Diets...
 

Question about diets: Has anyone done (and kept doing until successful ;) ) the Atkins Diet? Or something similar that works and not that hard?? My aunt did not do the exact Atkins but she simply stopped eating carbs. (and no sweets at all) and lost a lot of wieght. She first did it religiously for about 3 months then she still did it but every once in a while she would treat herself to some fruit, a baked potatoe, you know lil things. She has lost 85lbs in the course of 2ys. But really she lost it fast and just has kept it off. Does anyone know if that is good for you?? I heard both sides...so just wondering what works. Thanks! :D

ronnie

I am a veteran of the Atkins diet. I lost about 25 lbs in the space of about six months. This was right before I got married - my wedding dress needed major alterations :)

You will have to watch your carbs for the rest of your life, though. You can never again have simple sugars or white flour (which is a good idea anyway). Also, once you've lost whatever weight you want to lose, you go into the maintenance phase, where you eat just enough carbs to maintain your weight. I'm not sure how healthy that can be... (I didn't stay in maintenance like I should have, and to make a long story short, will be starting induction as soon as I'm over this horrible cold I caught.)

Good luck! :)

I'm of the opinion that any diet that is too strict or stringent can't be healthy. I know people on the no-carb diet and they don't allow themselves fruit. FRUIT. Come on! Fruit is not going to make you fat. It seems to me like it really encouraged yo-yo dieting, since I don' t know anyone who can keep it up for that long. I think the key is moderation and exercise, alongside education about what you're putting in your mouth!

That's not Atkins. That's not healthy.

Atkins allows healthy carbohydrates in moderation. I know people who've maintained on Atkins when doing it properly for years.

Not to judge Atkins or any other type of diet, but I agree with Jaggergirl that moderation and exercise is the best combination to stay healthy. Most people know what foods they should be eating-lean protein, veggies, fruit and whole grains-but people just don't! I'm guilty of it too!!!
I have a friend that tried Atkins for a few months and it was very difficult for her to stay on it. If you go out, you can't have a drink unless it's low carb beer (blech) and even then that's a good percentage of the carb allowance. She also had a hard time eating out. Atkins may work for some people but maybe try a reasonable low fat, low calorie diet and exercising 3 times a week and see what happens! Good luck!

I was on Atkins induction phase for about four weeks at the beginning of this year. I lost twelve pounds during that time. I slowly incorporated carbohydrates including fruit in a limited way back into my diet. For example, I ate strawberries with cream every other day for the first week after induction. Now I eat whole wheat bread and brown rice in small amounts instead of the white alternative. I continued to lose weight until I reached my goal.

I am not as strict about Atkins now as I was earlier this year, but I have made many lifestyle changes about nutrition. I have mantained a healthy weight. It worked for me.

For very complicated, biological reasons, I have to follow Atkins...

But, the basic formula for weight loss is calories in < calories out.

Take in less, exercise more, you'll lose...

I know it sounds simple, but it can be the hardest thing in the world for some....I completely understand:(

Atkins works at first, but is EXTREMELY hard to maintain. I fall off the wagon DAILY!

The induction phase of Atkins doesn't allow fruit - too much sugar. Once induction is over, you're allowed to add little bits of fruit in - especially berries, because they don't have as much sugar.

You can drink alcohol while on Atkins, but you have to be careful. No alcohol during induction. Afterwards, you can have low-carb beer (Guinness is right out :(), dry wine (red or white), or hard liquor. The beer and wine have a few carbs that you have to count, but most hard liquor has no carbs, so you could have (say) a martini, or scotch on the rocks. No mixers with sugar.

I take a mix of the theories behind Atkins and South Beach Diet. I have come up with a Low-Carb solution that is comfortable for me. I don't eat the foods that it takes to be strict South Beach. But I can't completely deny myself or I will fail. Since June when I began I have lost 20lbs. I visit my doctor once a month, and that is according to his scale. (Plus my blood pressure returned to normal :) )
If you are denying yourself completely of something I think it is too easy to fail. And once you jump off the carb diet, it is really hard to get back on it. So pay attention to the information regarding glycemic index. And which carbs, and foods, make the cravings worse. It has been great. But this will be my life from now on. It has to be a lifestyle change, or it is only temporary.

