Atkins Diet Schadenfreude

[salmoneous]

Schadenfreude (n) Happiness at the misfortune of others

In general, I am very understanding and sympathetic when it comes to diets and the difficulties people have with their weight. But there was something about the Atkins Diet that attracted - how to put this - jerks. Not saying everybody on Atkins was a jerk - just that a lot of annoying people were attracted to Atkins.

There were people who just loved to tell you how smart they were for being on Atkins - how it was the greatest thing ever - and that everybody not on Atkins was a fool. I'd lunch sometimes with this guy who would gush over his steak (friend in butter of course) and mock anyone who dared eat something we (foolishly) thought was healthy. He'd demanded we explain that if he could eat 3 cheeseburgers for breakfast while losing weight and cholesterol - why were we eating salads??? Every time I'd see the guy he'd tell me about he bacon and eggs he'd just ate, how much weight he'd lost - and then ask about that piece of fruit I was eating for snack. He just loved telling me how much tastier bacon was than fruit - and better for you too! To be honest, he did lose at least 50 pounds and looked great.

Well, I hadn't seen this guy in a while until bumping into him today. He's gained back everything he lost and then some. As I said, normally I'd be really sympathetic. But today - even though I said nothing to him about his weight or Atkins - I was laughing so hard on the inside.

Does that make me a bad person?

 

[Hercules10]

Nope. Before I went on my own diet and excercise routine I tried Atkins and it made me ill.

 

[DawnCt1]

No, it doesn't make you a bad person. Most people on most diets end up gaining a lot of their weight back. It also doesn't make him "an Atkins Dieter". There have been many changes to the diet over the years that make it a good diet for weight loss and for life.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Don't you just love it when Karma is visible?

Thankfully I haven't run into too many people like that--but did it ever occur to him that people actually LIKE fruits and veggies and that some people (like me) wouldn't eat a steak ever?

I guess he found the cheeseburgers tasted better with the bun?

(and you would have only been bad if you laughed out loud. )

 

[Bob Slydell]

Odds are, the guy would have been a tool no matter what diet he was doing. That's just how some people are -- whatever they're doing at that moment is the best thing in the universe and anyone who's doing something different is an idiot.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

It doesn't make you bad for laughing, only if you laughed outloud.

I personally don't see how anybody could DO Atkins to begin with--I love my bread, pasta, rice and potatoes WAY too much to give them up even it meant I'd lose weight.

TOV

 

[Keli]

I guess I do think it was a tiny bit unkind of you to feel happy at this man's weight gain. But I understand why he would get on your last nerve. I hate when people are so judgemental about other's food choices, especially when it comes to dieting. Please, everyone has to do what works for them and he had no right to say those things to you. BTW, I'm a weight watchers' type myself. I like breads and pasta an awful lot, lol.

 

[DawnCt1]

When I want to get serious about losing weight, I love Atkins, or any glycemic index type diet. Sugar Busters is also a good choice. Bread, pasta and potatoes are "lethal" to me. Like kryptonite. I feel better when I get rid of them.

 

[CEDmom]

I think under the circumstances it's justified. Atkins is great for a quick weight loss but in the end people do no better than those on other type diets. Also, when you're on Atkins it's impossible to exercise strenuously - you need complex carbs for long term energy.

I think that guy needs to learn that things in life don't come easy.

 

[FergieTCat]

My brother is the same way. Whenever he wants to "go on a diet" he "does Atkins". And brags about how much high fat red meat he can eat.

I just wonder if it's good for his heart.

 

[ead79]

I know exactly the type of person you are talking about. These people would be just as obnoxious whether on Atkins or another weight loss plan. You often see it with diet "beginners"--those who have just started a diet and are in the honeymoon phase of it. They go on and on about how easy it is to lose weight on their diet plan and how if you're struggling then you should try their "simple as pie" diet plan instead. I have a relative who is like this. I had one french fry at a meal, and she asked me if I should be eating that with a judgmental tone. Well, since that meal I have lost 27 pounds and she has lost 0. Slow and steady wins the race in my book.

I forgot to add that I also think that sometimes Atkins dieters are prone to bragging about their diet plan because it flies in the face of what the rest of us have always been taught is healthy. They like to make it seem like they have figured out a secret in the diet world that balanced dieters just don't know. The truth is, I would like to see some statistics on the long-term health of Atkins dieters vs. those that do more balanced diet weight loss plans like Weight Watchers. I would bet that over the long-term, WW dieters are more successful. In my experience, eliminating an entire food group makes you more prone to falling off the wagon. You've got to be able to live with a weight loss plan for the rest of your life in order for it to work in the long run. I know I sure couldn't give up baked potatoes, pasta, etc. for my whole life! I think that the more balanced versions of Atkins like South Beach are a healthier bet.

 

[DznyFan]

for some people, Atkins is a very effective method of losing weight. Unfortunately some folks take advantage of the "carbless" method and in their mind that means eat all the red meat and fats that you want, as long as there are no carbs. Reality is, it can be a healthy diet as long as fat intake is still kept low - i.e. eat your veggies!!! (green leafys) And not everyone who is/was 'on' Atkins is a jerk. If you're a jerk, you're a jerk regardless of what you eat.

As for your question about Schadenfreude (listening to Into The Woods lately?) BUT - yeah, sometimes Karma is a really cool thing.

 

[FreshTressa]

Odds are, the guy would have been a tool no matter what diet he was doing. That's just how some people are -- whatever they're doing at that moment is the best thing in the universe and anyone who's doing something different is an idiot.

Exactly!

 

[lil mermaid]

Sounds like this guy I used to work with. Told me that munching on baby carrots for a snack was BAAAD. Funny, because he was the one who was obese,not me.