Atkins
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I did the Atkins diet for about 2 and a half week. Lost a decent amount of weight, but all I remember was the fact that I did not go to the toilet for a #2 the entire time! And how I started craving cakes and biscuits and bread and pasta. I also remember going to a restaurant and how sad I looked with just a piece of meat on a plate.
Pros for me:
* Fast weight loss initially
Cons for me:
* Not sustainable
* Constipation
* Cravings for everything that's a carb
* The instant weight you put on the moment you start eating normally
* The difficulty in planning meals - having just mince on a plate isn't great!
* Not being able to eat many fruit and veggies
* Smelly breath
* Difficulty fitting in with normal life
* Potential kidney problems0 -
Everyone is talking like I'm someone who has always struggled with my weight - I am not. I have just had a baby. I don't follow atkins to the extreme, I just eat lots of veg, salad and fish. Unhealthy? I think not.
As for losing weight only being hard when youre on a fad diet - no it's not. By that statement I meant it's hard to lose weight, as you have to sort out the emotional problems associated with gaining weight, and people often find it hard to get the motiviation and drive to lose weight.
I started this post as a general chat for people eating similar foods to myself to discuss recipe ideas etc...but thanks to the over opiniated people getting their two pence worth there is little chance of that. So I will start a new thread somewhere else. Thank you all for your opinions, but my eating habbits are my own business and no-one elses
Atkins, by definition, is an extremely low carbohydrate diet.
Everyone appears to be trying to help, with nothing to gain on their part.
It's not your own business, the NHS is legally obligated to fix anything you mess up by following a fad diet linked with heart disease and osteoporosis, by spending the money we've all spent through tax.0 -
Never tried Atkins but I have been on a low carb diet a few years ago. This was the first diet that I was able to stick to for more than a week. I have no regrets as I lost a lot of weight and without this motivation I may have stayed extremely overweight and unhappy.
Unfortunately I love my bread/crumpets/bagels so I find it hard to stick to long term.0 -
I have lost 46 lbs with an Atkins-like low carb way of eating. It really works well for me. By eliminating the high sugar/high starch foods like regular bread, while potato, rice, cereals, pasta,sugary desserts, and the like, I am in control of what I eat and eat foods I love. Since starting I have been exercising, and even participated in a triathlon sprint. I recommend low carb eating with an active lifestyle highly!
The problem with using this as a diet is that being fat is a symptom of carbohydrate intake, and once you add back the carbs you go back to the same lifestyle that caused you to gain in the first place. And since low carb is so easy to do and lose weight, when you go off of it you have not learned the self control skills that more traditional diets require - like counting calories and resisting carb binging. So if you go into this, don't call it a diet. Call it a lifestyle. And just eliminate the trigger foods from your diet. None is easier than one - it is much easier to not take the first bite than to not take the second! I eat low carb wraps, fruit, nuts and lots of veggies, in addition to a steady diet of meats and some cheeses. But not a single piece of white bread has crossed my lips since 12/31/2011.
As far as whether this is a natural diet, I think it is. Man has been on this planet some 2 million years. The wheel was invented 10,000 years ago. So how did man eat for 1.99+ million years? He didn't eat bread or pasta, and didn't drink soft drinks or fruit juices. Fruits and vegetables were very seasonal, and his body scarfed them down and to excess to gain weight and protect against him from famine. But when food was scarce and he ate meat, his body did not drive him to eat it all at once. He was in control and made it last. This is the kind of diet our body evolved on. It makes tremendous sence we over eat carbs and get fat. It's in our DNA! And if you've watched the mainstream nutrition advice morph over the past few years, the low carb comments have gone from unhealthy to recommended (although the name Atkins continues to be vilified, which I think is unfortunate).
I highly recommend people watch the movie "Fat Head". Horrible name but well researched and humorous. It will make you mad and forever change the way you look at food. It is free on Hulu, and snippets are available on YouTube.
If anyone wants support on a low carb diet, send a friend request and mention low carb.0 -
Everyone is talking like I'm someone who has always struggled with my weight - I am not. I have just had a baby. I don't follow atkins to the extreme, I just eat lots of veg, salad and fish. Unhealthy? I think not.
As for losing weight only being hard when youre on a fad diet - no it's not. By that statement I meant it's hard to lose weight, as you have to sort out the emotional problems associated with gaining weight, and people often find it hard to get the motiviation and drive to lose weight.
