On Atkins for almost 9 years - and at an ideal-weight goal for 8½
Last updated July 26th, 2010 (New pics & FAQ)
Finally, someone to relate to!  It is also very refreshing to be able to visit a
comprehensive low-carb site that is so non-intimidating and user-friendly - and
you've been on Atkins for almost 9 years now!
I am so happy that others can identify with me, because I know how important it is to
be inspired as you inch toward your weight loss goal.  My supreme goal is to make this
page - and my entire website, for that matter - as thorough, informative, and enriching
as possible, and to make SugarFreeSheila.com a true one-stop "safe place" for low-
carbers.  Please know that you can always come to me for tips, advice, or
encouragement should you ever need it.

Sheila, can I write to you with all my Atkins-related questions - even regularly?  
Sometimes I just need someone to talk to, someone who's been there and is still
kicking, about my experience and my progress.  I've read the book and I know what
I'm doing, but this is so new to me, and I can feel a little lost sometimes ...
First of all, all the e-mails I receive with questions about Atkins not only inspire me and
give me ideas to improve SugarFreeSheila.com even further (hence the frequent site
updates), this website is my labor of love and what I do!  It's a true honor and privilege
for me to receive e-mails asking for help, tips, or just to share experiences (or even if
you just need advice on something - e.g., relationships, etc.), and I absolutely,
positively never leave an e-mail unanswered - that's a strict policy.  Also, allow me to say
what an honor it is to hear from people from all over of the world - that is so exciting for
me!  So, please, if you've questions or would like to relay your experience, write away!  
All I ask is that you first read my SugarFreeSheila.com User Agreement, and look
through this FAQ, just to ensure that the answer isn't already discussed here.  Who
knows?  You might meanwhile find answers to other questions.  In fact, for this very
purpose, I intentionally keep the queries of this FAQ page "miscellany-style" so that you
will hit on various points you may have not yet thought of to ponder.

If I have a question about low-carbing, may I IM you?
Of course!  SugarFreeSheila is my handle for AOL/AIM, MSN, & Yahoo.  Again, all I ask is
that you kindly read the Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution book & this full FAQ first!

Didn't Dr. Robert Atkins suffer from a heart attack April 2002?
No, but a heart infection.  Click here to get the true CNN story.  Tragically, the late Dr.
Atkins passed away April 2003 from injuries sustained in a fall on slippery ice in
Manhattan.  A copy of his death certificate can be found here.

Did Dr. Atkins die obese?
Only if you consider 195 pounds on a six-foot, 72 year-old man to be so.  Here is another
USA Today article disputing this myth.  Again, here is a copy of his death certificate.

You don't have to exercise on Atkins, right?
For those following Atkins by the book, Dr. Atkins states throughout the text that daily
exercise is "non-negotiable."  My own regimen can be seen toward the bottom of this
page, or at the bottom of my Motivation / Beauty Tips page.

This page is huge!  I know I need to read your Atkins FAQ first before writing to you,
but I work/travel/am a mom/student/have a busy schedule and do not have time
enough to get through it.
If you're always on the run, the book on tape-style SFS.com EZ Audio FAQ CD Set is an
option.

What is your opinion of Atkins Nutritionals filing Chapter Eleven a few years ago?
It has little to do with the Atkins way of eating itself - particularly since I do not use
processed low-carb products like bars, cereal, chocolate, etc., on a daily basis. (I bake
my own low-carb desserts on the weekends, but the remainder of my day-to-day menu is
strictly whole foods to maintain my results.)  Please bear in mind that the Atkins
company, formed in 1989, thrived until Dr. Robert Atkins' untimely April 2003 death.  It is
my personal belief that those who took over the company, made low-carb snacks and
products a chief focus, and made major changes to the very foundation of the Dr. Atkins-
created program, are responsible for this unfortunate financial trouble.  A few months
after Dr. Atkins' death, the Group (Atkins Nutritionals) was sold for a reported half a
billion dollars, and almost immediately the rules shifted of the Atkins program, revamped
through the Atkins website and via the new Atkins Essentials book.  The group namely
modified Atkins' first phase of Induction, because for the first time since the '70's, low-
carb chocolate, low-carb cereals, low-carb bars, and even nuts became permissible during
this 2-week period - items absolutely not permitted and not on this finite list of
allowable foods.  That said, since 2002, misinformed individuals have and continue to
give a go at what they think is Atkins, then therefore focus daily on the aforementioned
processed low-carb snacks instead of real, whole food as outlined in the original Dr.
Atkins' New Diet Revolution text, stall on again what they think the program is - and
ultimately quit because little to no weight is lost.  This Atkins group bankruptcy is rather
unfortunate, but it is my hope that those considering the Atkins way of life will consult
and follow the original text, Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, for instructions on how to
do the program as originally instructed, as this is the way to follow it for life.

Thanks for the Induction list!
No problem.  The Atkins site again moved the one page I ever used from their website -
the one page that remains in accordance with Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution - and that
is their Induction Foods list.  Solution?  Making my own.  That's something I'd been
meaning to do for years; so if anything, this was a kick-in-the-pants blessing in disguise.  
No ties anymore.

Is the Atkins Center or anybody else sponsoring this website?  Why do you do all of
this?  What's in it for you?
Nobody in any way sponsors, funds, or writes for this website but I.  No banners, no
popups - none of that has any place here.  For me, someone else
sponsoring/funding/writing for my website means controlling, limiting, or in some way
influencing the content - which I have and never will allow to happen.  Notice that there
is also no commercialism or advertisement anywhere other than my own personal
product suggestions - and I only suggest a specific product if I feel there is absolutely,
positively no substitute for it. I continue to have zero endorsements, which explains
why I am so reticent about sharing what brands I use.  I'm not paid to.  So it's got to be
special!  SugarFreeSheila.com makes it possible for me to reach out to people, to
illustrate what I found for myself in 2001:  a healthful, practical low-carbohydrate lifestyle
that not only enabled me to finally achieve my weight loss goal after perpetual struggles
with it since the age of 10, but to maintain it for a lifetime. (I made goal in late 2001.)  
After all the grueling trial and error I endured, I have officially taken it upon myself to do
what I can to help others in this capacity.  I also feel that it is important for people to
have available an altogether objective low-carbohydrate / Atkins information website
with no hidden agenda. I am genuinely here to help!

What is your ultimate goal with SFS.com?  Aspirations?
First and foremost, I feel that I am doing this here and now, with this free and ad-free
website with no site donation requests, since the launch of this site in 2001.  Also, as
someone who communicates even better in the flesh, I cannot tell you how much I
would love to travel throughout the U.S. and worldwide (wherever there is a demand for
it!) to speak to groups on the benefits of low-carbing and especially self-improvement on
every level - achieving one's ultimate potential.  Cruising would also be an excellent
platform for this - holding fun seminars, Q&A sessions, showing how one can not only
maintain but easily LOSE weight on cruises by doing Atkins, and making myself 100%
available throughout the entire duration to anyone who wishes to ask me questions on
anything of the many topics SFS.com covers ... just what one would expect here.  My
ultimate goal is to inspire and lift other women up, and my relentless can-do approach
makes that possible.  It is a calling for me, and I am setting out to do it!  To inquire,
please click here.

What do you think of the The New Atkins For a New You book?
As stated in this Atkins FAQ as well as in my User Agreement, Dr. Atkins' New Diet
Revolution is the only Atkins book of which I am a proponent.  As with Atkins
Nutritionals, whose emphasis seems to be commercial low-carb products, any Atkins
book penned by any individual other than the late Dr. Atkins does not have my
endorsement - or even interest.

I live in Tehran/Nuuk/Suva/Nicosia/Tombouctou, and low-carb breakfast bars, low-
carb bread, and low-carb candy are not available here.  So that means I can't go on
Atkins, right?
I lost my weight in 2001 - about two years before the magnificent boom of low-carb
cereals and packaged cookies came about - and had no trouble whatsoever losing the
weight.  You see, these low-carb goodies are allowable treats on Atkins - but certainly
not a necessity for low-carb weight loss.  I limit treats like these, which I bake myself, to
just 3 days a week, and focus mainly on natural, unprocessed whole foods on all other
days of the week.  This worked for me while losing weight, and continues to work for me
in Maintenance.  But please remember that low-carb treats are still treats and should be
treated as such - and not with every meal, every single day ... or worse, in the place of
meals!  With regard to the ability to do Atkins in a non-U.S. country:  if fresh vegetables
and low-glycemic fruits like berries/melon are made available, as well as adequate, fresh
meats and nuts, then an Atkins lifestyle is entirely and 100% possible.

You should put videos on YouTube!
I did recently add a photo slideshow there, with some never-before-seen "Before" pics,
to further get the word out on this website.  However, as a copyright & creative control
freak, I have no plans to ever upload videos of myself on YouTube.  Free Tip Clips are
included with my Super-Duper Bargain Package, as well as the Atkins Startup, and I am
also available on Skype.

My doctor deems Atkins unhealthful & is convinced my cholesterol will skyrocket.  
What to do?
Actually, studies consistently show that the opposite is true.  In fact, take a look at
mine.  It's so important that physicians be up on the latest studies regarding the actually
quite salubrious low-carbohydrate lifestyle.  But you will also find that some health care
providers are misinformed about the very fundamentals of Atkins!

How should I handle people who tell me Atkins will kill me within a month, or that
their aunt's friend's husband's co-worker's cousin had kidney failure or a heart
attack from this way of eating?
Many anti-Atkins folks make this dramatic statement at some point or another.  
Immediately insist that they offer proof to substantiate their dramatic claims - and
prepare for a dumbfounded expression and no concrete answer with valid proof behind
it.  The fact is, if fallacious statements like these had any true, bona fide veracity, then,
given the ever-rising popularity of low-carb eating in the U.S., half the people in this
country would be on dialysis. It may help to refer uninformed individuals like these to my
website as well, as it provides a wealth of information regarding Atkins.  That said, as
you progress in weight loss while doing Atkins, just remember this unquestionably
accurate equation that will grow truer with every dress size you drop:  Losing Weight By
the Book + Maintaining Goal By the Book + Having a Copy of Your Improved Lipid Profile
On-Hand = Nobody Ever Questions Your Way of Eating or Success.  I absolutely never get
flak about the low-carb way I eat - not ever.  In fact, I leave a good 90% of the people I
speak with in my daily life - male or female, and regardless of whether their weight is
high or low - saying that they're interested in checking out the book for themselves.  
Make it your business to set an excellent low-carb example; it will only benefit you and
the reputation of the Atkins lifestyle.

How do you manage to stay on plan during the holidays year after year?
For one, I stay on plan on Thanksgiving day; in fact, Thanksgiving has been 100% low-carb
for me since Thanksgiving 2003, and I always prepare my standard spread.  However, I do
make Christmas Day a "Fun Day."  No off-limits treats before this day, no off-limits treats
after this day.  Non-negotiable.  As I discuss at more depth elsewhere in this website,
the only rule on a Fun Day, which I began incorporating after having made goal 6+ years
ago, is that I eat whatever I'm craving and stop when I'm full ... no carb-counting
allowed.  Relaxing on Christmas Day - and enjoying once-a-month Fun Days in general -
keeps me from the lame "Woe-is-Me" / "Can't-Have-Anything" mentality both in the
meantime and afterward, and keeps me in a size 1 pair of non-stretch Levi's.  Simply
put:  I continue to do this because it continues to work for me.

Are you an expert?
Probably because it is so obvious that I am not an expert, I have never actually received
this question in an e-mail.  People - be it online or otherwise - approach me for help &
advice on a myriad subjects.  Merely considering myself a sort of "Go-To Girl Next Door," I
have always been more than happy to oblige.  Since I feel I have a true calling & knack for
reaching out to others (women in particular), SFS.com has proven the ultimate vehicle
for me to do so.

I'm reading Atkins Essentials.  It says you can eat low-carb bars, low-carb shakes,
nuts, and more during Induction.  But I'm stalled.  What gives?
Atkins Essentials was written and released January 2004 by the Atkins Center - which
was, of course, after the April 2003 passing of Dr. Robert Atkins.  If you are interested in
the Dr. Atkins-created program, the book actually written by Dr. Robert Atkins and not
by the group that was sold for a reported $500 million shortly after his death, please read
the 2002 edition of Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution.

Is low carb dead?
On the contrary; Atkins is becoming more and more mainstream.  Even more so than
prior to the big "Atkins craze," because now I can order my meals bunless & with extra
helpings of vegetables, or substitutions for vegetables, without the server even batting
an eyelash.  The fact is, Atkins has been around since the early '70's & does not appear to
be going anywhere.  But all in all, who cares if it's "dead" - it's healthy and it works.

Is this website mainly geared towards women?
Yes.  However, for the most part, I do try to keep away from pink backgrounds so as to
not alienate my male site visitors.  Apart from the obvious fashion and beauty aspect of
SFS.com, the information provided herein can appeal to both sexes - and again, I always
reply to all of my visitor e-mails.  So, if your name happens to be Mick, you don't have to
sign your name "Michelle."

Is Atkins bad for the kidneys?
Only with a preexisting kidney condition:  Why Protein is Not Bad For Your Kidneys &
Low Carb, Atkins, & Kidneys

I need someone to talk me into doing Atkins because I just can't seem to get started.  
That's where you come in!  Does it work?  Should I go on Atkins?  No, I haven't read
your the book or your FAQ yet, but have some questions in the meantime while I mull
over doing so ...
I feel it's best to clarify this matter in the top portion of my FAQ.  My time is devoted to
assisting those who've already sold themselves on the program, have read Dr. Atkins'
New Diet Revolution so that they are versed on the fundamentals of what Atkins entails,
as well as this FAQ.  Once you are already on Atkins, I'm here to help for free via e-mail,
IM, text, Twitter, & Facebook.  User Agreement

I use Half-and-Half instead of heavy cream.  Is that okay?
Why use something with reduced fat & added sugar on Atkins?  Please click here and
here to read a bit about the differences among the different types of creams.  By the
way, if you're wondering what my favorite brand is, it's Target's own 32-ounce!  By far
the creamiest I've tried, & the only brand I use.  June '10 update: This has been
discontinued, and I now use organic - which, frankly, I should be anyway!

