I have done the Atkins on and off for many years. And, yes, it is true that if you go back to loading on carbs ultimately you will gain more weight than you lost (myself: from a low of 140 lbs to a high of 231 lbs). I am the penultimate yo-yo dieter and have been on every diet known to humanity, lol. I have learned a lot about myself by reading these boards. For me, carb addiction is similar to alcohol or drug addiction with the added stress that while you can stop drinking/drugging, you must still eat. I am a recovering alcoholic/drug for over 10 years but my carb addiction was running rampant. That is until I was recently diagnosed a Type II Diabetic. Now my eating problems have manifested itself as a life-threatening disease. My blood sugar was so high that my vision was severely compromised and is now just returning to normal. I am currently on a low dose of diabetic medicine but I credit the Atkins diet with bringing my blood sugars down to normal in 2 weeks (from 330 to 110-120). So, anyone that is struggling with their committment to this diet I say this: Please take this carb addiction seriously. Your very health is at stake. Do not wait until you develop diabetes or any other of a host of other diseases that will compromise your life. I for one have the added incentive to stay on this way of life forever. And I really want to thank each and every one of you for helping me through this ordeal. You can never know how your thoughts and information have helped me. God bless you all.

Thank you for sharing your compelling story, verniebird. Hits very close to home!

yes... it IS an addiction..I think food can be in general and I appreciate your story because it will help me to remember that this IS my way of life and that there is NO going back. You can do this!

Oh does your story sound familiar!!!!!! Good luck, and maybe for both of us this time it will be the last time we have to adjust our wol!

<nod nod> After teking a good, hard look at my family history, and remembering how hard it was to lose my father to obesity-related matters, I HAVE to make it work!

Thanks for reminding us. (And telling SOME for the first time that are using it as a crash diet, actually DAMAGING their health!)