Adkins Diet

[RosieRosie]

A co-worker has lost 15 pounds on this diet - has anyone ever heard of it??

 

[bsnyder]

Yep, I lost 30 pounds 2 years ago and have kept it off since then by eating a modified Atkins diet. Basically low carb, but I'm not super strict about it. I can tell within a day or two that I've "overdone" it because my appetite comes roaring back with a vengence.

If you're interested, get the book, "Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution" and read the chapter on the Induction Phase.

 

[mickey65]

There is also alot of input over on the IB (WISH board)

 

[SideshowBob]

Lean protein is good food...!! (the cheeses and less lean meat I have touble dealing with)

SSB changed his diet (again) due to bad back and no tennis for a long while to NOT gain weight... and actually lost about 20 pounds, and at 10% body fat. (Er, um.... some said a bit too skinny for a while, so I splurge here and there)

SSB still just eats once a day, but always now have a pound or so of lean protein, either chicken or Maverick Ground Beef (which is 4% fat only), or turkey on "lite" buns... with ketsup and some lite mayo, and/or mustard. Get some carbs for beer, but no fat... haha!

Good luck, no matter what you choose.

 

[wovenwonder]

And I am on it for life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Day one was 6/17/02 for me. The first week was horrible ---- awful headaches while going thru withdrawal of sugar. But now I feel better than ever! I am eating so many wonderful veggies and lean meats -- healthier than I've ever eaten. This is a way of life I can live! Here are some links for you to check out.....

A thread we have going on the WISH Board:
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=59

Here is a wonderful message board dedicated to many different ways of low carb eating. Most people are on Atkins but there are many other ways of eating low carb that are also talked about here:
http://www.pfangserver.com/bbs/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=3

And here is the official Atkins website where you can get lots of information:
http://atkinscenter.com/

You can purchase the New Diet Revolution book from the Atkins website -- or you might want to try for a used copy on ebay.

 

[Disney845]

Probably not what you want to hear.....but I couldn't make it through the first week. About 1 1/2 days into it I got an extremely bad headache, stomach cramps, and was sick to my stomach. It felt like the flu. So many people said to just stick it out, but I am a wimp and couldn't take feeling so terrible.

 

[Jodi1980]

What about the diet would make you feel sick?

 

[LuvTigger]

Please don't be like one of my friends and make up your own Atkins diet! Instead of following what the book said, he decided to only eat proteins for several weeks (book recommends two weeks, with small amounts of lettuce, then you gradually introduce carbs into your diet again)...then he ended up in the hospital with a "swollen colon!"

What I've found that works is a diet of lean protein, fruits, and veggies. A prolonged protein-only diet can wreak havoc on your kidneys and liver if not done properly. (Plus, the lack of fiber will result in a "swollen colon" like my friend!)

 

[TinkerPixie]

I'm doing Atkins now, I've lost about 10-12 pounds in three weeks. I can honestly say, it's the easiest diet I've ever been on. Get the book, it is important to know exactly how the plan works before you start. It's been so easy so far. Hoping it continues that way!

 

[bsnyder]

Originally posted by TinkerPixie
I can honestly say, it's the easiest diet I've ever been on.

I felt the same way!

And the reason for this is explained in the induction phase chapter of the book. When you limit your carb intake to 20 grams or less a day (for the first 2 weeks), your body responds by going into ketosis. It's a metobolic state that I don't understand and couldn't begin to explain, but I promise, it's for real. You are literally not hungry! And if you've been a carb-a-holic, like I am, it's amazing how the cravings for high-carb foods just disappear. Every other diet I've ever tried, I felt I had no willpower against the food cravings. With this, I haven't developed more willpower, I just don't have the cravings!

And this is not a license to fill up on ONLY fatty foods. If you use common sense, this diet can become a lifestyle that is very healthy.

Good luck to you!

 

[Tina]

I just started researching this diet myself. I discovered the Atkins Center website that wovenwonder mentioned last night. It explains each phase, has a great Pdf file of a carb counting list, and even has a membership (free) area where you can track your diet. My neighbor did this diet last summer and lost 30 pounds in one month (he had a big belly). DH and I are starting in a few days.