What are your favorite casual restaurants & what do you order there?
My all-time favorite casual restaurant is Outback Steakhouse.  I'll usually order the 9-oz
filet or 16-oz ribeye, rare, with no seasoning since I'm salt avoider, with an off-the-menu
side called "Loaded Broccoli" (just like a baked potato, but with broccoli instead), &
Caesar salad - no croutons, dressing on the side. (I like lots of extra-virgin olive oil on my
salad & to use the dressing as dip for the steak.)  I eat it all & love it!  

I love making shakes at home.  What are some ideas of what I can use?
You've asked the right girl, because I love making shakes!!  Here are just a few ideas to
get your wheels turning:  I use fruit in my shakes sometimes, & tend to add various
berries, melon, lemons & limes ... as long as a fruit is low-glycemic, I'll use it!  Tofu is a
great add-in to add both girth and volume to a shake, & some brands yield only 4 total
carbohydrates for the entire 12-ounce block.  Woohoo!  (Of course you only need half or
less of the block for one shake, & even that's a ton.)  There are so many more things to
add to a shake to make it great.  Coconut oil (has a butter consistency), coconut cream,
those 3-ounce cream cheese cubes, various oils like macadamia nut, of course
Eggbeaters (use raw eggs at your own risk), protein powders, psyllium husk granules, soy
milk, flax seed meal ... If any of these ingredients sound unfamiliar or you can't find them
at an ordinary supermarket, try your local health food stores or the Internet!

How did you decide on your goal weight?
Since I knew that beyond mere height, females differ in terms of not only age, but
musculature, bone size, & bone density, when it came to setting a definitive, arbitrary
number - especially since I'd never been there in my adult life - I thought better of it.  
Therefore, I planned on knowing when I felt & looked my best once I arrived there.  This
also did wonders for not feeling overwhelmed, because one huge number can be
daunting for anybody - so, I took it just one day and one pound at a time.  Ultimately, I
decided that being under 110 was best for me.  So, how will you know?  Once you catch
yourself in the mirror stepping out of the shower & want to shout, "BRICK HOUSE!" you'll
know you've hit on it.  More on individual ideal weight is discussed further down this
page ...

Thanks for all the recent photos & I love that you are always updating your site.  It
keeps me motivated whenever I want to cheat!
I wanted to be sure & add the above commentary that I very often get in the mail.  
Taking photos is a huge chore, but necessary; I see it as essential that my site visitors
see continual, visual evidence of my ongoing success, because I know that it provides
indisputable proof that low carb success is attainable for not only me, but anybody who
faithfully & consistently adopts the principles outlined in Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution
for life.  To even further reinforce my Atkins testimony, I include scans of my official
body fat reading, as well as my full cholesterol profile.  These readings are far from
unusual for loyal Atkins followers, & are meant to show that if I can do it, ANYONE can.  
Regarding new photos, these can be found throughout the pages of this website - and
sometimes in places you might not expect!

I only have 10 pounds to lose.  Will Atkins work if I'm not really overweight to begin
with?
I'll put it this way:  I didn't stop losing weight 10 pounds short of my goal!

Can I just skip Induction?  I only have 10, 20, 30, 40 pounds to lose.
Pages 121-122 (the first two pages of Chapter 11) of the 2002 edition of Dr. Atkins' New
Diet Revolution elucidate exactly why this first phase is so important.  Ultimately, it is a
judgment call.

Could you tell me what you personally had for breakfast, lunch, & dinner during
Induction?  Give me your whole menu!  Did you watch portions - and do you now?  
What did you eat then?  How do you eat now?
These are far & away my most commonly e-mailed questions.  I'll tell you one thing:  I eat
essentially the same main dishes/entrées now as I did while losing the weight; I've just
incorporated even more portions of vegetables, as well as adding plenty of nuts & low-
glycemic fruits into the equation - and I've always baked low-carb desserts every
weekend as treats!  Regarding portions:  I never restricted the amount of food I ate - I
have always exclusively restricted carbohydrates.  Please see my Original Low-Carb
Recipes Page for lots of free sample Induction & dessert recipes & meal ideas, as these
can very easily be worked into an effective low-carb menu & any phase of Atkins.  I must
have created a million of these recipes on my way to goal!  My Low-Carb Grocery List may
be helpful, too.  In addition, my latest cookbook, Sheila's Super-Simple Low-Carb
Induction Meals, contains 100% original, ALL Induction-friendly recipes, & my dessert
cookbook, Sheila's Super-Simple Low-Carb Desserts, features the low-carb homemade
baked goodies I created & continue to enjoy.

What are your thoughts on the hCG protocol?  
To each his own; but I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole.  I rely on low-carb/low-
glycemic foods & my fitness routine to maintain my low body fat & physique - that's it.  
As stated in my User Agreement, Atkins is the only program to have ever worked for me,
and is therefore the only program of which I am a proponent.

Wait a minute, isn't the USDA Food Pyramid the healthiest, most balanced way to go?
Health expert Jonny Bowden, PhD, C.N.S., put it more beautifully than I ever could:  
"The Food Pyramid is an invention of the U.S. Department of Agriculture [not even by
doctors, but essentially businessmen] in the late 20th century.  Most of the foods on it
did not exist before the invention of agriculture. If the history of the human genus were
a 24-hour clock, agriculture was invented about 5 3/4 minutes ago. On this same clock,
the Food Pyramid is less than 17 seconds old. To assume it is the last word on the best
kind of fuel for the human body is, in my humble opinion, utter folly."  
More proof that low-fat is not all it's cracked up to be?  "Low-Fat Diet Does Not Cut
Health Risks, Study Finds" - New York Times; also, Carbs may be worse for heart than
fatty foods - Diet & Nutrition - MSNBC.com; Why Butter is Better.

Okay . . . is there a Low-Carb Food Pyramid then?
Low-Carb Food Pyramid

Isn't low-carbing super-expensive?
The key to spending the least amount of money on groceries as a low-carber is to make
sure that you replace your poor habits of buying processed foods, rather than add on to
them.  The question should be, rather, "Doesn't high-carb junk food get expensive if
you're trying to eat healthfully by low-carbing?"  Coupons help, as does buying meats in
bulk at wholesale markets like Sam's & Costco.

I sometimes get leg cramps at night.  Any suggestions?
It's very likely potassium you're lacking.  Scroll down around to the middle of this page for
some great low-carb sources of potassium.  

What can be done about "Keto Breath"?
I never had it personally because I ate all of the allotted vegetables (nothing worse for a
person's breath than a diet of just meats & cheeses!), & have found this issue typically
also stems from consuming excessive amounts of protein - so, please remember, as it
bears repeating, that Atkins is not a high-protein diet, but an adequate protein, low
carb way of eating.  Also be wary of even the slightest dehydration.  Since halitosis -
rancid breath - comes from the inside of the stomach as well as from odoriferous bacteria
which breeds in the mouth, it's probably best to work from there:  try adding not only
more vegetables, but also some natural lemon juice to your water as a double-whammy
tactic to get your breath as pleasant as possible.  Also, of course avoid cigarettes and
mouthwash, as the alcohol in the latter only serves to dry the mouth out ... thus starting
the nasty breath cycle all over again!

I'm on Induction & love to try new entrées.  What is something cool & different for
dinner?
Buffalo steaks!  Such a nice change from beef.  Similar in taste, & not at all gamey.  
These can be found at various health food stores & premium supermarkets.  Also,
roasting a duck or turkey breast provides a wonderful change from chicken & tastes
wonderful.

I know I should avoid trans fats, but what exactly are they?  Where do I find them?
Trans fats are found in foods made or cooked with hydrogenated vegetable oil, &
deemed by the FDA as more than twice as unhealthful as saturated fat.
Below are some great informational links:
Trans Fats 101
Special Report: Trans Fats - Top Ten Foods To Avoid
Fat Facts: Trans Fats and Saturated Fats Are Not the Same
Ban Trans Fats
There's even a tiny bit in ordinary peanut butter - so small, in fact, that it doesn't even
legally register in each serving size.  However, if you're a purist looking for ordinary
peanut butter with no partially hydrogenated oils whatsoever, here are some great
brands:  Crazy Richard's Peanut Butter, Adams Peanut Butter, President's Choice Peanut
Butter, Smucker's All Natural, Laura Scudder's, Publix store brand, & the Kroger
supermarket store brand.
My own personal take on trans fats?  If you are a true Atkins follower (in other words,
you treat man-made foods as what they are: treats not to be enjoyed with every single
meal!) & eat mainly whole, real foods like meats, vegetables, nuts, and low-glycemic
fruits, you will find that the whole issue of trans fats simply is not a worry for you the
way it is for someone on a low-fat diet.  Proof:  observe closely what low-fat dieters
eat.  Chances are their diet consists of many processed, reduced or non-fat foods not
found in nature.  Do the trans fat links above reflect the foods a true Atkins dieter
consumes on a daily basis?

I see milk isn't allowed on Atkins.  Great, there goes my calcium.
Au contraire!  Scroll down about 40%:  Calcium Sources

How long does it usually take the body to get into ketosis after starting Atkins?
It ranges, of course, but I would expect anywhere from 1-4 days.  For me personally, it
took 2-3.

How much did you lose during Induction?  
7 pounds the first two weeks.  I remained on "loose" Induction until I made goal -
meaning I incorporated natural peanut butter every night, & enjoyed low-carb baked
desserts on the weekends - and it took me 5 months to get there.  Once I got there, I
added approximately 5 carbohydrates per week to my daily menu until I hit my 90-110-
gram limit for Maintenance.  I've been maintaining my goal weight since late 2001!

What have you been having for breakfast lately?
Lots of omelets.  When rushed, this is the best thing in the world since I've always loved
them & they take just 10 minutes to make - and this breakfast is Induction-friendly, too,
by the way!  I like onions, bell peppers, garlic, white cheddar cheese, mushrooms,
tomatoes, avocado, & sausage in mine.  Stuffed to the brim!

Aside from measurements, scale losses, & your clothes feeling looser, at what point
did you begin seeing results in the mirror?
I would say it took a good, solid month to begin noticing a reduction in size & body fat.  
Also, given the fact that it's difficult for anyone to really see such gruelingly gradual
changes in themselves amid even consistent weight loss, it helped that I made a habit of
taking periodic Polaroids of myself in the mirror, wearing nothing.  Polaroids provided for
me a much more objective, accurate gauge of my progress, & I highly recommend doing
this.  If you're bashful, don't be - it's you!  Simply hide the photographs if you prefer that
no one else sees them.  That said, I can't say I recommend pasting them onto your fridge
unless you live alone!

What is your body fat percentage?  
13.92%.  I was tested at this percentage 4 times in a row for absolute accuracy at the
Dallas Cooper Clinic via hydrostatic (underwater) weighing in 2004 & 2005.  I don't trust
calipers or those silly body fat scales, as these two methods merely rely on stats &
averages to essentially "guess" at one's body fat, rather than giving you a true, definitive
number.  (Calipers are consistently about 3-7% off the mark for me, regardless of who
does the measurement.)  Hydrostatic weighing is the true gold standard if you want
accuracy!  To read up more on the different means of body fat testing, click here.

On Induction, how come veggies like peas, corn, & potatoes aren't allowed?
These actually aren't vegetables at all; peas are legumes, corn is a grain, & potatoes are
root-tubers - and rather starchy at that!  Here is an interesting link.

Isn't this diet unhealthy?  It's NO carbs, right?  Don't you eat a ton of protein, & isn't
this awful for the kidneys?
First of all, Atkins isn't "no-carb."  In fact, it isn't even a high-protein or a program
particularly high in fat - but rather a low-carbohydrate way of life.  Those who gorge on
fat or protein on Atkins do so entirely of their own accord.  One might confuse Atkins
with a program called Stillman's - which is markedly distinctive from Atkins.  Regarding
Atkins & low-carbing in general, check out this incredibly informative New York Times
article "What If It's All Been a Big Fat Lie?"  This way of eating is unhealthful only if done
incorrectly - simple as that.  By eliminating all of the unnecessary garbage from your diet
(simple sugars & starches), you are, in essence, "forced" to eat a plethora of fruits &
vegetables every day in addition to lean meats & nuts.  "How I Became a Low-Carb
Believer."

All of that fat cannot be good.  What about cholesterol & heart disease?
"Scientists Say Fatty Diet Not Linked To Stroke Risk"
The Guardian:  "Let Them Eat Cake, Butter, Cream ... "
Myths About Nutrition
Note:  For the record, I have never shunned fat since the day I started Atkins.  Doing so
would be counterproductive, according to the book. Again, I refer you to my lipid /
cholesterol profile.

Is margarine a better choice?
Not at all - and the trans fat issue with respect to margarine is only the beginning.  Why
Butter Is Better

What about gout?
This should help you get started.

What was your personal turning point?  What made you finally make the decision to
lose weight?
Now this is where my story might differ a bit from the ordinary success story:  the thing
is, I'd always wanted to lose the extra weight I carried, & was forever putting in an
extraordinary amount of consistent effort to make this happen.  Motivation was never
my problem, as I've always been super-enthused about whatever I put my mind to.  As
you can see from this website, I do nothing halfway.  The problem at hand was that I
just didn't drop any weight with whatever I tried - low-calorie, moderate-calorie, low-fat
- and I need to make clear the fact that I've exercised regularly & consistently since the
5th grade.  Always 30-60 minutes of brisk walking on the treadmill - but now I do 20-25.  
(My dad is a marathon-runner & very into fitness, so the mentality rubbed off a bit!)  I
actually envied the yo-yo dieters, because at least they lost the weight to begin with!  
But I stumbled across Atkins again in mid-2001, did it correctly this time around, & boom
... the weight was off in 5 months. I have finally, finally found what works, & I will never
turn back.  Who would have thought eating like this would actually be enjoyable as well?

I'd like to see some more Before/During photos of you!
You got it - click here!

