Atkins Support Group

AmyNVegas

Thanks Susan I will try that, heck I'll try anything I just want the Whoosh Fairy to visit me again I seem to "whoosh" about every 2 months but only 10 pounds at a time. At almost 300 pounds my doctor and everyone else keeps telling me that I should be losing more consistently and not plateauing as long so maybe lowering protein and upping fat will help.

As I read Taubes Good Calories, Bad Calories I am getting angrier as I read all the research and hypotheses that were just thrown aside due to the overwhelming drive for efficacy behind thermodynamics (calories in calories out) and them letting that belief outweigh the proof that another possibility existed and still exists - it boggles my mind. These are educated medical professionals top of their field and scientists. I thought proof was what they sought and that they harp on not being able to deny evidence well they totally denied evidence that hormones(insulin in particular) drive fat storage and usage and decided that if you were obese it just HAD to be a character defect. This really angers me. I have been obese my whole life and always heard from doctors that I needed to eat less and exercise more and I stuck to their crappy low calorie, low fat, high carb diets and starved myself my whole life and when I would go back and didn't get the results they thought I should have they blamed me and said it was not possible to eat their diet and not lose weight well HELLO must be possible it happened I even gained on as little as 800-1000 calories so of course they said I cheated I ate way more than they told me too, I was lying about what I ate,etc. This went on my whole life until their crappy wisdom or lack of wisdom I should say got me to 535 pounds and according to their own rules I would have had to be eating 6000+ calories a day to maintain that weight when I was actually eating 800-2000 a day depending on the day with the majority at about 1200-1300 cals. Not only did I not lose weight but they ingrained in me since I was a small child that I was a glutton with no self control and that everything I did was wrong and I just wasn't capable of controlling myself. Do they not know what that does to a child? And my mom believed them thought I had to be sneaking food, even though she was close to 350 herself and knew she didn't eat the amounts they were saying I had to be eating. And now I read there is undeniable evidence that obese people and animals can gain weight when fed too few calories of the wrong fuels and essentially are malnourished and experience cellular level hunger when not fed sufficient proteins and fats or are fed them along with too many carbohydrates. Why was this body of work from many different researchers across the world, throughout several centuries just ignored and pushed aside? Is the grain subsidy in this country really worth more than the health of its people? Okay off my soap box and going back to finish the book I am in the last chapter or so.

martinah4

Thanks Susan I will try that, heck I'll try anything I just want the Whoosh Fairy to visit me again I seem to "whoosh" about every 2 months but only 10 pounds at a time. At almost 300 pounds my doctor and everyone else keeps telling me that I should be losing more consistently and not plateauing as long so maybe lowering protein and upping fat will help.

As I read Taubes Good Calories, Bad Calories I am getting angrier as I read all the research and hypotheses that were just thrown aside due to the overwhelming drive for efficacy behind thermodynamics (calories in calories out) and them letting that belief outweigh the proof that another possibility existed and still exists - it boggles my mind. These are educated medical professionals top of their field and scientists. I thought proof was what they sought and that they harp on not being able to deny evidence well they totally denied evidence that hormones(insulin in particular) drive fat storage and usage and decided that if you were obese it just HAD to be a character defect. This really angers me. I have been obese my whole life and always heard from doctors that I needed to eat less and exercise more and I stuck to their crappy low calorie, low fat, high carb diets and starved myself my whole life and when I would go back and didn't get the results they thought I should have they blamed me and said it was not possible to eat their diet and not lose weight well HELLO must be possible it happened I even gained on as little as 800-1000 calories so of course they said I cheated I ate way more than they told me too, I was lying about what I ate,etc. This went on my whole life until their crappy wisdom or lack of wisdom I should say got me to 535 pounds and according to their own rules I would have had to be eating 6000+ calories a day to maintain that weight when I was actually eating 800-2000 a day depending on the day with the majority at about 1200-1300 cals. Not only did I not lose weight but they ingrained in me since I was a small child that I was a glutton with no self control and that everything I did was wrong and I just wasn't capable of controlling myself. Do they not know what that does to a child? And my mom believed them thought I had to be sneaking food, even though she was close to 350 herself and knew she didn't eat the amounts they were saying I had to be eating. And now I read there is undeniable evidence that obese people and animals can gain weight when fed too few calories of the wrong fuels and essentially are malnourished and experience cellular level hunger when not fed sufficient proteins and fats or are fed them along with too many carbohydrates. Why was this body of work from many different researchers across the world, throughout several centuries just ignored and pushed aside? Is the grain subsidy in this country really worth more than the health of its people? Okay off my soap box and going back to finish the book I am in the last chapter or so.

