WELL - I've decided to try Atkins.
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WELL - I've decided to try Atkins.
| Wed, 04-21-2004 - 8:43pm |
After spending 6 weeks concentrating on health and sensible eating without following any particular plan, I have lost NOTHING. I've been averaging around 1500 calories a day - WELL within my supposed range for weight loss, and doing about 1 hour of exercise a night, alternating between cardio and strength. Honestly, you'd think I would have lost SOMETHING, but there is no change in weight, inches or clothing size. My doctor is just as mystified, but I strongly suspect that he thinks I cheating and underestimating my calories (if anything, I've been deliberately rounding "up" to be on the safe side) and his only advice is to "stick with it". Well, I sincerely don't see any point in sticking with something that is NOT working. He is not an Atkins fan, that's for sure, but he grudgingly admitted that there wasn't any "harm in trying", and he did all my blood work already 6 weeks ago. SO... I bet that's a whole lot more than you need to know, eh?? LOL I'm starting Atkins tomorrow, and giving myself the 2 week induction period to see how I feel and if it seems to be making any difference in any way. I'll probably check out the Atkins board, but this is "home" for my limited posting time, and I know there are a few "Atkids" here. That's all. Wish me luck ;-)

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You asked about the side effects of induction--I don't know if I would describe the side effects as "terrible". The first three days for me I was feeling tired, run down and cranky, like I was coming down with something, but it was just the carb withdrawal. By day four, I was feeling great and have been feeling that way since.
I'm on day nine, so I can't describe anything beyond that, lol!
~~Linda
~~Linda
About the "terrible side effects"... I think that's just an exaggeration. There are no terrible side effects that I know of, as long as you are following the plan as written. On induction, expect that for the first few days you MAY not feel so hot...but that depends what your current diet is like. If you are used to eating a lot of simple and complex carbs, then you may have more severe symptoms of carb withdrawal, like headache, lethargy, and just plain old grouchiness!! Sort of like bad PMS, I guess haha! But just be assured that WILL go away if you just keep doing it, and you'll realize after that just why people love Atkins so much! You'll experience decreased appetite and cravings, and the best part is that you'll really enjoy your food. Another minor side effects include a bit of a difference in your urine...maybe it'll smell a little different, or have a different consistency...but that's just because the ketones, the by-product of fat metabolism, are being excreted in your urine. I've also experienced oily skin when I'm in ketosis.
Dawn
Also, be careful during induction. Realize that it's only for 2 weeks, unless you decide to stay on it. But lots of people eat too many processed stuff and Atkins products, and things that are not on the acceptable food list during induction, and then they wonder why they are not losing much. But just be as good as you can for those 2 weeks, and you'll be able to add more foods in later phases of the diet. ~Sabrina
You say that you're not *cheating*...but are you measuring, or weighing food on a kitchen scale so you can be very very sure of how much you're eating? That's what I'd do. And you say you're doing *formal* exercise, like strength training? Well, that's good. But you should also remember that muscle weighs more than fat, so while you are doing the right thing by building muscle tissue you may be losing fat (by eating properly) but it's not showing up just now on your scale because you're building muscle.
I'm not in your kitchen, so I don't know whether you're *underestimating* calories, or eating processed food, or any of the rest. And I'm not in your life, so I don't know whether that formal one hour of exercise is all the serious movement you get all day long (do you have a sedentary lifestyle). And I don't know what your weight is, to know whether 1,500 calories per day in itself is way less than it takes to maintain BMR in your case. But one thing is for sure, for every single living animal on earth (and we're one). If you take in fewer calories than your body needs for fuel each day, then you WILL lose weight. No ifs ands or buts. That's how it works. So I'm kinda with your doctor on this one....if I were you I'd do moderate exercise and follow his instructions regarding how many calories to eat, and I wouldn't use Atkins if significantly overweight (I personally think it's kinda dangerous). But it's your life, and life is full of choices. If this choice doesn't work for you, choose again. Best, Kinja
~~Linda
Edited 4/22/2004 1:41 pm ET ET by linda112491
~~Linda
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