I'm eating low-carb bars, low-carb shakes, nuts, & I'm stalling. Why?
Keep in mind that if you're doing Atkins, it's best to consume nuts during the Pre-
Maintenance stage.  The following, while great for Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL), Pre-
Maintenance, or Maintenance, have been known to cause stalls due to either excessive
salt, preservatives (nitrates/nitrites), or fake sweeteners like saccharin or aspartame:  
deli meats, imitation cheeses, nuts, pork rinds, low-carb shake mixes, Sugar-Free JELL-O,
& low-carb bars.  KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetie) & you'll lose rapidly.  This has
unequivocally been my key to long-term success of since 2001: I treat low-carb treats as
treats & keep foods pure & whole at least 75% of the time.  Remember, Atkins is
qualitative rather than quantitative, & about "cleaning it all up," so keep it natural!  
Frustrated about nixing the nuts & sweet potatoes just for now?  Don't be.  Take
comfort in the fact that what stalls you now will rather comfortably maintain you later!

Did you count fat and/or calories?  Portions?
Never - and as someone who has a huge appetite & can put away more than most men, I
still don't ... won't.  Since Atkins is about restricting carbohydrates & provides for me all
the fat-burning edge I need, I never found any additional monitoring necessary.  In fact,
I doubled my caloric intake & increased my fat intake after starting Atkins.  My daily
cardio (treadmill walking) has always been the same since around the age of 10, & I never
lost any weight by keeping my calories at anywhere from 1000 to 1800; however, my
weight dropped just as soon as I limited my carbohydrates & increased my calories two-
fold.  So now, understandably, carbs are all I ever pay attention to.  It keeps things
simple anyway - and I never make something simple complicated.

What do you say to the naysayers?
I can say that since 2001, I've only had maybe one or two total - and there is a reason for
that.  Let's say there is a lifestyle such as veganism that you do not happen to agree with
simply because it is not your own personal preference.  If you came across a vegan who
used to be overweight years ago, but lost & has since maintained this weight loss
through the vegan lifestyle, has a stellar lipid profile, low blood pressure, has a low body
fat & is physically fit, hasn't had a cold in years, does in fact consume adequate protein
& plenty of vegetables, calories, & fat, has doctor's approval, and is energetic ... would
you feel inclined to sit him down to tell him that what he's doing isn't working?  
Naysayers do not tend to bother preaching to success stories - and even less so with
long-term ones - and you can avoid these thorns in your side too if you stick with Atkins
to goal and for life.  The only time this might prove a bit difficult is in the beginning days
- and family, friends, and co-workers will take you seriously if you take your own efforts
seriously, by following this program without apology & with a non-negotiable mindset.  I
cannot stress this enough - it is key.

Can you recommend any websites that feature various weight calculators?  
You will have a blast on this page.

I'm a runner or want to start running.  Do I need lots of bread products and sugar for
energy in order to do so?
The Correct Nutrition For Athletes

I'd like to see what other men & women look like at different heights & weights.
http://www.cockeyed.com/photos/bodies/heightweight.shtml

I'm trying to avoid salt.  Any suggestions for a decent substitute?
Oh, sure!  NuSalt is not only a tasty, no-sodium salt substitute, but the very high
potassium content (over half a gram in a tiny 1/6-teaspoon serving) might help those of
you who suffer from unfortunate leg cramps.  On the potassium front:  as you become
acclimated with the Atkins lifestyle, you'll discover potassium-rich vegetable sources like
acorn & butternut squash, artichokes, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, rutabaga ...
you'll get the hang of it!

My ketosis sticks don't come up the deepest purple - should I be concerned if I
measure only pink or "Trace"?
Being in ketosis is much like being pregnant or dead:  plainly put, you either are or you
aren't.  If you measure "Trace," you're every bit in ketosis as someone who is in "deep
purple" - which can sometimes mean you're not getting enough water.  So, drink up!

Doing this website thing since 2001, do you ever get any head-scratchers - questions
that completely throw you?
Two.  The first is when someone e-mails me, says they like my site (which ups the
chances they know this FAQ exists), then asks if I have any tips. The second is when
someone writes to me, establishes that they have already read the book & fully
understand how the program works, they've seen and/or printed out the finite list of
allowable foods for Induction ... then they ask: "So, how do I get started?" I'm so left-
brained & literal, I have no idea how to answer this.  By eating?

Okay, I know how to get started because I've done this thing before - and I know
from the past that Atkins works because that's how I've lost it in the past.  But I just
can't seem to get started  - and when I do, I can only stick with it for a few days ...
The fact that you know upfront that Atkins works, yet you are not willing to stick with
the plan long enough to let it work, means that you are simply not ready yet - because
when you are, nothing can stop you.  Period.  When it gets right down to brass tacks,
the only person who can motivate you is you.  Let the rewards you reap be the
motivation you seek.

Do you know if birth control pills might hinder my diligent weight loss efforts?
Good question!  They never affected me personally.  Here is a link for more info.  While it
is from a website geared more towards teens, I found its brief elaboration on the topic
to be very helpful.

Did you use diet or energy pills/fat-burners/carb-blockers/laxatives at any time?
Absolutely not, out of sheer principle.  I simply do not believe in them - and they defeat
the purpose of this way of eating anyway.  Low-carbing gives you all the fat-burning
edge you need to lose excess weight.  In addition, I don't believe in water pills (since
low-carb eating is a diuretic in & of itself), or energy supplements, or herbal supplements
either, as I don't see them as necessary.

What is your favorite nut butter?
Organic, sodium-free macadamia nut butter (health food stores).  Only 3 total carbs for 2
tablespoons.  It just tastes seductive, & is hands-down my favorite nut butter.  Well,
cashew butter & sunflower seed butter both come as a close second!

I miss Miracle Whip!
Simply add a packet of Splenda to your regular mayonnaise.  It's almost as if you are
getting away with something!  I always have my bunless burgers, tuna salad, and Boar's
Head low-sodium meat-and-cheese rollups this way.

Are you familiar with the Real Age books by Michael Roizen?  If so, may I ask what
your "Real Age" is?  
Yes, I like his books, his innovative concepts, and sound health & lifestyle advice!  Plus,
Dr. Oz is a doll.  In fact, I take the full version of the Real Age test around once a year -
and as of late July 2010, my "Real Age" is 21.9 - Generation Y girl here!  (Disclosing this
result is pretty personal, albeit appropriate, as the test is based solely on family history
& lifestyle choices.)  New questions to this quiz are added from time to time to make
the test more thorough, and it's fun to take!  For more information, please click here.

I'm in the UK, and don't really know what to look for in terms of the "heavy cream"
you talk about.
One of the very first things I always do in foreign countries is head straight to the largest
local supermarket to see what all is there.  Every time, it is redundantly reconfirmed that
one may follow Atkins there - and I hope it is of some comfort to my visitors from around
the world that I've yet to see an exception.  After all, this is pretty basic eating!  So, in
reference to the heavy cream I am such a big fan of, which I like to stock up on and keep
in the mini-fridge for later:  I looked for this recently at Tesco in southern England, and
when I did not spot it straight off, I stopped a few shoppers and described exactly what
I was looking for:  full-fat cream appropriate for whipping and/or coffee.  Not half-and-
half, not "lite" cream, not non-dairy creamer, and not anything that has been sweetened
with sugar - and they kindly pointed me in the right direction.  (This is a bit more
challenging when in a country where English is not the official spoken language, but I
manage!!)  I saw the Tesco-brand Double Cream, Single Cream, and Whipping Cream.  I
already am a regular buyer of Double Cream at home and love it (it's sort of similar to
Mexican Table Cream but not coffee-appropriate, as it curdles, however is great for dips
and desserts), and since the very low-carbohydrate content of the Tesco's Single Cream
and Whipping Cream matched, and I did not know what to make of the "Single Cream," I
just purchased both.  While the Single Cream tasted good and fared just fine in coffee in
a pinch, it remained milky-thin even after beating.  Thus the verdict was obvious and as I
expected given the latter's name:  the Tesco Whipping Cream was the one to really
thicken up beautifully.  How beautifully?  Well, if you beat it long enough, you can turn it
upside-down over someone's head & feel confident about nothing coming out - yet it
doesn't curdle in coffee like Double Cream or Mexican Table Cream.  As far as coffee-
appropriate cream goes, I think that's pretty fabulous.  For further reference on the
various types of cream, click here!

I have a leg/ankle/knee/hip injury and am concerned about doing my cardio.  What
can I do?
Discuss with your doctor the possibility of temporarily implementing the Arm Ergometer
machine.  I've seen them at various gyms through the years.  This could very well be your
saving grace in the meantime as you recuperate!  

Is ketosis dangerous?
No; many confuse ketosis with ketoacidosis:  Ketosis/Ketoacidosis  

I'm an athlete.  I NEED tons of carbs!  So, ketosis - or even Atkins - probably isn't for
me.
The human metabolic response to chronic ketosis without caloric restriction:
preservation of submaximal exercise capability with reduced carbohydrate

Any more tips on getting in my fluids?
I am not a water purist - though my hat's off to those who are!  After discovering on a
cruise last year that their iced tea is Lipton Instant Decaf Unsweetened Tea Mix & tastes
wonderful, I had to partake in that after returning home because it really helps me stay
hydrated!  I prefer my tea strong, so this is how I make it in a gallon pitcher at a time:  1
cup of the tea mix with half a Splenda QuickPack, which is at Big Lots for a dollar each.  I
drink this tea out of a 25-ounce cup - and through a straw to save my teeth.  (We all
know what coffee & tea can do to teeth!)  This gallon lasts me at least 24 hours.  If you
give it a try, let me know if you like it!

What about alcohol?  I'll just die if I could never have another drink!!
I can't say that I'll be a huge help in this department, because I don't drink.  However,
there are plenty of Light beers out there, and they are all low carb.  Low-Carb Beer
Comparison Chart  Also, another word about alcohol:  the body follows an "order of
priority" when it comes to fuel-burning:  alcohol (easiest to burn), followed by protein,
carbohydrates, then fat.  This is why it might be best during weight loss to go easy on
the alcohol.  Beer Alcohol Content & Carbs in Beer

Did you ever keep a food journal?
I'm just way too no-nonsense for that.  Even though this seems to be a fairly popular
thing to do, I've never viewed keeping written track of everything I eat as necessary, or
even interesting.  I mind my carb grams & that's it.

I live outside the U.S. and would love to make all of your recipes, but am accustomed
to the metric system.  Help!
Here you go!  I use this website all the time for a multitude of purposes, and it never lets
me down.

I find I'm eating the same meals and cooking the same types of food over and over
again because I'm just not a creative cook - and it is getting so boring.  Plus, food
always tastes better at restaurants, so I'm always tempted to just say, "Forget it!"
and just dine out all the time.  That can get pretty expensive!
You're not kidding!  Allow me to say here & now that I am not a professional chef, I can't
chop celery 1,000 miles a minute, & am by no means a culinary virtuoso. However, I am
creative in the kitchen & am always discovering possibilities, means of duplicating high-
carb fare into low-carb, & a multitude of ways to prepare foods I love.  The Atkins menu
is essentially limitless - after all, we're ultimately only eliminating starches & foods with
added sugars here!  The tremendous amount of food options can thus become a bit
overwhelming, particularly for those just starting out.  For more meal ideas on what to
eat, peruse cookbooks low-carb or otherwise (as this lifestyle is practical & workable!),
as well as Atkins-friendly menus & recipes on the Internet. You'll see a bunch & they can
really help!  
** My best advice if you hate to cook will follow - and I promise it is the easiest way to
throw something together.  Chances are, it is just the conventional oven you find
tedious; but rest assured, you can work around this predicament.  So, consider buying a
stovetop grill!  With a stovetop grill, you can of course even cook two things at once if
another member of your family wants something else that evening.  Sometimes I would
prefer not to get out the big fancy grill every time I wish to whip up a filet, bunless
burger, scrumptious pork or beef ribs, salmon, etc.  Having a "makeshift" grill onhand in
the meantime has been a downright lifesaver for me.  If you have trouble thinking
outside the box, I can assure you that virtually every one of your favorite restaurant-
style entrées is always doable with a stovetop grill.
P.S:  Even the cleanup is a breeze!

What did you have for breakfast during Induction?  Lunch & dinner?
Breakfast: I had my shake recipe - even safe during Induction, as are my original,
Induction-safe Cream Cheese Pancakes!  Often I had leftovers from the previous night's
dinner.
Lunch & dinner: I always stuck with the basics: meats & the allotted veggies.  For
instance, for lunch, I would often have my "Sheila's Sweetballs" with a big helping of
green beans or spinach, or a large chicken salad with REGULAR Ranch dressing &
shredded cheese.  At restaurants, Caesar salads are great . . . also, consider ordering
fajitas sans tortillas - or, better yet, ask for large Romaine lettuce leaves to serve as
makeshift tortillas!  These are just a few examples; the choices are seemingly limitless.

I'm not crazy about fish, but know I should eat it for the Omega benefits.  Any
Induction-friendly ideas with a lower level of mercury?
Yes!  I have Spence & Co. Smoked Salmon Pinwheels as a snack pretty often - just under
4 carbs for the whole thing.  Sometimes I have one of these for breakfast if I'm in a rush.  
You can find them at health food stores & premium supermarkets.  Salmon sashimi with
California avocado slices is another dish I have pretty often as well.

How many carbs are in Sugar-Free DaVinci syrups?
A visitor of this website was kind enough to forward to me the following reply from the
company itself:  "There are 4 grams in a 750 ml bottle. It would average about 1.33 carbs
per cup used."

What is your favorite diet soda?
TaB - in fact, it's the only kind of diet cola I would ever keep in the house. (I've not kept
any sodas in the house since late '06, but do enjoy them while dining out.)  I regularly
get the Route 44 unsweetened iced tea from Sonic, and their Diet Limeade is also good.  
Aside from TaB, my general preference for diet soda is anything clear and/or fruity.

I quit smoking a year ago, but still find it necessary to chew Nicorette now and then
to curb my cravings.  How many carbs does Nicorette gum have?  
The 2 mg Nicorette® Fruit Chill™ contains 0.59 grams of carbs per piece, and the 4 mg
Nicorette® Fruit Chill™ contains 0.58 grams per piece. One of my visitors contacted the
company directly and was thoughtful enough to share this information with me..

