Hi low carb or Atkins people?

gettingfit65

Would like to find some people who have tried or are trying low carb. I am starting but I am quite nervous considering it goes against everything I have been taught about losing weight. Just wanted people with experience and knowledge to chat with on this subject.

ninerbuff

Diet's don't last. If you have any doubts, then it's probably not a lifestyle you can live with.

A.C.E. Certified Personal & Group FitnessTrainer
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Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Gigilly

Oioioi! Many years ago, my then boyfriend told me that "we were gaining weight and we needed to diet". So there was this "new" Atkin's diet that our friend had tried and had lost a lot of weight on. So we decided to do it for 2 weeks. End result is he lost 12 lbs and I lost 1 lb, my sense of humour and the ability to look at meat for a long time.
Personally, I cannot do it because of the amount of endurance activities that I like to do, but that is just my lifestyle. There were a couple of interesting studies done on various diet methods and the conclusion was that they all worked more or less in the same way. The different groups lost the same amount of weight and managed to keep from gaining about the same among groups for the year following the diets. The biggest issue was the ability to adhere to a certain diet and the satisfaction rating for the food.
I think as long as you feel that you are getting what you need energy wise and that you are also getting all your essential nutrients there are a couple of good diets to follow. Just never get to the point that you feel anxious or stressed (or starved!) by it because that is a good way to impact negatively on your healthy lifestyle journey.

ronellevan

I started a low carb diet (50g to 75g carbs a day from veggies only) last week and am absolutely loving it!
The food we're allowed to eat suits me perfectly. The few foods high in carbs I might miss are a long forgotten memory now that i can have bacon and egss for breakfast every day.
Yay!

I did do atkins a few years back and it worked very well for me.

I think this will be a new lifestyle diet for me. Once I am at my desired weight, I can add in more carbs until I find the perfect maintenance space.

Try it at least, see if it fits. if it doesn't, there are plenty other diets out there you can try.

gettingfit65

I started a low carb diet (50g to 75g carbs a day from veggies only) last week and am absolutely loving it!
The food we're allowed to eat suits me perfectly. The few foods high in carbs I might miss are a long forgotten memory now that i can have bacon and egss for breakfast every day.
Yay!

I did do atkins a few years back and it worked very well for me.

I think this will be a new lifestyle diet for me. Once I am at my desired weight, I can add in more carbs until I find the perfect maintenance space.

Try it at least, see if it fits. if it doesn't, there are plenty other diets out there you can try.

Thx I think I will stick with it. Day 2 is almost over and I feel good. I have suffered from some allergy symptoms for quite some time and wonder if they might be gluten related....as well as not feeling great after eating white stuff. Will have to see how it goes. I know a lot of people say "well once you go off it you will regain it all back" I believe that is true, but is also true for any other diet or weight loss program. I just find I need something laid out for me for it to work....thx for the reply.

yesthistime

Low carb group:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/394-low-carber-daily-forum-the-group

aeprevette

research some on insulin. it promote a fat storage state when its coursing through your veins. i keep my carbs 50g-100g most of the time and it works for me. if your healthy fat intake is right you wont feel an energy loss. the human body is a machine and it adapts to the energy sources its given. weeks and months later, i do fine on less carbs. but starting out, i def felt the energy drag and the mental fog. read up on insulin and what it does to aging your body and other factors like inflammation. it shouldnt be overlooked. there was a recent study ..2 days of low carb dieting resulted in more fat loss than a week of regular higher carb dieting. its no doubt an intensifier. BUT calories rule. you can drop lbs eating mcdonalds if your in a deficit. period.

huntindawg1962

I know a lot of people say "well once you go off it you will regain it all back" I believe that is true, but is also true for any other diet or weight loss program. I just find I need something laid out for me for it to work....thx for the reply.

That is not exclusive to Atkins. There are just loads of people that have dieted in different ways and as soon as they stopped - they gained it back. Atkins, weight watchers, Jenny Craig, etc.

The secret is NOT a diet but changing the habits forever that take you back to where you were. I follow a low carb style because I prefer it. Not because it is a gimmick. I can easily live like this the rest of my life. Took a bit to get past the bread cravings but now I not only don't miss it - I feel bloated when I eat too much of it (or any carbs for that matter).

sapalee

I cut out grains a few months ago and feel great. So many IBS and blood sugar symptoms are gone, and I had never previously had any reason to think I had issues with them. Gave my gut a chance to heal and now I feel and look better.

