Will power has been the reason that every other "diet" (as in temporary weight loss food plan) has failed for me. Mere will power alone has not been enough to overcome the demands of my body when I've done the diets that were all wrong for me. Cutting calories or portions still included carbs - and eating carbs leads to carb cravings that are nearly impossible to ignore, and then overeating. Low fat diets of course are full of carbs, so no matter how low the fat was, I was still filling my system with sugars (converted from carbs), and my insulin levels were spiking and dipping and causing my hunger levels to go through the roof. Nobody can fight that with "will power", it's like trying to stand up amid a tornado; the tornado is going to carry you off no matter how much you "will" it not to happen. Maybe others can fight the tide of chemical demands in their bodies; I haven't been able to, and have considered myself a failure as a result.

And of course, being a Christian, I prayed about it, and prayed for more will power to overcome my weaknesses and failure. And God answered me by putting in my path people who were living low carb. And I, mere human that I am, kept telling Him, "No, that's not right for me, I could NEVER give up bread and rice and cake!" And then I'd pray for more will power...and "stumble upon" an article about low carbing, and I'd think, "What are all these people THINKING, that can't be good for you!" and in my misery would call out yet again to God for more will power and cry out my frustration and misery to Him...and I'm sure He just shook His head and waited for me to catch on.

For me, trying to rely on will power leads to failure.

When considering a diet (as in, lifelong eating plan) therefore, I had to have one where I wasn't fighting the dictates of my body every step of the way. My doctor's advice to take drugs with more side effects than benefits or surgery that would permanently alter my innards and STILL not take care of the food obsession issue...or his young PA's advice to "eat more fruits and vegetables" (DUH! she's half my age, skinny as heck, knows I've battled my weight my whole life, and thinks that is going to HELP me?)...or my last doctor's advice to simply quit eating so much...all lead to even greater feelings of failure and lack of strength on my part, even to the point of suicidal thoughts in the last year. In addition, I'd been labelled an emotional eater - which I know now couldn't be further from the truth!

I read so many posts on usenet and mailing lists from people who are so frustrated and depressed and angry because they feel they can't control their eating - that their "lack of will power" is some sort of inherent weakness on their part, and I want to scream at them, "It MIGHT NOT BE YOU! It might be YOUR BODY!" I want to tell them that once I got rid of the carbs that were sending my chemistry into a manic state and causing hunger that couldn't be satisfied no matter now much I ate, ALL OF THAT WENT AWAY! It was never about will power, therefore it was never about failure or weakness on my part, and all of that depression and rage I went through from listening to the medical "experts" was all for nothing!

It frustrates and angers me that medical professionals continue to recommend against low carb "diets", and instead keep so many of their clients in a state of hunger and frustration. I can't say that carbs are everybody's issue; but I CAN say that it is NOT always "will power" that's the answer. Sometimes I just want to cry with the injustice of it all when I see so many people suffering, as I did for so long!

At the same time, I take great joy in the release from decades of deprivation and failure - the result of exercising "will power". I'm vastly excited and encouraged that I can eat until I'm full and that my body no longer screams at me for more, and I can walk away. I'm thankful for every day without gnawing hunger forcing me to obsess about food all day, every day. I'm thrilled that I can eat what I need to eat and no more, that I KNOW I'm feeding my system what it needs rather than what it's jonesing for, and that I'm seeing the results in energy, clear skin, the incredible reduction of reflux, and so many of the other issues that used to plague me when I was eating so many carbs...and, of course, how quickly I'm shrinking - no "will power" needed :).