I see that you like shirataki noodles.  Where do you find them?  Also, do you have any
recipes to jazz them up?
Believe it or not, I love my shirataki noodles prepared simply, just as I did with my pasta
pre-Atkins:  I douse a nice big bowl of them with butter and grated Parmesan, and add
some fresh garlic.  But if you are in the mood to experiment, these recipes might be of
interest.  P.S:  An 8-ounce bag of these noodles contains only 6 total carbs!

What if my friends, family, spouse, or coworkers don't support the way I eat?  What
if I'm criticized?  What if I'm not doing what everyone else is doing?  It's affecting
my progress.
First, consider this:  do you actually need support for this to begin with?  If others
approve of the way you eat, dress, vote, or worship, fabulous!  But it certainly isn't
requisite.  Listen, if there were ever intense training for a degree in Quit-Caring, it's
Atkins. The best recipe for a lifetime of unhappiness and failure?  Living and dying for
others' approval!  The solution?  Focus on your own approval.   There is nothing
more emancipating in life than living by this credo - not to mention the sign of a true,
independent-thinking, confident leader.  After all, has anyone you've ever admired in life
represented anything less?  When it comes to dealing with falsehood-based arguments
("You're going to die on Atkins!" / "I could never eat all that bacon" / "It'll never last.  
You'll quit then gain it all back!" etc.), quickly correct them and move on.  (I'm going to
go out on a limb here and presume that others don't stop you for your nod of approval
for the fast food, vegan, kosher, salt-free, macrobiotic, or gluten-free meal they just
ate; so don't feel obligated to explain or apologize for your food choices - much less allow
yourself to be sidetracked by your critics.)  Clarifying their own misinformation-based
judgments is above and beyond your call of duty as it is, and good for you if you quickly
take the time to do so.  In the meantime, keep your nose to the grindstone and do what
you have to do with a non-negotiable mindset. You'll get there and will be all the happier
and more confident for it.  Before long, they'll be asking you for advice. Watch.

What about Atkins and autism?
Below is some discussion.  Should you have any additional links to contribute, please
send them along and I would be happy to add them here.
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=55
http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/health-medical-issues/

I'm starting Induction tomorrow & don't know what to do.  I don't have the book &
don't have time to read it anyway. Hey, can you have chocolate cake & candy on
Induction?  Are potatoes allowed?  How long is Induction?
I'll save you the blood, sweat, & tears you'll inevitably have to endure later by saying:
GET THE BOOK. Please do know that having to read this book is absolutely unavoidable.  
In the meantime, print out the Rules of Induction & tape it to your fridge for when you
get confused.  It answers all of what I call the "Emergency Induction Questions" you'll
have until you get the book.  You'll get the hang of it!

But I already see from your grocery list & the Induction link basically what I have to
eat. Should it matter that I don't know how & why it works, as long as I just lose the
weight?   
Of course it matters!  It's your body - your most valuable asset!  Remember this rule of
thumb:  if you attempt to embark on a very major, life-changing program like Atkins &
you don't know what you're doing because you haven't read the book on how/why it
works, as well as what you should/shoudn't eat, then you will be doing the program
incorrectly - and if you do the program incorrectly, then you won't be doing Atkins.  
Doing Atkins without having read the book is very much like wanting to try out Bikram
("Hot") Yoga - but you don't find it necessary to take a class or get a video or book to
learn about the fundamentals of the practice.  So, instead, you just turn up the heat in
your bedroom & do a bunch of random stretches on your bed for 10 minutes a day & call
it Bikram Yoga.  Then, after a few weeks when you see no results, you'll tell your friends
that Yoga is ineffective.  Okay, are you laughing yet?  Please read the book!!

Hi, Sheila!  I promise I've read the book, but it is just too much trouble for me to
think about what to eat beyond the sample recipes provided on your Original Recipes
Page, and I don't know what to do with the foods listed in the Printout Grocery List,
and on the Induction list.  So, would you mind spending a few hours making me all
the menus I'll ever need from here on out?
This is meant to be humorous, but I actually do get this request from time to time.  
Sorry, I don't write out menus!

I have issues with portion control when it comes to peanut butter.  Any suggestions?
Well, the Justin's Organic Peanut Butter Squeeze Pack is one great option, found at
health food stores.  Each packet contains one ounce of USDA certified, no sugar added,
trans fat-free peanut butter (7 total carbs) and also comes in Cinnamon, Pumpkin Pie,
and Honey flavors.  The very rare times I have a chocolate low-carb bar, I'll add a pack of
one of these peanut butters to the top - tastes great!  

What is the absolute lowest carb chocolate you have come across?
Lindt 99% Dark Chocolate at 13 total carbs for the entire 50 gram bar - and 6 grams of
fiber.  I'm actually not a huge fan of dark chocolate, but thought this was definitely
alright-tasting!  My chocolate cravings hit the road after eating this, that's for sure!

Ever considered starting a low-carb blog?
I gave it a halfhearted go for a short time, but it just wasn't for me.  I don't even read
blogs, to be honest.

Ever considered adding a message board to this website?
I tried it for a while - it wasn't for me.

What do you do?
This is what I do.

How do you get to travel?
Just like anyone else.  But it is my life's passion!

What do you think of the South Beach Diet?
Given the fact that I lost my weight - and keep it off - by doing Atkins, I am solely an
Atkins proponent.  That said, I am about as biased as they come on this one!  But please
allow me to make mention here something very consistent I hear from those who've lost
a few preliminary pounds and ultimately stall on the 2003 South Beach Diet, then switch
over to the 1972 tried-and-true Atkins program:  "South Beach is twice as restrictive:  it's
low-carb AND low-fat!" and/or "South Beach is just like Atkins ... but without the weight
loss!"  Many people - usually who haven't even read Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution &
thus don't have any real basis for true comparison to begin with - inaccurately tout this
2003 diet as a healthier alternative to Atkins simply because the former coincides with
the USDA's perpetual recommendation of "low-fat."  What so many people find out after
a month or two on "The South Beach Diet" is what Dr. Robert Atkins had been saying all
along:  shunning fat while low-carbing is not only completely unnecessary, but actually
counterproductive.  Why?  Fat - and yes, even saturated fat - is only our foe when
consumed with an excess of carbohydrates.  Again, I urge you to read the book, as it
goes into more thorough, exhaustive explanation and detail on the fat issue than I could
ever have room for on this page!

What do you know about Atkins & low-carbing with respect to candida or yeast
infections?
Dr. Robert Atkins does go into the matter of candida albicans in Dr. Atkins' New Diet
Revolution - specifically in Chapter 25.  Here is a quick link as an introduction to yeast
reactions, and how a low carbohydrate lifestyle may benefit you.

Did losing weight boost your self-esteem?
While I have always had a good, healthy self-concept in general, my weight without a
doubt was a major source of frustration for me.  It put such a damper not in terms of
what others may or may not have thought about my body (which is of zero consequence
to me), but what I felt about it - and how I felt in it.  But yes, I do feel so much better
now:  more fit, healthier, more exuberant, and even more confident than before, and
wish to do my best in showing others that it's possible.  You just need to improve from
the inside out!

I would like to learn more about additives and artificial ingredients.
Please click here for CSPI's Guide to Food Additives.

What do you think of The Blood Type Diet by Peter J. Dadamo, ND?
I did give it a try (yes, this one among many others through the years!) back in 2000 for
about 2 months, following the program to the letter, and with the same regular treadmill-
walking cardio I'd always done.  According to the book, as a Type A (Positive), I should
eat a mainly vegetarian diet:  high-carb, low-protein.  Obviously the Type O program (low-
carbohydrate) would have benefited me much better. I also cannot help but notice that
the Type O dieters seem to be the ones who fare best on the Blood Type Diet - likely
because carb restriction works for so many people!  However, eating this Type A way
caused me personally to put on about 10 pounds.  So, is this program a good one, and
does it have its merits?  It is best to ask your doctor.

Are you available in person?  Are you ever in my town?  Can we meet for lunch or
something?  Are you on Skype?
Here is more info on getting me in Real Time.

I'm having my wisdom teeth pulled soon.  What should I eat?
I had all four removed in the summer of 2004, & really, the whole experience was a
breeze.  Make sure to keep your foods soft as you recover.  My meals consisted of a lot
of Mock Mash and plenty of thoroughly steamed vegetables like squash and zucchini with
olive oil and butter.  Salmon was so easy to eat, and I recall being very thankful for it.  
Think of easy-to-chew berries and incorporate them into 4% cottage cheese for plenty of
fiber and protein.  The FAGE Total Greek Yogurt I first discovered in '06 is another great
workable snack.  Mock pumpkin cheesecake is yet another thing to get you through the
layup.  But remember, as tempting as shakes sound right now, no sucking on straws!  

Today is my third day of Induction and I have no energy and feel just listless and this
brain fog is really getting to me.  Will this last forever?
For the first few days of Induction, many feel lethargic, listless, and riddled with brain
fog and even irritability, as this is likely your body's means of ridding itself of the sugars
and starchy carbohydrates to which it has grown so accustomed.  Extract them from the
equation, and your body is going to be wondering where on earth its Unleaded fuel has
suddenly gone!  But now, you are loading up your body with whole, fresh foods -
Premium fuel - and it will take a few days before your body "catches up," so to speak.  
But please know that if you are following the program as per Dr. Atkins' New Diet
Revolution to the letter (pages 140-142), it will pass - and in a few days, you will have
more energy than you know what to do with!  Mark my word.

If you meet someone who doesn't low-carb, do you give them a hard time about it?
Not a chance.  As I state upfront in my User Agreement, I am not an Atkins Recruiter.  At
the risk of sounding blasé, I would not benefit in any way from talking people into doing
Atkins - I'm not on Atkins Nutritionals' payroll, and simply don't concern myself with what
others do anyway.  If someone is merely curious about the way I eat, that is fine; I will
discuss it in a few sentences and refer them to my website if they wish to know more.  
However!  Should someone be interested in Atkins for themselves and have questions
about this program, I always make myself available to help in any way I can, and devote a
lot more time that way.  But I am never the one to bring it up or heaven forbid shame
someone for not eating the way I do - e.g., "Goodness, Mary - do you know how many
carbs that potato has??" etc.  Not my style.

What's the carb count for almonds?  Green beans?  A banana?
I love this website:  USDA Nutrient Database

Ugh, I have no idea what to get at the grocery store.
Problem solved!  Click here for a complete printout list of healthy, low-carb food staples.

Are avocados permitted on Induction?
Yes - these, along with olives, sour cream, and lemon/lime juice, are what Dr. Atkins
cites as "special category" foods for Induction (page 129).  That said, make sure to stick
with just half a small avocado a day, add the carbs into your daily count ... and I
personally choose California over Florida, as the carbohydrate count is slightly lower.  
Also, would you believe the California Avocado Commission quoted me of all people on
avocados, alongside literary giants like the New York Post and Vegetarian Times?  Click
here to check it out.

If I lose weight on Atkins, then go off it by going back to my old eating habits, will I
gain back the weight?
COUNT ON IT. The same thing will also happen with diet center programs, vegetarianism,
or any other way of eating that you stop abruptly & revert to your old, unhealthful way
of eating that made you heavy to begin with.  It's important to know that this is a way of
life - not a diet.  Are you ready to make that commitment?

I miss my coffee.  We can't have caffeine, right?  What can I get at Starbucks?
I allow coffee, & usually make my own at home.  But sometimes I go to Starbucks and get
a "Tall [Small] House Blend with 1 ounce heavy whipping cream [never Half-and-Half], and
1 packet of Splenda."  A little ground cinnamon is good, too. If I'm in the mood for
something cold that day (and I usually am!), I then ask for a large cup of ice and straw.  
Simply transfer the coffee to the cup of ice and voilà:  sweet, creamy iced coffee.  So,
why not simply order iced coffee and save yourself the trouble?  I tried it once:  it was
twice as expensive and I got less than half the coffee.  Make sure your tally is around
$1.62 and that you are not charged 55 cents for the shot of heavy cream. (Sometimes the
cashier is a new person or they forget!)  For after Induction?  Lattes have steamed milk;
so if you're really craving one, order a Breve Latte, which is made with half-and-half
(lesser of the 2 evils).  Starbucks carb counts are here.

I have no willpower.  I don't know if I can do this.  What was your motivation as you
lost the weight?
The mirror, and the fact that I never start something I don't finish.  With respect to
motivation, what it gets right down to it is this:  do you want it or not?  You absolutely
must decide which it is you want more:  improved health and a better physique ... or
that hot fudge sundae.  But if you're trying to lose & find you just have to cheat, do it
nude, sitting slumped down in front of a full-length mirror - as nothing speaks the truth
like your own reflection.  For even more effect, do it in a pair of jeans that are a size or
two too small.  Or, as a softer approach, try timing your workouts at night rather than in
the morning.  The last thing you'll want to do is nosh on junk food right after you get
back home from the gym!

I have read the book and have read through your website.  I understand what I'm
supposed to eat, but as a busy mom/student/full-time worker, there is just NOT time
enough to cook every single night.  What do you suggest?
Well, do what I did!  As I was finishing university, I was an incredibly busy student
attending classes 21 hours a week, writing my second cookbook, constantly writing long
papers, reading material for all 7 classes, and studying for exams outside of the 21 hours a
week.  I also tutored, edited other students' papers for free, I was writing a column at
the time, and fit in regular cardio most days of the week, as well as resistance training
and abdominal work 3 mornings a week.  Meanwhile, I managed to stay Atkins-legal and
my husband, who does not do Atkins, came home to his favorite home-cooked dinners
most nights of the week.  How did I do it?  Where there's a will, there's a way:  I set
aside enough time 2-3 days/nights a week where I would just cook up a storm.  (Some of
the meals in regular rotation are on my Low-Carb Recipes Page.)  I made "sectioned"
disposable Tupperware and plastic-ware my best friends, as I took them along to school
every day - let's just say the cafeteria food there wasn't for me at all.  This system kept
me fit, my husband happy, and everything in line.  Which leads to the next question ...

