As another holiday approaches, I'm sure everyone is thinking about what to eat/what to pass up for their traditional feast.
One thing that is helping me is reminding myself how much my very tastebuds have changed. My husband (who is starting to feel these effects) and I were discussing this with a friend who has been lcing even longer than we have. Like me, he used to eat pasta every other meal, or even more, and now reports even the thought does not appeal to him.
I used to love sandwiches, but now I find rollups so much more tasty. I did eat half a wrap last week, discarded the second half and just ate the filling, and was reminded quite dramatically of how much better it tastes WITHOUT the dread substance (I've taken to calling it the "edible plate.") This stuff actually masks and dilutes the great flavors of the filling.
So remember, YOU are changing, and your taste buds are changing.
That food you keep dreaming and scheming about may not taste as good to you as it once did. If you keep that in mind, it might help.

One thing I've noticed is sweet stuff. I drank a glass of Diet Rite pop (perfectly legal) last Friday night at a Christmas party. It was way too sweet--I prefer water. Also, since I've avoided SF candies for about a month now I don't have any desire for it either. I'm using less Splenda in whipped cream too. Before Atkins, I was a sugar junkie. I also don't have any longing for pasta or potatoes--both staples in my "before" life.

I can't stand most sweet things, they make me ill. I tried a small bite of a free sample at the store. It was a chocolate cheesecake torte that had been driving me nuts with curiosity for a while. I was very relived when they had it as a free sample,. so I wouldn't be tempted to buy one. I took a very small bite (less then 1/3 the sample) and threw the rest away. It was awful and left a nasty after taste.

Crystal lite, Fruit2o and other drinks like that have to be cut with water before I can stand them. Most carby starchy things such as noodles, crusts and so on make my tummy turn on site

What tastes better though now is veggies and fruits. Fruit is almost a treat. I was a confirmed veggie hater. I would only eat corn, carrots, and occasional broccoli and cauliflower. Now I am exploring tons of new kinds of veggies and ways of preparing them. I've found some veggies, such as jicama, can make great desserts as well.

One thing that still tastes just as great as ever though os dairy. Darn the evil addicting stuff.