Starting Atkins-Any Advice? Menu Ideas? previously did lindo

its_mad

So last summer I did Lindora, which worked great but EVERY DAY I had to go in and get a shot in my side of B-6 & B-12 which was literally a pain in my a**! The difference I see between Lindora & Atkins is that Lindora seems more restrictive. We weren't allowed cheese (except diet string cheese type cheese), no oils or high fats, I wasn't even allowed to chew gum because they claimed a piece had 3 carbs!!!

Atkins seems more real to me because yes it is still very carb restrictive BUT you are allowed a little more protein options as in different cheese, healthy oils (which i love) and more vegetables.

Im 190 and need to get to around 130, I can live without refined carbs because ive done it before, I think atkins will be easier because I have more leeway in the protein I can consume.

Anyone have any advice on the kickoff part of the diet? Things to definately avoid, and strategy when you pleateu?

Gigi_licious

Who is Lindora and why is she so strict? Did you tell her to lighten up and feed you some cheese?

Qarol

Don't go overboard with your fat intake. Watch out for hidden carbs. Drink LOTS of water.

mamamc03

Atkins is dumb. You need 55% of your diet to be carbs, sooo yeah. Just follow MFP and YOU decide if you get that gum or not. Many gums are sugar free. Best wishes!

romping

My personal experience is that I can´t keep on such a strict low carb diet for more than a couple of weeks. I like the SBD approach that starts off with strict phase and then introduces good carbs. Bad Carbs are terrible for me but no carbs is unsustainable for me as well.

BigDaddyBRC

Atkins is dumb. You need 55% of your diet to be carbs, sooo yeah. Just follow MFP and YOU decide if you get that gum or not. Many gums are sugar free. Best wishes!

Uh...NO, you DONT need 55% of your diet to be in Carbs.

Having done Atkins, I have to say it isnt worth the trouble. Find a good balance in your diet of Protein/Carbs/Fat and focus on exercise and calorie intake goals.

Larius

You need 55% of your diet to be carbs, sooo yeah.

Why is this needed, exactly?

wg2011

Big fan of Atkins. Eat lean protein and vegtables, but also watch your calories and you will do great. Calories add up quickly in salad dressings, butter, sour cream, cheese, fatty meats, etc. That was my mistake when I started, not paying attention to the calories...

its_mad

Lindora was insane, You had to go in every day, pee on a keto-stick to see if you were burning fat and show it to a nurse, then they would be able to tell if you cheated or not, weigh you and inject you.

I don't eat mayonaise in the first place or a lot of high high fat foods. I love olive oil and moderate healthy fasts BUT my weakenss was bread, pasta, fries, just to many carbs. I understand carbs are very important but my body I feel reacts badly to bread and starch.

In the induction phase it says its supposed to be for 2 weeks? did anyone do it longer or shorter?

Qarol

Atkins is dumb. You need 55% of your diet to be carbs,

fail

sweetiepie31612

Atkins is not great. You lose quickly, but often gain it right back after you week yourself off of it. Some recommendations though:

Eggs - egg salad, hardboiled eggs, scrambled eggs, omlets, etc.
Fish - lots of tuna/salmon/fish over salad greens or on the side
Sausage - chorizo, flavored chicken sausage (spinach and feta is my fav)
Deli meat - I'd take deli meat rollups for lunch
cheese - I'd snack on sting cheese ALOT
Jello - another favorite snack

And yes, you're "allowed" greasy hamburgers w/o buns, but thats not healthy. I like to stick to chicken or beef meals w/lean meat

Leanne1795

I am living the Atkins lifestyle and love it.
Be prepared for a lot low carb "haters" on here. Lol.

Larius

Lindora was insane, You had to go in every day, pee on a keto-stick to see if you were burning fat and show it to a nurse, then they would be able to tell if you cheated or not, weigh you and inject you.

I agree. Totally insane. Keto-sticks are meant to tell diabetics when they are in dire need of medical attention.

julie204

both me and my boss did the atkins diet for 2 weeks i lost 10 pounds was really ill with it felt so tired no energy light headed i had to take time off work we both stopped doing it as soon as we did the weight just went back on and we was eating healthy i would just be careful. if i was you count your calories and just cut down on the bread and have small portions of pasta and rice etc

Leanne1795

Who is Lindora and why is she so strict? Did you tell her to lighten up and feed you some cheese?