I'm as angry as you! I felt that after watching Fathead, the movie. How could they do that to a whole nation, world of people. I feel like we are all guinea pigs in an experiment gone awry! So, what changed your mind? I mean, did a doctor finally recommend Atkins or low-carb, or did you exhaust all your options? Great job on your amazing weight loss!

As far as my and your plateau's, I've decided that when I have cheated (once, 2 weeks ago to eat cake and stuff at a wedding), I didn't feel all that great. So, if I have a cheat day, it probably won't be carb-laden foods, maybe I'll just allow myself more of the low-carb stuff that I like! A girl at my workout this morning, says don't give up, the plateau could be my bodies way of protecting itself--after being a certain weight for so long, it's got to put up a little fight! Still, waiting for the Whoosh Fairy....

AmyNVegas

martinah- I was actually part of the studies conducted in the late 70's by NIH in Bethesda,MD I was the only child participant(I turned 5 in the study) It was inpatient they fed me and made me exercise, etc and weighed, measured, and did bloodwork to determine the effects of several diets. I weighed 150 at the time and was the height of an average 9yr old. The first put me on a 350 calories balanced diet and I gained weight, then they put me on Ornish (low fat high carb) and I gained more so my mom threatened to take me out of the study. The last diet they tried was Atkins induction but a low fat version because they thought they would kill me if they fed me "all that fat", after 2 weeks I had dropped 18 pounds and sent me home and told mom to feed me extremely lean meats like chicken breast and salads with no dressing, dill pickles, all the things I had come to hate in the hospital and Mom said when I left the hospital I was lifeless, no shine in my eyes or my hair I was like a limp dishrag! So she didn't think it was healthy and started feeding me like she had always fed me. She told me about the study when I was in my late teens and about 450 pounds or so, and I tried low carbing unsuccessfully for years because I was so addicted to carbs. I had gastric bypass 10 yrs ago come December and lost a good amount but felt like craps still. Then I was tested for food allergies (after I moved to Las Vegas) and found out I am allergic to wheat, soy and many other foods two years ago. My allergist told me to go off wheat and soy completely for 8 weeks and come back. I did it but kept eating rice, corn, and other grains. But my cravings for the carby foods diminished and by the end of the 8 weeks I didn't want the other carbs either. My whole addiction to carbs was due to my wheat allergies. The body will often become addicted to the very foods we are allergic to strangely enough. So then I started the Primal Blueprint and reread all the low carb books I got the new Atkins book, too. At first I was losing fine on 80-100gm a day (Primal) in mostly veggies and fruit then I had to eliminate fruits almost completely and then had to eventually lower my veggies and now I am at a ketotic level almost daily and I just won't whoosh.:laugh: But as for doctors suggesting Atkins, or a low carb diet that didn't happen until I moved to Las Vegas. There are a lot of newer doctors here and they have all read the Duke and Stanford studies and believe that low carb is the way to go to lose weight for their obese patients. Their minds are open and they realize that low fat, high carb never worked. So I have had a lot more support here for it. In Virginia my doctors still harped on the balanced FDA pyramid and discouraged me from trying "fad diets" like Atkins and I listened even though my body kept telling me it was what was best for me. I guess our heads and the things our heads learn from the world and supposed experts around us sometimes win out over our body's instincts and I had been taught all my life not to trust my own body.