But my husband doesn't low carb.  Neither do my kids.  Do I have to cook 3 separate
dinners every night?
Absolutely, positively not.  My husband does not follow Atkins, yet we enjoy dinner
together every night.  How is this possible?  You see, it is only the side dishes that differ
between us - not the main dishes - so, this makes dinner a snap.  For example, if I cook
boneless beef ribs (which I do at least once a week), I'll have a big salad or seasoned
green beans with it.  He may have something else.  So, really, dinner preparations prove
to be no hassle at all - and frankly, if you ask me, whoever does all the cooking and
baking rules the roost in terms of what is served.  You decide the one main dish on the
table every night.  Keep things simple!

I'm on Induction.  I know this food or that recipe ingredient is not cited in the finite
Induction list, but I can I have it?  Is this or that food okay?
These are what I call "Food Permission E-mails," something I do not offer, and cannot
offer.  Here is the finite list of allowable foods for Induction - beyond this list, it's a
judgment call, and your mileage may vary.  What about beyond Induction?  For what it's
worth, I stick to foods that are as low on the glycemic index as possible - I have a big
appetite, so this ensures my ability to maximize portions for my individual 90-110 gram
limit.  The next question is a related one ...

Can I eat this?  Will I stall if I drink that?
There is absolutely no way for me to know this.  My best advice?  Assess the ingredients
and nutrition of said food, consider the Atkins phase you are attempting as well as your
Critical Carbohydrate Level for Losing (CCLL), and make the call.  It gets easier, promise!

If I hear "just a bite won't kill you" one more time, I'll scream.  How do you make
your family and friends "get it"?
That's just it - you don't.  It doesn't matter if anyone else "gets it"; these are your
choices.  However, if you mean, "How can I get my friends & family to take me
seriously?" then there's only one way, & that is sticking with it & being consistent.  
People will only take you as seriously as you take yourself - and success & long-term
maintenance is like a Mute button for critics anyway.

Are you a "sugar addict" or a "carb addict"?
No.  Sounds like a layperson self-diagnosis to me.

Do you have a related resource on supplements you could recommend for me?
Sure!  Dr. Atkin's Vita Nutrient Solution is a great place to start.

I'm getting people telling me I'm becoming "way too thin" or that I look "sick,"
"drawn," or "anorexic."  Please, I'm 5'4" & 175!  What on earth is this about?
They might not yet be comfortable with the new you.  Or it might be just a glib remark
because they can't think of anything else to say.  I'm not one to give the knee-jerk "it's
because they're all jealous!" every time there's social unrest, but that doesn't make it an
impossibility in this situation - maybe someone feels that you're leaving her in the dust.  
It happens - and with a lot of women, "too skinny" means nothing more than "skinnier
than me."  Also, frankly, your losses might be really showing in your face.  I'm sure you've
noticed some women (particularly those of a certain age) maintaining thin, angular faces
regardless of their weight - and to lose weight from even this might be alarming to even
the most well-intentioned.  Either way:  when the chips are down, it's your body.  You're
in the driver's seat, so you decide which way to go.

I get bloated from time to time.  Any remedies you might recommend?  Does this
ever happen to you?
Please give licorice root tea a try.  Aveda has a wonderful one, as do a number of other
less-expensive brands found in large supermarkets and health food stores.  If I'm carrying
a bit of extra water weight, a large cup of this before bed does the trick.  The beautiful
thing about this particular tea is that no Splenda or heavy cream are required - and I am
not a black-coffee/plain tea drinker!

How can I use psyllium husk powder or flax seed?  I can't choke that stuff down by
itself!
Incorporate it in shakes!  Use it in peanut butter (I melt mine), low-carb cookie recipes,
or in homemade low-carb pancakes, waffles, and low-carb granolas.  Also great sprinkled
on fruit with 4% cottage cheese, or even salads.

What is your favorite snack food lately?
Marcona Almonds are great.  Lightly salted and roasted in sunflower oil, they are simply
to die for.  They're a bit messy, so I enjoy them with a spoon!  I also love raw organic
coconut butter, which has a similar carb count as peanut butter, and is such a nice,
tasty change of pace.  Again, I also adore Total FAGE Greek yogurt - I can put away the
17.6-ounce container in 5 minutes flat!  Organic edamame is also great.  For this and any
other product mention, check supermarkets, health food stores, & the Internet.

I started Atkins x days ago, and am so hungry all the time!  What should I do?
Eat!  Really, aside from maybe the inconvenience of having to whip up something &
taking the time to eat it - in which case some preparation is in order - I've never
understood why being hungry is even a problem.  Dr. Atkins repeatedly encourages those
who are hungry to eat when hungry throughout the text.  If you're hungry, it means
you're not eating enough.  So:  eat! :)

What else do you eat for "legal" sugar-free, low-carb snacks for after Induction?
I love a few different brands of shake mixes and often have one before bed to kill
cravings - the specific recipe is featured on my Original Low-Carb Recipe Page.  (It really
works!!)  I love homemade crab dip made with real crabmeat (I throw mayo, sour cream,
cream cheese, and plenty of pepper in there); sunflower and pumpkin seeds are great - I
call them my "Slo-Mo Nuts," because one 16-carb bag will last me longer than an entire
movie.  The little 7-ounce FAGE Greek yogurt, mentioned below, is only 6 total carbs and
fabulous.  These are just a few options!  The beauty of Atkins is that what you can't
have is so much more limited than what you can - the sky's the limit!

Why aren't low-carb bars, low-carb shakes, and low carb chocolate bars allowed on
Induction?  Why does it matter what I eat as long as I stay under 20 carbs?
Simple: you don't eat these extras because they're not on the Induction list.  These are
not real foods, they're full of sweeteners, & they might cause stalls.  Remember that it's
about quality over quantity, and that Induction is about keeping it natural - so stick to
real food at all times for the first two weeks!

What's this I hear about "net carbs"?  Can I really deduct fiber to get a net-effective
carb count?
YES!  I love this about Atkins, because I feel it offers some leeway.  In layman's terms:  
fiber is not digestible - it runs right through you!  Technically, while it is a carbohydrate,
it doesn't "behave" as one.  Please click here for more information.

Do you ever have popcorn?
Oh, yes!  (Though not every single day.)  I love the single serving-sized bags of Deerfield
Farms popcorn at Walgreen's. Just 16 total carbs a serving for the Double Butter, & 18
total carbs for the Kettle Corn flavor.

What can I do to add fat?
Here is my philosophy on this:  allow it, don't force it.  While you will never see me
avoiding butter, full-fat mayo, full-fat salad dressings, nut butters, olive oil, borage oil,
macadamia nut oil, coconut oil, and the like on Atkins, I see no purpose in going out of
my way to force it.  As with protein, only enough to sate the appetite is necessary.  
Double-check with your doctor for your personal dietary needs.

I'm confused about sugar alcohols.  Do I deduct them from the total carbs as well?
You can.  Like fiber, sugar alcohols (i.e., maltitol, lactitol, sorbitol) have a negligible
effect on glucose - or blood sugar.  But beware:  consuming too much at one time is
known to give you the poots!

What can I eat at the movies?  On a plane?  Road trip?
The following might be appropriate, depending of course which Atkins Phase you are
currently attempting:
  • Celery sticks with either cream cheese (Induction) or peanut butter (for after
    Induction)
  • Pork rinds dipped in sour cream
  • Edamame pods - pack them straight from the freezer and allow them to thaw!
  • Sunflower or pumpkin seeds - these last forever and are very low in carbohydrates.
  • Even pork or beef ribs can be good, sweetened with a packet of Splenda, &
    wrapped in foil.  Just remember to bring napkins!
  • Or, just do what I do & bring in a semi-meal.  My favorite for the movies is sushi
    (salmon sashimi) with California avocado slices.  Don't forget your chopsticks!
  • Jicama - found at health food stores.  You can make them into fries, but I like
    them chopped & raw!

I'm stalling & desperate.  What am I doing wrong?
Very often someone will write to me complaining about a long-term Induction stall.  
Because they are stalling, they begin to lose a bit of faith in Atkins and are tempted to
fall back on and incorporate their former methods ... methods which have ironically
always proven ineffective for them:  calorie and fat restriction.  But then I find out that
they are having items in their menu not cited in the finite list of allowable foods.  Once
these off-limits items are nixed, BOOM, a few days later, they are several pounds down -
even though some continue to allow fattier, higher-caloric things like chicken skin, fat
from their steaks, extra-virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and/or borage oil to their menu.  So,
that said:  if you have a.) honestly read the book & know what you're doing; b.) have
been stuck at the same weight for a month or more (which is how Atkins defines a true
stall), & c.) don't want to do the Fat Fast (for the record, I am not a proponent of any
type of fast), please e-mail me & feel free to write out a sample day's menu.  If you are
attempting Induction and have not yet been able to lose, I'm certain that your stall is in
fact not due to too many calories or too much fat - you're simply eating something not
yet permitted.  I've seen this happen repeatedly since 2001!

What fruits should I be eating after Induction?  For example, I know cantaloupe is
pretty low on the glycemic index ... so, then is watermelon okay?
For your convenience, I have included a Fruits Glycemic Index Food List, arranged from
low to high.  I personally stick with fruits as low on the glycemic index as possible, and
this includes berries, melon, cantaloupe, cherries, lemons/limes - just to name a few.  
There's a lot to be enjoyed!

What's a Fat Fast?  Did you ever do it?
I have never done a Fat Fast, or any fast.  It is a method meant to assist those who are
experiencing true stalls (those lasting a month or more while following Induction to the
letter). Here are two links pertaining to this:   Fat Fast  Stalls & Plateaus  For the record,
I am not a proponent of any type of fast.

Is it possible to be a vegetarian low-carber?
Yes - and here's a great link which goes into much more detail.

I get plenty of iron through my consumption of red meat and need to avoid iron in
my multivitamin.  Is there one you would recommend?
Look for multivitamins for seniors, as these tend to not contain iron.

Could you put me on a mailing list for any future updates, events, and appearances?
I do not send mass e-mails.

I really love maple-flavored bacon, but know that anything with added sugar is to be
avoided.  What do you suggest?
Try this:  get the lowest-sodium bacon you can find, and after frying, flavor it up with
just 1/8-1/4 teaspoon of maple extract.  Nothing like getting skinny and staying there
with maple bacon - especially if you cut a few sodium/carb corners. ;)

What do you recommend for when I have a cold?  I know I can't have sugary cough
syrups and cough drops.  What can I eat?
As boot-camp as I am about staying on-plan (I refuse to even miss a workout), I must self-
soothe a bit on the very rare occasion that I do have a cold.  But at the same time, I am
unwilling to make myself feel worse by loading up on lots of salt, sugars, and starches.  If
it's soup you are in the mood for, health food stores and upscale supermarkets will carry
low-sodium chicken, turkey, vegetable, and beef broth with zero to 1 carb gram per 1-
cup serving.  (The ones in 32-ounce cardboard containers are the best.)  Broth can be
enjoyed by itself, or jazzed up with spices and seasonings ... or you can throw it in a
crockpot with some chicken & vegetables to make some fantastic homemade low-carb
soup.  As for sugar-free cough drops, I try to limit these as much as possible - as too
many can give you gastrointestinal distress in addition to feeling awful already.  Cough
syrup might be a bit more practical, not to mention effective - ask your doctor or
pharmacist to recommend a good diabetic brand.

I'm in the market for a good, reliable treadmill.  What kind of treadmill do you have
in your photo on your homepage?  Do you like it?
I have the Pro Form 755 Crosstrainer.

I also have a website and would like to mention you on it.  Do you have a logo you'd
like for me to use?
Please click here, right-click on image, then "save"!

What are your thoughts on eating low-carb products now that you've been at goal?
With the exception of two things, I am very adamant about not having anything man-
made or processed in my daily menu - which I keep very clean.  That means no low-carb
bars, no low-carb tortillas (in fact, I have never even tried these), low-carb sandwich
breads, commercial low-carb breakfast cereals, and not even any Splenda-added
mayonnaises or salad dressings.  (While it's nice to sweeten things up with Splenda if it is
your choice, the latter products are in fact low-carb without the added Splenda.)  
Ultimately, if a particular low-carb product is not specifically necessary for a dessert
recipe I whip up on the weekends, it is not kept in my kitchen.

So, what are your two "low-carb product" exceptions?
Low-carb protein powders that come in great flavors, which I have from time to time in
the form of pancakes, waffles, and shakes.  I also love unsweetened ketchups with my
bunless burgers & even bacon!  At 1 total carb per tablespoon, these can be found at
Vitamin Shoppe, in the health food section of larger supermarkets, or health food stores.

Where can I find your 2004 SHAPE magazine success story?
Unfortunately, they repeatedly and severely misquoted me, even giving it a
preposterous "low-fat" slant - something I never once made reference to at any time
during my one hour-long telephone interview in December 2003.  SHAPE decided to make
not one mention of "low-carb" in my story, which is bizarre, considering there is a 3-inch
boldface heading on the cover of that month's issue that reads, "Low Carb That's Right
For You!"  Click here to peruse a scan of it, along with a few "red marks" of my own.

Where can I find your 2005 Ms. Fitness magazine feature?  What about your Best Body
one?
Please click here & here.  Both did a flawless job.

Can I chew sugar-free gum during Induction?
First of all - and I bet you know this! - it is not on the list of allowable foods.  However, it
must be said that it did not stall me personally.  (Yes, I was a bad girl and chewed it from
time to time.)  Since many have written to me claiming stalls from excessive sugar-free
gum-chewing, you will need to exercise caution.  In short?  "Your Mileage May Vary."  
FYI:  most sugar-free stick gums contain 2 carbs each.  However, sugar-free Trident,
sugar-free Orbit, & Extra Sugar-Free Classic Bubble Flavor yield only 1 carb each.  I'd stick
with these if gum is a must, and they do not cause stalls for you.

