Anyone doing Atkins?

WEAKLINK: First, CONGRATULATIONS on such great weightloss! And thank you for taking the time to post about your decision to change to a more low-carb WOE. Over the last three years, I have tried several different methods, some mainstream, some not. Some low-carb/low-fat, some not. I can honestly say that I feel the best, less bloated and more energetic, while living a low-carb whole-foods lifestyle. I have accepted the reality that all of my dieting and yo-yoing have created a metabolic moster that is going to take some time and hard work to slay. My poor metabolism is just so messed up and confused! I keep losing the same 10 pounds over and over again - and then when I get to a plateau that lasts weeks or months on end, I get discouraged and go back to old eating habits that consist of mostly high caloric processed foods you buy in the frozen section at Wal-mart - or at your local drive thru. Of course, that leads to weight gain, mental recriminations, lethargy, and an overall sense of failure. I know there are others out there who have experienced this!

DMALBRAND: I have done low-carb/low-fat off and on over those three years, keeping my calories below 1200 on a daily basis - and it honestly worked for me at first. I dropped like 40 pounds initially - but I was never able to sustain it, for the reasons I outline above in my answer to Weaklink. It was really hard to stay low-fat and low-carb, but once I was in ketosis, I really wasn't hungry, I'll give you that! But after that initial attempt at that method, I never achieved that kind of success again - I know that there is some discussion that "starvation mode" is a myth, but I'm not sure that's true - because it seems when I keep my calories 1200 or below, or even 1400 and below, I just stopped losing........period. I would go weeks without losing a darn thing!

So enter a show I saw on fitTV (I think it was fitTV) - Blaine's Low Carb. Here is a man who was in the past by profession a cook/chef - and he's lost tons of weight following a low-carb lifestyle. Each week on his show he makes 2-3 low-carb items, and he weighs in every week - he's losing on average 1-2 pounds a week. That sounds healthy to me! And I've tried cooking some of his recipes, and they are to DIE FOR, don't seem low-carb at all!

Then enter a new Atkins Book - New Atkins for a New You. I had tried Atkins in the past, but could never get through Induction. I mean NEVER got through the first two weeks. My dad lost 70 pounds on Atkins and kept it off for years, until he got Parkinsons and was not longer able to work out like he used to.

I read this new book, and discovered something - the last time I did Atkins, I did it WRONG. It is not a license to eat unlimited amounts of high-fat protein like bacon, sausage, eggs.... The change to the plan says this - on Induction, eat 20 net carbs a day - but 12-15 of those net carbs must come from vegetables! And women should eat only 4-6 oz of protein per meal. It's okay to eat bacon and eggs if you want, and the plan still prefers real butter and cream over processed margarine and regular dairy - but the key is MODERATION, WHOLE FOODS, and VEGETABLES.

So I've decided to give it a try again. I'm starting day 3, and I've lost 2 pounds. As you both know, the first couple weeks show great losses, but I'm sure it'll taper off to 1-2 pounds a week, which is within the healthy range. My plan is to come here every day and post for accountability to myself - and anyone else who wants to join me. It'll be a place to share triumphs, mourn lost battles, and provide encouragement to pick up and get back on track when someone falls off their wagon - whatever that LC wagon may be........

- but the key is MODERATION, WHOLE FOODS, and VEGETABLES.



Isn't this just sensible eating though.

It IS a sensible way of eating, and it works for me and millions of people.........

Desiree - thanks for the concern, I do appreciate it. I also have not heard of Atkins or any other LC causing liver problems. A really really high-protein diet can cause kidney problems in someone who already has kidney dysfunction, though, and many people have unfortunately found out! I am so sorry your aunt ended up with liver problems, and hope she doesn't have any lingering effects....

Lioness - good to see you, and thanks ma'am, for the support! My only desire in this is to find the support of like-minded individuals, not start an all-out war as I've seen in the past. I do my best to be nonjudgemental of anyone else's choices - not my business! I hope others can do the same.... I'm glad you're still doing well on the Primal!

Weaklink - y'know, my Tanner (my tan/white) was a rescue - and they insisted he was a pure-bred Shih-Tzu, but he honestly looked like a cross between my parents' Shih-Tzu and your Llasa. He was much bigger than a typical Shih (15 pounds) and his body was a lot longer. I'm convinced now he had some Llasa in him too! Aren't furbabies the greatest? We have a black lab/shepherd mix named Brego, and after Tanner died, we just couldn't add another Shih at that point, the wound was too fresh. We as family decided on a miniature Australian Shepherd - he's about a year old and about 10 pounds - and is a little firecracker named Beau - small in stature, but big big BIG on personality! And oh man, smart as a whip - sometimes TOO smart if you know what I mean, LOL! Gotta love'em!