martinah4

martinah- I was actually part of the studies conducted in the late 70's by NIH in Bethesda,MD I was the only child participant(I turned 5 in the study) It was inpatient they fed me and made me exercise, etc and weighed, measured, and did bloodwork to determine the effects of several diets. I weighed 150 at the time and was the height of an average 9yr old. The first put me on a 350 calories balanced diet and I gained weight, then they put me on Ornish (low fat high carb) and I gained more so my mom threatened to take me out of the study. The last diet they tried was Atkins induction but a low fat version because they thought they would kill me if they fed me "all that fat", after 2 weeks I had dropped 18 pounds and sent me home and told mom to feed me extremely lean meats like chicken breast and salads with no dressing, dill pickles, all the things I had come to hate in the hospital and Mom said when I left the hospital I was lifeless, no shine in my eyes or my hair I was like a limp dishrag! So she didn't think it was healthy and started feeding me like she had always fed me. She told me about the study when I was in my late teens and about 450 pounds or so, and I tried low carbing unsuccessfully for years because I was so addicted to carbs. I had gastric bypass 10 yrs ago come December and lost a good amount but felt like craps still. Then I was tested for food allergies (after I moved to Las Vegas) and found out I am allergic to wheat, soy and many other foods two years ago. My allergist told me to go off wheat and soy completely for 8 weeks and come back. I did it but kept eating rice, corn, and other grains. But my cravings for the carby foods diminished and by the end of the 8 weeks I didn't want the other carbs either. My whole addiction to carbs was due to my wheat allergies. The body will often become addicted to the very foods we are allergic to strangely enough. So then I started the Primal Blueprint and reread all the low carb books I got the new Atkins book, too. At first I was losing fine on 80-100gm a day (Primal) in mostly veggies and fruit then I had to eliminate fruits almost completely and then had to eventually lower my veggies and now I am at a ketotic level almost daily and I just won't whoosh.:laugh: But as for doctors suggesting Atkins, or a low carb diet that didn't happen until I moved to Las Vegas. There are a lot of newer doctors here and they have all read the Duke and Stanford studies and believe that low carb is the way to go to lose weight for their obese patients. Their minds are open and they realize that low fat, high carb never worked. So I have had a lot more support here for it. In Virginia my doctors still harped on the balanced FDA pyramid and discouraged me from trying "fad diets" like Atkins and I listened even though my body kept telling me it was what was best for me. I guess our heads and the things our heads learn from the world and supposed experts around us sometimes win out over our body's instincts and I had been taught all my life not to trust my own body.

That's an incredible story! Were you that heavy as a child because of diabetes? Or the wheat allergy? Or you just had insulin resistance as a child? Wow! I'm so glad you are on the right path and losing weight (you look great, by the way!). I'll bet you want to get to your goal weight, and go to your old doctors and say "neener, neener, neener..."!

martinah4

martinah- I was actually part of the studies conducted in the late 70's by NIH in Bethesda,MD I was the only child participant(I turned 5 in the study) It was inpatient they fed me and made me exercise, etc and weighed, measured, and did bloodwork to determine the effects of several diets. I weighed 150 at the time and was the height of an average 9yr old. The first put me on a 350 calories balanced diet and I gained weight, then they put me on Ornish (low fat high carb) and I gained more so my mom threatened to take me out of the study. The last diet they tried was Atkins induction but a low fat version because they thought they would kill me if they fed me "all that fat", after 2 weeks I had dropped 18 pounds and sent me home and told mom to feed me extremely lean meats like chicken breast and salads with no dressing, dill pickles, all the things I had come to hate in the hospital and Mom said when I left the hospital I was lifeless, no shine in my eyes or my hair I was like a limp dishrag! So she didn't think it was healthy and started feeding me like she had always fed me. She told me about the study when I was in my late teens and about 450 pounds or so, and I tried low carbing unsuccessfully for years because I was so addicted to carbs. I had gastric bypass 10 yrs ago come December and lost a good amount but felt like craps still. Then I was tested for food allergies (after I moved to Las Vegas) and found out I am allergic to wheat, soy and many other foods two years ago. My allergist told me to go off wheat and soy completely for 8 weeks and come back. I did it but kept eating rice, corn, and other grains. But my cravings for the carby foods diminished and by the end of the 8 weeks I didn't want the other carbs either. My whole addiction to carbs was due to my wheat allergies. The body will often become addicted to the very foods we are allergic to strangely enough. So then I started the Primal Blueprint and reread all the low carb books I got the new Atkins book, too. At first I was losing fine on 80-100gm a day (Primal) in mostly veggies and fruit then I had to eliminate fruits almost completely and then had to eventually lower my veggies and now I am at a ketotic level almost daily and I just won't whoosh.:laugh: But as for doctors suggesting Atkins, or a low carb diet that didn't happen until I moved to Las Vegas. There are a lot of newer doctors here and they have all read the Duke and Stanford studies and believe that low carb is the way to go to lose weight for their obese patients. Their minds are open and they realize that low fat, high carb never worked. So I have had a lot more support here for it. In Virginia my doctors still harped on the balanced FDA pyramid and discouraged me from trying "fad diets" like Atkins and I listened even though my body kept telling me it was what was best for me. I guess our heads and the things our heads learn from the world and supposed experts around us sometimes win out over our body's instincts and I had been taught all my life not to trust my own body.

That's an incredible story! Were you that heavy as a child because of diabetes? Or the wheat allergy? Or you just had insulin resistance as a child? Wow! I'm so glad you are on the right path and losing weight (you look great, by the way!). I'll bet you want to get to your goal weight, and go to your old doctors and say "neener, neener, neener..."!

On a different topic, I saw a video of a Today show about a new book coming out for kids, Maggie Goes on a Diet. A lot of controversy, but basicly, Maggie is 14 years old and obese, and all the kids poke fun at her. She puts herself on a diet, excercises, gets skinny, becomes popular and is the star of her soccer team.

