Atkins - Does it work? How much did you lose on Induction?

I lost 14lbs in 2 weeks last year when I tried it before going on holiday. I quit because i only did it to get down before going away. I've started it again last week and lost 10lb so far, (I was 154lbs).

I found success while on Atkins and I lost around 15 pounds during induction. I gained the weight back (so maybe not so successful)after I stopped because I found it difficult to maintain low carb. You are supposed to gradually add back carbs until you reach the appropriate level where you are still losing but do not have to avoid so many carbs. That's the part that got me every time; I would start to binge once I ate carbs again. It addition, you have to really plan ahead because you don't want to get stuck hungry with no appropriate snacks and trust me after a while you get tired of ordering a cheeseburger without the bun. Like I said, it works just plan ahead and read the book/or do some research so you will do it correctly. Good luck!

I've been on the FAt Belly Cure, the plan is limiting on sugar 15g daily and 120 g of total carbs a day, so you do get carbs, and don't feel too crazy. When I go running I do eat sugar as in my recovery drinks and bars.
But in my daily life, the 15g of sugar limit works great when at an office birthday party, full of junk and sweets.
I used to crave sugar but the cravings stopped since I started this plan. I haven't lost crazy amounts of weight, but it's been def a little push towards the right direction, I calorie count and it helps to not have too much sugar in my life. I'm still aiming for a balanced diet.

I have done Atkins and it worked for me initially. I was never able to stick with it long term because I always wanted to add too much bread, chips etc back in. Now, I consider myself lower carb. Typically my day is under 100g and usually from fruit and veggies. I will say though, if I want to have pasta, a sandwich, a baked potator or a handful of chips, I'm going to have them. After about 6 months of eating this way, I don't feel restricted at all.



edited for spelling

I did it a few years ago and lost weight easily but I found I'm not a fan of it. I read and followed the Atkins 2002 book btw.

I have a co-worker that lost about 70 lbs following the Atkins diet and he did this about 10 years ago. To this day he is still his slim self, in good shape and still uses the Atkins plan. (he's been in the final phase for years now. maintenance I think) He also started riding his bike to work several years ago which helps because he does eat bread sometimes though. He really likes his hamburgers WITH BUN lol, just not that often.


Personally, these days, I'm going the lowish carb route but not Atkins level.

I think most people would be surprise how "low" their carbs would be if they were getting adequate protein and fat. I don't think 168 is low carb but it's not exactly what I would consider high either (with respect to my macros)

Also, note that Atkins, himself, died of Cardiac Arrest.

Pretty sure he fell on ice and died of related injuries. I see this all the time. Turns out people just regurgitate rumours they hear as fact. Not that cool.

Yeah yeah, be that way...LOL He did suffer one, though.

He suffered a what? a cardiac arrest? cardiac arrest is the cessasion of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract. Everybody who dies suffers cardiac arrest LOL Sometimes if can be CAUSED by a heart attack (which is not the same thing) but in this case I think that seems to be what you are trying to imply. Every single person who died, EVER... suffers cardiac arrest.

Shes right lol

I did at Atkins about 5 years ago. When I started Atkins I weighed 180lbs. Three months later, I was down to 135lbs. During those three months I never ate more than 30 carbs per day. Those carbs were consumed eating mainly vegetables. The bad news is, just as quickly as I lost it, I gained it back when I resumed eating carbs. On induction, the first two weeks I lost 10 lbs. The weight loss slowed after that.

huge mistake DO NOT DO IT!

Care to explain why?

Don't do it! Yes the weight melts off. But it comes back!. Atkins is something that you have to commit to. Low carbing for life (and I just couldn't do it love bread too much). It works for some people. It didn't work for me. Low carbing really messed with my mind - but that was just my experience.

No it doesn't come back, unless you have the mentality of "oh, I'm not on Atkins anymore! PIZZA ERRYDAYY!" and go back to your old habits.

I did a similar diet, lost 150 pounds in about a year, and have lost a little more weight since then. In fact, it taught me a few good dieting tips like vegetables are delicious when prepared right, and fat in the diet =/= fat in the body.

