# We started the Atkins diet **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 25, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673 "2002-11-25T15:09:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/41 "2002-11-25T21:41:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rubes \* > \*\*Hold it, hold it right now. **Khadaji** , are you saying that beer isn’t good for the diet? \*\* LOL. Well, at least this is what my Dr. has told me… But he also thinks I should give up chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/42 "2002-11-26T00:17:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*I have to ask-what do most doctors have to say about it? \*\* I know this isn’t “most,” but two doctors (my primary and another doctor in her office) suggested that I go on Atkins. I only have two major problems with going on it. Sodas and beer. I don’t think I could give up either very easily. Actually, it’d be easier to give up the beer. I really need to take their advice… sigh. And good luck, **Lib**! ---
**Author:** ![jonpluc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jonpluc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonpluc)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/43 "2002-11-26T04:01:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > \*\*The updated Atkins diet allows you a set amount of carbs. The first one, back in the 70s, eliminated them all together. So, **Lib** , you’re fine on half an oatmeal cookie. > > My big thing was sweets. I started craving them. Then I found a recipe for low carb fudge that I think is wonderful. > > One package sugar free chocolate pudding mix > Four tablespoons (more or less) of peanut butter > One half cup heavy cream > > Melt the peanut butter, then stir in the pudding and cream. Add whatever sweetener floats your boat. Scrape into an oiled dish and chill until set. Cut into squares. > > Nice and thick and sticky…but no guilt! > > Remember, drink lots of water. LOTS of water. > > My favorite salad dressing is Miracle Whip mixed with Parmesan cheese. The Miracle Whip has a nice sweet tangy flavor but few carbs. I mix it in the salad bowl, then add the salad, and stir everything up until everything is coated. \*\* Only thing i see wrong there is the peanut butter. It has tons of added sugar. Also while Atkins does say nuts are ok after your first 2 weeks they still do have a fairly large # of carbs. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/44 "2002-11-26T09:10:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jonpluc \* > \*\*Only thing i see wrong there is the peanut butter. It has tons of added sugar. Also while Atkins does say nuts are ok after your first 2 weeks they still do have a fairly large # of carbs. \*\* In Europe (and almost certainly in the US, as you chaps have much better choice of foodstuffs) it is possible to get no-sugar-added peanut butter from health food shops. However, even in their raw state, peanuts are still at least 7% carbohydrates. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/45 "2002-12-26T04:10:15Z")
I’m thinking of going on Atkins, and I wanted to see how you were doing on it, **Lib** , now that it’s been a month. ---
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/46 "2002-12-26T11:22:39Z")
The thing to remember, and it’s stated in the book, is you go off the diet for a while and do another diet and then go back on. Unless they’ve changed the book. I tried the diet. Lost 30 pounds fairly quickly, but as soon as I started adding some carbs back the weight started coming back too. I’d find it hard to use as a life-time diet so I went back to Weight Watchers. Good Luck to all. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/47 "2002-12-26T12:35:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DeadlyAccurate \* > \*\*I’m thinking of going on Atkins, and I wanted to see how you were doing on it, **Lib** , now that it’s been a month. \*\* We’re still postponing for a variety of reasons, but we’ll let you know. Thanks for asking. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CasperQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@CasperQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CasperQ)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/48 "2002-12-26T15:36:03Z")
My aunt and uncle are wholly into the Atkins diet and have had some truly amazing results - they both are looking GREAT! They’ve stuck to it for about five months now and have lost lots of inches (I never asked about the lbs.) Though after their first two weeks they threw themselves into all of the recipes in the Atkins book which include ( **Lib**!) muffins and low-carb beer (which they do sell!) Get past those first two weeks and enjoy - you’ll love it! Good luck! (and… no oatmeal cookies!) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/49 "2002-12-26T16:09:39Z")
Lib, A suggestion: pick up a crate of Diet Rite soda. It’s got no carbs, no sugar, and no caffine. It is chock full of Splenda, which Dr. Atkins recommends as a sugar substitute. It’s no substitute for the water you should be drinking, but it did keep me sane through the first few days of Atkins, when I’d have killed a man for a Coke. ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/50 "2002-12-26T20:21:20Z")
Good luck **Libertarian** with your quest for a smaller middle. May I suggest a couple of things: Read the book. Read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution cover to cover and also you might consider reading Protein Power by Drs. Eades and The Secret to Low Carb Sucess by Dr. Laura Richards. There’s a wealth of information and you’ll be more successful and feel better if you get the facts. Check out [www.thinner.com](http://www.thinner.com) a low carb web site with an awesome message board. You won’t be sorry. There are success stories there and people who’ve done it long term and have the facts and can answer questions from a first person perspective. Have fun and happy eating. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2002, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/51 "2002-12-26T20:29:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Only thing i see wrong there is the peanut butter. It has tons of added sugar. Gasp! What are you claling peanut butter? Ingredients: peanuts, salt. Recipe for deliciousness. I only buy all-natural peanut butter, the rest is brown lard-paste. No thanks. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jonpluc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jonpluc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonpluc)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/52 "2002-12-27T02:34:46Z")
\ Mmmmmm brown lard-paste \ ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/53 "2002-12-27T08:20:43Z")
I’m thinking of starting this diet in January, at the same time I resume my long delayed Martial Arts training. So far what I’ve got to do before hand… 1- buy and read the book. 2- find a decent low-carb cookbook (suggestions?)? 3- buy a bunch of meat, cheese, and Diet Rite soda. Am I missing anything? ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/54 "2002-12-27T15:48:26Z")
**Tristan** , I bought a couple of low-carb cookbooks, but I don’t use them much. I have had very good luck with the recipes at [Low Carb Luxury](http://www.lowcarbluxury.com). They also have good product reviews and articles. There are a ton of recipes at [Low-Carb Friends](http://www.atkinsfriends.com), but they are less consistently good. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2002, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673/55 "2002-12-27T15:57:28Z")
We’ve been trying to finish up all the high-carb foods in the house, and yesterday my husband went to the store and bought only low/no carb stuff. We’re going to start by making our meals low-carb and went our house is empty of high carb foods, go on Induction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-started-the-atkins-diet/138673.md?page=2)