Diet day 8

In 2003, I lost 70 pounds in 10 months - the first time I was on the Atkins diet.
I have never liked the taste of diet drinks or foods.  But, over the years several people have told me that when I get used to the taste of them they will be just as good as the regular drinks.  Ok, I'll admit that when certain "diet" sodas are very cold, they are pretty tasty going down.  Then comes the after taste and the feeling of my thirst not being quenched.  I can literally drink 1/2 of a regular carbonated or fruit beverage and feel satisfied.  On the contrary, I now know that I can drink as many as three of the diet beverages I've tried so far, and my thirst not be quenched.  Also for the past five days I've used a tongue scrapper to clean my tongue, and I've even resorted to drinking a regular Mountain Dew in hopes of getting rid of this feeling - like there is a chemical additive on my tongue slowly killing all of my taste buds.  As if that wasn't bad enough - I spent ~ $40.00 on Atkins branded drinks and bars.  The shakes are palatable,  and the non-chocolate covered bars are actually good.  But, the chocolate they use is the most disgusting "chocolate" I've ever consumed.

The first time I was on the Atkins diet, I refused to drink diet beverages or eat diet food.  I also allowed myself 40 grams of carbohydrates a day instead of 20 (during the induction period).  This time around it made sense to me that if I follow the letter of the Atkins plan that I will loose more weight faster.  Today it hit me.  I am not in a race to loose weight; nor do I have an imminent health challenge that requires me to loose weight.   I am loosing weight because I want to.  As I am aging I understand how having a healthy body weight can prolong or alleviate the possibility of a myriad of illnesses.  I am on a diet for my good health.  And, for my good health, I've decided that it is not worth it to me to torture myself with food and beverages that I absolutely detest the taste of; especially since I want to eat better for life.

In joy,

Andrea
P.S.  So far, the only exception to my new no "diet" food or drinks rule is Smuckers Syrup.  OMG That stuff is amazing to me.