I started this post as a general chat for people eating similar foods to myself to discuss recipe ideas etc...but thanks to the over opiniated people getting their two pence worth there is little chance of that. So I will start a new thread somewhere else. Thank you all for your opinions, but my eating habbits are my own business and no-one elses
Then you're not following Atkins - it's just low carb. (Atkins is low carb to the extreme - no more than 20g of carbs a day (this includes carbs from fruit & veggies).0 -
Then you're not following Atkins - it's just low carb. (Atkins is low carb to the extreme - no more than 20g of carbs a day (this includes carbs from fruit & veggies).
Atkins recommended a 2 week induction phase where carbs are cut to 20 per day, but after that carb intake was increased. As weight started to return to normal, more and more carbs are added to the person's diet.
I don't do Atkins exactly, but this is what he advocated.0 -
Atkins does lose weight but it's not a healthy diet to do so...here's how it works...your body is most efficient when it is burning carbohydrates and blood sugars for energy...Atkins takes those out of the equation and forces your body to burn fat as a primary fuel...now this sounds awesome, but there are real problems with it...can your body burn fat? Absolutely, however it usually burns fat as a supplement for expenditures that exceed the level of sugars and carbs in your body. As a primary fuel it is dangerous, your renal system (primarily your kidneys) along with a few other key organs aren't designed to operate off of fat burn only, studies have shown that it can lead to premature kidney failure...and believe me, dialasys is no fun, and short of a kidney transplant it is permanent. Also there's the concern of cholesterol...protein has it, and a diet that is mostly weighted with protein has more of it than you would consume on a normal diet, so it's not great on your heart either. Be realistic, who in their right mind thinks a sound nutritional guideline is one that says "go ahead and eat that package of bacon...hell...wrap it around hot dogs, and eat those...but don't you dare touch that apple, or any whole grains. In summation if it's working for you then that's great, but I'd be looking for a more balanced sound program that makes more sense, and still works for you.
There is a lot of misinformation here, my friend. Your body craves carbohydrates because it wants to take the path of least resistance and burn off the easiest fuel. Once you're fat adapted, it's no longer an issue. Also, the diet is not about cutting out carbs, but making the carbs you eat worthwhile (green, fibrous veggies and not Atkins Indulgence Bars). I haven't touched bacon in a few weeks, to be honest. And apples are not off limits and can definitely fit into the <20g scheme if you plan for it. Sure, they have tons of sugar but lots of healthy fiber as well. I haven't been craving one, but I've eaten raspberries with no issue. I'm eating meat, dairy, nuts, and veggies with a little fruit and a square of dark chocolate here and there. What is so unhealthy about that?
OP, I've been on a ketogenic (20g or less carbs per day, high fat, moderate protein) diet since May, and I have to be honest, my body has never felt better. I don't feel tired after work anymore and I'm not constantly chugging coffee just to stay awake. I've started eating more veggies than I ever have. I found an awesome online collection of recipes. Google Linda's Low Carb Recipe site. If you just stay away from sugar alcohols and fake stuff, you should be fine. I hear those are okay once in a while, but some people are sensitive to sugar alcohols and it may stall progress.0 -
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I started this post as a general chat for people eating similar foods to myself to discuss recipe ideas etc...but thanks to the over opiniated people getting their two pence worth there is little chance of that. So I will start a new thread somewhere else. Thank you all for your opinions, but my eating habbits are my own business and no-one elses
If that was your purpose, you should have been more explicit. You act as if some malicious person hijacked your friendly Atkins thread. As someone else said, people here have nothing to gain, and in fact, sacrificed minutes of their lives they will never get back offering friendly advice. Now it is free advice from internet strangers, and you seem inclined to ignore it. Come back here in a year or two and update on how Atkins worked out for you.0 -
Well to be honest, there is a lot of low carb hate on the MFP forums, so I understand her being on the defensive. I, for one, see it almost every day.
However, do you think your comment helped the general demeanor of this thread? Or do you think it will solve anything?
Look, we're all here for the same reason: to lose weight. Low carb, high carb, low fat, paleo, veganism, whatever works for you is what you should use.0 -
Noooo dont do it..
