Those norms are partially formed by an industrial complex intent on keeping us
dependent on mass produced, heavily refined, sodium and sugar-laden products.
Some people's norms come from disfunctional relationships with food that
include eating for approval or emotional comfort, all the while feeling ashamed
of it. But, the important cause for these norms is cultural. Just think of how
many cultures' foods are dramatically altered by a low-carb diet. Japanese
foods, often pungent or salty, no longer get the balancing benefit of rice or
noodles. Rich Indian curries are now supposed to be consumed as is, without
rice or bread. And what to do with Mexican foods, with tortillas as a staple?
Fact is, the low-carb diet is only "natural" to northern people in cold
climates. Nearly every other culture on earth regularly consumes carbs, and all
those billions of people are not obese. So, how do they do it? Many simply
don't get enough to eat, which unfortunately keeps them malnourished but
skinny. Many others eat much smaller portions than Westerners, or they eat rich
foods packed with enough flavor to satisfy without binge eating.

Lest I digress on an excessive tangent, what I'm saying is that food is not
like drug or alcohol addiction in the sense that the body cannot live without
it. So, it is clearly ineffective to chastise people for falling off their
personal wagons when their culture is telling them to eat carbs. If carbs were
so natural to give up, people wouldn't lose a bunch of weight on one or many LC
plans, only to regain it. Bottom line, people regain weight upon returning to
their beloved foods and old eating habits. People who maintain ongoing weight
loss with LC either forgo all their carb cravings or learn how to balance
moderate carbs with low-carb options and physical exercise.

I guess I'm trying to remind some of the hard liners that it's just plain hard
to do this, and I'm aware of the standard tough-love lines I'll probably get in
response. What such intolerant people refuse to understand is that many aspects
of life give humanity a sense of meaning and purpose. Some people's identity
and happiness revolve around food. I've found that people who eat to live have
better success on all manner of diets, as opposed to people who live to eat.
Since most diets limit or forbid one or another common food group, it's hard
for people to stay on diets when they feel deprived and watch everyone around
them eating whatever they want. Of course, at some point, every overweight
person gets clear physical messages that they can no longer continue eating as
before. Had I not arrived at such a juncture, I wouldn't have started South
beach last February. But, as I read through South Beach and other low-carb
cookbooks, the differences between LC and "normal" eating are unmistakable.
Anyone who claims that LC eating is normal need only study different cultures'
foods. Cultures develop their diets based on what grows in the climate or
what's affordable on a regular basis. Born into complex cultures and societies,
people's culinary identities are wrapped up in their culture's eating habits.
So, when some of you jump down people's throats for modifying their chosen LC
plans or eating carbs in moderation, please remember that some people are
unwilling to give up food and culture for weight loss.

Orlando

Finally! A post from an actual, ordinary human being who recognizes that eating
this way is difficult and counterintuitive!

out.

I hate calling attention to myself by being the one on a diet, especially when
I'd give anything to eat normally.

I fortunately don't crave bread very often and have gone months without wanting
it.

Orlando

Thanks for understanding. Most times, I don't eat that stuff either and don't
feel deprived if I'm alone. But, get me around people who are eating what I
wish I could and I start feeling miserable.

Orlando

One of the reasons I am a fan of Atkins more than other
popular low carb plans is it is fully cutomized.  Early on it
starts out very cautious and stresses that one bite does
hurt because early on folks still getting over their early
cravings do get set back by a single bite.  Then as you
move through the 4 phases it gets more generous and
what you eat is based on how your own body reacts to
each food added back.  If you add back some very carby
food and your body reacts poorly to that level of carbs you
pull back a bit and settle in using that level.  If you add
back some very carby food and your body reacts well to
that level of carbs you keep adding until you find your
own personal limit.

It's very easy to refuse to try carby foods because you're
too cautious.  It's very easy to keep adding carby foods
because you've put yourself back into the vicious cycle and
end up off the plan.  The fact that there's a process to learn
how to tune your own food doesn't mean it's easy to actually
figure it out.

If anyone ever finds a system that's hard to fall off of they will
be a billionaire.  Right now the best we have is types of plan
that specific people find easy to stay on.  The best of the
best are the ones that customize to each individual.