I know we are not supposed to have to count calories, or even worry about it, as LCers....

But I have to ask....

If we eat too many pork rinds, or too much cheese, won't the fat calories mess us up, even if we are keeping the carbs down where they should be?

Does anybody know for sure about this?

You'll mess up.

It's just that you have way more flexibility on the LC WOE than you do on anything else. I can be stable (= not losing) at a MUCH higher caloric level than I could under any other diet. The clear head was worth a lot. After a while, though, I wanted a thin body too and I had to give up the pork rinds. No way is one bag 16 servings in my house...

Cheese is an altogether different matter. It has carbs, and some people including me find it has its own stall power and induces cravings. YMMV.

Yes, if you eat 6000 calories of rinds you will gain weight just the same as you ate 6000 calories of chicken breast. What happens when you increase dietary fat intake is that you feel full longer and don't have to deal with the sleepies or munchees caused by carbs.

After a couple of weeks your appetite diminishes (stomach gets smaller etc)so it is harder to overeat.

Yeah.... I like that full feeling from the fats allowed on Atkins. That, and the elimination of the carb cravings by eliminating the blood sugar swings....

The stability of my mental energy and lack of physical hunger pangs are great.

The thing is, I seem to eat for other reasons than hunger. Like when stressed. Sometimes this is called "mood altering" or using food like a drug. I am guilty.

I think I had fallen into a bit of a trap with the pork rinds. 16 Servings - Ha! My wife and I could finish a bag of those cinnamon covered ones on the way home from the low carb store. Taste like cinnamon toast - an old comfort food.... I knew they were not 'free' but I thought - no carbs, AT ALL.... At least this is safer than __________ (whatever else comes to mind).

So... Thanks for setting me straight. I like nuts too, but 1/4 cup is like.... birdfood. Does not register.

So... If in the grips of a huge desire to eat... what can I eat more than 1/4 cup of, that won't blow my diet?

Water!

Seriously, if you are truly hungry, eat. If it's a craving (desire) then drink a big glass of water and wait 30 minutes. The craving will pass, or you'll realize you are truly hungry!

Good luck!