Why I do Atkins

[LynneSin]

Because it works. It isn't a diet, it's a way of life especially for a gal like me who has serious addictions to Carbohydrates - I could stop into the local mini-market and walk out with $5 worth of junk food and SWEAR it would be my last time. I could bake up an entire tray of garlic bread and eat it all in one sitting. I would search under my sofa, throughout my desk and in all my coat pockets just to find enough coins so I could buy more junk food.

I LynneSin, am a carbohydrate addict. My addiction could make Rush Limbaugh look like an occasional casual user. (Junk Food or Oxycontin - you pick).

I do not eat an excess of meat everyday. I swear some of these Anti-Atkin threads make it sound like I slaughter a pig everyday and eat the whole thing in one sitting. That is a fallacy.

I do eat fruits and veggies, especially now that I'm in my 7th week of the plan. My everyday eating doesn't vary much from what some of you healthy eaters might have except I've yet to add too many extra grains into my diet again. I do use a low-carb bread and cereal, but eventually I'll be adding back in whole grains in a very moderate use.

I've tried to count calories and try weight watchers and even use diet pills (gag me - just made me jumpy as hell). With Atkins, the only pills I take are supplements - vitamins, minerals, fiber, essential oils, extra calcium & vitamin C + potassium. I've used nothing that has ephredra, ma huang or caffeine in it to curb my diet (I'm not much of a caffeinated beverage person - when I drink tea it's usually decaf).

And the Aktins fit's how I eat. I'm a single gal who likes only about 5 vegetables and has finally gotten use to eating Romaine Lettuce instead of Iceburg.

Like smokers, I had to recognize those times that I craved foods the most and try to adapt so I wouldn't go back into old habits. I use my ATM card to pay for gas so I don't go into the mini-market and I buy bulk quanities of bottled water so I don't have that as an excuse to stop by the local minimarket. I have low-carb bars in my desk drawer at work so I'm not hanging around the vending machine on the 8th floor stuffing my face with junk food. My system works and it's a lifetime plan.

And it's worth it. 30lbs and tonight I tried on a slip dress I bought from J.Crew. When I bought it I was at my full weight and the zipper would not go up in the back. But I loved the dress so much and new if I could just lose some weight I could wear the dress.

Tonight that zipper went up the back of the dress. I probably need to take off another 10lbs for the dress to look really awesome on me, but it was a major boost to just pull that zipper all the way up my back. And I'm sitting here in from of my computer wearing that sexy dress and thinking how great it would be to wear it to a DU gathering sometime in 2004.

So badmouth Atkins all you want, but the plan does work. My doctor is fully aware that I'm on it and has talked to me about some of the pitfalls I need to avoid while I'm on the plan. But I do not want to die and old fat woman. I will never ever weigh the 120lbs that I use to weigh in college (and i'm 5'10), but I will look damn great in that J.Crew dress that I own - that I can assure you of it!!!!

[elfwitch]

1. I used to do it.

I lost about 35lbs. I cant afford to do it any more. I'm pretty broke and po' food is all I can fit in to the budget.

It worked really good for me too. I'd do it again in a minute if I could afford to eat better.

[LynneSin]

2. I don't find it anymore expensive

But just stay away from the process food and hang in there. 35lbs is awesome!!!

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. it's wonderful that it works for you Lynne

But like you said, it's a process. This is definately not something people can just jump into if they're looking to drop 10 pounds by next month.

[info being]

16. You would easily lose 10 lbs. in your first month

and might even learn something about a long-term plan that works. Or you could starve yourself, get sick, and lose nothing like my friend did. I guess that's up to you.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

4. Different things work for different people.

Atkins would never work for me. I know that there is no way I could live without carbohydrates, nothing fills me up like bread and pasta, and I hate meat- but I know for some people, like you Lynne, it has been working. I would never trash the people or Atkin's itself. When I did WW, that too is also a lifestyle change. You have to learn how to fit in healthy food to your diet, and eliminate some things that don't work- the part I liked about it was that it was extremely flexible and with my schedule I needed that.

but anyway! we're proud of you Lynne! :hi:

On edit: I never was big on junk food like candy and all that- my main problem was always bread, but WW taught me how to limit that, just like Atkins does.