What is the lowest-carb brand of 4% cottage cheese you've come across so far?  I
know I have to wait until after Induction to eat it!
Because I eat everything full-fat, it is important to me that a food or product doesn't
have any more carbohydrates than it has to - so I am meticulous about labels.  All of the
brands of 4% cottage cheese I see are at least 4-5 grams of carbohydrates per half-cup,
with the exception of three:  Friendship, Target brand, both containing 3 grams per half-
cup - and Daisy, too.  Since I have a cup or more at a time (i.e., 6 carbs) mixed with fruit
and nuts, this is a carb bargain!

Did you use any of those online weight loss websites that charge a fee to join and
lose weight?
Never - and you won't get that here either, as my assistance and advice through both
this website and in e-mail continue to be free.  As for paying money to a website to lose
weight , I never found this necessary:  I read the book, so I knew and followed the finite
rules of Induction, I used many of the low-carb recipes I created along the way of my
weight loss journey (all 300 available in my Induction and Dessert Cookbooks), took
advantage of ALL of the many foods permitted to keep my menus interesting, and used
the USDA site for carb counts.  Since I'm on Atkins and not a low-calorie or low-fat diet, I
never found a calculator that displays any information other than carb counts to be a
requisite.  

Did you ever use FitDay? What about a food journal documenting everything you
ate?  Could you send me some of your old menus, please?
For the same reasons stated in the preceding FAQ question, I personally found no use for
documenting my menus or counting/minding any aspect of my food other than
carbohydrates.

So, you must work out a ton!
This is a fairly common assumption - and while I'm certainly extremely consistent in the
regime I do, I seem to do less than most gym-goers I've witnessed through the years.  For
example, among a gym full of runners, I merely walk - and 20-25 minutes a day and 3 days
a week at that, where most others engage in cardio for longer, harder, and almost every
day of the week.  Furthermore, I lift light weights 2-3x/week for the entire body at 30-40
minutes a time (i.e., 3-lb dumbbells for the upper-body) when I witness others lifting
heavier, lifting longer, and usually more times per week.  Alright, so what is my point in
establishing all this?  Well, I'm a big believer in the old "abs are made in the kitchen"
adage.  I would surmise that the metabolic edge of Atkins is 90% to credit for my success
- and as someone who is 5'3" and naturally a whopping 5-6 dress sizes heavier without
Atkins, that is saying a lot.  In fact, I do about half the cardio now than pre-Atkins when
I was 30 pounds heavier, back when I was restricting calories and fat to boot.  In other
words, my cardio & weight routine are merely the icing on the fitness cake.  Should it be
of interest, you will find my full regime outlined in the fitness category on the following
page:  http://www.sugarfreesheila.com/MotivationBeautyTips.html

Do you take the stairs instead of the elevator, purposely park very far away from
your destinations so that you can walk more, and do little gluteal and abdominal
exercises while you drive or stand in line like they tell you to do in women's
magazines?
No - 100% of my fitness is done 1 hour a day, 2-3 days a week.  Once that's done, I'm on
with my life.

What is your diet and fitness philosophy?
Do everything it takes - and nothing it doesn't.  When it comes to one's diet and fitness
regime, never make something easy difficult, or simple complicated!  In terms of all the
"extras" out there:  anything with the words "cleanse," "fast," "fat-burning," "herbal," or
"carb-blocking" attributed to it, I have no use for.  I eat low-carb and do my fitness
regime and that's it; only what has proven necessary is what I consider necessary.

I would like to purchase something from SFS.com, but this website is huge and I am
not sure what all you have available.
This question has come in so often that I finally decided to incorporate a new page
called SFS.com Order Page featuring just that.  It contains everything I have ever put
out, consolidated on one convenient, concise page.

Okay, so you're 13.92% body fat and a size 0.  So, you've maintained that goal since
2001.  So, you can wear a bikini.  SO WHAT.  I want to know your cholesterol is after
years of consistent low-carbing - that's the real test of how great Atkins is.
Like pretty much everyone else who does Atkins strictly by the book, my own already-
low LDL cholesterol & triglycerides dropped to even lower levels.  Even my HDL
improved.  See a scan of my Cholesterol Profile by clicking here.  Have no idea what the
numbers mean?  Click here.

I'm concerned about losing my bust when I lose weight.  Will I?
This depends on how much of your current breast size is composed of fat vs. breast
tissue - and this will make itself apparent as you lose body fat.  For me, along with the
30+ pounds I lost went more than one cup size.  But on the positive side:  what went
with my physique before goes with my physique now, as my entire body lost weight very
proportionately.

What non-Atkins books do you recommend?
I am very much into antioxidants in both supplement form, as well as in my skincare
regime.  That said, Dr. Perricone is great.  I find myself nodding in agreement to all that
he says, as it seems to fully coincide with everything the Atkins lifestyle has been about
for me.  The Real Age books by Dr. Roizen are also wonderful.

I will be dining at a particular restaurant, and have absolutely no clue what to order.  
If I send a link to their menu with a certain dish in mind, will you advise me on how I
should order it?
Of course!  I would love to help.  Actually, I receive so many e-mails with this request.  
Ordering at restaurants is a cinch, and I can look at essentially any item on a menu and
make it work for low-carb.  Be advised, however, that I am not too well-versed when it
comes to Indian food - but I can give it a shot!

So now that you are in maintenance, what veggies do you avoid, if any?
Basically just white potatoes, corn, beets, and peas.  Everything else is fair game - even
carrots, sweet potatoes, and acorn squash.

Could you recommend a great scale?  I need one that won't weigh me differently
every time I step on it.
The wonderful digital Health-O-Meter Everweigh Glass Bathroom Scale weighs me exactly
as I weigh at the doctor's office.  (It weighs up to 333 pounds.)

I miss yogurt!!
Well, consider yourself in luck then!  FAGE Total Greek yogurt, found at health food
supermarkets, contains only 6 total carbohydrates per 7-ounce serving and 14 for the 17-
oz.  I love the latter and usually eat one daily.  Your supermarket or health food store
doesn't carry it?  Special-order it with management!  Their aim is your happiness.  So,
request this or any unavailable product with confidence.

May I advertise on your website?  Want to advertise on mine?  
No, thank you.  User Agreement

How do I determine my goal weight?
Here is an interesting website on weight charts. Your personal ideal weight depends not
only on height (that is just the tip of the iceberg!), but also sex, age, body frame/size,
bone density, and musculature.  For example, one tiny-boned, 5'1" woman with no
muscle tone might have 33% body fat ... while another muscular, medium-framed woman
of the same height, weight, and even dress size might have 24% body fat.  Therefore, it
is safe to say that these women would certainly have different weight loss goals.  That
said, your ideal weight is purely subjective.  Also, the rapidity in which you lose is
dependent upon a number of factors similar to the ones above:  
a.)  Age:  The younger you start, the better.  
b.)  Gender:  Men tend to lose faster due to having more lean muscle, which leads to ...
c.)  Body Composition:  the higher your muscle-to-fat ratio, the more advantage you will
ultimately have in loss of body fat. This is why adding resistance training to a cardio
regime is so beneficial in accelerating weight loss!

Do you have any nutritional information for IHOP?  Wendy's?  McDonald's?  Burger
King?
Fast food nutrition.  Also, a VERY IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT IHOP:  If you order eggs
there, know that IHOP adds pancake batter to them to make them fluffier - so make sure
to ask that this not be used.  Don't be sabotauged by scrambled eggs of all things -
please!  

How much fiber do you get a day?
Around 20-30 grams.  How?  Lots of stir-fry, pumpkin, mock mash, rutabaga, berries,
melon, nuts, organic flax seed meal, psyllium husk - a variety!  I must admit I have to
chuckle at the insistence that fiber simply MUST come from bread or it isn't really fiber.  
AHA Fiber Recommendation  On a low-carb message board, I came across a really great
Broccoli Shake recipe.  Here is the original recipe; here is my own version of it should
this be of interest.  Feel free to experiment with the ingredients, too - make it your
own!  I think it tastes great.

What was your top weight ever?
150 pounds & a size 12.  That was 1997 and one of the very rare times I actually stepped
on the scale - I'm sure you can understand why I wasn't all that excited about regular
weighing after that. By 2001 when I got married, I stepped on the scale and was 141 and
a tight size 10/12.  That was when I decided to give Atkins a second go ... and actually
read the book this time around!

What kind of sushi can I eat?
Order sashimi!  Here is more information.

How much protein do you get a day?
I strive for roughly 75 grams per day.  Why?  I've read pretty consistently that the figure
for one's RDA is their weight in kilograms multiplied by .8 ... or weight in kilos multiplied
by 1.5 for fitness enthusiasts.  For conversions:  http://users.tpg.com.
au/doktormj/kilograms2pounds.htm (Run any figure by your doctor before settling on a
protein quota.)  That's 75 grams of protein for me.  So, what are some random protein
examples of 75 grams?  A 7½-oz salmon and maybe 6 deviled eggs - plain boiled eggs are a
snore to me, but I adore deviled eggs.  A 16-oz bag of frozen edamame pods & 16-oz
container of 4% cottage cheese.  A 17.6-oz container of FAGE Total yogurt and two
smaller steak filets.  A thick halibut filet & 1 cup of almonds.  2 chicken breasts & 6 T soy
nut butter.  Two 1/3-lb beef patties (think double cheeseburgers you grill up at home)
and a protein shake before bed.  While there's no need to eat more than one's protein
requirement, please make sure you are getting enough!

Are you a big meat-eater?
Yes and no.  If you see me at a steakhouse, I always, always order the largest steak on
the menu - and have it rare and without seasoning, with 2 sides.  But after that, I'm
pretty much finished for animal protein for the day, & will head for an alternate non-
meat source the next time I get hungry.  Examples of such protein?  See previous FAQ.

Am I too old to go on Atkins?  I'm xx years old - why even bother at this point?
I believe the most seasoned success story I have had write to me was 88 years of age.  It
is never too late to take the reigns.

I've lost some hair & am concerned.  What's going on?
Unfortunately, telogen effluvium happens to some.  But it isn't necessarily to do with
Atkins per se, but with the stress that comes from any sudden lifestyle change.  Biotin is
known to help; but make sure to take a multivitamin & calcium in addition!

How many carbs do you eat a day now that you're at goal?
It varies; generally, anywhere from 80-100 total carbs per day.

I would like some of your business cards, fridge magnets, or magnetic bumper
stickers.  How could I obtain these?
Please send an SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) to the address below, and I'll
get them right to you!  Should you also wish that I include a red magnetic
SugarFreeSheila.com bumper sticker, please enclose a check or money order for $7
(which is exactly what they cost me).  I'll take care of the shipping!

SugarFreeSheila.com
Box 794281
Dallas, TX  75379

Can I call?  I am seriously struggling here!!
I do accept texts.  All I ask is that you are an Atkins follower (as I am a proponent of no
other program), and have already read Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, as well as
through this Atkins FAQ and my User Agreement.  That's where we start!
(972) 999-5237

Do you ever have cheat days?  If so, how often??  Do you feel awful afterwards?
Of course I have Fun Days!  "Cheat" is depressing & a little dramatic, in my opinion.  Once
every 3-4 weeks, for the entire day, I have absolutely whatever I desire - and no, I don't
feel too hot the next day.  (If you play, you gotta pay!)  However, I only believe in having
these full-on "Fun Days" once you're very close to - or at - goal.  Fun Days give me, with
all my hard & consistent work, something to always look forward to ... and this keeps me
forever on-track in the meantime.  So, what do I have?  ANYTHING I want.  No rules.  See
photo above at left to check out just a few samples of what I might have.  This was
taken in a friend's kitchen just as I was getting started!

I always hear that "the camera adds 10 pounds."  Do you agree with this?
True image distortion aside, that expression has always seemed to me more like an
apology for one's figure than anything else (I never hear men say it!) - and the answer in
my case is, not at all.  I don't appear 10 pounds thinner in person than on film or in
photos; so if you ever spot me in person, you should not expect anything physically
different from the photos you see here.  

I need a breakfast idea for my sweet tooth!
Here's a quick one I love for Induction, listed on my Original Low-Carb Recipes Page:  take
a half-cup of pumpkin & melt it with 3-4 oz. Philly Cheese.  Add a packet of Splenda, &
you've got yourself a warm, creamy breakfast with 7 net carbs & 5 grams of fiber!  You
can double that fiber by allowing yourself the full cup of pumpkin allowed on Induction.

What about ethnic food?  What Atkins-friendly fare should I order?
This link should help you get started.

I'm pregnant/planning on getting pregnant/am lactating.  Is Atkins safe for me to
do?  How much should I lose or weigh during pregnancy?
With respect to your own specific body weight requirement, this is something you will
need to address with your OB/GYNO.  Regarding pregnancy/breastfeeding, here are some
useful links below which may help you get better acquainted with respect to the Atkins
lifestyle.  Keep in mind also that Dr. Atkins discusses pregnancy on pages 107, 120, & 227
in Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution (2002 "red copy").
Atkins Nutritionals: How to Do Atkins: Good Health: A Mother-to-Be Does Atkins
Atkins Nutritionals: How to Do Atkins: Good Health: Vitanutrients for Pregnancy
Atkins FAQ  
Low Carb Friends - Pregnant & Atkins
Low Carb Friends - Breastfeeding and Ketosis - A Little Confused
Atkins Nutritionals: Help: FAQ: Answers: Can I follow the Atkins Nutritional Approach
while I'm pregnant?

Is Splenda safe during pregnancy?
The claim is that it is safe - but ideally, it is best to stick with natural, whole foods
during this 9-month period.  It'll be over before you know it!  Click here.  **(P.S: Always
check with your OB/GYNO!)**

There is talk about the so-called "dangers of Splenda."  Is Splenda dangerous?
According to numerous studies, Splenda has not shown to be dangerous.  For
information on the extensive testing of Splenda, please click here.

I need something sweet to put in my coffee or on top of low-carb pancakes or waffles.
Da Vinci syrups are wonderful, & they're available at TJ Maxx, Wal-Mart, health food
stores, and on the Internet.  Would you believe that I have 22 flavors?  I never use the
same flavor twice in a row with shakes.