I lost an incredible amount of weight on this diet, and put it all plus more back on.0 -
You are SPOT ON! AMEN! Absolutely correct!I personally am on a medically supervised low carb diet plan. It does have most characteristics of an Atkins low carb high protien and so on, but more restricted on carbs within fruits, it has been working for me and I am able to use the Atkins bars and shakes to supplement things if I'm in a crunch. 30 days with changing my lifestyle and I have lost 21 lbs, my blood sugar is lower, my blood pressure is lower and my energy is wonderful. I think as with any life change you need to do some research. You are always going to have the people that are positive and negative, but look at the facts first. I researched my heart out for my specific body, insulin resistance and so on, then my doctor agreed. The people here are very helpful and you will have groups supporting every diet known to man, I would just say before you go into something make sure it is right for you. Ask your doctor if you have concerns. Sorry my opinion is so open but to nail it down for you, as with any "diet" or lifestyle change, it takes will power. If you look at people whom have tried things and have gained back its hardly ever the plans fault, in fact Atkins does take you through a maintence phase once you have hit your goal weight.. Emotional and life triggers, will power of the person and so on contribute more than anything. This is your body, what may work for others may not work for you, educate yourself. Some of this has been said but I believe the way it is said matters. Not trying to sugar coat anything but just being less harsh.0 -
The problem with Atkins is the same problem that all other diets have.
Losing weight is and will always be the easy part. Keeping it off is the hard part.
By the time you reach the results backed groove stage of a diet, when losing is a habit, 3-6 weeks in, your attention should be focused on changing your lifestyle to maintain your loss.
Unlike all the fad diets out there, there are very few plans out there to help you with this. If losing weight is hard, you have already failed.
Post #2 today I have to find your fallacy in.
People can stay on Atkins for life. It's low carb, moderate protein and fat diet. How much better does it get?
The only problem with Atkins is it claims you can eat as much protein and fat as you want and not gain weight as long as carbs are low. We know that's not true as hypercaloric diets cause weight gain, not carbs. The theory is you'll eat to satisfaction and no more. Atkins isn't a fad diet, it's been around and proven for decades. In fact, most other diet methods today are derived from Atkins. South Beach, paleo, and Ketogenic are similar. I'm in support.0 -
Well to be honest, there is a lot of low carb hate on the MFP forums, so I understand her being on the defensive. I, for one, see it almost every day.
However, do you think your comment helped the general demeanor of this thread? Or do you think it will solve anything?
Look, we're all here for the same reason: to lose weight. Low carb, high carb, low fat, paleo, veganism, whatever works for you is what you should use.
I have tried not to be too dogmatic about things. If you read my original comment, I held out the possibility that in the long run, nothing works. I think we need to be clear what we are talking about and what we are not talking about. I don't do Atkins, but still try to watch my carbs, and usually try to keep it below what MFP says I can have. I try to avoid white bread, though I do eat plenty of fruit, whole grains, and oatmeal, hence my diet isn't low carb by any stretch.
I would love to see the big weight loss numbers my friends who have done Atkins saw, but I won't do it because I don't know a single person who didn't eventually gain all the weight back. I am glad there are people who have figured out a way to maintain on Atkins. More power to them.0 -
Noooo dont do it..
I lost an incredible amount of weight on this diet, and put it all plus more back on.
The same could be said for calorie counting, couldn't it?0 -
Well to be honest, there is a lot of low carb hate on the MFP forums, so I understand her being on the defensive. I, for one, see it almost every day.
I'm rather anti-carb for overall health reasons although for general short term weight loss it doesn't matter. Certainly a high-carb diet is just asking for heart disease though.0 -
I hear it just makes your sh** stink...0
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I can only speak for myself and my results with it. I was on Atkins induction for 3 weeks and lost the majority of the 22 lbs this way. I had the carb flu for 3 weeks the entire time I was eating 20 carbs or less. Mentally and physically I suffered. The cramps were agonizing. I had brain fog that made it hard to finish a sentence. I would wake up so thirsty with a metallic taste in my mouth each morning, it is not a time I want to relive. I was so moody I wanted to kick my hubby to the curb! Angry but not knowing what I was angry at. Depressed beyond words. I never felt energetic or the good mood people claim to have but I did rejoice each day I stepped on the scale. I am grateful for Atkins because it took 3 weeks to kick the sugar addiction I did not know was an addiction until I went 20 carbs or less. I never want to go through the withdrawals of sugar again. I stay low carb but never 20 carbs or less because my body and mind cannot handle that low again. I wish it could.
My goal now is staying under 100 carbs but trying to stay close to 50 carbs a day. I only get the carbs in Veggies or fruits. I eat clean rarely processed foods, no sugar, no white flour, white rice, and gluten free. This works for me and as long as I get my fruit I do not feel deprived. I have so many health issues that make weight loss very hard. I found tracking my carbs along with the calories and reducing sodium is what is working for me.0 -
Noooo dont do it..
