A friend of mine has lost 65 pounds and looks GREAT! She said she did a modified version of the Atkins Diet. I am going to get the book this weekend and start first thing Monday morning. I was wondering if anyone else has had success with the Atkins Diet.
In addition to the above, I would like to know about what kinds of foods are high in carbs, low in carbs. I have absolutly NO CLUE when it comes the kind of food I should eat. So if someone would like to kinda take me "under their wing" and advise me for awhile on what kinds of things are and aren't good I owuld deeply appreciate it. Oh if you know of a page I can go to that will tell me about low carb foods, please recommend it.
I am going to quit taking all the dietary supplements I have been taking.

Many people have had at least short-term success with the Atkins diet. Many (myself included) have trouble staying on it. In a nutshell, you are allowed to have protein foods (meat) and fat on this diet. Initially, you are allowed 20 grams of caborhydrates per day, which translates into about 3 cups of salad-type vegetables (leafy greens, cucumbers, peppers, but NO carrots) per day.

Carbohydrates are all your sugars and starches - anything sweet, grains, dry legumes, starchy vegetables like peas, corn, winter squash.

Atkins recommends a very extensive regime of daily supplements, so don't plan on dumbing your program, you will probably need to enhance it.

Good luck!

heres a site for foods allowed
www.titanic.kn-bremen.de/induction.html (http://www.titanic.kn-bremen.de/induction.html)

HTH

My parents have been on the Atkins Diet for about 6 months, and I don't know how much they've lost, but it is noticeable, especially my dad. I was also on the Atkins diet for a while during the summer but found it impossible when I went back to school in the fall, as I live in a dorm and eat in a cafeteria, so I don't have much of a selection of low-carb food available.

Anyway, I would suggest that you get the Atkins book. I got it for $5 at a used book store. It tells you the reasoning behind the diet and has basic lists of what you can and can't eat, as well as recipes. I believe there is also an Atkins "Carb-counter" book you can buy that has carb counts of lots of foods.

Two web sites that have a lot of great recipes: http://www.atkinsfriends.com <--also has a chat room and advice, info, low carb store, etc. http://www.lowcarbluxury.com

Good luck!

I just want to say thanks to everyone for all the advice!! It is greatly appreciated! I started the Atkins Diet this morning and so far so good. I don't feel hungry or jittery. I don't know about taking all of these vitamins though. I HATE taking pills so that part is like torture for me. I will try to keep everyone posted on my progress if anyone is interested!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Have a great day!!!

I've been doing the low carb diet similar to what Dr. Atkins recommends for almost 3 years now and feel great. I dropped 40 pounds (220 to 180#, 6'0" tall male) in about a year and have been maintaining ever since. Another good book is "Protein Power" by Dr. Eades. And you don't have to take all of those vitamins that Dr. Atkins recommends. I just take a good multi, a C and an E. Alan S.

[This message has been edited by arkie6 (edited 02-06-2001).]

ThankS!! Those vitamins are just TOO much. Yesterday I took the full dosage of all the vitamins yesterday and they made me sick! So today I am cutting everything back to half, vitamin wise, and I feel better.

Thanks for all the advice!!!

Hi,
This is the first time I have entered the diet and nutrition forum. I needed info on the Atkins diet. I started it yesterday and so far so good, but I have not got the book yet. I was just told to cut out all carbohydrates. I need to loose about 50lbs.
I put on weight after having disasterous cosmetic surgery. I was so depressed I just ate all the wrong foods. Now I need to loose it before coming to the USA later in the year to have reconstructive surgery. I must loose this weight fast. Can anyone tell me if I can loose this amount of weight in the next 4 months. will definately keep to the diet, I just want to get it right.

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Originally posted by Tanya:
....I was just told to cut out all carbohydrates....

