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My Dr recommended I do the Atkin's Diet

jlps1014
jlps1014 Posts: 10
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I was shocked when my Dr. recommended I do the Atkin's Diet. I told him about MFP and that I've lost like 7 pounds since the beginning of the year. (Not a huge amount, I know, but still something) He said he'd like to see me lose weight more quickly. Isn't that unhealthy? To lose weight really quick? I heard good and bad about Atkin's Diet... was wondering if anyone on here knows about it. As of now, I don't plan on following Atkin's..... maintaining weight loss on that diet seems unrealistic to me.

Replies

  • beccala18
    beccala18 Posts: 293 Member
    Search the boards - there are a number of threads about Atkins. I would talk to your doctor again and see why he really wants you to lose weight so quickly. It could be for a valid medical reason.

    From what I know about Atkins, it is an extreme plan at the beginning, but it does add back carbs, etc. after the first few weeks.
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    First of all, congrats on the 7 lbs, thats awesome.

    Second, I think I would change doctors.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    7 pounds is great! Personally, I couldn't do Atkins either. I know that as soon as I went off the weight would come back on. Make "lifestyle" changes .... changes you can keep (and maintain) over your lifetime.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Fast weight loss in and of itself is neither good nor bad. The thing with "gimmick", for lack of a better term, diets like Atkins is they don't nessesarily produce the lifestyle changes that will keep that weight off.

    Was his only reason for this that he wanted you to lose weight faster? Did he do any Metabolic Typing Assesmemt and is trying to correct some kind of imbalance that will get you healthier? Sounds like you are making good progress if you lost 7 since Jan 1. What is your activity/ exercise level like?
  • MattGetsMad
    MattGetsMad Posts: 429 Member
    Dr. sounds like an idiot. You can take weight off quicker, by adding more frequent and more stringent workouts. Atkins... What a waste of time. You will lose weight if you go Atkins, but you have to be really strict and you will gain the weight back once you decide to eat regularly again.

    Good luck to you!
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    First of all, congrats on the 7 lbs, thats awesome.

    Second, I think I would change doctors.

    This.
  • shvits
    shvits Posts: 249 Member
    I think you are doing great! If MFP works for you then forget about Atkins. Your doctor is just giving you an opinion, but at the same time is not being supportive of your great success. I agree with the person who said 'change your doctor'. You are making life habit changes and that is really great.
  • LisaRN9
    LisaRN9 Posts: 75 Member
    My parents were on the Atkins diet and they took the weight off very rapidly BUT they could not sustain the weight loss and gained it all back. Incidentally, both of them had lab work done during the diet and their BUN and Creatinine were elevated. This is a strong indicator that their kidneys were not happy! Their doctor took them off the diet because of that.
  • msjamartin
    msjamartin Posts: 148
    Look into the Zone or South Beach plans if you need something structured. They are not as extreme as Atkins and have good structures that will help you learn how to balance your macro's. Pesonally I really liked the Zone structure and while I'm not on any particular plan I do use the 40/30/30 balance of carbs/protein/fat as a guideline even today.

    Atkins is and has always been too extreme to me. imo
  • kristelpoole
    kristelpoole Posts: 440 Member
    First of all, congrats on the 7 lbs, thats awesome.

    Second, I think I would change doctors.

    This.

    x3
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    Despite what uninformed people above me are saying, many Dr's are suggesting the Atkins lifestyle Plan for a multitude of reasons...........

    Are you Insulin Resistant, Diabetic, PCOS or Hypothyroid? If so, this is one of the main reasons your Dr is advising The Atkins nutritional approach.


    1. You will rid yourself of cravings - if you add the foods back in according to the written plan.
    2. You will learn YOUR body inside and out and how your body reacts to different foods. You will be surprised as you add back in certain vegetables and fruits and your body suddenly becomes unhappy about it.
    3. You will learn at which level your body will lose, gain and be able to maintain weight.
    4. You will have more energy, sleep better and feel much better overall.
    5. The weight loss is merely an added benefit.

    Atkins done the RIGHT way will have you eating all natural foods and your body will thank you.

    Message me if you want more information.
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
    My parents were on the Atkins diet and they took the weight off very rapidly BUT they could not sustain the weight loss and gained it all back. Incidentally, both of them had lab work done during the diet and their BUN and Creatinine were elevated. This is a strong indicator that their kidneys were not happy! Their doctor took them off the diet because of that.

    Your parents most likely were not on the plan correctly.

    Atkins, when done RIGHT, is a high fat, MODERATE protein and controlled carb eating plan that is highly sustainable for life, unless you only like to eat a bunch of processed crap food.
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