Good Luck!!

to really lose weight and keep it off requires a lifestyle change. i know this firsthand because i witnessed it when my sister did it. she was overweight and tried almost everything, slimfast, weight watchers you name it and nothing worked. that is until she simply stopped eating when she was full (which for her is a big deal) and started regular exercise. she started to notice some results and liked how she felt so she started eating different and exercsing everyday. she lost something like 45lbs and she is so much more confident now. she still eats everything she did before she lost the weight, just a lot less of it.

starvation is the best form of dieting

I'm currently doing the South Beach Diet and so far, I've had a lot of success. It's a bit healthier than the Atkins Diet - it stresses cutting out the "bad" carbs and fats. So it's nice to still be able to eat some fruits, whole grain bread, whole wheat pasta, etc. I've lost 15 lbs. on it since August and I still have pretty decent energy.

Last time I'll say it then I stop defending a WOE that I dont even follow:

Atkins does not cut out all carbs. It does indeed focus on "bad" carbs and starches. There are many extremists who follow their own form of Atkins that's not particularly healthy but that doesn't make the actual Atkins diet, when properly followed, bad.

all these diets are too complicated to follow and from what im hearing sounds like they cut down on your energy. people, eat healthy and get to the gym. its a good natural way to lose weight. also, that way you won't feel all guilty if you have a cheeseburger and it screws up your carb intake. :D

I agree that while Atkins might help you lose weight initially, it is incredibly difficult to maintain and doesn't seem like a very healthy diet. In my opinion, it is a much better option to have a balanced diet and a regular exercise routine. By being disciplined about exercising and getting lots of veggies in my diet, I don't feel at all bad when I drink soda or beer or indulge in ice cream.

Just my opinion...
 

.. and you can take it with a grain of salt, but I don't believe in any diet that requires you to completely cut out -- or severely reduce -- one particular type of food. It works not because you've eliminated that type of food, but because you eliminated it, you're cutting back on calories.

Eat less, move more, write down what you eat (and be honest when you're writing) and the weight will come off.

A cheeseburger itself won't screw up your carb intake, provided you don't eat a bun or fries.

A typical Atkins daily intake during Induction:

Breakfast: eggs, bacon, caffeine free coffee with sugar substitute and cream

Lunch: broiled cheeseburger (No bun or fries), 1 cup of broccoli (or another acceptible vegetable), and water or caffeine free diet soda

Dinner: Broiled fish or chicken & 2 cups salad with dressing containing less than 2 grams of carbs.

There are optional snacks such as olives and certain types of cheese.

For a weekly menu check out: http://atkins.com/Archive/2001/12/14-373858.html

WHATT?????
 

I don't know where you get your cheeseburgers, but mine come with a bun. Otherwise it is called Salisbury Steak. Anyhow, these dieters are going to be sorry. Let me tell you what will happen to you Atkins people. You cannot live that way forever. You better enjoy your meat and cheese sticks now, cause when you go back to eating a healthful diet, you might as well get hooked up to an air hose.

I sound like a jack a$$, but it is true. NO FAD DIET will ever keep weight off (MAYBE body for life), but just get out and exercise. It is not that hard. Go running every day. If you do not have the energy to go for a run, you need to go see a nutririonist because you are all messed up. Once again, we are the only country that does these stupid fad diets, and we are the only country that has a bunch of obese people. Any connection???

(waiting for the flames)

Atkins was working great for me over the summer, when I had lots of time on my hands.

When I'm in school, I live out of my car and eat out of vending machines because I basically have no time. Atkins went by the wayside really fast.

I'm going to start Weight Watchers soon to lose some weight for the wedding, and I'm going to get back to the gym. Hopefully that will be a much easier plan to follow with my crazy schedule.

Weight Watchers is SO EASY! I swear the very first thing I did after I moved was find the new WW meeting place. :)

To sum it up the WW program in a nut shell its about portion control, journaling what you eat, and exercise. No eliminating certain types of food are involved. There is no such thing as a forbidden food. Eat what you want, but be accountable for it. And the best part of WW is that it teaches you how to eat, so that the changes you make will stick with you, instead of going back to old ways of eating.

You can have a healthy weight loss plan and still indulge yourself in the vending machine life occasionally. The thing that has worked for people I know is to have a little cooler in your car. Fill it with healthy things that you'll actually eat and have something to munch on for the rest of the day.

Eating healthy is all about preparation and reading labels.

Re: WHATT?????
 

*fwooooosh*

The Atkins plan WORKS. It's not a fad diet; it's been around for about 40 years.