I did at Atkins about 5 years ago. When I started Atkins I weighed 180lbs. Three months later, I was down to 135lbs. During those three months I never ate more than 30 carbs per day. Those carbs were consumed eating mainly vegetables. The bad news is, just as quickly as I lost it, I gained it back when I resumed eating carbs. On induction, the first two weeks I lost 10 lbs. The weight loss slowed after that.

Your mistake was likely going to unrestricted carbs. If you had kept the carbs below 150 grams per day (and nixed "fast" carbs like table sugar, high fructose corn syrup (as in soft drinks) and grain starch (as in white flour and white rice), it is doubtful that you would have gained it back. I have been on a "lower carbohydrate" plan (I generally eat between 60-120 grams of carbs per day, with the higher amount on my higher exercise days) for three years and have gradually lost 65 pounds. In all that time, despite taking the occasional hiatus from the plan, I have not gained a single ounce. But I make sure if/when I eat at maintenance, to always stay below 150 grams of carbohydrate, avoiding added sugars and grain starch. I understand that this is something I will have to maintain for life--but it isn't really difficult--I would never go back to my former high carb (do government food guides really recommend 6 pieces of BREAD per day!? :noway: ). I get plenty of protein, "good" fats, lots of vegetables, nuts and fruit. I eat very well and enjoy unusually good health since I started on the plan. All of my "numbers" are now excellent, when I visit my doctor--and they were lousy before I began, three years ago. I was on two blood pressure meds (with my doc suggesting a third) was exhausted all the time, my arthritis was getting worse and my blood sugar numbers were not looking good. In addition, my weight was higher than it had ever been. I was able to get off the blood pressure meds and my blood sugar numbers are great. Now my doctor says, "Keep doing what you're doing."

I did at Atkins about 5 years ago. When I started Atkins I weighed 180lbs. Three months later, I was down to 135lbs. During those three months I never ate more than 30 carbs per day. Those carbs were consumed eating mainly vegetables. The bad news is, just as quickly as I lost it, I gained it back when I resumed eating carbs. On induction, the first two weeks I lost 10 lbs. The weight loss slowed after that.

Your mistake was likely going to unrestricted carbs. If you had kept the carbs below 150 grams per day (and nixed "fast" carbs like table sugar, high fructose corn syrup (as in soft drinks) and grain starch (as in white flour and white rice), it is doubtful that you would have gained it back. I have been on a "lower carbohydrate" plan (I generally eat between 60-120 grams of carbs per day, with the higher amount on my higher exercise days) for three years and have gradually lost 65 pounds. In all that time, despite taking the occasional hiatus from the plan, I have not gained a single ounce. But I make sure if/when I eat at maintenance, to always stay below 150 grams of carbohydrate, avoiding added sugars and grain starch. I understand that this is something I will have to maintain for life--but it isn't really difficult--I would never go back to my former high carb (do government food guides really recommend 6 pieces of BREAD per day!? :noway: ). I get plenty of protein, "good" fats, lots of vegetables, nuts and fruit. I eat very well and enjoy unusually good health since I started on the plan. All of my "numbers" are now excellent, when I visit my doctor--and they were lousy before I began, three years ago. I was on two blood pressure meds (with my doc suggesting a third) was exhausted all the time, my arthritis was getting worse and my blood sugar numbers were not looking good. In addition, my weight was higher than it had ever been. I was able to get off the blood pressure meds and my blood sugar numbers are great. Now my doctor says, "Keep doing what you're doing."

^QFT

ANY DIET works if followed. Staying on it after goal is the challenge. Personally I've never done one (with the exception for competitions) that kept me restricted from foods I like to eat. And that's why I've basically been the same size for 30 years now.

^^ this. Any "diet" works but they don't last very long.

BINGO. The vast majority of folks gain the weight back, whether they went low carb, or anything else. Even the calorie counters. Even the IFFYM dieters. It's true that you have to make a lifestyle change. It sounds corny. But whatever you do you have to do it forever. If you return to the way (amount or whatever) you're eating now, the weight will return.

Pick an approach you can live with forever. For some, it's calorie counting. For some it's limiting certain foods.
For some with very little to lose, consistent exercise can keep those few extra pounds off. But even with that: you need to ask yourself if you are planning to exercise consistently for the long term.

If you choose atkins and really CAN do zone after, that would probably work fine. IF you can do that for the long haul.

Best of luck with whatever path up the mountain you choose!