Tanya,
I wish you luck in your efforts to lose the weight. However, if you were to cut out ALL carbohydrates, your (you) body would not survive for too terribly long, and ill health would set in quickly. You see, the body REQUIRES carbohydrates to live! If you eliminate ALL, guess what would happen?!?-----(Fill in the blank)
When people are told to ELIMINATE all carbos, a thorough explanation of WHAT a carbohydrates is needs to also be given. Dr. Atkins means: eliminate ALL processed foods from your diet (if he DOESN'T mean that, I personally would brand him a charlatan. Since I know he is not, I'm guessing he and I will agree here)

Vegetables and fruits ARE carbohydrates (though some also have fats and proteins, too). DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, eliminate these OR WHOLE grains (NOT white or Uncle Ben's rice!). These are ESSENTIAL to your health. But, DO eliminate the breads, chips, pastas, etc., and ALL packaged and processed foods. WHOLE FOODS only

JMHO

------------------
Copper
Let Miracles Replace all Grievances

Tanya,
I just want to say I have been on the Atkins diet for a week now and I love it. A little advice would be to get the book and READ IT!!! It helps SOOOOOO much. You don't cut all your carbs, you cut them to 20 grams a day for the first 2 weeks and then you go from there. I can't tell you enough though to read the book!! Also there are some very helpful websites if you would like them.

If you want the websites or just a penpal, email me at silverlover81@yahoo.com

Good Luck!

Hey,
Good advice here...just don't forget to take your zinc and B complex and to Drink lots and lots of water daily.
Peace

Tanya,
Don't cut all carbs! Lower your intake to 20 grams a day, ONLY IF you are trying to follow the Atkins diet! I have lost 8 pounds so far and I feel great. If you need some support just email me and let me know!!!

silverlover81@yahoo.com

Thankyou to everyone who has answered my question.
I will certainly get the Atkins book.

Thanks once again.

Originally posted by Copper:
You see, the body REQUIRES carbohydrates to live! If you eliminate ALL, guess what would happen?!?-----(Fill in the blank)


Wrong, Wrong, Wrong. There are no essential carbohydrates. Period. What would happen if you eliminate all of them? Nothing except that you would probably feel better and lose fat. In fact, there was a study done in the 1920's where researchers went on an all meat diet (0 carbs) for one year with no ill health effects (I think the researcher was Stephanson and it was in the Bellvue Hospital). In fact, the researchers came out in better shape than when they went in.

The only nutrients absolutely required for human survival are protein and fat. The body can convert up to 58% of the protein consumed into glucose as needed and the brain can use ketones from fat metabolism as fuel, so there really is no need for carbohydrates.

Our digestive system is more similar to the dog or wolf (carnivores) than cows (herbivores). So what do wild carnivores eat? Meat. No carbs. Speaking of dogs, the best way to make your dog ill (diabetes, arthritis, etc.) in later years is to feed them a dogfood that is high in grain content since their digestive system has trouble dealing with these. It just ain't natural for them to eat that stuff.

I will concede that there are beneficial vitamins and minerals in certain plants (sources of carbohydrates), but the best sources for these are typically the ones lowest in digestible carbohydrate and highest in fiber.

And grains, whether white flour or whole wheat, really have no beneficial place in the human diet in my opinion. In fact, grains have probably caused far more ill health effects than saturated fat ever thought about.

Alan S.

Read arkies post!! There is no such thing as an essential carbohydrate! Your body can survive of off fats and protein without adverse health issues. If copper was correct which he or she is not, the people in alaska would be dead by now. They live off of blubber(whale fat )exclusively for 6 months at a time. Although I am currently on a balanced diet, I did the high fat/protein diet for a full year with no side effects. I had my blood work done before and after my diet and guess what?? My good cholesterol was up, bad cholesterol was lower than when I started and my bodyfat dropped!! in my opinion there are only two diets that work. 1)high protein/mod carbs/low fat or the high fat/high protein/low low carb approach. Keep in mind that everyone reacts differantly. if the first diet doesnt work for you move on!!
also I might add that all diets have one thing in common and thats calories!! If you eat more than you burn of per day, you will gain weight period!!!

Well thanks for all the advice. I have only kinda stuck to the diet for a week now. I mean the first 4 days I did GREAT!! I slacked on Friday thru Sunday though. So I started the Induction diet again yesterday and I feel great. I did loose 6 pounds last week though!!

Thanks to everyone for the advice!!