I don't worry about counting carbs but they've obviously dropped. This isn't a diet for me, it's learning how my body reacts to certain things and making lifestyle changes.

superstankazz

Would like to find some people who have tried or are trying low carb. I am starting but I am quite nervous considering it goes against everything I have been taught about losing weight. Just wanted people with experience and knowledge to chat with on this subject.

When I first made the switch from low cal to low carb it was hard to change my way of thinking. Even though I was lowering my carbs I still wanted to lower my fat and calories too. Low carb dieting simply doesn't work as well if you don't eat enough fat. I try to get my fat from avocados, macadamia nuts, olive oil, and coconut oil. Fat is better than protein when you're low carbing. I try to keep my daily ratios at 75% fat / 24% protein / 1% carbs. It cuts hunger and cravings. Good luck!!! Feel free to add me

Tourney3p0

Atkins or not, if you eat fewer calories than you burn then you're going to lose weight. There's really no reason at all to limit the foods you eat so long as you stay within your caloric limit. But if fad diets are what it takes to keep you from overeating, go for it.

melkneec

research some on insulin. it promote a fat storage state when its coursing through your veins. i keep my carbs 50g-100g most of the time and it works for me. if your healthy fat intake is right you wont feel an energy loss. the human body is a machine and it adapts to the energy sources its given. weeks and months later, i do fine on less carbs. but starting out, i def felt the energy drag and the mental fog. read up on insulin and what it does to aging your body and other factors like inflammation. it shouldnt be overlooked. there was a recent study ..2 days of low carb dieting resulted in more fat loss than a week of regular higher carb dieting. its no doubt an intensifier. BUT calories rule. you can drop lbs eating mcdonalds if your in a deficit. period.

I agree with everything!!! I am on a low carb diet because of health issues but I have also done research. You really should do some research and find out what it is all about. I love the low carb lifestyle and will NEVER go back to high carb and over processed foods. I feel sooooooo much better.

It is worth looking into. Research then decide.

SmartWhatever

Atkins or not, if you eat fewer calories than you burn then you're going to lose weight. There's really no reason at all to limit the foods you eat so long as you stay within your caloric limit. But if fad diets are what it takes to keep you from overeating, go for it.

For most people, low carbs is not a "fad diet" - its a healthy way of eating for life.

melkneec

That is not exclusive to Atkins. There are just loads of people that have dieted in different ways and as soon as they stopped - they gained it back. Atkins, weight watchers, Jenny Craig, etc.

The secret is NOT a diet but changing the habits forever that take you back to where you were. I follow a low carb style because I prefer it. Not because it is a gimmick. I can easily live like this the rest of my life. Took a bit to get past the bread cravings but now I not only don't miss it - I feel bloated when I eat too much of it (or any carbs for that matter).

I feel the same way!!! I thought it was just me. I feel so bloated and sluggish when I eat too many carbs. Its nice to know that some one else feels that way and its not just in my head!

superstankazz

Atkins or not, if you eat fewer calories than you burn then you're going to lose weight. There's really no reason at all to limit the foods you eat so long as you stay within your caloric limit. But if fad diets are what it takes to keep you from overeating, go for it.

Google search insulin resistance, please. Some people cannot process sugar and carbs for metabolic reasons!

prettygirlhoward

bump

Mynameisbt

I've been cutting down my carbs for the past 6 months and I have seen great benefits. I have lost some weight and body fat and have managed to keep it off, my HDL cholesterol has gone up, LDL cholesterol has gone down and my Triglycerides are extremely low (under 45).

I say try it for a couple weeks and see if you like it.

RachelsReboot

Man I wish when people are looking for support specifically for low carb the naysayers would stay away. There is nothing hard about sticking to low carb and contrary to what some believe it is not calories in and calories out for everyone, if that were the case I'd still be 118 lbs. I'm a life long low carber. I have primary CI (carbohydrate intolerance) and it took me a long time to come to terms with that but since I've been doing what I am supposed to do my weight is falling off and my allergies have disappeared, I don't get heartburn anymore, as for the energy thing, I workout 2 hours a day, 7 days a week, work 2 part time jobs, am a full time student and a single mom, my energy is not lacking. Feel free to add me, we can all use all the support we can get.

