Hi, believe!
I am not the veteran the others (Zule and Potatofree) are (there will be other veteran posters, too!), and I did not come to CAD/CALP from Atkins, but I am old enough to have learned a few things about my own body...and that may be one truism: Each person's body reacts differently to a wide range of factors, which is why tweaking on any WOE is vital to the long-term success of any regimen. Please,
please don't despair if, upon starting CAD, you have any "unfortunate" reactions the next day (or even over the next week or so)--use every occurrence as an opportunity to examine how your body is reacting to what you're putting into it (as well as how often, what time of day, and so forth). Keeping a journal here really is a wonderful tool--not only for your own calculations and review (analysis), but for others who might want to help out with a comment or two, observations from their own experiences.
Never give up on this long-haul process, because you have it within your power to learn so much about what is best for your particular body. CAD is a wonderful tool; the chemistry is fascinating and even awe-inspiring. And sure, you may fall off the wagon--or even not
really fall off, just maybe overdo here and there (or lots at first!
)--but that certainly doesn't mean CAD isn't for you. It's more a matter of learning what aspects of CAD work beautifully and what parts may lead to cravings that make it harder for you to eat within parameters that best meet your body's needs.
Experiment with different foods (even food pairings), with different components of foods, for example. Do alcohol sugars at RMs (often in sugar-free chocolates or low-carb ice creams, for instance) make you crave more, or bloat you, or make you sluggish (or manic)...or do they have no effect whasoever? Does sugar have that effect, even at RM, when you figure you can have whatever you want for that 1/3 portion? Does even cooked veggies (see Zule's post) at CM have a funny effect on your cravings? Or not?
Pay attention to what happens when you eat "legitimate" but non-homemade items--store-bought goodies, or shakes, or processed meats, and so on. Even if the nutritional counts make them "okay" for CM (or RM), check the ingredients list. Always be on the lookout for hidden carbs. a "low-carb" food may not be that great for you--see how you feel. Maybe try for "clean" foods at first--it might not make a difference to you, but maybe it will. By "clean," I mean foods that don't have a lot of extraneous ingredients. It's just a thought.
Never give up. Consider your body to be an ongoing experiment, one that changes as you age too! Things that were fine five years ago may not be so fine now. Relax about a three- to -five-pound weight gain--or a three- to five-pound weight loss! Don't freak too quickly. You'll do fine, you'll be fine, as long as you give CAD a really good chance (say, at least three months?) and keep reading and rereading the book to make sure you don't lose sight of anything. And keep reading other books to educate yourself about the chemistry and the principles behind LC.
Good luck, and you'll do fine if you have confidence in your body, your will, and your ability to be patient and tolerant.
Best, Sona