How to tell????
 

Okay, here's the deal:
I have been doing Atkins for approximately 2 months and I love it! I have lost a little weight and more importantly feel wonderful. Here's my question, How do you tell a potential romantic partner about your woe? I have been dateless for about a year now (bleah) and just recently went on a date with a great guy. We are meeting again for a 2nd date soon. I'm worried if I tell him I am on Atkins, he will 1)bash it, and/or 2) tell me I don't need to be on it since I am thin. It is true that I am not overweight but I am not doing atkins as a diet anyway. I do not want him to think I am obsessed with my weight and being thin. I mentioned on the first date that I try not to eat any sugar or flour without saying anything more and he didn't seemed bothered so maybe he won't care. Have any other single people dealt with the issue of telling a new possible bf/gf they are low-carbing (any plan)? How long before you told them and how did you do it? I am sure this isn't too big of a deal, but I just don't want to freak out a guy who seems really, really great (and cute, to boot!).

I don't know if I'm the one to give advice, since I don't have a SO...

But I just tell. No apologies. If it is even necessary. I mean - order whatever you want in restaurants, make whatever you want at home, the only time it ought to even matter is if someone gives you something to eat, or prepares it for you.

Then, I would say - I follow a certain way of eating that keeps me healthy, which means I don't eat certain foods. That's all.

Anyway, any guy that bashes your choices of how to live is NOT the right guy, IMHO. Better find out now - don't be coy.

Heck, I don't think you need to tell him anything. You have already told him you don't do flour and sugar, if something else comes up then you can handle it food by food. Plus, this is only your second date. Now, if he asks you straight out, "Hey you seem to be avoiding all starchy foods, what gives?" Or if the conversation turns to something relevant to being a low carber, then you can tell him. But I don't really see the need to make a big confession or anything. I have some other odd dietary preferences that usually don't come up in casual conversation and so many of the people who have known me for a while don't know about them.

Yup, no need to use the "A-word" so early. :) It can be foul language to some due to misconceptions. Just eat how you eat and he will accept you, I'm sure. A lot of people eat for their health and are not condemned for it. I'm sure he will be understanding. Not to mention... it's not that hard not to stand out. People at my office see me eat food all the time and don't suspect I'm a low-carber. They know I turn down sugar, cookies, cake, etc. but that has no stigma attached. I mean, people know sugar isn't healthy. ;)

Anyway, I'm sure all will be well. Good luck on your date, I hope things work out. :)

Paleoanth is right, why make an announcement per se? If he's curious about what you do or don't eat, he'll ask. Telling him you follow such and such a WOE is making a big deal of it. You already told him you avoid starch and sugar, he probably just thinks you're health concious. If he thinks about it at all. Come on, he's a guy, he probably doesn't care one way or the other!

Most guys (me included) are thrilled to find a meat-eating, thin-looking GF - my little redhead is very supportive of my eating needs and I am crazy about her - when the dinner comes with a potato, she very efficiently makes it disappear from my plate.

Most guys also can't relate to women's obsession w/ food - dieting and losing are easier for men, and we are judged less by our weight and more by our wallets.

If it is just your second date, don't sweat it - your obsessions (if you let them show) won't become annoying to him for at least a couple of months or so. The more he enjoys you, the less he will care about the annoying parts.

Well...my sweet, darling husband has finally come to understand that I don't have his metabolism, can't just eat whatever I want, and he'd rather have me eating in ways that are inconvenient to him than being bi*$%y because my pants aren't fitting!

I know i'm thinking on a grander scale but I would be more worried about you not liking him or how he supports, comments, makes you feel then worried about how a relative stranger (even if he is cute) feels about your WOE.

Maybe it is just a sore spot in my history with men but this is YOUR life and you should chose people to be around that you can be honest and true to yourself with.

A BF or eventual partner should be someone you are better with... then when you were alone.

It's not really neccessary to wear the diet on your sleeve, so to speak. I NEVER go around telling people what I can or can't have because I'm on the Atkins. and I've had all sorts of wierd eating habits. I just say, well, I'm not a big fan of bread, or rice, or pasta for many reasons...one, that's what everyone eats in college when they are poor so it's easy to get sick of!! 2. It just doesn't fill me up or taste nearly as good as meat does.. also, I'd rather eat all my meat than eat a freakin' potato. Also you can say that you jstu avoid processed food, because essentially that's what Atkins does.
I've always focused more on what I CAN eat rather than what I CAN'T eat. It's really not necessary to make a big deal about how you eat.

Thanks everyone for the comments! I have left it at saying I avoid certain foods for the sake of my health and he did not think it strange. And I agree that if a guy rags on my for my WOE I wouldn't want him anyway. :) Thanks all!