Simple and best
A few years back I was terribly terribly overweight and had hit the 20 stone mark (280 lbs, 128 kilos for our US/EU chums). I decided drastic measures were necessary so went on the Atkins. Worked a treat but the first few really strict weeks were tough - not that I was hungry, there was plenty of stuff I could eat, but I wasn't allowed *any* fruit - the fructose in fruit, you see, is carbohydrate, and as such, was very strictly limited in the early stages of Atkins. Now I love fruit. LOVE it. As far back as I can remember I've had at least one piece of fruit a day, if not more. So to go cold turkey on it was up there with giving up smoking on the "man this is hard" scale of life. Although, unlike quitting the ciggies, I could console myself with the fact that I would at some point be allowed fruit again.

One month in and phase 2 of Atkins began, with a slight relaxation on carb intake. I was at a conference that day, and a buffet lunch was served. Dodging the carb-heavy sarnies, I helped myself to those chicken satay kebab skewers you only ever get at catered business events, which are neither satay, nor, I suspect, chicken. Pudding was a complete no-no of chocolatey sugary goodness. But garnishing the platter upon which the chocolate cake was being served were some strawberries. Now I had not touched any fruit for 28 days, so I selected the plumpest, shiniest, reddest strawberry from the plate and tucked in. It was perfect. Juicy, soft but firm, just on the right side of ripeness. The sweet flesh was like manna from heaven. You never realise how sweet strawberries are until you go a month with no sugar at all and tuck into one. I'm salivating now thinking about it. Its almost worth denying yourself for weeks just to really appreciate how good they are. Go on, get a punnet. Lovely lovely lovely.
( paulieg La, la, la, not listening, Fri 27 May 2011, 12:54, 2 replies)

You ought to avoid the problems.
Rather than listening to people who want to sell books, you could use that to decide on a decent diet.
Taking one form of energy out of your diet is pointless and stupid.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Fri 27 May 2011, 19:22, closed)

Thanks for that
... as I pointlessly and stupidly went on to lose three stone in a relatively short length of time.

Personally, I think the Atkins claims regarding the evils of carbs are wrong, but if you look at a plate of food and you remove the pasta or rice or potato, and replace it with salad/veg, then chances are you're getting fewer calories. Amazing really.

FYI I now follow the Physics diet. Energy in less than energy out = slimmer PaulieG (15 stone and counting ...)
( paulieg La, la, la, not listening, Mon 30 May 2011, 1:44, closed)