You have to figure out what your triggers and downfalls are in order to succeed in finding a healthy eating plan for YOU.
I have Celiac's Disease so Gluten is out for me, but I am also Sugar and Carbohydrate sensitive. I feel awful anytime I over indulge in either of the two. The Atkins Diet works well for me, I modify it slightly by only eating Organic Eggs and Organic lean protein and all the veggies I want except carrots because of the sugar content, I limit the amount I eat. When I first started it I thought I had 8-10lbs to lose but I lost 15 and felt great, the first two days of induction were the hardest after that I continued to feel better every day. Now I allow fruit, mostly berries and melon but only before 3pm and not everyday the only thing that I count are the carbs I consume that aren't veggies. On occasion I have ice cream but it's back to my plan the next day. I have kept the weight off and have managed to run countless half marathons, two full marathons and a handful of Triathlons. This works for me, I share my info with others and tell them pay attention to your body and how YOU feel after you eat certain foods and it will lead you in the right direction.
Good Luck!

I have the snack bars and shakes on hand, not to do the whole Atkins thing, but to supplement my regular diet. They are good to have for when I need a snack, or am away from home, driving at lunchtime (Diabetic)

I hate the taste of Atkins stuff, last time I tried some I threw one box out, it was nasty.

I follow a low carb approach (not any in particular, just low carb so my sugar cravings stay away as well as my blood sugar stays consistent as I'm insulin resistant) I ALSO count calories, because no matter what you eat you can not lose weight if you're eating too much of it. I believe this gives me an edge because I do learn portion control and I also learn which carbs affect me more negatively (sweet potatoe is much better than wonderbread :P)

I lost a fair bit the first couple of weeks, 7lbs but the rest seems to come off about 1lbs/week. I eat about 1800 on days I"m not active to about 2000 on days which I am. Seems to work just fine for me and I am learning a lot about myself in the process. I don't expect to gain anything back even when I add in more carbs because I will still be eating aroung 1800 calories/day. The bottom line is no matter what you choose, too many calories is going to undermine your efforts so evne though Atkins says not to count calories I would count them based on your TDEE -20,15,10% whatever.

^^^THIS^^^ I have done Atkins in the past and I did lose weight on it. BUT, the weight came right back on (plus more) whenever I went back to eating carbs. In my opinion, Atkins simply isn't very sustainable for the rest of one's life and I'm not interested in programs that I can't maintain easily for life. For the sake of one's long-term health, one needs the nutrients that vegetables and fruits supply and, in my opinion, it is very difficult to get adequate levels of them on Atkins. That having been said, I do eat a LOWER carbohydrate diet--permanently. I generally eat 100-150 grams of carbohydrate in a day--all chosen among vegetables, fruits and limited gluten-free grain (mainly, organic oats). I find it quite easy to maintain my weight on this regimen--a first for me, after many, many years of yo-yo dieting/gaining. (The more exercise and weight training I do, the more my body fat level falls.) I had to retrain my eating habits which became pretty simple after I cut the empty calories of sugar and wheat starch out of my diet. I began to crave vegetables and fruits, which was also a first for me. I used to joke about "not ever eating anything green" if I could help it. Getting rid of what I call "dietary distractions" (sugar, starch and junk food in general) allowed my appetite to line up with what I needed for good health. I watch the calorie levels too but it is true that calories from vegetables and fruits, because of indigestible fiber, are a little less potent than those from sugar and starch. When they measure calories from a certain food, they put it in a bomb calorimeter and burn it. But, if they did that with a chunk of wood, while it would register high calories, it would in reality be zero calories as there is no food value there. THAT is why we need to reduce the very, very available (but very often nutrient-poor) calories from sugar and starch and increase the foods that yield more nutrients than just burnable carbohydrates. Many, many of us cannot eat lots and lots of carbohydrates and we must be VERY picky about the ones we permit into our diets. Weight maintenance becomes a walk in the park when you follow this type of a program.

I only make dietary changes that I know I can do indefinitely. Low carbs is not something I can do indefinitely.

It's been 99 days since I started counting calories and I have lost 28 pounds so far.

I eat the same stuff I was eating before, just with smaller portions. My current daily carb limit is 190 grams.

You may have better results by going low carb, but make sure it is something that you can do for the long term. Good luck!