Curious...Atkins diet?

yes

I did it for about 9 months in 2005. It worked. I lost 50 pounds and lowered my triglyceride/cholesterol levels into the healthy range. However, I was unable to sustain that type of eating plan (lifestyle). I found myself cheating more often (which you really can't do on Atkins). and, instead of transitioning into a more balanced, healthy eating lifestyle, I ended up pretending I was doing Atkins but gaining all of that weight back (plus some) because I was cheating too often. at first, I would cheat for a meal. things were fine, so I would cheat for an entire day...then an entire weekend....then it was like "eh, its already Thursday and I've cheated...I'll get back on track on Monday"...then it was something like week on, week off, but the week on turned into 3 or 4 days on. Anyway, if you do Atkins, you have to be strict. If its not something you can be strict with, then find a more balanced approach.

Yes it does work, BUT only if you plan on doing it as a lifestyle change, not a quick fix like others have said. I did it last year and dropped down to my lowest weight ever (131). Then I too started cheating little by little, then just started splurging on carbs like crazy! I love bread and pastas so I dont know what I was thinking! Well I ended up gaining all my weight back and then some. It also slowed down my metabolism and it was sooo hard to lose weight again for a while.

I lost 75 lbs in 4 months on Atkins but gained it all back and then some once I started back into the regular usual American diet. I just couldn't eat all that meat all the time forever. Eventually, it had to stop. And the transition phase of that one is VERY hard. If you have supreme will power to begin with you can do it. But if you were suffering in the first place due to lack of it, then no it doesn't work long-term. It requires a lifestyle change completely! You can never go back to the way Americans usually eat because you will look just like them. Instead I've decided to go vegetarian. And I'm doing a juicing fast first for 60 - 70 days. That is working just as good or better than Atkins and I don't have massive ketosis going on in my mouth. And no meat AT ALL. It was my meat, cheese, processed foods, etc. that got me here in the first place. I had to say good bye. I have 5 juices a day right now, no solid food and I have no headaches ever. I'm much much clearer mentally and still able to exercise. I say it's a win-win.

At the end of the 60 or 70 days I'll be completely off blood pressure and cholesterol pills! That was the other big reason I choose the juice fast. I don't want to stay on meds like that the rest of my life and the Atkins diet didn't change my numbers in a good way.

I've never done the full Aktkins program but I find I get fantastic results if I stay within my calorie goal and also at the same time keep carbs under 120. Makes you eat really healthy and the weight falls off. I've actually lost cravings too. 120 is a number I can live with, any less than that and I would feel deprived and wouldn't be able to do it long term.

So I use the Atkins philosophy but not doing the full Atkins program hard core.

It's working for me!! I love it. All my 'drama' over food is gone. Find some meat/eggs/cheese, pair it with veggies and I'm done. Cravings left after the first week and I have a MAJOR sweet tooth. To be able to eat good, rich , satisfying food and STILL See the scale go down is awesome. I wouldn't trade that for anything!

Vegetarian here so I'd definitely advise against it! Lol
All I know is it's a lifestyle so consider being on it for the rest of your life and are you ok with the bad breath and icky sensation that comes with it?

Before you consider Atkins give vegetarianism a try, how many people have died from eating too many vegetables? Lol

But seriously, before you start it, research it, it's best to be fit and healthy for life rather than looking for a lose weight fast diet.

Vegetarians can and do follow the Atkins lifestyle with great success. I'm an Atkins girl and 15g of my 20g daily allowance of carb ( I'm still on induction and absolutely loving it) is veg. Veg is essential which is something that seems to be misunderstood when people think about Atkins.
It does work and has great health benefits.

I'm not doing Atkins per se but am doing a low carb diet. Like most everyone who has posted says, they work great (check my sig) but it is a lifestyle change because if you go back to the Standard American Diet (SAD!) you will gain it back.

I eat a lot of vegetables, at least two servings every day, and usually start the day with some avocado which is such an incredible fruit for low carb dieters. I can have some sugary carbs and then quickly get back into ketosis if I immediately start back with low carb food and get some good exercise.

Last weekend for example I went to my niece's wedding and ate low carb at the rehearsal dinner ok but then they brought out the home made key lime pie for dessert so I had a piece. Next morning I ate a low carb breakfast, then played a very hard tennis match for two hours and that afternoon I was back in ketosis. Bottom line, I actually lost a pound over that weekend by staying on low carb (with one exception) and eating a lot of great food but getting regular exercise. I can live like that for a LONG time.