I miss chocolate so much, it's killing me!
You are going to flip when you try these:  Flora Bija Omega Truffles.  No weird
ingredients - just good chocolate.  They come in 70% dark chocolate, milk chocolate at 20
total carbs, and white chocolate at 24 total carbs.  I tried the dark chocolate with cocoa
cream filling, and at a mere 16 total carbs for 4 truffles, I was really impressed by the
taste and texture - and I'm not even a dark chocolate fan!  What I love about finds like
these is that these truffles are not a commercial low-carb food product (like low-carb
bars, low-carb cereals, nut butters with unnecessary added Splenda, etc.); but like
regular mayo and ordinary nut butters, these organic chocolate bars, with their simple
ingredients, just happen to also be low-carb.  I love that!  Another idea is adding
unsweetened cocoa powder to peanut butter, yogurt, pancakes, and shakes!  It is only 3
total carbs per tablespoon.  Also!  Here is a fast and easy post-Induction Chocolate Bark
treat that is so good; I have it all the time.   I use 2 T unsweetened cocoa powder, 4 T
organic unrefined coconut oil, and 1 packet of Splenda, nixing the nuts - just 7 total
carbs.  What a brilliant and healthy idea for chocolate this was!!

I miss mashed potatoes so much, it's killing me!
Check out the Mock Mashed Potatoes recipe on my Low Carb Recipes Page.  It's a
scrumptious, Induction-friendly substitute if this is a nagging craving, and can be made
with boiled cauliflower, turnips, or rutabaga!

I miss pasta so much, it's killing me!
Honey, you're in luck.  You've got to try Induction-friendly Spaghetti Squash - check out
my Original Low Carb Recipes Page!

I miss milkshakes so much, it's killing me!
Please see my Original Low-Carb Recipes Page for a great shake recipe, using my favorite
brands of low-carb shake mixes.  

Essentially ANYTHING & EVERYTHING can be duplicated into low-carb.  There's always a
way!

Do you have any links that discuss PCOS with respect to Atkins?
Atkins Diet Bulletin Board - PCOS & Atkins Low Carb Living
Health/Medical Issues - Low Carb Friends
Women's Health - Low Carb Friends
PCOS, hair growth, and Atkins : PCOS : Active Low-Carber Forums
Dr. Atkins' Diet and Polycystic Ovaries - PCOS Message Board
If you have any additional Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-related links that would enhance
this FAQ entry, please feel free to submit them!

Do you practice The Secret / Law of Attraction?
Goodness no.  

The scale isn't going down, yet my pants feel looser.  What's up with that?
Why the Scale Lies

Maybe you could incorporate a Before/After section with those who followed what
you do?
I feel this is a wonderful idea; however, since what I follow is simply Atkins by the book
(no tricks here!), I wouldn't want to try to take credit for others' successes!  So, instead,
I am happy to add a few Atkins Success Stories right here, for your convenience.  With a
quick Google search, you will see that there are thousands upon thousands more out
there!
Low Carb Success Stories   
My Weight Loss Journey
Low-Carb Success Stories
Success Stories
Atkins Success Stories

What vitamins do you take?
I take a multivitamin, calcium citrate (never calcium carbonate, as this does not absorb
as well), 7.5 mg Biotin, non-synthetic Vitamin E, Coenzyme Q-10, 2-3 T organic flax
borage oil (for GLA / gamma linolenic acid, & to get Omegas 3, 6, & 9), Vitamin C, &
organic flax seed meal incorporated into shakes or pancakes if I am having them that
day.  As you can see, I am very much into essential fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants!  
Additionally, I like for my skin and hair to look the best they can.  This list is not a
recommendation for you; I'm merely happy to share my own supplements since this is
such a frequently asked question.  Please check with your doctor.

I keep reading that Essential Fatty Acids are beneficial on a low-carb diet - but I get
all of these fats and fatty acids confused:  polyunsaturated, monounsaturated,
saturated, trans fats.  What should I take and what should I avoid?
Healthy Fats vs. Trans Fatty Acids

Would you recommend a good borage oil?
For borage oil, I recommend Spectrum.  Why?  Because it yields the highest amounts of
GLA per tablespoon I have yet to find.  

I've heard that it is potentially harmful to heat flax seed meal & flax seed oil.  Any
merit to this?
Evidently, flax should not be heated; it seems doing so makes flax oil rancid, is said to
cause some cancer-causing compounds, & also destabilizes the alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
in flax.  This is the reason I use wheat bran in my oatmeal recipe in lieu of flax seed
meal.  More info about Flax.  Here is one more link!  

Do you exercise?  Work out?
Yes, I walk on the treadmill 4.3mph 3-4 mornings a week for 20-25 minutes. (I never run.)  
In addition, I do a 10-minute abs DVD 3 mornings a week, & resistance training for the
entire body 40 minutes, 2-3 mornings a week.  For even more detail on my full fitness
regime, please see my Motivation/Beauty Tips page.

What do you ordinarily eat every day now that you're at goal?
My menu consists of mostly vegetables, nuts, meats, and low-glycemic fruit - in that
order.  For more elaboration, please see my various scanned magazine success stories,
outlined at the top portion of the My Atkins Success Story page.  Basically, I eat the
same as I did while losing - except I've since added more of the above low-glycemic foods
to my menu!

Any plans on writing another cookbook with non-dessert recipes?
My second cookbook, Sheila's Super-Simple Low-Carb Induction Meals, is available and
contains all Induction-friendly recipes. I also released my third book, Sheila's Super-
Simple Low Carb Weight Loss Workbook, in 2005, and currently have a fourth non-
cookbook release in the works.  Stay tuned!

Any new features coming to the site?  Any news?
Yes!  I was very excited to learn that I have been nominated as one of Glamour
magazine's 2009 Women of the Year. I just took the GRE and have applied to grad school,
am working on my fourth book, and am also now available in Real Time via global video
conferencing.  My latest release was in 2009, the debut of the audio version of this FAQ:  
the SugarFreeSheila.com EZ Atkins FAQ CD set.  I've also added a Song List page (great
if you are an MP3 user), the Interactive page & Faves page, and most recently the page
featuring the new SFS-highlighted Atkins book.  Motivational tips are one thing I am
asked about the most ... and I've got a bellyful of them regarding not only keeping fit,
but also skincare, beauty, fashion and style, and so much more!  I also released
something new:  the aforementioned Sheila's Super-Simple Weight Loss Workbook,
which is a fantastic means of helping you along in terms of motivation, keeping you on
track, as well as a personal journal in which to record all of your personal vital statistics
and even keep photos of your progress.  It is ALL about you!  Please click here for more
extensive info on this journal.

I like bacon & deli meats and am trying to find a good, zero-nitrate brand.  Any
uncured brands without nitrates?
The lowest-sodium bacon I have found at ordinary supermarkets is Oscar Mayer Lower
Sodium bacon at 170mg per 2 slices.  Regarding uncured meats free of nitrates,
Applegate Farms is just one nitrate-free brand.  Nitrate-free deli meats include Beeler's
Hog Wild, Primo Natural, Jennie-O, Block & Barrel - and of course, my favorite, Boar's
Head.  Check local health food stores - you are almost certain to find excellent, fresh
bacon and deli meats there!

Someone on one of the low-carb message boards is using one of your recipes I
recognize from your Recipe Page, omitting you as the source, and accepting all kinds
of accolades for her "innovative idea."  
I both witness this myself - and almost invariably it's someone who has written to me
before - as well as hear about it from my visitors who post on forums I don't frequent.
Since someone with scruples always ends up stepping in and blowing the whistle, it
really isn't that big a deal. Things like copycats and credit-stealing are par for the course
for what I've been doing for close to a decade now.  However, I can't say I view it as the
sincerest form of flattery - if pride is a sin, some of these individuals should apply for
sainthood.

Am I going to die or suffer healthwise by eliminating carbohydrates like starches and
foods with added sugar & replacing them with veggies and low-glycemic fruits?  
Certain organizations are claiming this.
I just think, "Was it really that horrible for us healthwise before the advent of
processed foods like cereal, cookies, or anything man-made?" - because ultimately, that
is all that is being eliminated here.  During the temporary Induction and OWL phases of
Atkins, however, certainly the carbs are lower; but they only increase in time in terms of
introducing more low-starch, low-glycemic fare into one's menu, as per Dr. Atkins' New
Diet Revolution.  Atkins Maintenance essentially is a "supermarket-parameter" way of
keeping the weight off.  Just ditch the inside aisles.  The bottom line:  those who make
a choice not to read the book, or who choose not to do the program correctly by eating
just a bunch of meat & butter are obviously not following Atkins to begin with.  So, that
said, if one is not following Atkins & if what he or she is or isn't eating affects his or her
weight or health negatively, then Atkins could not possibly be to blame.

Through the years, I have yo-yo dieted and/or given birth, and have developed some
stretch marks / cellulite.  How can I get rid of it?
The only two things I've consistently heard from dermatologists in terms of lessening the
appearance of stretch marks are:
1.)  Time
2.)  Multiple laser treatments at the dermatologist
Since the former is frustrating & the latter can be just plain unaffordable for some, I
have heard for years that hydroquinone, an over-the-counter ingredient found in many
creams available at drugstores or Sephora, works wonders as a pigment-lightening cream
for stretch marks, liver spots, or hyperpigmentation.  As far as cellulite (which afflicts
about 90% of women and knows no boundaries as far as body size or shape - some of the
skinniest, most in-shape women can have it!), I know of no true means of permanent
elimination.  (Endermologie is temporary.)  However, weight loss, daily cardiovascular
activity, thrice-a-week resistance training, & self-tanner certainly can't hurt!  Notice I
look darker in some of the photos where I reveal more skin?  Well, a tan is flattering!  
(Note:  In the warm months, I do the Mystic spray-on Tan every few weeks & maintain it
at home, since I'm sunscreen-obsessed & have avoided the sun like the plague since
1999.)

I need some ideas for what to do with hamburger meat.  Boy, there has got to be
more ideas out there other than just salting it.
101 Burger Builders

I need Thanksgiving / Christmas / holiday recipes too, please!!
Feel free to check out my own homemade-from-scratch low-carb spread!

Is Atkins safe for diabetics?
In addition to the rather thorough discussion with reference to diabetes in Dr. Atkins'
New Diet Revolution (pages 203, 313-330 just to get you started), please check out these
links: Lower Your Carbs & Lower Your Insulin Levels & Carb Counting 101: Diabetic Info

How often do you update your site?
Very regularly.  Regarding pictures:  recent photos are peppered throughout the pages of
this website - and oftentimes in places you'd least expect!

Do you have a Facebook for SugarFreeSheila.com?
Yes - and I became so fond of Facebook, I got rid of my professional MySpace account &
moved over to this one. Since it's private & a lot more fun, I share tidbits & photos there
not found on SugarFreeSheila.com (no, not those kinds of photos!), as well as personal
attention and one-on-one assistance.
** I make a point to keep my Facebook friends list # very low.  This is a private account,
and not a "fan page" with thousands of ignored members; so since I share a lot here &
offer personal attention & assistance on a daily basis - and on the house at that - I ask
that you have already read the book, my full Atkins FAQ, & User Agreement.  Adds not
accepted w/o a profile self-pic, or w/o a quick note of introduction attached if the
option to do so is made available.  Quiet friend collectors & inactive Facebook members
looking for a one-way mirror experience are removed on a regular basis, irrespective of
book-purchasing & SugarFreeSheila.com-visiting history.  It isn't personal.  
So!  Should you prefer to stick with perusing my website for inspiration and/or prefer to
continue with e-mails, IM's, & even texts for my always-free help, this might be your
best option if the whole Facebook participation thing isn't for you.  Further, if you
prefer to skip the intro & keep that profile pic of a cartoon/kid/celebrity/dog & stay
anonymous?  No problem; I wouldn't dream of asking you to compromise - so as always, I
am here to help via this website, e-mail, IM, text, & Twitter!

You should also create a fan page on Facebook!
First of all, I do not call my website visitors "fans" - I'm not Lady Gaga.  My ordinary
Facebook page works just fine.

I'm also a fish lover and want to watch my mercury levels.  Which fish should I limit?
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/fishmercury.htm

Any trips coming up?
In late '08, I was in the southern & eastern Caribbean, South America, Europe, & Africa.  
I'll be in NYC a bit throughout the fall & spring.  I recently returned from southern Europe
and northern Africa.  As always, photos from trips may be found throughout the site.

I've had gastric bypass / lap-band.  May I write to you for help, too?
So long as your doctor approves of your following Atkins, you've read Dr. Atkins' New Diet
Revolution and my FAQ, and are already on the program, I would be honored to help.

What are some Atkins-friendly restaurants in the Dallas area?
Anywhere - and keep in mind that as a customer, their job is to make you happy, and I
always have a very easy time with ordering my foods with "no-this" and "extra-that."  In
fact, in all of my travels in and out of DFW, throughout Texas, and even the U.S. and
internationally, only one establishment has outright refused to accommodate my rather
simple Side requests (after this, of course I did not stay to dine), and it happened to be
Mignon in Plano, Texas.  Maybe they've shaped up since.  But please know that not
eating bread and sugar is possible at any restaurant - and if a brittle diabetic with a
wheat allergy is not obligated to do so, neither are you.  Here is a neat link with a few
Dallas-area restaurants and menu suggestions.

What does your doctor think of your being on Atkins?
With my long-term success coupled with my aforementioned lipid and body fat profile, I
would actually be very surprised if any doctor were to ever try to convince me that the
healthful way I eat and maintain my weight is unhealthful.  Good thing, because not one
ever has.  Atkins maintainers know that the results and stats speak for themselves.  I get
nothing but positivity from my general practitioner and endocrinologist who do my lipid
profiles, my dermatologist (no sugar = no inflammation) who I see for regular checkups,
gynecologist, and for obvious reasons my dentist - they all frown upon too much starch
and sugar in one's diet as it is.  When you bring up Atkins to a doctor who has not read
the book and merely goes by what he or she hears about it in the media, they're
understandably apprehensive.  Then once you describe what this program actually
entails, they support the idea fully.  Since 2001, this without exception has been my
experience with doctors.  Top it all off with explaining to them that the book states
"Exercise is non-negotiable," they're even more sold.  But when you get right down to it
... why on earth wouldn't they be?

