Le'ts Weign-in on Atkins
NaturallyMara
Posts: 10 Member
I recently went on Atkins and completed the two week induction phase. I lost 17 pounds, felt energized, and then all of a sudden something went terribly wrong. I got bad muscle cramps in both legs that left me in pain and scared....
My doctor told me that while you lose weight fast, there can be adverse side affects to an Atkins diet and to try a well balanced one instead.
Has anyone else had any similar experiences with Atkins?
My doctor told me that while you lose weight fast, there can be adverse side affects to an Atkins diet and to try a well balanced one instead.
Has anyone else had any similar experiences with Atkins?
0
Replies
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Atkins causes massive water weight decreases, which affects electrolyte balance in your body.
Low carb diets offer no real metabolic advantage over carb diets. Eliminating carbs to lose weight is not really sustainable over a lifetime imo, and doesn't reinforce the fundamentals of weight loss and diet change. Which is IMO, moderation in what you eat over restriction.0 -
No, I did not have and do not currently have any of those issues with Atkins or any other low carb plan.
It sounds like a magnesium, sodium or electrolyte imbalance.
Move on to Phase 2 and up your carbs where you can add in some berries and higher carb vegetables. Continue the plan as written.
It is not unhealthy in any way to meat protein and veggies.
I would suggest staying away from those bars and shakes and stuff also.0 -
I recently went on Atkins and completed the two week induction phase. I lost 17 pounds, felt energized, and then all of a sudden something went terribly wrong. I got bad muscle cramps in both legs that left me in pain and scared....
My doctor told me that while you lose weight fast, there can be adverse side affects to an Atkins diet and to try a well balanced one instead.
Has anyone else had any similar experiences with Atkins?
My adverse affects of being on Atkins was HEALING my body from Diabetes and High Blood Pressure.
I will take those adverse affects over the alternative any day.0 -
I really despise fad diets. They are always lacking in SOMETHING nutritionally. I think you are better off counting calories and cutting out the bad stuff (fast food, sweets, soda, etc...) for the first month or so as to detox. And then, if you want to treat yourself every now and then, but just keep it within your cals.
My body and mind have readjusted to craving things that my body needs so I listen to what I'm craving.0 -
I really despise fad diets. They are always lacking in SOMETHING nutritionally. I think you are better off counting calories and cutting out the bad stuff (fast food, sweets, soda, etc...) for the first month or so as to detox. And then, if you want to treat yourself every now and then, but just keep it within your cals.
My body and mind have readjusted to craving things that my body needs so I listen to what I'm craving.
I am sorry, Atkins is not a FAD, it is a LIFETSYLE.0 -
I really despise fad diets. They are always lacking in SOMETHING nutritionally. I think you are better off counting calories and cutting out the bad stuff (fast food, sweets, soda, etc...) for the first month or so as to detox. And then, if you want to treat yourself every now and then, but just keep it within your cals.
My body and mind have readjusted to craving things that my body needs so I listen to what I'm craving.
Technically we should not be having cravings. If you are craving anything, it is actually toxic to your body in the form of intolerance, allergy or addiction.0 -
A few years ago, I attempted the Atkins and lost about 17 pounds within the first month. I also got severe leg cramps. My doctor told me it was possibly early signs of Ketoacidosis, which can cause leg cramps, drowsiness and an array of other symptoms. He recommended I also try a more balanced diet. Perhaps try increasing your carbohydrates (if you're still wanting to eat a lower carb diet you eat 100 grams of carbs and won't be in a range of ketosis) and eating lean protein.0
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Considering you have paleo in your s/n I should assume thats how you eat. THAT is lifestyle. I'm sorry but the low-carb Atkins diet is a FAD.
Eating for your body, and eating the things your body needs to function is a lifestyle.
How is craving protein toxic?0 -
Not supporting the Atkins diet per se but would like to mention this
Dr. Atikns created his plan in the 1960's with his obese and depressed patients, he found success with them and began specializing in treating obesity.
So, is it a fad to have a program that was succesful with overweight and sick people and has been around for 50+ years with mixed results? I don't know, I guess I think of fad diets as ones that are not not supported by research, brand new, promise a one size fits all, and momentarily popular. It all comes down to how you define a fad diet.
Would I do Atkins? No, I'm not sick and overweight.
Do I happen to utilize some of his same principles through my own independent research for general health? Yes, as a lifestyle.0 -
Not supporting the Atkins diet per se but would like to mention this
Dr. Atikns created his plan in the 1960's with his obese and depressed patients, he found success with them and began specializing in treating obesity.
