How can you tell when you've tried too many different diets? When you can't keep the rules of them straight any more. This month, I'm following the Atkins diet. I'm doing it because my doctor took me off meds and I know from experience (and trial and error) that I cannot keep my blood sugar in healthy ranges without meds if I eat any carbohydrates. It isn't right, it isn't fair and there isn't anything I can do about it.

So Atkins it is this month. I started out the year on Weight Watchers. I've always considered Weight Watchers to be one of the healthiest, sanest, most practical diets. Unfortunately, it wasn't working for me this time around. The leaders keep saying the Core plan is great for people with diabetes, but I couldn't lose weight on it. Besides, I was eating mostly whole grains, fresh veggies and lean proteins. I think my portions sizes were too large. I did better counting points, but still that was a struggle to keep my blood sugar in line.

When counting points on Weight Watchers, you want to get the most food for your points value. So things like nuts and full fat cheese end up on the do not eat list. (I know the goal is moderation, but still some foods end up as banned in my mind at least). I could justify eating 1/4 of an ounce of sliced almonds with oatmeal, but anything more than that and I'd be out of points in no time.

On Core, you're allowed all you need to feel satisfied of several different healthy foods. Nuts and full fat cheese are not included. Things like whole wheat pasta, brown rice, fruits, veggies, fat-free cheese and dairy, and lean proteins are free. You also get extra points to use for non-Core foods, like nuts and wine, but there never seems to be enough points. You can earn more points with exercise. But again, I run out of those extra points quickly.

My next attempt at weight loss was a liquid diet, which worked great, until I ate solid food again. Besides, I felt horrible on it. I had zero energy and actually thought I might be suffering from lactic acidosis, a potentially deadly (and extremely rare) side effect of metformin.

Yes, this month it's Atkins. I'm having a hard time adjusting to the switch, mentally, anyway. Other than not eating any carbohydrates (with the exception of non-starchy vegetables), I don't feel like I'm on a diet at all. I get to eat full fat cheese (no more than 4 ounces a day though). I don't have to weigh or measure my meat. I can have real sour cream (although, what non-starchy food can you use it on I cannot tell you). I can eat eggs with butter for breakfast. I can eat steak with butter too (but not ketchup, unless it's that expensive One Carb variety). I'm enjoying a cup of coffee with cream in it every morning. Heck, I can even eat whipped cream if I want. It hardly feels like a diet at all, except for the part about no bread, fruit, milk or starches, that is.

I do seem to be losing on Atkins, but I'm not sure what price I'm paying for it. I'm fortunate that my cholesterol levels have always been healthy, but I worry that they won't stay that way for long on a steady diet of steak, butter and cheese.

I do tend to feel pretty baffled about this diet too. The rules are easy enough to follow, but I still find myself getting confused. Like I feel like I'm cheating eating a handful of walnuts. Or I go to grab my trusty food scale to weigh my chicken. At the end of the day, I guess I've just been on too many different diets to keep them all straight.