The diet, of course, is one high in grains and low-fat, etc. The author is probably pushing close to 300 lbs, and obviously, this low-fat/high-carb diet hasn't worked for him (yet?). So, I have my opinions. What are yours, my Atkins friends?

AmyNVegas

Martinah- I was never diabetic I was hyperinsulinemic, just produce way too much insulin when I eat carbs so I store everythign as fat and never get around to burning it, my whole family does. My mom told me the doctors said I had a problem processing carbohydrates and that I was hyperinsulinemic they found this by doing blood tests on me before and after meals while I was on Ornish and then again on Atkins and they found that the hyperinsulinemia corrected itself when I was on Atkins. I think if they had done it right with fat mom would have kept me on it. Atkins was just starting to take off then so mom didn't know the diet well enough to know they did it wrong, extremely low fat.

As for the book I think it is ridiculous that they are teaching kids that if they would just look good enough they would be popular. Why did she have to get skinny to make friends and be popular? I think we need more books about loving yourself just the way you are no matter how different you are. And you are right is he living vicariously through the girl in the book and strange he made it a girl not a boy character. But we know boys don't get teased as much for weight as girls especially in high school they are the linebackers, not saying that none of them get fun of but I think it is harder for females in general when it comes to overweight.

dittiepe

I find that book troubling. What I find even more troubling is the fact that it is even necessary to have a book about an overweight child having to lose weight. That says something about our society as a whole. We are a society of fat, unhealthy people.
It makes me sad

pork_belly

martinah- I was actually part of the studies conducted in the late 70's by NIH in Bethesda,MD I was the only child participant(I turned 5 in the study)

Wow!!! This makes the book even more authoritative in my eyes. It does make one angry even more so to see that the same people are still insisting the same thing in this day and age.

martinah4

So, I think the Whoosh Fairy visited last night. I was down 2.5 lbs! But, like an earlier poster, I'm going to see if it sticks tomorrow morning on the scale....don't want to count my chickens before they hatch.

AlyRoseNYC

So, I think the Whoosh Fairy visited last night. I was down 2.5 lbs! But, like an earlier poster, I'm going to see if it sticks tomorrow morning on the scale....don't want to count my chickens before they hatch.

Yeah I told the WF that if she didn't go to your house, that she would have to watch her back!!! lol Congrats!

So I am back from my sister in laws house due to my emergency evacuation. It was a blast being around the family, but I did slip up a bit. I had one Milano Melt cookie, two teaspoons of sugar in my coffee, an english muffin, and a few bites of mangu (typical Dominican brekkie dish made with plantains.) I made sure to drink tons of water though and when I got back today and jumped on the scale, I lost another half pound. WHEW! The WF loss was the real thing, plus my slip ups don't seem to have an effect on me. Not yet at least. Not going to risk it again though. Not for now.

martinah4

So, I think the Whoosh Fairy visited last night. I was down 2.5 lbs! But, like an earlier poster, I'm going to see if it sticks tomorrow morning on the scale....don't want to count my chickens before they hatch.

Yeah I told the WF that if she didn't go to your house, that she would have to watch her back!!! lol Congrats!

So I am back from my sister in laws house due to my emergency evacuation. It was a blast being around the family, but I did slip up a bit. I had one Milano Melt cookie, two teaspoons of sugar in my coffee, an english muffin, and a few bites of mangu (typical Dominican brekkie dish made with plantains.) I made sure to drink tons of water though and when I got back today and jumped on the scale, I lost another half pound. WHEW! The WF loss was the real thing, plus my slip ups don't seem to have an effect on me. Not yet at least. Not going to risk it again though. Not for now.

Thank you! I'm so glad you got my back!!! Seriously, when I sat down and thought about it, my weight loss stalled right after I cheated at a wedding exactly 2 weekends ago. I lost a pound over that weekend, then I played back and forth with the same 2 lbs for the next 2 weeks! Be careful! I hope you are able to sneak those carbs, and keep losing!

No damage from Irene, I hope?

AlyRoseNYC

Bumping so that we are on page one and easier to find

lockef

Good morning all! Hope everyones weekend went well.

LASH3S

I love reading everyone's stories.. inspirational for sure!!! Pay day this week.. which means Grocery day as well.. Which means... The Start of the Atkins Diet for me..

dittiepe

Now tell the WF to come visit me! I need a visit!

martinah4

I love reading everyone's stories.. inspirational for sure!!! Pay day this week.. which means Grocery day as well.. Which means... The Start of the Atkins Diet for me..