So, is it a fad to have a program that was succesful with overweight and sick people and has been around for 50+ years with mixed results? I don't know, I guess I think of fad diets as ones that are not not supported by research, brand new, promise a one size fits all, and momentarily popular. It all comes down to how you define a fad diet.
Would I do Atkins? No, I'm not sick and overweight.
Do I happen to utilize some of his same principles through my own independent research for general health? Yes, as a lifestyle.
touche. I guess my problem lies in anything called a diet that limits nutrition in some way. Of course cutting out refined sugars and grains is good, but limiting carbs in a big way for any amount of time just doesn't sound healthy. And, I feel like a lot of people go in to these strict diets blindly and end up failing miserably or as above noted becoming deficient in some way.0 -
I am on South Beach which allows some low gylcemic carbs in the induction phase, but have not had the leg cramps (but am only into this by a little over a week). My doctor recommended this for me as I am diabetic and this has been shown to be good for diabetics. Good luck!0
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Not supporting the Atkins diet per se but would like to mention this
Dr. Atikns created his plan in the 1960's with his obese and depressed patients, he found success with them and began specializing in treating obesity.
So, is it a fad to have a program that was succesful with overweight and sick people and has been around for 50+ years with mixed results? I don't know, I guess I think of fad diets as ones that are not not supported by research, brand new, promise a one size fits all, and momentarily popular. It all comes down to how you define a fad diet.
Would I do Atkins? No, I'm not sick and overweight.
Do I happen to utilize some of his same principles through my own independent research for general health? Yes, as a lifestyle.
touche. I guess my problem lies in anything called a diet that limits nutrition in some way. Of course cutting out refined sugars and grains is good, but limiting carbs in a big way for any amount of time just doesn't sound healthy. And, I feel like a lot of people go in to these strict diets blindly and end up failing miserably or as above noted becoming deficient in some way.
Completely agree with you. Unless directed by a medical professional, I don't believe on cutting back that much on any macro. It just isn't healthy or sustainable.0 -
If I ever go on a low carb type thing, I get bad leg cramps for 3 or 4 days. They get worse if I am sitting still. I have to do a lot of stretching and take soem ibprofin. However, I always found that they went away. I heard once it's because you are not getting enough potassium. However, I don't know what the real reasoning behind them are. Good luck to you.0
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Personally, I am not a fan.
Long term self-induced ketosis seems kind of risky to me, but that has not been proven, and I am not going to dispute it!
i just know that for me, the health risks and bad ketone breath of Atkin's are not worth it - there is no way I could ever be satieted without carbs!!0 -
I really despise fad diets. They are always lacking in SOMETHING nutritionally. I think you are better off counting calories and cutting out the bad stuff (fast food, sweets, soda, etc...) for the first month or so as to detox. And then, if you want to treat yourself every now and then, but just keep it within your cals.
My body and mind have readjusted to craving things that my body needs so I listen to what I'm craving.
Technically we should not be having cravings. If you are craving anything, it is actually toxic to your body in the form of intolerance, allergy or addiction.
Interesting0 -
Not supporting the Atkins diet per se but would like to mention this
Dr. Atikns created his plan in the 1960's with his obese and depressed patients, he found success with them and began specializing in treating obesity.
So, is it a fad to have a program that was succesful with overweight and sick people and has been around for 50+ years with mixed results? I don't know, I guess I think of fad diets as ones that are not not supported by research, brand new, promise a one size fits all, and momentarily popular. It all comes down to how you define a fad diet.
Would I do Atkins? No, I'm not sick and overweight.
Do I happen to utilize some of his same principles through my own independent research for general health? Yes, as a lifestyle.
touche. I guess my problem lies in anything called a diet that limits nutrition in some way. Of course cutting out refined sugars and grains is good, but limiting carbs in a big way for any amount of time just doesn't sound healthy. And, I feel like a lot of people go in to these strict diets blindly and end up failing miserably or as above noted becoming deficient in some way.
So true, many jump in without really understanding the principals, have littel guidance, or take it too far. I'm lower carb than the USDA reccomends but I'm sure to get plenty to support my activity level. It's all about doing your homework and listening to how your body is responding.0 -
Congrats on realizing how bad a 'fad' diet is for you! A balanced diet with all food groups is the only way to stay healthy!
I tried Atkins several years ago. It made me have nasty body odor, I lost a LOT of water weight and afterwards I almost went vegan because I was so sick of meat. The ONLY plus side was the fact that I didn't fart anymore due to the lack of carbs! LMAO
MFP is NOT a fad diet, or a diet at all for that matter. It is eating healthy and making room for 'treats' while staying healthy. I call it 'eating within your means'.