Hey Texas that sounds great!!! There is another diet that you can try that is a combination of an atkins type diet mixed in with a normal diet and it is a little less restrictive. It's called the fat burning diet and the author is Jay Robb. Basically the princible behind it is that you have 2 low carb days followed by a moderate/high carb days then you have 2 low carb days followed by two moderate/high carb days. so it looks like this Mon-Tues low carb Wed-high carb THUR-FRI low carb SAT-Sun-high carbs. THere is also a listing of the type of carbs/foods that you can eat(he doesnt recommend processed carbs/no wheat and gluten product as well!!)I have read just about every diet/nutrition book there is, and this one is one of the better ones!! Put it simply, it works!! I just figured I would give you another avenue just incase you get tired of your current diet!!

gainfreak!

Thanks! I will try that diet too. You if this one doesn't pan out. Thanks for all your advice and tips. If you ever have anymore, please let me know.

Thanks!!
Daisy

p.s. I have lost another 2 pounds this week!!

Daisy,

I certainly wish you luck on this diet! I did it for a few weeks and I was so excited about the weight I lost. But unless you are really creative with the foods it can get quite boring. Especially when other people in the house are eating all kinds of foods. I also noticed some bad breath and a stranger odor "down there". And I really missed the fruits and veggies, even though I never really ate that much of them before. Finally I couldn't stand it any longer and I stopped the Atkins diet. I am now on the old stand by diet of eating all food types, actually I say I'm not on a diet, I'm just trying to make better choices. Ha. And cutting back on portion size. Trying to exercise. Dieting just sucks. I hate it. I need to lose 40 lbs, and I feel like it will never happen. Good luck and let me know how you do. It's much easier when you have people to tell your success to. I have gone to <www.cyberdiet.com> and read the success stories, they have picures too. It really gives you a great feeling to see other people like you have success. You should go to the site. Please keep us updated!

Shel

Shel,
Well thanks for the encouragement!! Hey you can loose the weight too!! i feel great!! I will keep you posted!!

Have a great day!!

Daisy

texasdaisy !
PLEASE don't forget modified soy product. Soy has twice as much protein as ANY meat, and modified soy meal, called soy gluten i think, has almost 70% protein, compared with 18% protein in beef, 12% for chicken etc. Nothing has more protein than soy. So eat and drink lots of it - soy cereal, soy milk, soy burgers, soy everything. Its way better for you than meat as well, because it doesn't have those terrible, terrible animal fats that eventually destroy your circulatory system.

ALSO, any women considering losing weight to be under their ideal weight, remember that full fat cells synthesize estrogen. This means fatter women have more estrogen, and fatter people in general. (Maybe thats why they're more jolly hehe). Considering that fat % in males causes enough estrogen to shrink genital size considerably, raise voice pitch, take away muscle tone, and change fat distribution, just IMAGINE the difference it makes in an actual female. The difference is so large, in fact, that a fat lady after menopause has more estrogen than a skinny lady BEFORE menopause! This is according to studies by Dr John Lee, leading researcher on menopause and endocrinology. Having too little estrogen at your age will increase your testosterone which will have many negative effects, at your age you will lose some of the growth-stunting effect of estrogen for one, not to mention arm and foot and shoulder growth, and regardless of age, thinner women's voices deepen quicker than fat womens. your breasts are growing still, at your age, and you might stunt that growth as well. Basically, at 17 you're not in the market for a husband yet, so just cool it on the weight obsession deal.... its not becoming. And do your research before you start trying to mess with your body.
Good luck

Originally posted by fidgetyy:
texasdaisy !
PLEASE don't forget modified soy product. Soy has twice as much protein as ANY meat, and modified soy meal, called soy gluten i think, has almost 70% protein, compared with 18% protein in beef, 12% for chicken etc. Nothing has more protein than soy. So eat and drink lots of it - soy cereal, soy milk, soy burgers, soy everything. Its way better for you than meat as well, because it doesn't have those terrible, terrible animal fats that eventually destroy your circulatory system.