Good luck! You can do this, and you'll have lots of support here!

martinah4

Now tell the WF to come visit me! I need a visit!

I've kidnapped her...I'm not quite done with her yet! But, I'll send her when I'm done ;^P

Grokette

I love reading everyone's stories.. inspirational for sure!!! Pay day this week.. which means Grocery day as well.. Which means... The Start of the Atkins Diet for me..

Congrats on taking your health and well being into your own hands!!

Welcome!!

labgirl3

Hi all! I'm on some sort of Atkins / Primal hybrid of my own concoction - basically trying to stick to more whole, unprocessed foods, and keeping carbs under about 60g a day. I lost about 60 lbs this way from Nov '10 - May '11, and then took the entire summer off. After eating pretty much whatever I wanted, and drinking whenever I wanted, I put back on about 8 lbs. Oops! :embarassed: I suspect it is even worse than that, because I probably lost muscle as well.

Anyway, I'm back on track now. Have my 20th high school reunion in a month, and while I won't be at my goal weight, I won't be embarrassed to show up like I would have been this time last year.

martinah4

Hi all! I'm on some sort of Atkins / Primal hybrid of my own concoction - basically trying to stick to more whole, unprocessed foods, and keeping carbs under about 60g a day. I lost about 60 lbs this way from Nov '10 - May '11, and then took the entire summer off. After eating pretty much whatever I wanted, and drinking whenever I wanted, I put back on about 8 lbs. Oops! :embarassed: I suspect it is even worse than that, because I probably lost muscle as well.

Anyway, I'm back on track now. Have my 20th high school reunion in a month, and while I won't be at my goal weight, I won't be embarrassed to show up like I would have been this time last year.

Thankfully, I was on my Mediterranean honeymoon for my 20th reunion. Now, that I've lost some weight, I guess I'll have to be ready for my 25!

SRH7

Anyone want to add me as a friend? I've added quite a few friends since joining MFP earlier this month but could do with some Atkins/low carb friends too. Got off to a great start but have been a bit naughty the last couple of weekends, going over my carb and calorie limit. Determined to get back down to it and live a low-carb lifestyle, as it really seems to suit me physically and mentally.

AmyNVegas

I really think the WF is afraid to come to Sin City to see me or something, someone please tell her I do not live near the strip!:laugh:

AlyRoseNYC

I really think the WF is afraid to come to Sin City to see me or something, someone please tell her I do not live near the strip!:laugh:

She's a real b*tch! lol

dittiepe

The WF stopped by. Yay 3lb down

fatcitizen

I'm looking to start an Atkins diet soon.....I think I'm addicted to carbs......any friend requests will be appreciated....and one question. How long did you stay in phase one (if you used it at all)

dittiepe

I'm looking to start an Atkins diet soon.....I think I'm addicted to carbs......any friend requests will be appreciated....and one question. How long did you stay in phase one (if you used it at all)

Hi and welcome! I've been on induction (phase 1) for about 6 weeks. Some people only stay on 2 weeks, some stay on for months. It really depends on how much weight you have to lose. I plan to be moving up the ladder in 2 weeks, personally.

ginny1214

I am interested in trying Atkins! I'm down 20 lbs so far on my own, but have always wanted to try it. So I should do induction phase for 2 weeks? I'm pulling it off the website.

Ps I'm Ginny! Feel free to add me as a friend loo

dittiepe

Hi Ginny! Please, please read over the atkins website before you start the diet, or read the book if you haven't already. The most important thing about Atkins is that you need to follow it pretty much to the letter so that you remain healthy and happy during the lifestyle change. Also, if you register on their website, they'll send you a free kit with some coupons, protein bars and a carb counter booklet

ginny1214

Hi Ginny! Please, please read over the atkins website before you start the diet, or read the book if you haven't already. The most important thing about Atkins is that you need to follow it pretty much to the letter so that you remain healthy and happy during the lifestyle change. Also, if you register on their website, they'll send you a free kit with some coupons, protein bars and a carb counter booklet

Hi thanks! I've been researching it for awhile now, but not much of a meat eater, I like chicken and seafood. I have celiacs disease and I pay a lot of money for gluten free products (anything containing carbs basically) so I had thought this might be a good lifestyle for me, and I'd for sure be gluten free!

pork_belly

Yes, please pick up an Atkins book. Even if you pick up the old one that goes back to 2002. You can usually find them at a thrift shop for less than a dollar. There will be a lot of diet books there. The new Atkins way is still pretty similar except they are less stringent on what phase you can start and you can have 16g of carbs from foundation vegetables.

Welcome aboard!