If you call your new lifestyle a "DIET", you will feel like youre on a diet and feel deprived. I also never , ever tell anyone I'm on a diet and if they ask me how I lost weight, I just tell them... I started eating right and I move more. It's that simple!
You can do this!0 -
I was put on a Modified Atkiins diet just yesterday by my doctor, which is a huge deviation from how I normally eat. I am not a meat/bad fat eater. I have epilepsy and am at the highest dose possible on my meds and have been struggling everyday with seizures for the past month and a half. Apparently low carb high fat diets help epileptics reduce there sezure frequency so we are giving it a go, alhtough, mentally I'm struggling to wrap my head around eating this way. I'm suppose to get myself down to 40-60 carbs a day. Yesterday I finished at 105, this is tough. Although my doctor did say it most likely would not have to be long term.0
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Hmm so if I'm craving broccoli because my stomach is growling it's my body actually saying I shouldnt eat it because it's toxic? Yes, I really do crave broccoli. Cauliflower too! Personally I think people crave things that are unhealthy because they know they shouldn't be eating them. Or stress... Idk. I'm no expert. If I 'crave' something, I eat it. I just eat within my caloric limits or I work out harder to plan for it. It's that simple.I really despise fad diets. They are always lacking in SOMETHING nutritionally. I think you are better off counting calories and cutting out the bad stuff (fast food, sweets, soda, etc...) for the first month or so as to detox. And then, if you want to treat yourself every now and then, but just keep it within your cals.
My body and mind have readjusted to craving things that my body needs so I listen to what I'm craving.
Technically we should not be having cravings. If you are craving anything, it is actually toxic to your body in the form of intolerance, allergy or addiction.
Interesting0 -
I really despise fad diets. They are always lacking in SOMETHING nutritionally. I think you are better off counting calories and cutting out the bad stuff (fast food, sweets, soda, etc...) for the first month or so as to detox. And then, if you want to treat yourself every now and then, but just keep it within your cals.
My body and mind have readjusted to craving things that my body needs so I listen to what I'm craving.
Technically we should not be having cravings. If you are craving anything, it is actually toxic to your body in the form of intolerance, allergy or addiction.
Care to substantiate that? And let's take pregnancy cravings, is that due to an intolerance, allergy or an addiction?0 -
I really despise fad diets. They are always lacking in SOMETHING nutritionally. I think you are better off counting calories and cutting out the bad stuff (fast food, sweets, soda, etc...) for the first month or so as to detox. And then, if you want to treat yourself every now and then, but just keep it within your cals.
My body and mind have readjusted to craving things that my body needs so I listen to what I'm craving.
Technically we should not be having cravings. If you are craving anything, it is actually toxic to your body in the form of intolerance, allergy or addiction.
Care to substantiate that? And let's take pregnancy cravings, is that due to an intolerance, allergy or an addiction?
I agree. Today I craved eggs, crackers and chocolate and I am definitely not allergic or intolerant to any of those things.0 -
I recently went on Atkins and completed the two week induction phase. I lost 17 pounds, felt energized, and then all of a sudden something went terribly wrong. I got bad muscle cramps in both legs that left me in pain and scared....
My doctor told me that while you lose weight fast, there can be adverse side affects to an Atkins diet and to try a well balanced one instead.
Has anyone else had any similar experiences with Atkins?
Start tracking your potassium. If you keep that within the normal range, and sodium in normal range, you will be much less likely to experience cramps.0 -
I think you can do Atkins horribly wrong, which can be unhealthy. It is hard to get all your micronutrients in without supplementation.
I loved being low carb though, but had to stop once I started my condition training. Kept bonking at the gym.
I lost all of my weight from being very low carb - which was 40 pounds from October to February. I was not counting calories - just tracking carbs. I was also not exercising beyond going for a 3 mile walk once a week. But lemme guess - it was probably all water weight, right
So I guess I have to side with both parties on this discussion. Low carbing is a great way to rapidly lose weight; however, eating a balanced diet is a healthier and more sustainable option.
Also, once you reach your goal weight, if you start eating poorly again, you will gain it back.0 -
I changed my macros to 40% carbs, 30%protein and 30%fat. On 1500 cals this gives me 150g of carbs. I find this easy to stick to, feel great and the weight is falling off after a 6 month plateau x0
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Congrats on realizing how bad a 'fad' diet is for you! A balanced diet with all food groups is the only way to stay healthy!