I lost an incredible amount of weight on this diet, and put it all plus more back on.
The same could be said for calorie counting, couldn't it?
Well, yes. However, with gradual weight loss counting calories, the hope is, the dieter has enough time to make the transition to life style changes. While you can lose weight eating fast food burgers, fries, and high sugar snack cakes, in the long run successful dieters will change their long term eating habits and cut out or limit these unhealthy foods, and do other beneficial things like regular exercise.
One of my good friends from college lost and regained about 80 to 100 lbs on Atkins several times. First, one wonders how healthy it is to lose and gain so much weight so quickly. More important, because he relied on a gimick to lose the weight, he never really learned how to maintain his weight eating normally. He told me that his last Atkins diet ended at a diner, when his craving for carbs got the better of him. He ordered a double order of pancakes and didn't stop eating carbs until he gained all his weight back.
Now, I freely admit that I have regained weight I lost the regular way, but the gains, like the losses, are more gradual. It isn't like I flip a switch and went from no carbs to high carbs. That seems to be the issue with Atkins.0 -
Honestly, I think the Atkins diet is a great way to jump start your weight loss journey. The hard part is trying to maintain on the Atkins diet. Everyone's body is different, so you should find what works for you. I recently started a low carb diet to get some of the baby weight off. My advice is to stay focused and do what works for you. Remember, you can always try something different if you don’t like it.0
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Noooo dont do it..
I lost an incredible amount of weight on this diet, and put it all plus more back on.
The same could be said for calorie counting, couldn't it?
Ooh I didn't read through all the drama that went on before so sorry about my comment.
Well I haven't gone off of calorie counting so I don't know if I would put on weight afterwards, obviously if I go back to old habits and stop working out I probably would put weight on, but I have been on weight watchers that was similar (points for calories) and I definitely didn't put on the weight like after the High Protein. For me something that cuts out whole food groups is now no longer an option, there were too many negatives with the High Protein diet... Stinky breath, chest pains, dizzyness, moodiness oh the dreams about sweet fruit! sheesh!0 -
Whenever I hear the, "Once you quit, you'll gain it all back!" argument, I giggle. It makes me think, "I lost all this weight after giving up twinkies, but when I started eating them again, I gained it all back!" If something works, and you quit doing what works and therefore stop getting results or get the opposite, why is that a shock? I've never tried Atkins, but the logic out there just kills me.0
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Noooo dont do it..
I lost an incredible amount of weight on this diet, and put it all plus more back on.
The same could be said for calorie counting, couldn't it?
Yes.
However most people that count calories for a fairly long time begin to develop a working knowledge of the general calorie counts of most foods, have a good idea of what high and low is, and know what foods you really need to practice moderation with. In short, the byproduct of doing it over time is a pretty good education on food and portion control. Obviously a lot of people will be able to convert this knowledge into improved long term habits.
This is no guarantee of keeping it off. One part of keeping it off is that you actually have to care. But improved habits and understanding of food should make it easier.0 -
Wow. Lots of bad info on Atkins here. I'm going to address one point at the moment. Atkins diet is FULLY sustainable. In fact, it's the only sustainable way of eating that I've ever discovered, and I've tried so many. If I DO go back to eating a bunch of bread and potatoes and sugar. I'll definitely gain my weight back......then again, eating that crap is what made me fat....so, try a little logic. Weight loss is a lifestyle change. No matter what method you use, if you 'quit it' you'll gain your weight back. Atkins is the one way of eating that doesnt make me miserable. Do I miss carby stuff? Yeah...sure....I'd totally love some fries and sandwiches and a snickers bar, but I dont NEED them the way I used to, and I dont crave them anymore. My relationship with food has changed. I cant use food for comfort, and frankly that's the only reason you're gonna be eating that snickers bar. I use food for fuel now...my triglycerides have gone from 228...to 82, on my high fat, moderate protein, low carb 'diet.'0
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Atkins does lose weight but it's not a healthy diet to do so...here's how it works...your body is most efficient when it is burning carbohydrates and blood sugars for energy...Atkins takes those out of the equation and forces your body to burn fat as a primary fuel...now this sounds awesome, but there are real problems with it...can your body burn fat? Absolutely, however it usually burns fat as a supplement for expenditures that exceed the level of sugars and carbs in your body. As a primary fuel it is dangerous, your renal system (primarily your kidneys) along with a few other key organs aren't designed to operate off of fat burn only, studies have shown that it can lead to premature kidney failure...and believe me, dialasys is no fun, and short of a kidney transplant it is permanent. Also there's the concern of cholesterol...protein has it, and a diet that is mostly weighted with protein has more of it than you would consume on a normal diet, so it's not great on your heart either. Be realistic, who in their right mind thinks a sound nutritional guideline is one that says "go ahead and eat that package of bacon...hell...wrap it around hot dogs, and eat those...but don't you dare touch that apple, or any whole grains. In summation if it's working for you then that's great, but I'd be looking for a more balanced sound program that makes more sense, and still works for you.