What about a useful book to get after I've reached Maintenance?
Atkins For Life is a great book for once you've made goal, written by Dr. Atkins in 2002.  

Could you put me on a mailing list for any future updates, events, and appearances?
I do not send mass e-mails.  Also, in accordance with my User Agreement, I prefer not to
receive these either.  I detest junk mail like anyone else!

What do you have to say to people who think you weren't really "fat" to begin with?
Oh, there's always going to be one person starting off 20, 50, or 100+ pounds heavier
than another who sniffs at what they deem to be a "lesser" success story.  
Two points for the Bellyacher to ponder, though:  
1.)  Someone 20, 50, or 100+ pounds heavier than where they started might feel the
same way about their success story.  There's always going to be someone out there with
more to lose - it doesn't take away from one's own success.
2.)  I'd ask them how bringing weight loss to a grinding halt 30+ pounds/5 dress sizes
short of their own goal would sound?  
Nothing like a little perspective.

Do you eat to BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)?
I'm an Atkins follower, so I do not give calories or fat grams a second thought in any
capacity.  But here's some food for thought anyway:  the very few times out of sheer
curiosity I have actually taken the time to tally up my calories, the total has always been
well over 2,000 every time ... when supposedly my BMR is 1,294.  So for obvious reasons,
I can't say I place a great deal of stock in it.  But!  For kicks, below are a couple of BMR
calculators.
http://www.internetfitness.com/calculators/bmr.htm
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

You say you don't count or restrict calories.  Are you saying then that calories don't
count at all?
No - I just don't count calories.  Although I hear and read the insistence by many that "at
some point, especially as you get closer to your weight loss goal, calorie-counting
becomes necessary for everyone," too many ideal-weight maintainers who don't mind
calories have written to me since this site's inception for that to be true.  In fact, Atkins
followers are encouraged repeatedly not to restrict calories throughout the entire text -
and I think people tend to overlook this!  Carbohydrate restriction - i.e., avoiding
starches and foods with added sugar - is solely responsible for my weight loss and
maintenance, for never was I heavier than when I relied on caloric restriction, fat
restriction, portion restriction, & cardio in an effort to get thin.  Once I ditched the
calorie-and-fat thinking & instead began focusing on eliminating sugar & starch, BOOM,
the weight was gone in 5 months.  So.  As someone who is short & naturally a whopping
5-6 dress sizes larger, let me say this:  if calorie-counting and restriction were truly
requisite for all in achieving and maintaining an ideal-weight goal, I would be doing it.

What if I travel a lot?  How am I going to avoid sugary and starchy fare if I'm in
different places all the time?
Make a point not to allow food choices (i.e., grocery shopping & dining out) to be any
more complicated outside your hometown than they are inside your hometown.  Every
time I visit a different country, I make a point to head out to the main supermarket and
go through every single aisle to reconfirm that I could follow Atkins there if I were a long-
term guest - and I always leave dusting my hands in a good mood.  It's redundant, but
immensely gratifying.  If it's feasible to follow Atkins where the U.S. dollar isn't used, I
can promise you that it is possible traveling in the U.S., too.  Otherwise, as a very
frequent traveler, I would have made an obligatory-cheat debut at some point since
2001...and I haven't.  Simply go about the way you follow your lifestyle with a non-
negotiable mindset - the same way a brittle diabetic would with a severe wheat allergy.
If they can make it work outside the home without daily visits to the E.R., so can you.
Ultimately, your willingness to stick with low-carb will be directly proportionate to how
much you want the results.  It's 100% up to you.

I know I need to get the Atkins book, and I also want your books.  Could you tell me
everything I need to get started A.S.A.P.?  I want to have it all at once, and in the
next couple of days.
With our busy lifestyles, I can understand the desire to avoid unnecessary trips for
purchases, not wanting to pay full individual retail, and/or multiple shipping charges if
you make purchases online.  So, I will take care of it all for you in one easy step, and it
should get to you within 3-4 days if you are in the U.S., and a week if it is an
international order.  Atkins Startup Bargain Package  Additionally, you can add the SFS.
com EZ Audio FAQ CD Set to this package for 43% off.  Also, this is the only package
where I absorb the PayPal fee.

What is your secret for keeping consistently slim?  How do you stay so motivated?  
Does your weight ever go up?
Not by more than 2-3 pounds - and it isn't because I'm special, trust me.  Please allow me
to motivate you here:  it's just that I'm diligent about maintaining what I've attained for
myself - and after years of being overweight, have finally found my magic bullet for
keeping it off permanently ...  After how far I've come, I refuse to go back!  As for my
diet and fitness M.O. for permanent maintenance and a body I am proud of?  Brisk
walking 20-25 minutes a day 3 days a week, doing full-body resistance training 40 minutes
a day and 2-3x/week, an ab DVD 10 minutes a day/3 mornings a week, and sticking to
whole low-glycemic foods for my daily lifestyle; low-carb treats, while great on occasion
maybe twice a week, are not for every single meal.  I bake my low-carb desserts to be
enjoyed on the weekends, and am stringent about clean, unprocessed low-carb eating all
other days of the week.  This is my key to continued success!  (More on Motivation on
my Motivation/Beauty Tips page.)  God bless and please feel free to e-mail me if ever you
need any tips, support, or encouragement - that's why I'm here!   
May 24th, 2005
Dallas
September 10th, 2006
Grapevine Mills
June 19th, 2005
Sailing out of
Edinburgh, Scotland
August 17th, 2006
Ft. Walton Beach, Florida
As always, my tan is 100%
from a bottle! ....
February 5th, 2006
Dallas
June 24th, 2005
Shopping at Willow Bend
Mall in Plano, Texas
July 24th, 2005
Shopping in Oklahoma City
April 18th, 2005
At Maguire's in Dallas
August 18, 2006
Florida
Right after a wonderful
seafood dinner!
May 26th, 2006
At Sears, looking at
refrigerators.  Sheesh, does
anyone actually buy an
$8,000 fridge?
June 2006 - Plano, TX
Leaving a friend's wedding.  
What a beautiful reception!
Thanksgiving Morning,
November 2006
Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot
- I did the 5K walk with my
little Sassy!
June 18th, 2006
Leaving church!
July 21st, 2006
Wedding in Plano, Texas
July 21st, 2006
The cake is only a prop &
not for me - promise!
(The lady behind me
reminded me of the hot
mom from American Pie.)
August 18th, 2006
Ft. Walton, Florida
August 27th, 2006
NorthPark Mall in Dallas
October 29, 2006
Malibu, CA
Outside Planet Blue.  Next
it was Marmalade Café,
where I had the Beef
Carpaccio, then the
Ocean Way.  Delicious!
December 11th, 2006
Chuck's Hamburgers,
Plano, TX
I had a grilled chicken
Caesar salad!
April 29th, 2005
Gearing up for a Fun Day!
At a friend's in Edmond, OK
March 12th, 2006
Dallas, Texas
(Get a load of the 28 mph
winds!)
After a IHOP "Carb
Conscious" breakfast from
their IHOP For Me menu.
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January 2004
Cruise formal night, in the
middle of the Gulf of Mexico
January 2004
Grand Cayman
January 2004
Grand Cayman
July 2002
Dallas; 110 pounds
January 2004
Dunn's River Falls -
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
April 27th, 2004
Taken in Dallas with
my little niece!
Summer 2002
Roosevelt Island, New York
Copyright SugarFreeSheila.com © 2001-2010
February 1st, 2007
"But you still haven't told
me ... is kibble
Atkins-friendly, too?"
March 21st, 2007
On the way to
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Climbing to the top of the
cruise ship for a shot even
if the wind takes me out!
March 23rd, 2007
Mexico
'
July 1st, 2007
Gazeebo Burger in
Plano, Texas
This is one of my favorite
burger places, and they
know my order!   
Cheeseburger, double
cheddar, grilled
mushrooms, "1/3 Pound
Avocado bacon, and a Side
Green cheddar, grilled
mushrooms, Salad, no
croutons, regular Ranch on
the side."   
I promise you can always
eat well when dining out &
traveling - even at burger
places.  All you have to do
is ask.  If you're a regular,
they'll even memorize your
order after a few times!
October 14th, 2007 - NYC
At Pastis in the
Meatpacking District.  
I ordered the Scrambled Eggs with
Smoked Salmon, substituting the
hash browns for salad.  
Great place!
Late October 2007
Northern France
There were little kids in
costumes running around
trick-or-treating in town.  I
had no idea Halloween was
recognized in Europe!
October 29th, 2007
Wiltshire, England
At Stonehenge
December 23rd, 2007
At the Galleria  in Dallas
I'm in a good mood because not
only am I wearing red lipstick, I
finally found high-heeled black
boots in my size (technically a 4½)!
January 28th, 2008
June 2008
Sassy on her 10th birthday!!
Such a stately little thing.
June 9th, 2008
Kelly's Eastside in Plano, TX
Barely made it out of the
sweltering 95º heat for a
Grilled Gulf Shrimp Salad!
P.S:  This is actually a (Gap)
pajama / mini sleep dress.  
Way too cute to wear to bed,
so I don't!
July 13th, 2008
After lunch at Snuffer's in
Plano  
I had the Cheeseburger Salad,
cooked medium with no salt,
double meat & cheddar, &
full-fat Ranch on the side.
August 3rd, 2008
It was 107º (42ºC) - finding
it impossible to stay cool &
praying it doesn't show!
October 2008
Curaçao
October 30th, 2008
Looking for glamourpus?
Ha - sorry to disappoint!
Just rolled out of bed for my
morning coffee. By the way, you
can find all the great
dessert-flavored gourmet coffees
at outlets for just a few dollars.
Fall 2008
Brazil travel visa mugshot!
November 16th, 2008
I'm just happy because I'm
filling up for $22!
November 25th, 2008
At the Catedral de
Barcelona, taking some
snapshots of the geese.
December 2008 -
Senegal
I bought an absolutely
beautiful necklace from this
local merchant. He was also
so patient with the very little
French I know, even obliging
when I asked him to pose for
a photo with me.  
As a side note, the airline
lost my luggage; so for
almost a month, I was forced
to do without skincare
products, all of my clothes,
unmentionables, makeup,
hair products, handycam,
digital camera battery -
everything.  It's no fun being
a have-not!
December 2008
Devil's Island
Christmas Day 2008 - Dallas
Caught a little off-guard with
the camera phone!
December 2008 - Dominica
Stepping onto the Dominica
Rainforest Aerial Tram in
Roseau.  It was beautiful to
see from over 100 feet above.
Nov. 28th, '08 - Casablanca
Pardon that tour group behind me!
February 15th, 2009
Right before seeing He's
Just Not That Into You.  
It hit me that I hadn't added
a photo to the site since
Christmas, so I ran back
outside to take a quick shot.
 Luckily, I had my camera
on me that day!
March 28th, 2009
Cooling my heels in Chinatown.
 Did nothing but walk all day
in 4"boots - I'll never learn!
July 17th, 2009
Shopping in Dallas - and I
did get the dress!
July 31st, 2009
I love GoodReads.com
& needed a good avatar
August 14th, 2009
After making the sad
discovery that Outback no
longer offers steak on their
lunch menu - except for an
off-the-menu sirloin choice
shown in a separate flyer. If
I'm going to go that lean, I'm
going to need a filet.
So, it was off to Houston's.
See how I'm smiling after my
double cheddar burger w/
double added avocado &
sautéed spinach? ;)
October 26th, '09
Before seeing Zombieland - it was
good. Oh, & my hair didn't grow a
foot overnight:  that's a little Revlon
claw clip hairpiece I just picked
up. Nice match - I like it!  You can
find another shot of it in natural light
on the Motivation/Beauty page.
December 18th, '09
At the Shops at Legacy
in Plano, Texas
January 2nd, 2010
Atop my hotel in
Barcelona
January 2010
Vatican City, Italy
At the at the St.
Peter's Basilica, on
my way to the Vatican.
January 2010
Athens, Greece
See what's up there behind
me? That's the Acropolis.
Sensible shoes & a decent
breakfast were a must, so
good thing!  I even shot my
4th & newest Tip Clip about
"grocery shopping & finding
heavy cream in foreign land"
in front of the Parthenon. :)
January 2010
At the Acropolis,
overlooking Athens
Jan. 2010 - Giza, Egypt
At the Sphinx.  That's the
Pyramid of Khafre behind it.
Jan. 2010 - Giza, Egypt
Though posed for a
camera in front of me, I felt
the iPhone one I wasn't
aware of until afterwards
actually turned out better.
January 2010
Canary Islands
On the Hop On Hop Off bus
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January 2010 - Gibraltar
At the King Charles V Wall
at the Rock
January 2010 - Gibraltar
At the top of the Rock.  
I don't think it could have
been any foggier that day!  
But it added character to
the shot.
February 11th, 2010
The big "Snowpocalypse" hit
Dallas, too - and we beat our
all-time record by dusk. But I
had orders to ship, & the P.O.
& I share the same motto!
Yes, I've read the Atkins FAQ!
March 21st,  2010 -
Dallas
At Sonic ordering my
favorite: Route 44
unsweetened iced tea.
If you go during "happy hour"
(2-4), it's half price. :)  
I'd just left the house after a
half-hour rough & tumble in
the backyard with Sassy & it
shows.  It snowed over 7"!
March 21st, 2010
One of the shots I took of her.
April 9th, 2010
The bouncy ball I'd just tossed
into the air was double her size,
but you know Jack Russells ...
June 4th, 2010
At the park after lunch.  You
can't tell here, but I was
uncomfortably close to falling
backward in that water.  
Worth it for the shot, though!
sheila@sugarfreesheila.com
July 18th, 2010
Before I realized the camera
was set to Auto.  At noon.  
Shadow city!
July 18th, 2010
Taken just a minute later.  
If it's high noon & you don't
have a Texas-sized flash
on hand, put your digital
camera in Portrait mode.  
Good in a pinch!