I tried Atkins several years ago. It made me have nasty body odor, I lost a LOT of water weight and afterwards I almost went vegan because I was so sick of meat. The ONLY plus side was the fact that I didn't fart anymore due to the lack of carbs! LMAO
MFP is NOT a fad diet, or a diet at all for that matter. It is eating healthy and making room for 'treats' while staying healthy. I call it 'eating within your means'.
If you call your new lifestyle a "DIET", you will feel like youre on a diet and feel deprived. I also never , ever tell anyone I'm on a diet and if they ask me how I lost weight, I just tell them... I started eating right and I move more. It's that simple!
You can do this!
A balanced diet with all the food groups is NOT the only way to stay healthy.
It is more than possible to get all the nutrients needed when eliminating food groups, certainly ones that provide little nutrition. You just have to pay attention to what you are doing like anything else.0 -
The first thing i'm going to say is this. Low carb should never be looked at as a diet, It should be looked at as a lifestyle. When the low carb lifestyle is embarked upon, there are several guidelines to be followed. True in the first two weeks you are restricting your carbs to levels that most people dont dare do on a regular basis but you are also switching your body into a mode to basically get a new source of calories, fat, protein, and carbs (those things that most call macronutrients). After that phase is over then you begin to add carbs at a slow pace to see how your body adjusts as well as to find your number of carbs that your body can take without making you store large quantities of water and salt. Alot of people that start the low carb lifestyle begin to gorge themselves on all the wrong types of foods and basically end up having to stop due to some issue or another. I have been on a variation of a low carb lifestyle for years now and through trial and error have figured out what works for me. The first thing you notice is that i say low carb lifestyle. For me that means that i drastically minimize the starchy food intake, the sugars, the breads, the sodium, the carbonated drinks and the high fatty foods. I havent had a slice of white bread in probably close to 3 years now. I havent bought a bag of sugar in more than 3 years. I simply dont eat rice, pasta and other starchy foods period. Again, like I say it's a lifestyle thing. If I want some chocolate candy or something sweet, I use splenda to sweeten it, and i'll buy sugar free chocolates or a natural chocolate from the health food store. I take my vitamins daily and I also use mirilax since i dont eat alot of the sweet sugary starchy carb loaded fruits! mostly berries melons and other low glycemic fruit. Any diet you get on the first thing you will lose is the massive pounds of water weight you have stored from the excess carbs and sugar stores in your body. EVERYBODY is like that. This happens no matter WHAT DIET you follow or attempt. After that period is over, then you go on to lose actual FAT. Not salt, Not water, but ACTUAL FAT. You simply do this by calorie restriction alone and coupled with exercise. Thats the magic bullet. (not so magical as everyone thinks) And everybody is different. YOu take someone who weighs 400 lbs and you can either have them lose 2lbs a week and eat smaller meals or have them lose 5-8 lbs a week because calorie wise it can happen. I chose the latter because the bottom line is that fewer calories loses real weight. But the smaller you get the more time it takes SIMPLY because of the calories difference between the much larger and much smaller person. If you can always keep in mind that a pound of actual fat weighs approximately 3500 calories. Then once you consistently have a negative calorie deficit of about 3500 calories then you should lose an actual pound of fat. that means if you only have a deficit of 500 calories a day, you will lose 1 lb of ACTUAL FAT in 7 days. It's that simple! If you want to lose more weight than that (which most of us do) then you have to either reduce your required maintenance calories by more than 500 or you have to exercise and work off some extra calories during EACH day. But you cant say i'm going to go on a diet and then in a week hope to lose 10 pounds of fat! in order to lose 10 pounds of actual fat you have to have a calorie reduction of 35,000 calories LESS THAN WHAT YOUR BODY NEEDS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN IT'S CURRENT WEIGHT. So you can almost just by simply using my fitness pal determine how much of your weightloss is actual fat vs water. The water weight you can put on and take off by simply taking a nap or laying down or going to work but the actual fat.... When it's gone, IT'S GONE and the only way it's coming back is when you put on 3500 calories MORE THAN WHAT YOUR BODY NEEDS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ITS CURRENT WEIGHT!!!!