You're right, there is a big danger in high protein low carb diets, specifically of going into Ketoacidosis, where all the bad things start happening to your kidneys and other health issues happen. However, this can be avoided by people researching and learning everything about the cons and what not to do's of their specific eating plan.
In my opinion, f you want to do a low carb diet it is better to go low carb / high fat, rather than low carb / high protein as this drastically reduces the risk of ketoacidosis. This eating plan is called ketosis (it is very similar to Atkins, it just shifts from protein to fat) This is something our bodies are designed to function in (otherwise the cavemen would have died and we wouldn't be here). This needs to be managed right to ensure low cholesterol and low sodium, but MFP is perfect for monitoring that. Actually, this eating plan has proved to have great benefits young epileptic sufferers and for the diabetic - obviously with very close supervision by a doctor.
Check out this website: http://blog.massivehealth.com/infographics/Carbs_are_killing_you/
This explains what exactly carbs do to our body in a really easy to understand way.
I can't tell anyone what to do or what is right, but for me personally low carb high fat is working. I am losing weight and toning.
I have found that for me personally, the low carb high fat eating plan is reducing my body fat % and preserving muscle mass (all measured by me with cm measurements, weighing and body fat measurements) much better than the low fat diet.
I now weigh less following this way of eating than I did after months of high intensity training and low fat eating (which resulted in me burning out and getting seriously sick for months). I have also increased my muscle mass so that i am stronger than i have ever been in my life.
There are always risks with eating plans like this, but as long as people do the necessary research and know their bodies, then there is no reason not to try different things to find what's right for you.
BTW, If anyone wants to read an actual study done on ketosis (specifically the health aspect and with regards to exercise) see the below link:
http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/1/1/20 -
I'm not on the Atkins diet but I do eat very low carb. I am a type 2 diabetic. I know now that even before becoming diabetic I was carb sensitive. My first low carb diet was South Beach. Phase 1 of South Beach worked great for me. Phase 2 was nice because I could add in more carbs but, guess what, I stopped losing weight and didn't feel as well. Later I was put on a much lower carb diet by my doctor. Again, I felt great but it was way too restrictive overall (not just in carbs) for me. Now I control my low carb diet. I have my macros set so that carbs are only 5% of my calories. Sometimes I go a little over. Sometimes I go a little under. As far as it being sustainable... I have to sustain it. I can either sustain a diet of 5% carb regardless of the amount of calories I eat or I can sustain a lifestyle of medication. I prefer to restrict carbs than live on meds and deal with their side affects the rest of my life.0
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Please don't compare the Atkins diet to a vegetarian diet. One CAN be healthy, the other, no way.0
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Please don't compare the Atkins diet to a vegetarian diet. One is healthy the other is not.
"Health" does not follow a one sized fits all diet plan. Our bodies are not all exactly the same, calories are not equal, and our bodies react differently to different changes.0 -
Just be careful. If you notice an ammonia smell or severely bad breath (like something died) go to the doctor immediately.0
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Just be careful. If you notice an ammonia smell or severely bad breath (like something died) go to the doctor immediately.
Metallic breath is a side effect of ketosis, not a cause for alarm. It just means to drink more water.
I only have that breath in the morning or on days when I forget my water bottle.
Ketosis is not ketoacidosis.0 -
First of all, I want to say I am happy you are doing something that works for you and are seeing results.
With that being said, I did Atkins around 8 years ago and ran into a couple of medical issues. I was super strict, never went off the plan, kept it low carb 100% of the time. My diet was also high in fat which was a problem at the time. I had periodic episodes of extremely bad stomach pains, so bad I couldn't speak a full sentence and would have to stop whatever I was doing and sit down because the cramps were unbearable. I had to go to the doctors and the ultrasound tech found that I was developing gallstones due to the amount of high fat foods I was taking in. I stopped the diet immediately.
Now, I did lose 50 pounds doing this, but I gained it all back...and then some. It was awful to have to start all over again. Like I said though, I'm glad you have found something that works for you.0
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