Before I started Atkins, I was pescatarian, and lower carb. I watched my fat intake and found myself counting calories. I felt like I was dieting all the time.
Now, I feel guilty. Atkins allows me to enjoy things I truly love; those delicious pleasures that aren't permitted on other diets.

For example, this morning was a frittata for my hubby and I, made with 4 eggs, a cup of spinach, some butter sautéed chopped baby bella mushrooms and maybe a tablespoon of sautéed onion. It was dotted with butter and sprinkled with cheese before baking to a beautiful fluffy delight. We had 0 carb, uncured natural bacon on the side.

Seriously… THAT does not constitute 'diet' in my brain!

I'm the same way. I am doing low carb and low fat. Usually that means I eat a lot of grilled chicken and roasted veggies cooked with very little fats. The chicken is usually made on the bbq grill and the veggies are lightly sprayed with EVOO and put in the oven. Well, last night I made an Asian dish with cabbage and other veggies and leftover grilled chicken. I made it by sauteeing the veggies in a pan with EVOO. I felt guilty because I used more EVOO to sautee the veggies than I typically use. There was no fatty meat, no cheese, etc. Just a little more EVOO than I would normally use and I felt guilty about it! I think its because I am doing well on the diet and I am apprehensive about doing anything that deviates from the strictest adherence to the diet.

We're taught to associate weight loss with deprivation and punishment so if we're enjoying ourselves, we must be doing it wrong.

I think we're also often encouraged to believe that if we're fat, we deserve to suffer, and it's virtually a crime to enjoy ourselves.

For me, banishing food and diet guilt and giving myself permission to enjoy life including what I eat, has been vital to my success.

All I know is if you are doing low carb, low fat, then it's not Atkins. Don't deprive yourself of the "good" fats that Dr. A. scientifically figured into the diet! Try adding the suggesting amounts of fats and see how it goes. You probably will be pleasantly surprised at your loss, feel full all day, and be able to stick to this woe in the long term.

I've had to reprogram my thinking about fats. I never, ever went low fat, but I always felt like I was never going to succeed at losing weight if I couldn't cut the fat. I was so happy when the whole fat thing started turning around. I don't eat any more fat now than I used to, or less, but I do eat different fats. The healthy ones!

I refuse to deprive myself of good nutrition. Eating to lose weight doesn't mean deprivation. It means going for good nutrition. When I am really healthfully nourished, I don't fee deprived or angry about having to be on a diet. Eating processed foods and refined carbs is poor nutrition for my body and when I eat that stuff, I really am being deprived of a good life.

This is my second round on Atkins. I lost 30lbs the first time and it came off easily but I thought I could go back to a regular diet and that is where I messed up. I wasn't ready to make it a lifestyle change, but now I am.
Plus..I dropped another 2 lbs overnight.