You never do go back to eating what you call a "healthful" diet - by which I presume you mean a diet full of breads, sugars, and starches. When you've lost the weight you want to lose, you go on the maintenance plan, where carbs are still restricted, but not as stringently as in the induction and ongoing weight loss phases. Your carbs come from veggies, and possibly the occasional bit of wild rice or whole grain bread.

And exercise is an integral plan of the Atkins plan. If you follow just the diet part and don't exercise, yes, you will lose weight, but some of it will be muscle mass - so you must exercise. Exercise also builds up your muscles, and muscle tissue burns more energy than fat, so your base metabolism will be higher.

Re: Re: WHATT?????
 

I can remember doing the no-carb diet as far back as 1985, and it was not called Atkins. I remember eating beef jerky & drinking diet coke for two weeks. Back then conventional wisdom was that you shouldn't do it for more than two weeks. Times change.

Weight watchers is great also. I know many success stories from this as well. You have to find what works for you. Weight loss is a very individual thing. My doctor doesn't have a problem with any of these methods. Atkins & South Beach doesn't work for everybody, especially some blood types. And Weight Watchers and other groups are not for everyone either.

One thing they do all have in common is a recommended lifestyle change. :)

Re: Re: Re: WHATT?????
 

i think that's one of the most important things, and everyone needs to remember that.

everyone is different, and some diets that work for some people don't always work for someone else. i lost a lot of weight on weight watchers, but i wouldn't be able to do atkins for the life of me. one thing that i had to learn is that moderation is key and that exercise is important. once i finally did learn that, dieting and exercise wasn't too difficult for me. i still have moments where i mess up, eat too much, or skip days at the gym, but that happens to a lot of people. i've learned that i can't let that get me down, just chalk it up as i day i was off my diet and get back on the next day!

This is a minor hijack, but still related to dieting...

Has anyone here ever lost weight, or been in an environment where how much you weigh/trying to lose weight is a MAJOR issue? It is ay my job and it's driving me nuts. There is this one particular girl who is CONSTANTLY staring at what I eat, what I look like, and it's driving me nuts. Yes, I KNOW I've lost a lot of weight, but PLEASE DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO ME! And I'm not saying this in a cocky way. I feel as if she is secretly trying to compete with me. "What's she eating today? Am I eating better than her? OOOOO! She has too many carbs on her plate!" GOOD LORD LADY BACK OFF! Yesterday, I was in the break room, toasting a bagel, and she is standing there watching me put PB&J on it. I walk over towards the fridge and I notice in the reflection in the window, she is literally looking me up and down....I notice that some women do this: get into secret competitions to be better than one another....IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY!!

Has this EVER happened to anyone?? I need some feedback/support here!!!

I don't have that issue at my job, but I have definitely had the comparisons thing go on.

It irritated me when I was mid-weight loss, but never when I had lost all the weight, lol.

You have to develop the attitude to deal with it. When a female checks me out now I am more likely to be amused OR to think to myself "I look good, AND what!"

I definitely feel for you though. That would drive me CRAZY. I would try calingl attention to it in innocuous ways whenever she starts until even SHE is embarassed by her behavior. Like "oh you want some of my bagel?" or "oh are you going to Wendy's too" or even "is there something on my shirt?"

this is kind of similar to that.. one of the girls i lived with my junior and senior year was also trying to lose weight. i was successfull, she wasn't. although, she also wasn't that dedicated to it. she would talk about how she wanted to lose all this weight, but then would go order in a pizza and not work out. she used to make comments, mostly to our other roomates, about how she couldn't understand how i kept losing weight and she wasn't. it seemed like she resented me for it. i just kind of ignored her, didn't let it get to me. i figured, hey, i'm the one losing weight, not her, i shouldn't let it get to me.

Me too! I started 2 weeks after rush and I've lost 15 pounds already.

Re: WHATT?????
 

The reason I didn't do Atkins was because you can't do it forever. The South Beach diet was designed for diabetics and heart patients, and comes in different phases. You stay on the last one forever - it's a lifestyle change.

Re: WHATT?????
 

I actually cook my own food. Cheeseburgers without buns are quite good and easy to make.

I guess I am one of those Atkins people. Atkins isn't a fad diet. It has been around for 40 years and studies indicate that low carb is a healthful way to lose weight. You can check out the website for more information regarding the four phases and counting carbs.

