal'. Let me say this, it ain't normal just bec. everyone agrees on it to make their behavior ok. What I've noticed in the 2.5 weeks I've been eating Dr. A's way is this: no cravings for sweets (my Mom tells me sweetly that I crave chocolate bec. my family is from Belgium & Godiva is our 'middle name'), skin is clearing up bec. I do not process any type wheat/flour products (due to celiac disease as a child), which shows up in me like one drink to an alcoholic, - can't just have one slice of bread, one chip, one cracker....it's a genetic alcoholic background in me that sets off the compulsive cycle nutritionally first, and psycologically next. To break the insulin resistance cycle, release the last 15 pounds of cellulite & manage the chemistry I was born with instead of having it manage me, it works for me to eat 20 to 25 grams of carbs, more quality protein & some dairy, seeds, nuts & greens. I love fresh fruit but go for it more in the summer, & while they say don't drink coffee, I have a cup in the morning or in mid-afternoon. Never drank sodas, or ate a lot of junk food so some of the switch I'd been doing by preference all along. When I notice I'm going overboard on something, Atkins says be careful as that whatever may be an addictive item that sabotages the outcome. I do Body Flex, Pilates, exercise bands instead of weights, T-Tapp & Callanetics. Blew out my left ACL last May so machines are out. Flexibility is a must, & at 49, I look bet 32 & 35 years old. I'm getting married 12/12/03 & my sweetheart is 14 years younger. I figure, if you don't use it right, you lose it, from health to youth to smarts. And, the 4P trousers that have been in my closet for years are now 'get-into-able' & they weren't four weeks ago. I don't get on a scale, though I weigh & measure foods to be aware of portion size. I downloaded alot of info off the Atkins site & a LowCarb site that helps. High cholesteral & heart issues also run in my family & none are overweight. To say I was skeptical is an understatement so I just started doing it with no, zero expectations. I feel better, had a truly horrendous week last week that felt like three weeks compressed into 7 days & not once abused food or craved it as comfort. That is a miracle to me. One thing I have to remember: if you're within 10 to 20 pounds of your 'normal for your height' or goal weight, you will probably not experience the huge losses someone who's huge & never did anything about it before. It's just like skincare: if you've taken good care of your skin over the long haul & are looking at stats that promise 57% reduction in this or 65% improvement in that within 6 weeks & you (like me) don't notice any major improvement, it's probably that the problem we see is magnified to us but absolutely inconsequential relative to folks with obvious age-related problems.