 

[wovenwonder]

This article which was posted on the low carb message board I mentioned above yesterday really has helped me to understand why I am feeling so much better eating low carb:

Why Carbohydrates Can Make You Fat

by Dr. Philip Maffetone

Dr. Philip Maffetone writes and lectures extensively on human performance. His patients have included triathletes Mark Allen, Mike Pigg, Colleen Cannon, and Tim and Tony DeBoom; marathon runner Priscilla Welch; and many others. Dr. Maffetone is the author of In Fitness and In Health .

Whether you work out three hours per week, or 30, your diet is one of the most important factors that determine what you use for energy. Today's school of thought on high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets is quickly changing, as people begin to realize that even after consistently working out they are not losing body fat.

Since most carbohydrates contain little or no fat, you may not think that carbohydrates can add to your fat stores. Yet, at least 40% of the carbohydrates you eat are stored as fat. Consuming too many carbohydrates -- even fat-free -- can actually make you fat. That's because of the way your body stores and uses the end product of the carbohydrates you consume.

Carbohydrates, whether they are in the form of pastas or chocolate cake, turn into glucose once they enter the bloodstream. Sugar is sugar -- the body doesn't discriminate. So if you consume excess amounts of carbohydrates, your blood sugar levels increase, triggering your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin controls where blood sugar is stored. Some is used for energy, and some is stored in the muscles as glycogen (the stored form of sugar). Since your body can store only 2,000 calories as glycogen, the excess is stored as fat. Insulin also prevents existing fat from coming out of storage for use as energy. If you don't access your fat stores and burn body fat, you continually store the carbohydrates as FAT. The key is to use more stored body fat for energy; otherwise, you will burn more sugar and just store fat.

You can control what fuel your body burns through diet, If you eat predominately carbohydrates, your blood sugar may become unstable; and you will burn that readily available, although inefficient, fuel first because the presence of insulin inhibits fat mobilization for energy. This is why many people "hit the wall" at 20 miles in a marathon. They have run out of carbohydrates, not fat. If you avoid a high-carbohydrate diet and eat the proper balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, your body will primarily burn stored body fat. All natural fats -- such as omega-6 (found in vegetables) and omega-3 (found in fish) -- are good for you as long as you consume them in moderation.

Since efficient body chemistry is difficult to measure, you should keep tabs on how you feel. Common symptoms of excess carbohydrates include sleepiness after eating, cravings for sweets, hunger within two hours of a high-carbohydrate meal, and the need to snack all day. When you don't burn enough body fat, you experience a dwindling of energy level.

A faster metabolism burns more fat, which provides you with more than twice the energy of carbohydrates. The more fat you access for energy, the more endurance your will develop and the leaner and faster you will become. If you cannot go for approximately four hours without eating at work or training, chances are you are eating too many carbohydrates.

 

[ChiTownZee]

I'm not to keen on this diet, though I've never done it myself. I've know 3 people that did it, and they all gained the weight back. Plus, Dr. Atkins just had a triple bypass this year. Me thinks he had too much meat and fat

 

[TerriP]

Actually, Dr. Atkin's bypass was the result of a genetic defect in his heart and NOT his way of eating. Since I'm not a cardiologist I wouldn't presume to know what caused his heart troubles...but there is an explanation of what his condition is on his web site. He released this personal information as a way of stopping lies that his way of eating caused his heart troubles.

So sad that people have to release very personal information just to keep others from spreading false rumors about them...

 

[believe]

I have not tried the diet, but my doctor recommended it to me...not for weight lose but for health reasons. I would only be able to eat lean meat if I did the diet and it would be a lifestyle change for the rest of my life. DH does not eat vegetables, unless I put a few on his plate...fresh vegetables go bad at our house. I love pasta so I just think it would be too difficult for me. Also, I don't eat out of hunger...more boredom than anything, so the not being hungry would not make a difference...I think I would still eat. He also said the Weight Watchers would work in place of the Adkins diet because it would also teach you the 'right' way to eat. I may start cutting the carbs soon since I am not loosing any more. Good Luck!!!

