I love your posts!

I always look forward to what you have to say; Its always very thought provoking and I often find myself nodding my head and saying: Mmmmmmmmmmmhmm!" to myself when reading them.

Why that's so sweet. I chalk it up to the nickname friends first gave me in college "trivia queen." If the information has virtually no practical application, it stays in my head permanently. However, if it's something important (like where I parked my car, left my purse, or (while at the grocery store - assuming I have my purse) what was on that grocery list that I left on the table at home.... well that's another story.

Kaplods, you are funny. That is so true that the results can be used for the benefit of any one. Also, we have a degredation in the research community because the money for research just for the sake of research is drying up. Now, instead of doing a study on optimal sodium levels because we need to know how much sodium is good, we have the Campbell's Soup company sponsoring the study. Now, would you be suspicious of results that were paid for and benefit the payor? Good discussion Kaplods. Thanks for the thought food.

Personally and in harmony with the thread's question, I've never calorie counted, but I'm currently doing my own version of Atkins...works for me! Like several people here have said...both will work, but what will work best for YOU only you can answer. It's like the old question, "which is heavier, a pound of rocks or a pound of feathers"? All diets work if you stick with them...hope this answers your question.

This science mumbo jumbo is rattling my head! I think if we spent as much time at the gym as we do burried in reading about "what we should do" we'd all be skinny! Good luck with whatever you choose. Joyce

I do both...I have low carb cook books...that I use to plan my meals, but I count my calories for the day!!! Sometimes I find the low carb recipes can have more eggs or red meat in them...so I just adjust to what I feel is appropriate for me...im not a big meat eater anyway...so just do what feels right and works for you....i think all plans have similiarities that we can use....like moderation, healthiful choices, and balance...

I don't know about anyone else, but I lose more weight LCing than counting calories.

I always knew I lost more while low-carbing, but assumed it was because I ate fewer calories (because that's what I've always read). But by counting calories (but not limiting them) while low carbing, I was actually able to prove to myself that I can actually eat more calories and still lose more weight on low carb than on a "food pyramid" diet.

However, it is possible for me to overeat on low carb resulting in maintaining my weight or losing very little - if I eat too much fat, or in general eat a lot more than I really need. Calorie counting is a nice "back-up" system for me. I don't think most people have to do both, but I've spent so many years yoyo dieting that I'm insulin resistant, my metabolism is shot, and have almost no "hunger control" system (if I ever had one - I pretty much started gaining weight as soon as I had any personal control over my eating - at about 5years old). For me, once I start eating, even a hurting stomache often doesn't feel like "satisfied," to me. So I do have to set portion limits.

On low carb, I am definitely less ravenously hungry, and less obsessed with food. But that really means more in terms of fewer triggers to start eating, rather than more or stronger triggers to stop. I can even now "forget" to eat (I'll tell you that's a new experience), but once I start eating, I still tend to eat until the food is gone, rather than by any internal signal that I've had enough. So having the "safety net" of calorie counting gives me external feedback (since my internal feedback seems broken).

This week was a perfect example. I ate quite low carb, but didn't count calories, and ate more fat, and I didn't lose an ounce (didn't gain either, so that's great), but I really think for me, I need to count both (maybe only until I get a handle on things, maybe forever). That being said, I personally believe that success often means simplifying, and not making things more complicated for yourself than necessary. But by necessary, I mean what works. So ultimately, trial and error usually ends up a component in this whole business somewhere.

I also love reading what you have to say. You sound somewhat like me. My husband is always amazed that I can remember all the campers names and what sites they are on(we own a campground), but I also leave the grocery list at home or forget where I parked the car.(that is why I like having a big red truck)

Have you tried any particular plan that seemed to work well for you in the past?

I have done Atkins and done very well on it. It also provides a certain amount of freedom because I don't have to weigh every ounce of meat, etc.

I recently tried LFL. While it had more choices, it just didn't work as well for me so I've gone back to Atkins yesterday. Not only did I lose the pound I was up, but an additional pound as well.

I know Atkins works for me so there is no sense in fooling around with other plans.

If you have tried other plans, maybe you could go back to one that worked for you and your lifestyle. Some folks would rather have a wider variety of foods and a slower loss, while others just can't tolerate very many carbs before it stalls them - I'm one of those folks, so Atkins it is for me. I get bored with it but it does work.

Thanks for the suggestion on the recipes.

My problem is I have to cook for my family, so I try to keep my food choices as simple as possible or I'm cooking two meals. I'll do some experimenting as far as cooking some things ahead so I can throw them in the microwave.

Atkins may be one of the easiest diets to adapt to family meals, because all you need to add for your family is a bread or other starchy side dish and/or a vegetable side dishe or two and there you are. If you have a crockpot, there are tons of low-carb, family friendly recipes online.

Even the starchy parts can be simplified so that you're not having to spend a lot of time preparing (being tempted by) them. Buying a good deli french, italian or rye bread, and have hubby do the slicing and passing around. If one of the kids is old enough, having him/her in charge of microwaving a frozen vegetable (a four or five year old often can do this as long as an adult removes the hot bowl).

An example might be skinless chicken breasts or thighs cooked in a jarred spaghetti or tomato sauce you add herbs to (read labels to pick the one with the lowest carb count). Cook some noodles for the rest of the family and serve with a big salad. Either choose or make a low carb salad dressing or use bottled dressings at the table.

I am definitely not as educated on all the diets out there as most of you here. But I do have my own personal experience to call from.
I have been heavy since high school (now 43). My mother was going to WW and made me try it at home with her as my coach. Horrible experience. Put on more weight. When I wanted to get married at 25 I was eating low cal. The weight came off but only 1-2 lbs a week and I was hungry all the time. I felt I was being punished for being fat. I eventually went from 205 to 160 and got married, But I'll tell you starting at the reception I started eating again. I couldn't take the deprivation. Some people say on here that they don't like low carbing when cooking for a family, two meals and all, but I couldn't take watching my new husband eat whatever he wanted while I had my can of tuna and a small salad.
To make a long story a bit shorter, in July 2007 I weighed 262 lbs, I had severe back problems, GERD, I was always bloated and uncomfortable, but the thoughts of starving again was so unappealing. So I started surfing the net and discovered low carbing, it said I didn't have to starve, I just had to give up bread and pasta....etc....but I wouldn't have to starve. So July 9, 2007 I started after reading Dr. Atkins NDR. Now I don't follow any one low carb plan to a T. I have kind of formulated my own, but I am now 173 lbs, no longer have back issues, GERD is all gone as well as needing meds for that. I am NEVER hungry, I am very active now and most importantly I know I will stick with this WOE for life. I look at it this way. It not only made me lose weight, it got rid of a medical condtion that was making me take pills to help it. A DR never told me to give up carbs to control GERD he just said don't eat before bed and lie in an incline. What crap! That acid reflux was eating my esophogus and causing damage, now I no longer worry about that.
Well that's my two cents.

For me low carb works better. I have lost some weight on low cal/fat but I was hungry all the time and constantly felt tired and thought about food. The opposite is true for low carb, I never feel hungry, rarely think about full and have never felt better in my life.

My friend on the other hand did terrible on low carb and has lost nearly 100 on WW. It really just depends on the person and what works best for them.