#enjoyYOUROWNProcess!!0 -
The first thing i'm going to say is this. Low carb should never be looked at as a diet, It should be looked at as a lifestyle. When the low carb lifestyle is embarked upon, there are several guidelines to be followed. True in the first two weeks you are restricting your carbs to levels that most people dont dare do on a regular basis but you are also switching your body into a mode to basically get a new source of calories, fat, protein, and carbs (those things that most call macronutrients). After that phase is over then you begin to add carbs at a slow pace to see how your body adjusts as well as to find your number of carbs that your body can take without making you store large quantities of water and salt. Alot of people that start the low carb lifestyle begin to gorge themselves on all the wrong types of foods and basically end up having to stop due to some issue or another. I have been on a variation of a low carb lifestyle for years now and through trial and error have figured out what works for me. The first thing you notice is that i say low carb lifestyle. For me that means that i drastically minimize the starchy food intake, the sugars, the breads, the sodium, the carbonated drinks and the high fatty foods. I havent had a slice of white bread in probably close to 3 years now. I havent bought a bag of sugar in more than 3 years. I simply dont eat rice, pasta and other starchy foods period. Again, like I say it's a lifestyle thing. If I want some chocolate candy or something sweet, I use splenda to sweeten it, and i'll buy sugar free chocolates or a natural chocolate from the health food store. I take my vitamins daily and I also use mirilax since i dont eat alot of the sweet sugary starchy carb loaded fruits! mostly berries melons and other low glycemic fruit. Any diet you get on the first thing you will lose is the massive pounds of water weight you have stored from the excess carbs and sugar stores in your body. EVERYBODY is like that. This happens no matter WHAT DIET you follow or attempt. After that period is over, then you go on to lose actual FAT. Not salt, Not water, but ACTUAL FAT. You simply do this by calorie restriction alone and coupled with exercise. Thats the magic bullet. (not so magical as everyone thinks) And everybody is different. YOu take someone who weighs 400 lbs and you can either have them lose 2lbs a week and eat smaller meals or have them lose 5-8 lbs a week because calorie wise it can happen. I chose the latter because the bottom line is that fewer calories loses real weight. But the smaller you get the more time it takes SIMPLY because of the calories difference between the much larger and much smaller person. If you can always keep in mind that a pound of actual fat weighs approximately 3500 calories. Then once you consistently have a negative calorie deficit of about 3500 calories then you should lose an actual pound of fat. that means if you only have a deficit of 500 calories a day, you will lose 1 lb of ACTUAL FAT in 7 days. It's that simple! If you want to lose more weight than that (which most of us do) then you have to either reduce your required maintenance calories by more than 500 or you have to exercise and work off some extra calories during EACH day. But you cant say i'm going to go on a diet and then in a week hope to lose 10 pounds of fat! in order to lose 10 pounds of actual fat you have to have a calorie reduction of 35,000 calories LESS THAN WHAT YOUR BODY NEEDS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN IT'S CURRENT WEIGHT. So you can almost just by simply using my fitness pal determine how much of your weightloss is actual fat vs water. The water weight you can put on and take off by simply taking a nap or laying down or going to work but the actual fat.... When it's gone, IT'S GONE and the only way it's coming back is when you put on 3500 calories MORE THAN WHAT YOUR BODY NEEDS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN ITS CURRENT WEIGHT!!!!
#enjoyYOUROWNProcess!!
#WallofText
#Paragraphslearntousethem0 -
I was put on a Modified Atkiins diet just yesterday by my doctor, which is a huge deviation from how I normally eat. I am not a meat/bad fat eater. I have epilepsy and am at the highest dose possible on my meds and have been struggling everyday with seizures for the past month and a half. Apparently low carb high fat diets help epileptics reduce there sezure frequency so we are giving it a go, alhtough, mentally I'm struggling to wrap my head around eating this way. I'm suppose to get myself down to 40-60 carbs a day. Yesterday I finished at 105, this is tough. Although my doctor did say it most likely would not have to be long term.
Ketogenic diet? I've heard of this being used successfully with folks who have seizure disorders. It is quite restricting, but it is supposed to be very closely supervised by doctors. I hope it helps you!0 -
Sounds like you didn't take the vitamin supplements they recommend. They are very important so you keep your vita & mineral levels up while shedding.
Don't give up!!
You can totally do this!0 -
I really despise fad diets. They are always lacking in SOMETHING nutritionally. I think you are better off counting calories and cutting out the bad stuff (fast food, sweets, soda, etc...) for the first month or so as to detox. And then, if you want to treat yourself every now and then, but just keep it within your cals.
My body and mind have readjusted to craving things that my body needs so I listen to what I'm craving.
I am sorry, Atkins is not a FAD, it is a LIFETSYLE.
And when Dr. Atkins' autopsy came back, it was determined he was riddled with heart disease from his "healthy" diet. Just sayin'.0
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