Laceybaby1967

I watched the movie 'Fathead' and it just made sense; no processed carbs..........it's on Netflix...and it gives the science and reasoning behind lots of things that you may be doubting. It's just additional information.

Good luck! Feel free to add me as well :flowerforyou:

thecrazy1

I'm so glad there are people out there lke me, I thought I was alone. I have been yo-yo dieting for years i lose some weight and then it all goes back on plus some. I have suffered for years with bowel problems also migraines lethagy and other problems I was even tested for celiac disease and was told it was borderline. recently I decided to cut back on the carbs in order to shift some weight but what I discoverd was healthy (ish) eating with no more bowel problems loads more energy and less frequent migraines. I eat loads more vegetables, fish and chicken and some red meat . So why do carbs make people feel so bad? Is there some kind of intolerance?
I must admit it is harder to find low carb foods nowdays, there are loads of (free from) in the supermarket but not much else.
I have manage to cut out bread, pasta, rice and potato. It is difficult to find what to eat every day and it just shows how convienient carbs were but this is a new lifesyle for me so there is no gong back now. I do find reaching my calorie goal of 1500 cals quite hard but any tips greatly appreciated.
Although this is for lfe i am going to Paris at the end of june and need to shift 3 stone how likely is it?

Thanks

yesthistime

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/394-low-carber-daily-forum-the-group

michcakes

Man I wish when people are looking for support specifically for low carb the naysayers would stay away. There is nothing hard about sticking to low carb and contrary to what some believe it is not calories in and calories out for everyone, if that were the case I'd still be 118 lbs. I'm a life long low carber. I have primary CI (carbohydrate intolerance) and it took me a long time to come to terms with that but since I've been doing what I am supposed to do my weight is falling off and my allergies have disappeared, I don't get heartburn anymore, as for the energy thing, I workout 2 hours a day, 7 days a week, work 2 part time jobs, am a full time student and a single mom, my energy is not lacking. Feel free to add me, we can all use all the support we can get.

Wow you have done awesome (looking at your ticker)!!

I just switched to low carb and this is day 5. I had been just counting calories, eating convenience foods like lean cuisines and other stuff but still staying under my 1500 calorie limit. I had two separate weeks where my weight stayed the same, and I had bad IBS symptoms and my face broke out when I never break out.. I had done Atkins before and it solved many problems so I decided to give it another shot. And my gut issues haven't been back yet, weight is coming right off and my breakout is clearing up. So I disagree with the poster who said as long as you eat less than you burn, you will lose. NOT true for everyone!

chasingbabes

research some on insulin. it promote a fat storage state when its coursing through your veins. i keep my carbs 50g-100g most of the time and it works for me. if your healthy fat intake is right you wont feel an energy loss. the human body is a machine and it adapts to the energy sources its given. weeks and months later, i do fine on less carbs. but starting out, i def felt the energy drag and the mental fog. read up on insulin and what it does to aging your body and other factors like inflammation. it shouldnt be overlooked. there was a recent study ..2 days of low carb dieting resulted in more fat loss than a week of regular higher carb dieting. its no doubt an intensifier. BUT calories rule. you can drop lbs eating mcdonalds if your in a deficit. period.

can you tell me more, or send me a link to what you were reading? THANKS!!

Dustinryan24

im keeping my carbs 50-100g a day because im trying to cut.. this shouldnt be a long term goal for anyone.. at least thats how i feel about it

sun33082

I do low carb/lower carb (under 100g) because I have PCOS. Feel free to add me.

angng

I cut out grains a few months ago and feel great. So many IBS and blood sugar symptoms are gone, and I had never previously had any reason to think I had issues with them. Gave my gut a chance to heal and now I feel and look better.

I don't worry about counting carbs but they've obviously dropped. This isn't a diet for me, it's learning how my body reacts to certain things and making lifestyle changes.

This is great: have you been tested for Celiac? I thought I had IBS for about 20 years until I realized that wheat was the culprit.

kewasmar

I tried Atkins a few years ago and lost 25 lbs. I found it very difficult to maintain for the long run and gained it all back. I am starting to watch my intake again and have lowered the Carbs to something more reasonable for the long haul , but definately staying away from the 'bad' carbs like white sugar and bread and pasta.

