I have been doing atkins for 3 and 1/2 weeks. I started out felling like crap, had a couple of good days, and felt like crap until yesterday. Yesterday I went totally of plan and had pizza for dinner. I felt so much better today--didn't feel the need to sleep all day, actually got out of bed voluntarily--lol. I have been doing some checking on CAD, and I love the idea of the reward meal, in fact that's pretty much how I ate today. I think Atkins may have been too drastic of a change for me. Also, I've read that cutting carbs so drastically can affect thyroid hormone levels, and I'm also wondering if that has happened. According to my doctor, I'm one of the few, strange folks that has been hypo- and hyper- at different times in my life, beginning when I was a young child. I don't know how true it is about the hormone levels being affected, but it sure feels that way.

Anyway, I like most of what I've read about CAD. I have taken the carb addict test before and knew before I started atkins that I am one. Only thing is, I have not seen where artificial sweeteners affect me as far as inducing cravings. So to get to the point (finally), I am thinking of going on my own version of LC, don't know how well I will lose weight on it, but I feel that I could stick to it.

Basically, it would be mostly like CAD, only difference would be allowing myself artificially sweetened drinks, probably 2-3 a day, including my morning coffee, which I absolutely refuse to give up. I don't have the CAD book yet (am planning to read it ASAP), so I don't know all the details about it yet. I do know the basic rules.

Anyway, sorry for being so long-winded. I realize that I am still very new to low-carbing, but I feel that I have learned so much in the short time I have been doing it. I think it makes perfect sense, I'm just having trouble finding a plan that I feel like I can stick to forever. I would love to hear opinions on this.