Anyone doing the Carb Addicts Diet?

[disneyfan551]

I just started Monday, and would love to find other Carb Addict's out there!

If you aren't familiar with the CA diet, it is great! I lost 20 lbs on it easily last summer. Basically, you don't eat carbs during the day, but at dinner (or your Reward Meal) you can have anything you want, as much as you want! , as long as you eat it within 1 hour. The diet is by Dr.'s Heiller's (sp?) and they do have books out about it. Once you read it, it makes alot of sense.

I have done Atkins before, and while I lost weight, it easily came back on & was hard to stick with while on the diet. I am rarely hungry on this diet, and with the knowledge that my Reward Meal is coming, I can usually handle the daily cravings!

If there are any other Carb Addict dieters out there, let me know!

 

[hercamore]

Hmm, haven't heard of this diet, but I'll check it out next time I'm at the bookstore.

I just started Atkins this week, but it's not working out for me. Yes, I've lost a couple lbs, but I've also lost my energy and I'm hungry ALL the time.

I also got dizzy exercising the other day, so I'm going to have start eating more carbs I guess.



herc.

 

[disneyfan551]

I know what you mean, Atkins is tough. And, I really don't think it is reasonable to cut out carb's all together. I will find out the name of my book & how to spell the dr's names! And, I will post it for you Monday.

I have tried a gazillion diets, and by far this is the best one for me. Actually, I would rather do one of the WW, but my body doesn't respond to that program. The only problem I have with the CA diet is that I have to cook! Because protein isn't something that you can easily pick up on the go.

I hope you try it! You may find that it is just what you needed!

 

[starwood]

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[dizneegirl]

Atkins doesn't cut carbs out completely. It's very restrictive, but only for the first two weeks... and you're still supposed to be eating plenty of veggies (which is where your carbs come from).

Haven't tried CAD... I don't like the idea of eating all the refined crap (white bread, sugar, etc) anymore, but I can see where it would be appealing. Seems like a controlled binge... I would have a hard time stopping in that hour window, I think.

Anything that works for someone else though, GREAT. It's all about gaining back control of what you eat, as well and when, how and how much.

Herc - if you follow Atkins, you're pretty much going to feel like crap for the first week... then, all of a sudden, you'll start feeling much better. It's just that "addiction" hurdle you're getting over.

 

[disneyfan551]

...thanks for the post on that book! I haven't read that one yet!

 

[Rhonda]

It sounds good, but it goes against what Dr. Atkins says. The Atkins diet is a ketogenic diet, which means that your body is in a state of ketosis (fat burning) and you lose weight. When you have a reward meal, it would kick you right out of ketosis. So, I don't think that would work for me.

Besides, the having that reward meal wouldn't cure me of my sugar/carb addictions!

Good luck everyone!

 

[disneyfan551]

...but the book can explain it much better than I can! It's just the way that the body breaks down the sugars. I have PCOS, and carbs are a MAJOR problem for people with PCOS. I thought this would be just like Atkins, but I have found it's better for me, because I AM such an addict, that having the reward dinner, allows me to go on living a normal life. I don't have to go cold turkey (no pun intended! ), and be craving and thinking about sweets all of the time. That just set me up for failure.

Everyone is definitely different, and there is no perfect diet! I went to the Dr. in Jan. to ask him about my choices, and he said the CA diet would be fine to follow. I was hoping he'd tell me to go with WW, just because it's 'easier', especially with those 'grab-n-go' meals or snacks, but he didn't! Anyway, I'm back with this, and I've lost 2.5 lbs since Monday! Only time will tell...

Hope everyone has a great Valentine's weekend!!

 

[Figment1964]

disneyfan551 said, "I have PCOS, and carbs are a MAJOR problem for people with PCOS. I thought this would be just like Atkins, but I have found it's better for me, because I AM such an addict, that having the reward dinner, allows me to go on living a normal life."

I have PCOS, too, and this diet is really working for me as well! Since the end of January I've dropped 5 pounds and that includes me having spent all last week in Mexico during which time I didn't follow the diet. It's easy for me knowing that I have my reward meal coming. My sister in law has been on it since September and is having phenominal success.

