YOUR Atkins diet experience...tell us 'bout it!

In My Humble Opinion
21

Have YOU been on the Atkins diet? Let’s here what happened.

Yes, twice. The first time in Jan of 1997. I lost 48 lbs in 5 months, and stayed within 10 lbs of that loss for over 3 years. It began to creep back when I went back to too many carbos. I suffered a serious injury in Sept. 2000, and that did it. I gained it all back, plus 9 lbs just for yucks.

I started it again about 10 days ago. Lost 9 lbs. Up two in the last few days. ( dammit ). I’m as determined as I was the first time, just for different reasons. I also began doing Tae Kwon Do the first time, now that kind of rigorous work-out is not in the cards. It will take me much longer to lose the targeted 50 lbs.

Did you go by the book?

Yes, I did. Induction, then a steady increase. It worked fine.

How long were you on the diet? Are you still on it?

Answered above

How much weight did you lose?

48 lbs first time, hoping to duplicate that this time.

Do you have data on your cholesterol? Triglycerides?

My cholesterol went down from 230 to 190, my Trigycerides were abnormally now- almost incredible, considering the fats and protein intakes daily.

Do feel you have more or less energy on the Atkins plan?

I adore the energy that comes with this diet, I sleep less, and don’t have an afternoon sugar crash. I’m more focused ( mostly :rolleyes: ).

Have you experienced any negative effects? Nausea? Constipation?

No

Would you recommend the Atkins plan to someone who needed to lose weight?

Yes, BUT- as the good Dr. keeps pointing out over and over in the early chapters, ONLY AFTER A FACE TO FACE MEETING WITH YOUR DR. AND WITH FULL BLOODWORK. There are those people who should NEVER do the Atkins Diet, and Dr. Atkins is extremely clear about who those people are. Read the book, see a Dr. Do NOT read the book and go on the diet first. I saw my Dr, told him I was going to do this. He thought I was insane, but agreed that I was not diabetic, nor in any of the other high risk groups. My blood work a year later befuddled him, in a good way.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being very difficult) how difficult a time did you have with the diet?

About a 3. I adore carbos, I badly crave a home made cinnamon bun every single day. Sometimes many times a day. My personal motivating factors are more important to me than the craving for sweet baked goods, and so I am fine with this food plan.

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I did a semi-Atkins diet a year ago and lost 32 lbs in about 2 1/2 months. I cut out cereal and bread at home, and switched to diet soda. Went from 242 to 210. I plan on cutting out pasta soon, that should produce some results.

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Did you go by the book? Yup. Pretty much to the letter, although I have cheated on occasion. (my cheats average out to 1 small one each week or so)

How long were you on the diet? Are you still on it? Been on it for 2 months and counting

How much weight did you lose? So far, around 20 pounds. I haven’t weighed myself much lately, I mostly go by the way my clothing fits.

Do you have data on your cholesterol? Triglycerides? Not yet. But I plan to so I can show all the naysayers in my family.

Do feel you have more or less energy on the Atkins plan? Defintely more–I don’t get the mid-afternoon slump anymore.

Have you experienced any negative effects? Nausea? Constipation? The first 2-3 days were awful–headaches and a little nausea and incredible carb cravings, but after I hit the 4th day or so, I felt great.

Would you recommend the Atkins plan to someone who needed to lose weight? Absolutely

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being very difficult) how difficult a time did you have with the diet? 7 Following it isn’t that much of a problem for me. It’s the cost and the need to cook food about twice as much as I used to that is a bit of a problem.

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Have YOU been on the Atkins diet?
Yes.

Did you go by the book?
For the first 2 months, then I started to relax a bit. The rate of weight loss slowed gradually.

How long were you on the diet? Are you still on it?
5 months. I broke it over Xmas and am back on it again.

How much weight did you lose?
30lbs. Put 6 on over Xmas, lost 3 in the last week.

Do you have data on your cholesterol? Triglycerides?
No.

Do feel you have more or less energy on the Atkins plan?
Way more. Haven’t felt so good since I was a kid.

Have you experienced any negative effects? Nausea? Constipation?
No - in fact it cleared up several problems I had been having with IBS and insomnia.

Would you recommend the Atkins plan to someone who needed to lose weight?
Yes, provided they read the whole book, and the science behind it, and didn’t put their health in danger by missing out on important nutrients and fiber.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being very difficult) how difficult a time did you have with the diet?
2. The main problem was eating when out. You can’t just grab a sandwich. I also had to prepare food for each working day. But that was it.

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I’m a big fan of the Atkins plan. My weight yo-yos 5-10 lbs., as a rule; so when I want to take off a few I’ll Atkins-ize. I know that’s not the recommended course, but it works for me.

I follow the book religiously for the first two weeks, which normally takes off the weight I want. Then I eazzzzze myself into a more “normal” eating mode.

I’ve always had extremely healthy cholesterol and triglyceride numbers, but I don’t have any specifics while on the plan. My last cholesterol reading was 97, but I don’t remember the tris.

For the first couple of days until the ketosis kicks in I have less energy, afterward, slightly more.

I’ve never felt any negative effects, other than, as noted above, a little energy drain the first couple of days.

I highly recommend the plan. I’m only very rarely tempted to cheat while on it, but I’m not a huge carb fan to start with. Bread is primarily a meat delivery method in my world, and things like potatoes, side dishes, etc. are take em or leave em propositions. I DO occasionally get a strong craving for chocolate, but nothing too hard to handle.

I’d give Atkins and related plans a 2 in terms of difficulty.

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Arrggh…I meant 2 on the scale of 1-10 in my last post, not 7.
Stooopid keyboard.

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Yep - lost about 100 lbs over the course of a year

THEN developed a kidney stone the size of the top knuckle of your pinkie (1/2 in X 1/4 in) - had to be lazered and then told not to do the diet :\

gained the 100 lbs back :frowning:

So back to being as big as a barn.

PS - my brother has had no complications and has lost 150 lbs!!!

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Have YOU been on the Atkins diet?
I’m currently on it

Did you go by the book?
Yes, plus several low-carb cookbooks

How long were you on the diet? Are you still on it?
I’ve been on it for 10 months now,

How much weight did you lose?
70 lbs, and up 5 since xmas

Do you have data on your cholesterol? Triglycerides?
No.

Do feel you have more or less energy on the Atkins plan?
Lot’s of energy, but losing 70 lbs will do that to you.

Have you experienced any negative effects? Nausea? Constipation?
Constipation for the first few months if I did not use fiber supplements. That’s about it.

Would you recommend the Atkins plan to someone who needed to lose weight?
Yes, as long as they understood that it was a way of life, and not a short-term fix. Also they should understand the science and the (potential) risks.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being very difficult) how difficult a time did you have with the diet?
About 2.5. I’ve always been a carnivore, so this diet really didn’t bother me. The funny thing is that I eat much more greens and veggies now than I did before I started Atkins.