I cannot recommend soy under any circumstances. It ain't healthy. Check out this link for additional info http://www.mercola.com/article/soy/index.htm

Animal based foods (meat, eggs, cheese, etc.) is what you need for protein. And saturated fat has gotten a bad rap in my opinion. It is what our ancestors ate for thousands of years without ill health effects prior to the advent of modern food manufacturing.

The only thing soy has going for it is a good marketing plan.

Alan S.

I was on the atkins diet last year for 3 months and lost 30 lbs. then i went totally off of it and gained it back. i was so depressed. now i am trying to start it back but it is so much harder, especially when the kids eat all the other crap around you. I dont know why I cant to it this time. I see ya'll losing weight on it and I know it works and I know how grreat you feel on it. My mom went from 165 to 130. she's 5'7 and looks great. although she is still on it she has modified it and has kept her weight off while also enjoying "good food" from time to time. Someone help me get back on this. Or get me jump started on a little weight loss to get me encouraged to continue. I am so disgusting. I'm 5'6 and 199 lbs. i have NEVER been this fat before. I have 4 kids and I feel terrible. Dont want to do anything, just lay around. any suggestions will help.
Thanx

Hey babams5555, I understand how you feel. I need to lose at least 50-60lbs. I don't feel like doing anything myself. I'm very embrass to go anywhere. I gained about 50lbs. in the last 1 and half years. My mom passed away in 99' and since then I didn't care about anything. Now I'm trying to put my life back together and trying to lose all this weight. I have 2 children and a great husband but still not happy with myself. I think is efecting them because I was so out going and now all I do is stay home. Get this, I use to teach arobics, I guess that why I don't want anyone to see me. I can't even join the culb where I use to work at cause they will probely say, my god look all the weight she gained. It has also afected my sex life with my husband. I feel so fat that I don't want him to touch me. I have no problem with my sex drive, it's just that I try to hind my fat. Now enough of that. I'm currently takeing xetalean. For the pass few days I feel great and no side afects. I do eat but not that much at all. There is a jump start diet that helped me a few times, it called the 3 day diet. I don't know if it is the same one that everyone on here is useing but the one I use sometime, you can eat vanilla ice cream or yougrut. I lose about 4-5lbs. on those 3 days which helps.Hey I'm with you, we can do it. GOOD LUCK!!! God Bless!!!

hi... i was doing a low fat version of atkins.. but started over yesterday on the full fat version, but am choosing lean meats & unsaturated fats. need support..... cant keep to 20 crbs, but am trying to stay as low as possible, but not count veggies in the crb count, as i dont eat many anway. get a little exercise, & drink lots of water.

Angelwings, thanx for the reply. I feel not so alone now. Everyone around me is losing weight but me. And I have gained so much of mine back. I know exactly what you mean. All I want to do is stay home. I feel disgusting. My husband is wonderful but it doesnt make me feel better about myself. I have to do something. I want to enjoy my family and my life and be happy with myself, Thanx for understanding and telling me how you feel. Together we will do something and lose the weight. Hang in there as I will too. Sorry to hear about you mom as well. I know that is tough. Have a Happy Easter.

Hi badams555, Happy Easter to you too. OK Easter is over and now time for bathing suit time is here, and there is no way I'm going to put one on until I lose at least 30-40lbs. Get this, tomorrow we are signing paper to get an inground pool so you know I have to lose. Today was pretty hard I didn't diet at all. I didn't eat candy it was food. I'm not a candy eater but I love holiday food. Well, I guess I start again tomorrow. I have 3 weeks before to pool will be finished so I guess I'll have to kill myself dieting. I'm glad to hear from you, maybe we can keep in touch to see our progess. Later!! Angelwings

Badams555....have you ever tried weight watchers or similar? The problem weith atkins is if you even cheat for a day theres 2 lbs back! I know its hard I gained the weight I lost on it and have vowed never to do it again! It is much easier to maintain eating healthy(alot quicker too with kids) and alot cheaper as well.Just a suggestion.Calorie counting is hard for some because they may have a couple weeks where they don't lose any weight but then have a week where they lose 5 and people say they are hungry but in truth they either aren't eating enough or not the right things! Its really worked for some friends of mine and myself. Just thought Id throw it out there since I have kids too and I can't do atkins even if I agreed with it from the cost and inconvenience(sp?).I locve just grabbing a peice of fruit or something for breakfast.