BigMike915

I'm in week three of a Cyclical Ketogenic Diet, or CKD. I love it so far. It seems to agree with me better than a lot of others that try it. I didn't have the metallic taste in my mouth, the lose of energy, weak in the gym, etc. Since passing the induction phase I have more energy now then before. I do not plan to stay on it forever though, just to continue cutting. I will introduce carbs back into my diet once I start a bulking phase which is still a goods ways off.

TheVimFuego

I've been restricting the carbs (and upping fat/protein) for the last couple of weeks, I can honestly say I feel full of energy and more in touch with what my body needs fuel-wise.

The weight seems to be going without an issue, I no longer worrry about exercising for weight loss (exercise does, of course, has other positive points).

I don't follow Atkins or any diet, I just know what my body likes and I fuel it accordingly, with Real Food.

The problem being, as others have said, that our bodies have been drowning in carbs for so long that we lose touch with it.

I've cut wheat out (the Frankenwheat that is, that will drive your blood sugar higher than a Snickers bar) and no longer feel the need to snack. Don't miss it a bit.

The insulin rollercoaster has been derailed, I wish I knew all this years ago.

I don't see all this as a fad, it's a lifestyle change and one I am happy to follow.

Yes, calories are important but not as important as understanding how your metabolism works.

If it was only about calories then eating 1200 of them in Snickers Bars would result in the same thing as eating 1200 in, say, tuna. And that is an absurd notion. It is not just a maths exercise.

Recommended Reading:
Why We Get Fat And What To Do About It (and it's bigger brother: Good Calories, Bad Calories)
Wheat Belly

Recommended Watching (YouTube):
Sugar, The Bitter Truth (Short Version)

Unknown

I would not just do the Atkins, it allows too much fat. You do however want to make sure you eat enough protein because protein feeds your muscles. If you do not eat enough protein your body will consume lean muscle and fat in approximately equal proportions and it is lean muscle that burns calories so you really don't want to lose that.

Remember the less feet the better. Zero feet protein, nuts, beans, fish... are best, then 2 feet such as chicken and finally 4 feet, which you should keep very lean and to a minimum. Eat lots of colors every day. I noticed by having a variety of fruits and vegetables I don't seem to be craving any sweets like I used to. The natural sugar in the fruits seem to satisfy my sweet tooth. There are different phytonutrients in each color so the more colors the better. You don't have to have a lot. Personally I have a container I use and I prepare two at a time. I put in 1/2 apple, 1/2 orange, 1 regular carrots (not baby carrots, just regular carrots cleaned but not pealed), 2 celery stalks ( carrots and celery I cut into popcorn size pieces so it is nibble food), then a chunk of red cabbage, a little cauliflower, couple chunks of pineapple and a couple chunks of watermelon and about 6-8 red grapes. I also have blueberries in my smoothies a couple times a week as well.

Also... water, water, water. You should be drinking 1/2 your body weight in fluid ounces. If you weigh 200 # you should be drinking 100 oz. of water a day. As you lose weight you need the water to flush your system and help reduce free radicals in your system. So, if you have any places doing weight Loss Challenges, sign up for one, they have great information and it will get you off to a good start. I'm almost down forty pounds and I don't feel like I'm dieting and I'm not hungry!!

Best of luck

Linda860

I've been a low carber for almost a year now. My doctor told me to cut my carbs because I was becoming insulin resistant -- a condition that eventually leads to diabetes if not controlled. (I've since learned that millions of people have this condition but most don't find out until they are diabetic. The key is to get an insulin test, as blood sugar tests can often remain normal for years while developing this disease.) Anyway, it was quite a challenge at first, but now it's a way of life and I will not ever go back to the way I ate before. I did experience very low energy for a number of days but that went away. I'm a jogger now, so the notion that active people can't tolerate this way of eating is absurd. I do track everything I eat and keep my carbs under 70 grams per day and it works for me. Everyone is different, though -- some can tolerate more carbs and some much less. I've never followed a specific diet like Atkins -- didn't really need to. I lost 56 pounds and am keeping it off (4 months on maintenance now). It's the only way to go if you have problems processing carbohydrates. My insulin level, which was double what it should have been, is now normal. With the help of my husband, the cook, we've figured out new ways of preparing desserts (sugar alcohols are the way to go IMHO), have found low carb versions of favorite foods (pasta, bread) and are trying all kinds of new low carb recipes. Probably the hardest part has been dealing with insensitive family members. Here to help if you need it!