I do agree that weight loss is the result of lifestyle changes in diet and exercise. I never really had a serious weight problem in terms of obesity or being unhealthy. I had gained about 15 pounds which I wanted to lose permanently. I have lost the weight and kept it off by following Atkins. I made several minor permanent changes including eliminating sugar from my diet and substituting wheat for white bread. It has worked for me.

Re: WHATT?????
 

So it's healthier to eat loads of sugar and refined carbs as long as you go run? I highly doubt that. And not everyone is a runner. By changing your LIFEstyle (NOT a fad diet), you increase your health. I know I'm much healthier eating lean meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains while cutting out the excess sugar.

I agree with everyone that said its about a lifestyle change - not a diet

no pill, program, or even surgery in extreme cases can change someone's will power to eat crappy food and sit their asses on a couch.

You have to learn how to eat well and actually move around once in a while to lose your flab.

I am on Weight Watchers and I love it. It fits with my lifestyle and it so easy to follow! The meetings provide support and feedback They recently have a new program called Flex Points that has been around for a few weeks. I am getting used to that, but I am enjoying it.

http://216.40.249.192/s/contrib/owen/scatter.gif

I agree krazy...our country has an alarming rate of obesity. If you look at other countries, you will see people consuming much smaller portions and walking much more. People wonder how these women can indulge and stay so thin...but it's not magic, it's portion control and exercise that is part of their daily life. There is no need to obsess about carbs, sugar, etc. Just be aware of what a healthy diet should be ( whole grains, lean protein, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, lowfat dairy) and know that if you are consuming a healthy diet overall, then it's OK to have a slice of cake, just not 5 slices of cake! So many people have that all-or-nothing mindset which makes sticking to an Atkins-type diet difficult in the long term. When they "give in" and eat a cookie, they feel bad because sugar is "forbidden". They feel they have failed and give up trying to be healthy alltogether. I think it comes down to the individual- Atkins is great for some people, but not for everyone. It's all about finding what works for YOU! Just my 2 cents...

JUst curious, what exactly is the South Beach diet?

I've never tried any "fad diets" (mainly because I like bread, pasta, and meat entirely too much to give it up!), but my mom has tried a couple of those, and like many people said, some people can't do fad diets forever.

Recently she's just started eating healthier (no matter if it is bread, pasta or whatever some fad diets forbid) and started going to this place called "Curves" (which I think is an exercise place for women) and she's been doing amazing. She doesn't have to count calories, or anything, just exercise consistantly, eat healthy, and she said she's felt more energetic and lively now that she doesn't limit what types of food she can/can not eat.

Re: Re: WHATT?????
 

Okay, you need to re-read what I wrote. Did I tell you to eat loads of sugar? No I didn't. As a matter of fact, I try not to eat refined sugar at all.
What do you mean not everyone is a runner? Who is born a runner? No one, Americans need to get out there and stop making excuses. WHY aren't you a runner? Bad knees, fine, most likely b/c you never run, go walk then. It is just nuts that 70% of our country is considered fat. What a bunch of crap. We most definately are NOT the most powerful country in the world when our people can't find the energy to get out of their chairs and exercise.
Fruits, Vegetables and whole grains are not a part of Atkins. So, if you want to go edit your post, feel free. Atkins restricts those foods. Atkins diet was made for heart patients that had to lose weight very rapidly for surgery. In this scenario, the risk of death from obesity out-weighs the risk of screwing up your metabolic rate. I wish all of you on Atkins the best of luck. Sure, you will lose weight now, I just hope you keep it off. WW on the other hand is a great way to lose weight. Go that route. It teaches you to eat in a sensible manner. I am not mad at Atkins people, I just cannot believe what you people are saying.

By the way, Atkins has been around for 40 years huh? Well, sure has worked on us Americans, hasn't it.

BOOM, right there... She has it down. It is that easy. Eat healthy foods, have a SMALL snack food item if you crave it, and work out. not hard.

Hi krazy. It's nice to finally see someone else who thinks what I do about the Atkins diet.

Okay, I'm going to the gym now. :)

Re: Re: Re: WHATT?????
 

Well first of all you're wrong.

People on Atkins restrict bad carbs (simple sugars) and carbs that are high in the Glycemic Index. The don't eat a lot of carbs, but they DO indeed eat some fruit and most vegetables.

The problem is that Atkins and lo-carb diets have been given a bad name by people who don't do it properly. Atkins is NOT cutting out all fruits and vegetables. If people did that they would die of malnutrition, and many people live on this diet, maintaining it as a lifestyle.

You should really know what something is before you bash it.