That's Mistress Lindora to you!
Lol.

Leanne1795

Don't go overboard with your fat intake. Watch out for hidden carbs. Drink LOTS of water.

This. ^^^^^^

Gigi_licious

I understand carbs are very important but my body I feel reacts badly to bread and starch.

Mine does too. It reacts both physically and emotionally badly when I eat them. But, I heart them. I do notice that I feel better if I keep it between 100-150g. I don't want to go below that because then I will feel deprived of foods I love, but when I go over that I feel like crap. I go over often. Ooops.

its_mad

What is a good carb intake after the induction? Induction says 20 carbs per day for 2 weeks. Lindora allowed me 50 a day max

KeepItOff4Life

What is a good carb intake after the induction? Induction says 20 carbs per day for 2 weeks. Lindora allowed me 50 a day max

The book says go up by 5 to find what you're comfortable with. If you don't have the book, you really should get it. It explains a lot.

its_mad

I understand carbs are very important but my body I feel reacts badly to bread and starch.

Mine does too. It reacts both physically and emotionally badly when I eat them. But, I heart them. I do notice that I feel better if I keep it between 100-150g. I don't want to go below that because then I will feel deprived of foods I love, but when I go over that I feel like crap. I go over often. Ooops.

Yeah, when i did Lindora I felt I had a lot more energy with all the protein i was eating, But its the phase after where you have to remember that eating pasta, and bread, and snacks like that just add up fast. People keep saying it doesnt work cause you gain it back but you onlu gain back if you mess up like I did and go overboard. I had forgotten to keep the control aspect cause I was so focused on what I hadnt been eating that I forgot it was a lifestyle change

Qarol

What is a good carb intake after the induction? Induction says 20 carbs per day for 2 weeks. Lindora allowed me 50 a day max

The book says go up by 5 to find what you're comfortable with. If you don't have the book, you really should get it. It explains a lot.

Absolutely. If you haven't done the research, do that first...

Emily102102

I lost 65lbs on Atkins after my 1st child, I took a daily vitamin + fish oil supplement (I don't eat fish). Chicken, salad, eggs & broccoli were my favorite foods. Be Sure you are taking in mostly veggies you can have hamburger & bacon just don't let it become most of what you consume.
Now I have 3 kids & am on a mission to loose weight, This time I did the induction phase of Atkins to get my appetite & sugar addiction under control now I'm eating healthy & watching portions & working out between 30-45 min. a day
I suggest reading 1 of Dr.Atkins books, Check out Atkins.com. You will get a lot of ppl bashing low-carb dieting bottom line There is a right way & a wrong way to do it as long as you are doing it right IGNORE them. (I am going to give this healthy eating & exercising a real honest hard shot & if in 6 wks I don't see any improvements I will def. go back to Atkins!)

KavemanKarg

Atkins is not great. You lose quickly, but often gain it right back after you week yourself off of it.

Umm, true for ANY DIET

Atkins is a good diet, and like any diet, if you follow it for life it works for life.

Do not blame the diet for those who do not follow it. Every single diet on earth has that problem.

KavemanKarg

both me and my boss did the atkins diet for 2 weeks i lost 10 pounds was really ill with it felt so tired no energy light headed i had to take time off work we both stopped doing it as soon as we did the weight just went back on and we was eating healthy i would just be careful. if i was you count your calories and just cut down on the bread and have small portions of pasta and rice etc

Yes, the first 2 weeks can be exactly like that, exactly as described in the books. To bad you stopped cause you were likely about to move past that. Some people get feeling that way during the first two weeks of induction. But I promise, it passes.

Your body has lived off sugar since birth, and now is switching to living off fat for energy (just like breast milk provides), its not always an easy switch from that. Quitting smoking also sucked. Quitting coffee does too.

Qarol

Do not blame the diet for those who do not follow it. Every single diet on earth has that problem.