 

[Blondie]

When you limit your carb intake to 20 grams or less a day (for the first 2 weeks), your body responds by going into ketosis.

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), deliberately inducing ketosis can lead to muscle breakdown, dehydration, headaches, nausea, and kidney problems. Further, the AICR warns, "By omitting certain foods, and sometimes even entire food groups, these diets are deficient in such major nutrients as dietary fiber and carbohydrates, as well as in selected vitamins, minerals, and protective phytochemicals."

All carbohydrates are not equal. Their primary function is to provide energy for the body, especially the brain and the nervous system. Complex carbohydrates - starches - are those found in such foods as whole grain breads, pasta, cereal, potatoes, fruits, and vegetables. Simple carbohydrates - sugars - are those found in sweets and white flour.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has published a position statement against high-protein diets. An article in the AHA journal Circulation published on October 9, 2001, explains that weight loss that occurs as a result of a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet is likely to be mostly water weight.

The AHA states: "High-protein diets may be associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease. . .When diets high in protein are severely limited in carbohydrates, food choices become restrictive and overall nutrient adequacy and long-term palatability are also of concern. Successful weight loss occurs most frequently when a nutritionally adequate diet that allows for caloric deficits. . .is tailored according to individual food preferences. A minimum of 1,200 calories per day for women and 1,500 calories per day for men should be provided. . .Over the long term, diet should be consistent with a balanced eating plan that supports weight maintenance and lowers chronic disease risk."

The appeal of early weight loss may help dieters to continue to limit their carbohydrate intake, and this may account for continued weight loss. However, the safety and efficacy of these diets have not been documented in long-term studies. What is known, is that by eating more protein over time than the body needs, particularly if the source is primarily animal protein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL-the "bad" cholesterol) increases. Also, the excess protein increases the loss of urinary calcium, which may cause osteoporosis.

 

[Jeafl]

Actually, if you find you have trouble with a true Atkins diet, try Suzanne Sommers diet. It's a modified version of the Atkins, (low carb), but you eat more fruits and vegetables and less fatty mats and cheeses. It's really easy to follow, and her cookbook and website have some great recipes.

 

[pajamommy]

I tried it, and I just couldn't do it! I literally got sick to my stomach, vomited, etc. I had already lost 30 lbs. by just eating less, and exercising, but not cutting out anything or depriving myself of anything, so I decided that that's what I'll stick with and that's what works for me. Good luck!

 

[dizneegirl]

Both sides are VERY split on the subject, and there is no middle ground in the arguement.

You either believe it can and does work (though certainly not for everyone), or you believe it will kill you.

Personally, I tried Atkins by the book about 2 years ago. I couldn't make it past day 3 - I couldn't even think of eating another egg or any more meat, and DH had trouble with being dizzy, blurry eyesight, nausea. We gave up right then and buried the book in the bookcase.

Just last week I decided it was time to do something... so we're following a modified Atkins plan... low carb, low fat. It's working for us. We did cut out the grains (no regular bread, no pasta), but, within reason, anything goes (though no fruit for the firsrt 2 weeks). I've got to say, the first 3-4 days were tough. I wasn't sick to my stomach, but my stomach felt "different". Now, though (day 7), I can honestly say I'm not hungry between meals, and I feel good! I've lost 7 pounds (at least half of which HAS to be water), and I've continued taking a multi-vitamin & calcium supplement.

I'll be the first to say, I used to try to figure out what I was going to eat next, while I was busy stuffing my face with something else. Now, I almost forget it's time to eat. I'm eating smaller portions, and feel satisfied. It's a good feeling!

Do I think it's healthy to eat strictly high fat foods? No. But obviously, the low fat, high carb diet I WAS eating was not good for me, either. So I'm sticking to mainly low fat protein... grilled chicken, tuna, fish, lean beef. Just cutting out the breads, pasta, rice, potatoes. You can certainly live without high quantites of those things.

Fruits and vegetables are NOT taboo on Atkins. They are restricted in the first 2 weeks (when you're forcing your body into a new way of using nutrients & fat stores). After that, you reintroduce them, slowly. You CAN eat grains, just not as your main source of nutrition.

It's a personal decision. And it's not for everyone.