The atkins diet is BAD. You will lose weight, but in an extremely unhealthy way. And as you may read in other posts, if you get off of the Atkins diet, the weight comes back on. Even Dr. Atkins admits this. Check this out:
http://www.weight-dieting.org/atkins.htm

The US Department of Health states that the base of your food intake pyramid should be...you guessed it - grain products, vegetables, and fruits -- CARBS. Check this out here:
http://www.nalusda.gov/fnic/dga/dga95/grains.html

The healthful way to lose weight is to eat a balanced diet from all of the food groups. Cut down on fats and high calorie items. Use a daily exercise regimen to burn more calories than you take in. And, drink LOTS of water! Best to eat several small meals than one or two big ones...it speeds up your metabolism.

I would never advise anyone to subscribe to the Atkins diet. It promotes bad breath, lack of energy, and heart disease, which is not a good thing!

I would do more research into quick weight loss and fad diets before jumping in and getting too excited about the quick results that you see. Your body will pay for it in the long run.

Good luck -

LiFTer

[This message has been edited by lifter (edited 04-17-2001).]

Originally posted by lifter:
The healthful way to lose weight is to eat a balanced diet from all of the food groups.

So what is a balanced diet? Since there are three macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) and me being an engineer, balanced to me would mean 33.3% carbohydrate, 33.3% protein, and 33.3% fat. Am I not right? But the USDA recommends 60% carbohydrate, 15% protein, and 25% fat. How can that be considered balanced? Seems like it leans just a bit too much in the direction of carbohydrates, and is deficient in protein. Please explain how they get "balanced" out of this. Or is this just more politically correct spin on words.

Alan

Originally posted by Kennedy:
The problem weith atkins is if you even cheat for a day theres 2 lbs back!

That 2 lbs is super compensation of glycogen and the resulting gain in water weight. If you are aware of this, it's no big deal. Just don't get discouraged by continously watching the scales. The problem you encounter is if you give up the first time you see this and continue "cheating". Once you've replenished your glocogen stores, then you will start laying down fat if you continue consuming excess carbohydrates.

Many bodybuilders use a cyclic ketogenic diet where they are very low carb for 5 days or so and then carb up or "cheat" for 1.5 to 2 days max. This restores their glycogen stores and allows them to workout at higher levels and yet not put on any fat.

Alan

Angelwings----congrates on the pool. we are thinking of getting one too. And if I put on a bathing suit I will definitely cover it up with a huge shirt or something. I get all set to start a diet and then sometime during the day i end up saying whats the use and eat again and feel bad again and get pissed off at myself again. its an every day thing-I wake up all ready to start and by the end of the day i've blown it again.
Kennedy---I've thought about weight watchers. I know some of my neighbors who have done it and lost weight and kept it off. thats my problem--keeping it off.lately though, its just been getting started. Angelwings has a good reason--her pool. I think she will be able to do it. Angelwings you sound very determined. I feel that way for awhile but it always goes away. maybe I should just give up and live fat and unhappy. Oh well' maybe summer will go by fast so i can go back to baggy sweats. But I cant stand being like this. I HAVE TO DO IT.

Originally posted by lifter:
The atkins diet is BAD. You will lose weight, but in an extremely unhealthy way. And as you may read in other posts, if you get off of the Atkins diet, the weight comes back on. Even Dr. Atkins admits this. Check this out:
http://www.weight-dieting.org/atkins.htm


The Atkins diet is not bad and it is not unhealthy. And just like any "diet", if go off of it and go back to your old eating habits that made you overweight, you will put the weight back on. That seems pretty simple to me. The low carbohydrate way of eating has to be a lifelong commitment. Dr. Atkins and Protein Power are set up to gradually shift you from a fat loss phase to a maintenance phase that allows slightly more carbohydrates but keeps them below the point that you start gaining fat. It's pretty simple and easy to follow, at least for me. Been doing it for almost three years and don't have any plans on changing.