[LynneSin]

7. Thanks!!

I would never be critical of anyone's diet provided it's not based on sucking down all those diet pills that make your heart speed up and get you real jumpy. Folks quit the pills and it comes right back.

After the luck with the J. Crew dress, I started going through my wardrobe. I can't wait for summertime - I've got so many adorable and fun dresses I can't wait to wear them all again!!!!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. I think that we have to recognize differences in body chemistry

I come from a family that gains weight by looking at food, and it's a struggle to maintain my current weight if I overindulge in carbs.

I gained ten pounds following my doctor's advice to cut down on fat and protein and eat more carbs. In fact, I cut down on fat so much that my food was almost tasteless.

Then I went to the Carbohydrate Addicts Diet (not as severe as Atkins) and lost 15 pounds. I lost 6 more on Atkins but find it hard to sustain over the long haul, so I'm stuck at a level that is over what I'd like to be but not unhealthy.

Still, I know that I need to emphasize protein and vegetables in my diet unless I want to get those 21 pounds back.

[vi5]

6. I have been doing it for almost a year....

I've lost 45 lbs. and I have not had so much as a cold, sniffle, or body ache since I started. My cholesterol is down almost 40 points and I had the best physical of my entire life just a month or two ago.

Granted, I am coupling Atkins with regular excercise, but still. In the past with just excercise I didn't lose this much weight and was still prone to being sick at least a handful of times a year.

[info being]

17. Those seem to be average results

Which is exactly what is so great about this diet.

[supernova]

8. Hey LynneSin

I hear you girlfriend. I started Atkins a year and a half ago. I lost 30 lbs and have kept it off. I totally understand about the carb-cravings. It's like once you eat a serving of potatoe chips, or rice, you just can't stop. I have had to go back to induction more than once after a carb binge.

I'm in the maintenance phase of Atkins. I eat mostly protein and low-carb veggies and fruit. I round out with low-carb breads if I feel like it. Some are very good! :D

I walk most days an do mild weight lifting 2x week. I stopped trying to convince the Aktins haters to back off. They're as bad as fundamentalist xtains. So I just go my merry slim way and don't try to debate them.

Hats off to your weight loss! :party:

[KC]

15. Who makes

or where do you find low carb breads?

KC

[VelmaD]

9. Finally something we agree on

It doesn't matter what diet you go on - it' simportant to take that step and admit you have a problem with food.

I was in a similar boat. I ate too much. I ate when I wasn't really hungry. I ate because I was bored. I ate because it made me feel better. And I ate things that were really really bad for me.

The only thing that worked was admitting I had a problem then changing my lifestyle. I'm glad you found something that workds for you - almost as glad as I am that I found something that works for me. :-)

[LynneSin]

10. That's what counts the most in this world

I guess seeing these Anti-Atkins threads was bringing me down (although I agree with GregW - the breath can get kinda nasty).

But I'm having the best time tonight going through my closet and finding all my great dresses, some which I've had for years. I just found my Bagley-Mishka Lycra dress. Last time I wore it was in Acapulco about 5-6 years ago (I even got a few marriage proposals from it). It fits, but I definatly need to start adding some more exercize so I don't look so lumpy.

Damn, I'm just giddy like a little school girl trying on all these clothes I haven't worn in years!!!

[VelmaD]

11. It is fun isn't it...

no what's better...shopping for new clothes. :)

I haven't had mush of a chance to get back into old clothes because I haven't been the size I am now since high school (the late 80s). Not really gung-ho on a return to 80s fashion. :) But shopping for new clothes and being able to shop just about anywhere I want to has been so much fun.

I'm in touch about the exercise thing. I've been working out hard for nearly 2 years now and I still haven't made it to a flat belly. But it will happen dammit. *intense determined look* :)

[supernova]

12. Pilates

floor exercises help me a lot. They focus on your tummy and abdomen ("the powerhouse" in Pilates-ese) I can stick in a tape an do them right when I get up. It's a fairly gentle but efficient workout.