 

[ahutton]

How nice to know I'm not alone... Another PCOS person. My endocrine told me not to do Atkins, that CA was an "eating for the rest of your life" plan, not a diet, that would serve me well. Best of luck to us all... I don't feel like my reward meal is a controlled binge, actually I find I'm pretty stingy with my carbs, and try to still incorporate the whole grains and fruits rather than refined sugars.

 

[shmoogrrrl]

Another PCOS'er here (Maybe we need a club? *laugh*). I have never heard of the Carbohydrate Addict's diet, but I will look for it in the bookstore. I tried Atkins, and didn't lose anything after being faithful to induction for three weeks!

Can you give me an idea of a typical day, as far as food goes?

Kathy

 

[ahutton]

I usually have some eggs with cheese or cottage cheese for breakfast. For lunch I'll have a salad with protein (chicken or something) or left overs from the night before. Then for dinner I'll have a "normal" dinner with my family, salad, meat, veggie and then some kind of treat. It has been the easiest eating plan I've ever done, I have more energy and am less tired. I'm also not tempted to "cheat" as I know that by following my plan I can have what I want in a reasonable portion size with my reward meal. I also try to have a snack in the afternoon at work, my favorite right now is celery with cream cheese on it, sprinkled with paprika and pepper.

It also have been very easy to handle eating out. You don't have to worry about figuring points, calories, or grams of anything... I have not been to a restaurant yet that I can't order from the regular menu and stick with my plan. Also, you can change around when you have your reward meal (the one where you can add a treat or carbs of some type) so if you want to have a special brunch or lunch it is not a problem.

My doctor also has put me on Glucophage - she just increased my dose - which she said would help me achieve my goals. I've done a ton of diet plans, worked out faithfully and this is the only eating plan that I have successfully lost weight on.

 

[beansmom]

again, I'm going to say that lowcarbeating.com has lots of info on lc and tons of really great people for support. They have separate forums for CAD and CALP as well as Atkins and the 'caveman' type diets.

It's really a great site.

 

[disneyfan551]

beansmom - thanks for the site! I have never heard of it, so I will check it out!

ahutton- you are being too good! Unfortunately, I do not eat a "reasonable portion size during my reward meal"!! I will have ice cream sundaes, 4 cookies, or just whatever it takes to make me happy! That is truly one reason I love this plan! How are you doing on your Glucophage? I was on it last year, and even though I stepped up my doses, each week, I couldn't handle it once I was on the 3 pills a day routine - it made me sooo sick!

shmoogrrrl - i'm ready for a pco group on the dis boards too! Atkins was hard for me too. I have had no problems on this plan, and from the very beginning, you are NOT hungry and have alot more energy. Did you find the book this weekend? You had asked for a typical day, this is it for me...b: 2 hot dogs l: hamburger, can of greenbeans d: whatever & LOTS of sweet! I tend to stick with the same things, because I don't have time to cook! I have a FT job, am taking a real estate class, and a 17 m. old dd, (and a dh whose schedule changes weekly from day & night shifts! )

Figment1964 - you are doing great on the plan! You mentioned that your sil had been on it a while, how much has she lost? Has she had any problems with it?

Hope to hear from all of you!!

 

[Figment1964]

Originally posted by disneyfan551
Figment1964 - you are doing great on the plan! You mentioned that your sil had been on it a while, how much has she lost? Has she had any problems with it?

Thanks! I feel great being on it! I don't have the cravings like I did before and haven't had much problem at all feeling satisfied on the plan. My sil has lost almost 20lbs since September. And no, she hasn't had any problems, at least that she's mentioned. Her husband is so thrilled for her since she's tried for years to lose weight and this is the first true success she's had. I'm hoping for the same results as well.

My husband has joined me on the plan and he isn't struggling with the cravings as much anymore, either.

For my PCOS, I also take Glucophage, 500mg twice daily as well as spironolactone twice a day.

 

[nativetxn]

I read about this diet and it sounds great. I find Atkins extremely easy for me to stick to but I didn't have any "withdrawal" when I started, either, so perhaps I'm not a carb addict.

Good luck with this program!