Yesterday I had lunch with my pushy friend at a favorite restaurant. She ordered a crab cake sandwich and fries, a diet coke. I ordered a shrimp salad prepared with mayonnaise and celery on a bed of lettuce with tomato, black olives, hard-boiled egg, ranch dressing on the side.

It's a really nice waterfront restaurant known for its delicious bread. As soon as the waitress brought our bread basket, she dived in for rolls and mini-corn muffins and shoved the basket at me. I said, "No thanks," and drank my iced tea. When our lunch came, she commented on how healthy my lunch was and then went on and on about how delicious her fries were, how she could never give up bread and potatoes...I just ate my delicious shrimp salad and let her talk. I just repeated what I've told her for the past two weeks: "I'm off carbs for a while..." When we finished, she complained that she felt "gross." I didn't comment. I felt great!

On the other hand, she went with me to the oral surgeon, waited with me, drove me home, got my prescriptions, and tucked me in. She's a really good friend. She just needs to shut up about what I'm eating! I'll be patient.

We got a BBQ lunch notice for August at work and we had to pick a menu item. I emailed back and said I would opt out of the lunch. I tell people it's because of my Colitis - easier that way.

We have a pot luck lunch on the 6th of August. I committed to making breaded chicken. I'll make a portion for me with the cheese coating instead of bread and just eat that. I checked the board where people list what they'll bring....carb heaven! Everyone except me is brining in a carb dish.

I told my boss I'd bring food in, but wouldnt eat anyone else's. Again, I just blame it on Colitis - this way I dont offend anyone and it really saves me having to defend a choice that's really working for me and is helping me get healthier.

I dont understand why people dont see that with low carb lifestyles. I dont care if it's Atkins, South Beach, Dukan...the end result is always the same...we're losing weight, avoiding heart disease, and avoiding diabetes.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I don't get to see my friend that often and maybe by the next time I see her she will see why I am doing this. (hopefully the change will be significant enough) If not, then I will just have to ignore, forgive, and go on.

LOL! I will remember that.