I've been reading reviews of this program at different websites and forums. I have noticed that the diet is misunderstood even by people who follow a lc plan. There seems to be this idea that you can gorge on carbs for 60 minutes. Fom reading your post here and from flipping through the book (just got it today), I don't really think that is the purpose of the plan.

I noticed that people who complain about Atkins being misunderstood because no one reads the book have done the exact same thing with CAD.

Interesting how that works.

i think the misunderstanding is the reason they wrote CALP

if one must eat salad, protein and vegies leaving only 1/3 of the plate for carbs, in one hour, that certainly levels the field.

it has been forever since i read CAD but didn't they just require eating salad?
someone correct me if i'm wrong, please.

i can see how we americans would see that as a carb binge meal.

CAD says that the RM can be anything you want, quantities aren't limited, but the meal should be nourishing and well balanced.

However, if after two weeks of follow this entry level plan (2 low carb meals and 1 high carb meal) you find that your weight stayed the same or you gained weight, then you must eat 2 cups of salad before eating the RM.

I think they believed people would use common sense and eat a nice rounded meal like meat, veggies, potatoes/grains, maybe some bread, a drink, and maybe a good sized peice of dessert; be nicely satisified and stop at the 60 minute mark. I mean after a meal like that how much more can fit into the 60 minutes (especially if your eating at a restaurant).

But one could interpret "anything you want, quantities aren't limited" to be a whole cake and 1/2 gallon of icecream with some chips and a soda on the side. I've had days where I could eat a whole box of cookies in less than one hour but that is always without eating a real meal.

that's exactly the problem.
when you're talking to carb-aholics, it is a whole different can of worms.
if they are told they can eat unlimited carbs they see a whole plateful.
i still see some menus that are too carb heavy according to CALP instructions.

I think part of the problem is the terminology.

Reward Meal can be misunderstood (without reading the book).

Some people say it's not really a low-carb plan but I don't think that the Hellers were trying to make their plan like Atkins. I think the Heller's focus is fixing insulin receptors and that doesn't necessarily mean you have to start at 20g carbs.

I have not found a review that I like- and I agree the first CAD book did lead to misunderstandings. I follow CALp and CAHHP and it has been great. But it is NOT atkins, and it is not fairly (IMHO) reviewed. It is at this point an 'orphan' plan too, with people finding it and just trying it with little support.
sigh.
E

Orphan plan does seem accurate. Not much in the way of forums and such, accept here. How many people are actually doing the plan here?

Well I'm going to give it a chance.

I follow CALP and it appears to be working for me just fine!

The only thing I can't agree with in their book is the use of poly fats. I think those should be minimized and replaced with mono and saturated fats.

But I think this book was written before the recent discoveries about fats.

Hi Guys

I have been low carbing since 2004. I had a break for a few years when I had my two children.

I have been doing Atkins since October last year but began to start bending the rules and getting bored and so decided to switch to the CAD.

I don't think it's trying to be anything like Atkins. I was skeptical about whether it would work but it does and I am very happy :-) Even switching straight from Atkins, I have continued to lose weight and feel so much happier being able to socialise and not panic about whether there are hidden carbs in foods.

I haven't been hungry at all which surprised me.

I have read a lot of rules and think this WOE is very misunderstood... if you follow the rules to the letter, it works.

Big thumbs up from me - I am converted!

Zara xx

Zara, that is great to hear and it offers me much encouragement. I hope I will do well once I start.

Hi Sunny
When are you planning to start?
Have you done any low carb plans before?
I have found it so easy. I am doing plain CAD but have ordered the CALD so I can read that too.
I think you need to be uber strict - as with Atkins - and then it will work.
The only problem I can see myself having is in a social situation such as a wedding and only being able to consume alcohol for one hour. It's a small price to pay for being able to sit at the meal and enjoy what everyone else eats guilt free though :-)
I went out for a meal earlier in the week and drank soda water and skipped the starter so that I was able to enjoy a few glasses of wine with my meal. It was awesome!
Good luck, Zara xx

Good morning all,
I have followed CAD on and off since 1996 and I just want to say it really works. At first it is really hard not to binge during the RM and (I hope I don't get in trouble for this) the diet will still work. You may not be able to see the results as quickly if you do but slow and steady wins the race anyway. The desire to stuff yourself does lessen in a very short time. I think its knowing that you can eat it goodies even tomorrow that makes it seem less important. But the key is to balance your RM and not just take 60 mins to eat a ton of carbs and nothing else. I originally started on Atkins but it was just too restricting and I was getting awful pains in my kidneys. I just ordered the CALP book and hope to get it today. I understand there are some changes in it from the original CAD book? It will be interesting to see what they are. When I first started the diet in 1996, I lost 52 lbs. effortlessly. But I've gotta say I'm so glad to have found this forum because I've explained this diet to at least 6 other people who were never able to follow it for more than a week so its nice to have others to talk to that know where I'm coming from and, more importantly, what I'm talking about

Hi CAD

Thanks for sharing your experience. I have not particularly balanced my RM and have lost weight. I am on day five and am already craving more balanced meals with lots of veg. It's amazing. I love it.

Did you ever change the time of your RM to fit in with a wedding/special occassion? If so, did you keep this new time for several days or just switch back the next day? I changed to lunch time but don't think it will work so have gone back to evenings - it's just teething problems - I will stick to the evening now except for special occassions.

Zara xx

Zara,
Yes, I've switched my RM time on many occasions. There are times here at work where we all eat breakfast together so I've changed it to that. Then for work parties which typically take place at noon, I've changed it to that. I usually always go back to the RM at dinnertime the very next day though. Its very hard for me to not be able to eat dinner at home as my DH is a diet saboteur Stick with the diet and you won't be sorry. Its helped me with GERD, hypoglycemia and knee pains so awfully much that I wonder why I ever get off of it in the first place. It really needs to be my way of life and more or less has been since '96 although there are times I've fallen off and wasn't prepared to get back on. Its not like you need any extra special foods but sometimes if I don't have anything in the house for salad or some sugar free jello I just feel like I won't be prepared to start that day. If anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to share my experiences.
Cara