Atkins makes a lot of distinctions between different kinds of carbs. You’re actually supposed to subtract fibre carbs from the total carbs, and just go by the net amount. All the -oses are out though. The jury is still out on certain items such as sugar alcohols - some people believe it makes them “stall” on the diet, others don’t.
Yes - this can be a problem for people who want to tone up a lot. It’s worth noting that Atkins recognises that people who do a lot of vigorous exercise very frequently can and should eat considerably more carbs than others.
I’m doing some weights at the moment, just to tone not build big muscles, but I have increased carbs (I eat fruit and stuff before training) because of this issue. All the protein that Atkins allows is obviously very helpful.
I hear that. Although in my case, a pinhole in the diaphram led to me running my ass off, with Port Authority officers yelling “Sir? Sir! You forgot your baby!!” the whole time. What a pain in the ass.
I think I’ve died and gone to thread heaven! I am so sick to death about people yammering away at me about the evils of carbs, or staring at a breadbasket with a look of longing and disgust on their face, then looking at me as though I’ve slapped them when I offer them a piece. You’re my hero!
The thing I don’t get about Atkins is how anyone is supposed to stay on it for the rest of their lives. Yeah, it can help you drop a bunch of weight quick (unfortunately out of the question for me. Can you imagine a VEGAN on ATKINS??) but it seems pretty darn complicated to me. Anything that complicated can’t be too easy to stick with long term. Anybody here been on Atkins for a number of years without problems?
And I’m with Guin on the pasta thing. Fuck that noise, and gimme my pasta.
I watch my carbohydrate intake and try not to go overboard but I’ll be damned if I’m gonna bust out the damn calculator at every meal.
Ah well, I’m sure the next diet fad is just around the corner and the evilness of carbs will be long forgotten…
I would rather be fat than give up bread, pasta, pastries and most fruit.
I’m eating less, exercising more and gradually shaping up, but I’ve got a long way to go. Still, to me it’s not worth the food sacrifices to lose 30 pounds in 2 months, as some of my relatives have done.
I’m glad it’s working for them, but I’m tired of hearing about it. Especially because I don’t ask.
lezlers, I’ve been on the Atkins’ plan almost continuously since 1999 - I lost 60 lbs, but did regain 10 last year. I don’t consider the 10 lb regain a major problem, though (major personal problems caused me lots of stress, and I went back to some old bad eating habits). I’ve maintained a 50 lbs loss for about 3 years, which I think is significant. I don’t use a calculator when I eat.
It’s actually a pretty simple program if you read the book (though the tone of the book is rather infomercial-ish). In maintenace mode, you eat enough complex carbs to maintain your weight. This includes whole grains and fruit, and even a potato or side dish of rice (preferably long grain or wild) or pasta (preferably al dente) on occasion. It’s up to the individual to determine how many grams of carbs this is. Weight loss mode has more restricted food choices, of course, but you tailor the grams of carbs per day to what your body can handle. It becomes very intuitive after a while. The first two weeks of the program are the most extreme - that’s where you’re limited to 20 grams of carbs per day, and the food choices are much more limited (though even there, a good amount of veggies can fit into 20g/day). Many people make the mistake of thinking that the first two weeks of the plan is the entire plan, and miss the whole point of customizing the weight loss portion, and adding in lots of foods choices after the first two weeks.
Also, I found that most of my favorite foods are acceptable choices on the plan, and that’s part of what makes it work for me. Obviously if you’re vegan, it’s not an option. Even vegetarian is pretty tough, but I know people that do it. Yeah, I used to eat a lot of bread and pasta and potatoes, but I’ve lost my taste for them for the most part (though I do have some on occasion). I’d much rather have fish or chicken or beef or pork with a salad at an Italian restaurant than pasta these days anyway.
I’ll reiterate what I said in my first post in this thread. Anyone who’s commenting on your food choices is rude. I’ll discuss low carb eating if someone asks (and someone just did), but I certainly don’t tell people what they should be eating. It’s none of my business.
Wow, thanks for the info porcupine! I’ve had friends go on the diet and hearing them talk about it, it seemed extremely complicated and not at all maintainable for any significant period of time. You did a great job simplifying it.
I guess I never really paid that much attention to it, considering it’s completely out of picture for me. I just looked at my little veggie pocket I had as a late afternoon snack and it’s 45 carbs. I couldn’t imagine going a whole day on 20.
What I passionately hate beyond those who want to criticize my eating choices, and I must be doing something right to have lost 40 pounds thus far, are the people who say:
BULLSHIT.
I can think of many things that have tasted better than thin feels.
I lost 50 lbs (roughly) by just excersing and watching what I ate, generally (quitting weed helped a bunch too ). I think the problem is a whole lot of people lack self control especially when it comes to food. A lot of people need a structured, disciplined plan to stay on track. The problem with those structured plans though is that they’re hard to stick with long term.
I do agree that nothing tastes as good as being healthy, strong and pain free feels. Nothing beats the confidence of being strong, knowing that if I bend over my back isn’t going to hurt, and knowing that I look damn good naked. I can touch the floor with my knuckles without bending my knees, I can run more than 10 feet without being out of breath, and my mood is noticably better on days that I exercise. I also don’t miss the blood sugar drops after a large meal, that drowsy, tired, mind isn’t thinking well mode.
I agree though, some things do taste damn good. Just not that good. Especially once one goes beyond moderation.
Exercise is rarely bad advice, but I’m sure you aware that there are people for whom it doesn’t work, Airman. Do a search, I know it’s been discussed before.
Don’t try to derail my Carbs! thread by peeing in it. I burning your dog!
This tired old saw: Sorry, people that give up, are too lazy, don’t have the dedication, or stop after three days just don’t make my heartstrings twang in guilt. Most of the purely anecdotal stories are no doubt half fabricated to exploit as much pathos as possible anyhow. If they followed a strict routine, wrote down number, has witnesses to verify them, took precise measurments and so on, and it still didn’t work for them, and they submited this evidence I would believe them. Untill then I fully feel they are full of shit.
*Of course there are those morbidly obese people that CANNOT exercise, but I refer not to them, but the washouts.
). I think the problem is a whole lot of people lack self control especially when it comes to food. A lot of people need a structured, disciplined plan to stay on track. The problem with those structured plans though is that they’re hard to stick with long term.