And I went to that site referenced above and found several contradictions. In one article on the Cave Man Diet it states: Grains and dairy show up often as poorly tolerated; and they frequently cause significant weight gain, thus one rationale for more meat in our diets. And just a little farther down the same article states: I do NOT recommend the HIGH protein diets like that of Dr. Atkins.

There is plenty of psychobable and “brainwashing” (their words, not mine) at that site, but little discussion of the biochemistry behind fat gain/loss.

Alan

arkie6 -

When I use the term "balanced" I do not mean an even split between the 3 'macronutrients'. I've been on a 60/20/20 diet since December of last year, and have gone from 184 (overweight by today's standards) to 168. I have also been exercising to ensure that I burn more calories than I take in. Isn't that one of the keys to weight loss?

I've read alot about the Atkins diet because I have a friend who is dedicated to it, and I just don't want to see him suffer any of the unhealthy side effects that have been associated to the Atkins diet. Of course, there are just as many articles that say there are no bad side effects, I guess it just depends on what you chose to believe. The Health Professionals and Personal Fitness Experts that I've talked to have strongly recommended that I stay away from the Atkins diet and any other diet that eliminates or cuts down on any of the food groups. The fitness expert that I spoke with advised me to eat a "balanced" diet (60/20/20), and it has worked for me. Of course, exercising 3 times a week (sometimes more or sometimes less) is a big help too.

If you are seriously considering, or are on the Atkins Diet, I would suggest further reading to find out what the possible risks are:
http://www.wellnessweb.com/nutri/atkins_diet.htm http://www.allsands.com/Health/Advice/atkinsdietdang_xkq_gn.htm http://www.heartinfo.org/nutrition/hprotein101097.htm

Best of luck to those on the Atkins diet. Just beware of what the possible ill effects are, and watch out for them.

LiFTer

I started the Atkins diet in mid March of 2000. I went from 218 pounds to 176 pounds by the last day of July. So, in 4 1/2 months, I lost 42 pounds. I went from a size 20 to a size 14. August 1st I found out I was pregnant and put myself on a revised Low Carb plan. I am due to deliver my baby in "14" days and I have gained "23" pounds, whereas I normally would have gained 40+ pounds. This WOL does work, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. To be able to feel good about myself, to buy clothes -- REGULAR JEANS -- not stretchies --is an amazing feeling and accomplishement. I recommend this WOL to everyone. I hope you find much success. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
"Ryan Patrick" due May 11th.
218/176/135 (3/00-8/00)
176/198/200 (8/00 - present)

I "survived" the Atkins diet for only 3 days. After that much bacon, cheese, and meat I was terrible sick. I am more of a fruit and veggie person than a big meat eater, so that might have been part of the problem. I would NOT do the very restrictive version described in the book again. If you got to get all of your nutrients and vitamins from pills, something is just not right. I am going to try to lose weight again, but on a much more modified version.

------------------
best wishes,
Maggie Mae

Hi all
I never did really start the Atkins diet again but I have lost 19 lbs. I am drinking tons of water which I never did before and really monitering what I eat. I have it in my mind that if I eat I must stop right away or it will be bad for me. I don't know if that is necessarily a good idea, but it works. I can't seem to change that now. For some reason now I feel like eating is such a bad thing, I dont even want to do it. But I am also taking some diet pills called vitachromalean from Nature's gifts. I doont know if it is helping or not but I think the water is helping a lot. Good luck everyone. Just keep pluggin.

Not sure if a tiny voice among so many can even begin to make a difference, but.... here goes. If you want to lose fat weight, only the following formula will work:
energy intake < energy expenditure.
period.
I find it interesting how people who tout the high protein/low CHO diets use the argument that our ancestors lived off primarily meat, which is likely true. HOWEVER, we aren't living in the same environment as our ancestors. We don't have to expend the same amount of energy to survive.
I agree that any diet that takes out processed, high sugar, high saturated fat can be a very healthy and successful one. And as far as saturated fat getting all the bad rap, well, there are enough data to support its effects on heart disease risk. But I also believe we need to look more closely at the effects of simple sugars. OK, thanks for letting me speak my mind. Good health to everyone!