[VelmaD]

14. Been considering Pilates

I have to change exercises every so often as my body gets too used to the same old thing over and over. Been doing tons of cruches and other ab stuff but maybe it's time for another little change. My mom has a Pilates tape - maybe I'll try it while I'm home for xmas.

[Emillereid]

13. Good for you and probably for your heart too --

Many studies are now showing that the Atkins low carb plan drops triglycerides, raises HDL, lowers insulin, etc. and sometimes even lowers LDL in addition to weight. Some studies have suggested that those on the Atkins plan even eat more calories and still drop more weight than comparison groups on low fat calorie controlled diets. Makes sense -- during the length and breadth of our evolution we would never of had too many carbohydrates (and no grains to speak of) out of season. I'm sure we're hard wired to eat sugar in order to lead us to eat all the fruit we could when it was in season -- to lay down a fat pad to see us through the coming winter or non-fruiting season. Unfortunately we now have access to carbohydrates (sweeter, more caloric and more intense than mother nature ever dreamed of) 24/7 without regard to season or effort. On top of it our government urges us to eat sugar (grains) and eschew fat -- that's a recipe for weight gain. And that's exactly what it did for me -- I followed the low fat, high carb, (now I'm talking complex, whole and healthy) and relatively low calorie diet with lots of exercise for over three years and I gained like a maniac. I watched as my cholesterol and triglycerides went up and my HDL went down and my risk ratio went over 6 into very high risk of heart disease territory! Finally I tipped the pyramid on its head -- cut most of the grains and other high glycemic foods -- and my cholesterol and my triglycerides went way down while my HDL skyrocketed up leaving me with a risk ratio under 3 or very low risk of heart disease. I admit that there are probably metabolic differences among people and that some people do ok on a high carb diet, but studies are indicating that lots and lots of folks don't.

[supernova]

18. Thank you

for all the paleo-diet info in the other thread. I find it fascinating.

Actually when I went to eating aktins-style I did think it was a kind of "caveman" diet. LOL! Glad to know I'm not alone in that.

And I was just thinking the other day, how now I think of my food, not in terms of "a plateful" but by the "handful": a serving of meat is the size of your hand or a deck of cards, a serving of nuts is 1/2 handful. A serving of berries is 1/4 C our about 1 handful (I have small hands). So, my way of thinking about food has changed a lot.

[Shrek]

19. It doesn't work for everyone

When I first looked the plan, I literally couldn't believe it -- I'd been eating that way for years and was 70 pounds overweight. It certainly wasn't going to help me lose any.

Instead I tried a low-fat diet combined with exercise, and it did the trick. I ate plenty of stuff that Atkins would prohibit (bananas, bread, corn, etc.) but was careful about fat and calories. I dropped the whole 70 pounds in six months.

I think that's why many people bash the plan -- personal experience directly refutes it. But if it's working for you, stick with it! I firmly believe that no plan is right for everyone and you have go with what works.

Good luck, and I'm glad to hear that dress looks good on ya!

:thumbsup:

[Habibi]

20. My BF and I have been doing it for about 10 weeks now

and it's been an easy plan to follow for these two non-dieters. I'm pleased with the results so far, though it did take a while to realize I wasn't going to experience that first week's dramatic loss in the subsequent weeks. Still, I'm enjoying the increased energy that comes with being 11 pounds lighter. I have a total of 30 pounds to lose so I have a ways to go, but I'm feeling pretty damn good.

My best friend just started the South Beach diet and has had a significant weight loss in the first week, so she's psyched as all get-out. It really is true that different plans will work for different people.

[KG]

21. it works for many. not for everybody.

after i hit 40, exercise alone no longer kept the wieght off the way it used to. miles of biking and hours of running hope no longer help. the minute i went low-carb the wieght started melting away. lost 30 lbs no problem. went off it for awhile and gained 10 back but i've started it again like to lose 30 again.

not for everybody, doesn't work for some, but works for me.