Could not have said it better...

mamamc03

@Qarol, Larius & BigDaddy-See link below. Have a nice day!

You need 55% of your diet to be carbs, sooo yeah.

Why is this needed, exactly?

Atkins is dumb. You need 55% of your diet to be carbs, sooo yeah. Just follow MFP and YOU decide if you get that gum or not. Many gums are sugar free. Best wishes!

Uh...NO, you DONT need 55% of your diet to be in Carbs.

Having done Atkins, I have to say it isnt worth the trouble. Find a good balance in your diet of Protein/Carbs/Fat and focus on exercise and calorie intake goals.

Atkins is dumb. You need 55% of your diet to be carbs,

fail

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-diet/NU00200

JamesBurkes

both me and my boss did the atkins diet for 2 weeks i lost 10 pounds was really ill with it felt so tired no energy light headed i had to take time off work we both stopped doing it as soon as we did the weight just went back on and we was eating healthy i would just be careful. if i was you count your calories and just cut down on the bread and have small portions of pasta and rice etc

Yes, the first 2 weeks can be exactly like that, exactly as described in the books. To bad you stopped cause you were likely about to move past that. Some people get feeling that way during the first two weeks of induction. But I promise, it passes.

Your body has lived off sugar since birth, and now is switching to living off fat for energy (just like breast milk provides), its not always an easy switch from that. Quitting smoking also sucked. Quitting coffee does too.

Indeed. I've often used the Atkins induction as an analogy to rabid anti-smokers who claim smoking is as addictive to heroin. It isn't. The first few days of giving up smoking is psychologically tough and physically you have strong and frequent cravings. But ever seen a junkie go cold turkey? There's really no comparison.

Moving to the low carb lifestyle was, I was amazed to find, very similar in terms of experience, to giving up smoking. Constant craving for sweets and chocolates (so that I seemed to think about it constantly for most of the day), lethargy, irritability etc. But as with giving up smoking, once you get past that hump of the first few days you soon settle into things.

I was actually astonished at how similar the two experiences were, and it really made me realise that I was a sugar/carb junkie ( I used to get through half a loaf of bread a day, plus rice, pasta, cereals, chocolates etc). I feel much "cleaner" since going low carb.

JamesBurkes

That said, I did start smoking again a year later.

I haven't started carbing again, though.

martinah4

So last summer I did Lindora, which worked great but EVERY DAY I had to go in and get a shot in my side of B-6 & B-12 which was literally a pain in my a**! The difference I see between Lindora & Atkins is that Lindora seems more restrictive. We weren't allowed cheese (except diet string cheese type cheese), no oils or high fats, I wasn't even allowed to chew gum because they claimed a piece had 3 carbs!!!

Atkins seems more real to me because yes it is still very carb restrictive BUT you are allowed a little more protein options as in different cheese, healthy oils (which i love) and more vegetables.

Im 190 and need to get to around 130, I can live without refined carbs because ive done it before, I think atkins will be easier because I have more leeway in the protein I can consume.

Anyone have any advice on the kickoff part of the diet? Things to definately avoid, and strategy when you pleateu?

My advice is to go out and get an Atkins book, and follow it to the tee. Give it AT LEAST 2 weeks (according to the book), but IMO give it a month to really change your bad carb habits, and make a new habit.
There is an Atkins Support Group thread...do a search and get great advice!
Good luck!

mom2jjl

BUMP FOR LATER

Bailey543

Right on! This is exactly what I was thinking.

both me and my boss did the atkins diet for 2 weeks i lost 10 pounds was really ill with it felt so tired no energy light headed i had to take time off work we both stopped doing it as soon as we did the weight just went back on and we was eating healthy i would just be careful. if i was you count your calories and just cut down on the bread and have small portions of pasta and rice etc

Yes, the first 2 weeks can be exactly like that, exactly as described in the books. To bad you stopped cause you were likely about to move past that. Some people get feeling that way during the first two weeks of induction. But I promise, it passes.

Your body has lived off sugar since birth, and now is switching to living off fat for energy (just like breast milk provides), its not always an easy switch from that. Quitting smoking also sucked. Quitting coffee does too.