Hey guys! I'm looking for a little input...

I am going on vacation in a couple of weeks to Cabo in Mexico. The resort we're staying at is all inclusive and has a variety of restaurants to choose from. I'm sure I could stay completely on program, if I so chose, but I'm not so sure I want to.

So, I heard about this diet called the Carbohydrate Addicts Diet, where you eat mostly protein for 2 of your three meals, plus any snacks, but then there's one reward meal, where you can have some carbs as long as you balance it w/your protein and veggies.

I'm thinking I might try this approach while on vacation, but am scared of gaining anything back while away. I'm just wondering if anyone has ever tried this. And if so, have you tried it after you've been on Atkins for a while?

Thanks for any input you may have!

I've heard of that one and honestly, I don't like it. It doesn't establish good eating habits at all and it doesn't make sense to me. How does eating junk for one meal balance out if I'm 'good' for the other two?

Why don't you just shift into maintenance for your trip? You can up the amount of carbs you eat and still make good choices about what and how you're eating.

Just my 2 cents.

Star, my Atkins book is in storage. How many carbs are on the maintenance level?

I plan to do many physical activies while vacationing, so hopefully this will also help. Swimming, snorkling, scuba, tennis, etc. Can't wait!

It's an individual thing. I think average is 40-70 grams a day. I'm sure that you can find it on www.atkins.com They've basically got the entire book on there.

On a side note, can I point out how funny it is that they call it 'The Carb Addict's Diet'? I mean, if you're an addict, are you supposed to stay away from the item of addiction? Think of how happy all those meth, heroin, alcohol, etc. addicts would be if they were told that as long as they didn't touch the stuff any other time, they could totally binge on their item of choice from the hours of 5-7?

Never thought of it that way!

Thanks for your advice - it's always great!

The Carb Addicts Diet is a great choice for someone who feels they don't want to give up favorite things entirely, but gives a structure for eating a little bit of carb in a controlled way. the book is a good read. They (Hellers) feel this limits the insulin response, and suggest a balanced meal that is:
1/4 salad
1/4 lc veggie
1/4 protein
1/4 carb.

The rest of the day you eat basic LC: meat, veg, fat.

No junk, and quite limited portions of the carb you choose. they suggest low glycemic or healthier carbs, like 1/2 baked potato, but if you're craving pie, well, it's a SMALL piece, in a balanced meal.

Lots of people have found this to be useful to keep the "cheats" away, and you're still under 30 or 40 gr carb a day. Protein Power allows you to spread the carbs across the days' meals, like Atkins during Maintenence. By the way, Atkins Maintainence carb level is individualized, the amount you get to after adding 5 g. per week, where you stop loosing weight. It might be 40g. or a lot more. Whatever works for you!

I hope this helps.
dottie

Thanks Dottie, that does help. Ideally, I'd like to stay OP for the whole week, but I know it probably won't happen. So, I'm thinking I'll try to limit carb intake to one meal per day and just make sure it's not way out of bounds, like over the 30-40 range.

I just don't know what that will do since I've been following Atkins. We'll see. I'll report back too.

Thanks for the help you guys!