Thinking about beginning Atkins. Any thoughts?

PreshelledPistachio

Even your brain needs a good deal of carbs to keep it running healthy!

Your brain needs glucose. Your body converts protein to glucose so no carbohydrates are needed for brain function.

DerpdyHerp

This is an impressively ignorant thread laden with opinion and anecdotal evidence and not a shred of proven fact.

The initial question I would ask, have you been consistently creating a calorie deficit (after measuring and tracking EVERY SINGLE BITE WITH NO EXCEPTIONS) and had no success at all? Second question, what is your current macronutrient ratio and intake?

Third question, why do you want to start Atkins? And finally, do you understand that there is no metabolically superior diet?

twotoforty73

The reason I am starting atkins tomorrow morning is because I watched my parents and brother (he is 43) eat highly processed carbs, drink high sugared drinks, and all three of them had diabetes (I don't have diabetes or high blood pressure yet). My father died at age 65 after being obese all of his adult life (with good cholesterol levels and after losing over 100 lbs on a low-fat diet). He and my brother also had/have severe gout. My mother took cholesterol meds for a few years and had a lot of joint problems eventually leading to a knee replacement at age 63. My brother looks like he is 55, can't feel his feet (from the diabetes) and is about 100 lbs overweight. My father was 6'2 and obese. His father was 6'5 and very slim, and lived before most processed foods came out. My brother is 6' and weights between 300 and 350. I know exactly how my family became obese and am determined to change my future and be healthier than my family. I started to become a carbohydrate addict at about age 12. I literally ate a loaf of bread at night to comfort myself. I started out a timy little kid and as soon as I became carbohydrate addicted, my weight ballooned and the only way to control my addiction is to cut out all processed carbs, including sugar. I know where I came from (a family where my father died young, an obese mother and brother that both have diabetes and high blood pressure. I watched what they ate to become the obese and dead people that they are today. Even my half-sister and half-brother are diabetic. I know how they eat also. I am going to break the cycle of carbohydrate addiction in my family. I have been pretty low carb, in ketosis for 2 days (and it is TOM) have little to no cravings for carbs anymore. I am starting induction officially tomorrow (even though I have been in ketosis for 2 days). I know this journey will not be perfect but am very sure that this is going to be a rehab type thing for me and to be healthy forever I am going to have to do this lifestyle change for life. the last 2 doctor appts (general and gyn) my blood pressure has been about 130 over 90. I checked it yesterday and it was 115 over 79. I also started menstruating and it has been about 6 months since I had a period and it seems pretty normal (not just spotting) just after a week of low-carb. Besides fat and protein I will be eating more veggies than most people eat daily. I can't wait to start my 1st official day of induction tomorrow!

twotoforty73

The reason I am starting atkins tomorrow morning is because I watched my parents and brother (he is 43) eat highly processed carbs, drink high sugared drinks, and all three of them had diabetes (I don't have diabetes or high blood pressure yet). My father died at age 65 after being obese all of his adult life (with good cholesterol levels and after losing over 100 lbs on a low-fat diet). He and my brother also had/have severe gout. My mother took cholesterol meds for a few years and had a lot of joint problems eventually leading to a knee replacement at age 63. My brother looks like he is 55, can't feel his feet (from the diabetes) and is about 100 lbs overweight. My father was 6'2 and obese. His father was 6'5 and very slim, and lived before most processed foods came out. My brother is 6' and weights between 300 and 350. I know exactly how my family became obese and am determined to change my future and be healthier than my family. I started to become a carbohydrate addict at about age 12. I literally ate a loaf of bread at night to comfort myself. I started out a timy little kid and as soon as I became carbohydrate addicted, my weight ballooned and the only way to control my addiction is to cut out all processed carbs, including sugar. I know where I came from (a family where my father died young, an obese mother and brother that both have diabetes and high blood pressure. I watched what they ate to become the obese and dead people that they are today. Even my half-sister and half-brother are diabetic. I know how they eat also. I am going to break the cycle of carbohydrate addiction in my family. I have been pretty low carb, in ketosis for 2 days (and it is TOM) have little to no cravings for carbs anymore. I am starting induction officially tomorrow (even though I have been in ketosis for 2 days). I know this journey will not be perfect but am very sure that this is going to be a rehab type thing for me and to be healthy forever I am going to have to do this lifestyle change for life. the last 2 doctor appts (general and gyn) my blood pressure has been about 130 over 90. I checked it yesterday and it was 115 over 79. I also started menstruating and it has been about 6 months since I had a period and it seems pretty normal (not just spotting) just after a week of low-carb. Besides fat and protein I will be eating more veggies than most people eat daily. I can't wait to start my 1st official day of induction tomorrow!

Southernsister

Eating healthy and your intake is the only vvay. It is all about a life style change. I have been on every diet and roller coaster there is. It all comes back unless you learn to eat right and exercise.
It is very bad for your kidneys. A healthy nevv you is vvhat you deserve.
Best of look.

LowCarbForLife

Eating healthy and your intake is the only vvay. It is all about a life style change. I have been on every diet and roller coaster there is. It all comes back unless you learn to eat right and exercise.
It is very bad for your kidneys. A healthy nevv you is vvhat you deserve.
Best of look.

Why do you have to write so many smart things and then add something completely false? Atkins and other low carb diets are not "very bad for your kidneys".

SouLThinking

I agree that people if you post something you should back it up with facts. I am a living fact that Low carb works IF YOU WORK IT.

Oh and after 7 yrs..my kidneys are working just fine thanks.

Nichole

Mrsfreedom41

I watched Dr. Oz program today and he had a guy on that teaches people how to eat carbs. He says to eat high carbs one day and low carbs the next and alternate for 6 days. On the 7th day, eat anything you want in moderation. Makes sense to me - I wish I could remember his name. Did anyone else watch it?

SouLThinking

I have heard about that. I believe that if a person can do that ..and it works for them by all means do it. My problem was ..I was addicted to carbs so bad that I didn't have an OFF switch. I would say ok...eat higher carb today and tomorrow get on track. Well, that always turned into a 2 week carb binge..and I felt horrible. Does this mean that everyone shouldn't eat carbs. NO I think it's a form of food addiction that certain people suffer from. I believe any person who is thinking of trying any type of "diet" plan should look at the reaons' they are overweight and just find the one that works for them. I wish people who are against low carb would educate themselves and see the success stories like myself ...not the people who didn't follow the directions.

A plan will work if you work it.
simple but true.