WELL - I've decided to try Atkins.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
WELL - I've decided to try Atkins.
46
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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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2004
Sat, 04-24-2004 - 10:05pm
Hey Barkingshark,

Thanks for posting that info on how you are doing Atkins. I am into my second week on induction, but like you I have been choosing the leaner cuts of meat--I'm not a big beef eater, but love fish, especially salmon. I figured as long as I was getting the good kinds of fats that it counted as the fat (if that makes any sense, lol!). I don't care for sausage or bacon, or much of the processed meats. I have used some cheese (real, not fake), but sparingly. It's good to know I'm on the right track.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 12:57am
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 6:59am
You make a number of valid points, Amy, and I'm happy that you have made Atkins work for you. I didn't mean to imply that you were trying to give out false info. I just have strong views about doing Atkins the right way, because it can be so easy to do it wrong and then get discouraged. I made a similar mistake while on Atkins, myself. I stayed on induction for 9 months, even though I barely saw a loss at ALL for the last 2 months. I didn't feel good, the cravings started coming back full force, and I was not satisfied with my food anymore. Deep down I knew it was time to change something in my diet, but I was skeptical, for some reason, that upping my carbs just 5 grams would really make that much of a difference. Well, it did, because now my body is acting exactly the way it did when I first started Atkins, and my loss is predictable and steady again! It's pretty exciting!

I understand why your doctor would tell you to go on Atkins to reduce your cholesterol...after all, if Atkins is followed properly, it should naturally lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol. I agree that watching your fat intake in terms of types of fat is important, though, because it is VERY easy to go overboard with items like butter and bacon!

Atkins may not have the same effects on everyone, but for the most part, if followed correctly, it should have positive effects on most people. ~Sabrina
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 3:17pm
I agree, IF Atkins is followed properly, it CAN work for MOST people. I was just one of those people that had negative effects, and I followed it to a T. But, as everyone's body is different, there are those of us out there who are negatively affected. I see more and more complaints about stalls on the boards, but is it due to not following the diet correctly, is it being in Induction too long and time to up your carbs, is it natural metabolic resistance, or is it just plain not working ? Who knows...I just know that I was on Atkins and had the great loss for the first month, but being that I had lost the majority of weight i had to lose ALREADY, I KNEW it was going to slow down.

When I saw the dietician, I was nervous because she wants EVERYONE to be like, 98 pounds. I have heard from other people that she scared them, totally turned them off and they went elsewhere. I figured, what did I have to lose ?

Well, it turns out to be another ten pounds in nineteen days. For someone who was in a plateau/stall combination, I think I'm doin' pretty good. For the three weeks before I saw my dietician, I stayed lower carb and REALLY cut my fat intake and lost weight, about three pounds. Then started my 'custom' diet, which included high-fiber fruit and fat free yogurt, and have lost MORE weight.

Don't get me wrong - I don't post the way I do on Atkins to try to get people to do things differently on a random 'listen to me' basis. I post about what I eat when asked about menu, offer suggestions to people who are looking for them, and respond to people who seem to be in need of a change. There is nothing wrong with that. I tell them what I have done in the past and what I do now, how I feel, and let them make up their own minds. I have strong views on people doing Atkins that adhere to the 'WOE' so rigidly and defend every last shred of the Atkins Program so militantly that they see Atkins as only balck and white, no gray area. Granted, everyone SHOULD start it the same way and see what happens, but why torture yourself and possibly cause health problems just to lose a few pounds, or if your weight IS your health problem, why make it worse by being hungry, miserable and uncomfortable for weeks if you aren't seeing results ? Atkins Induction is NOT meant to be done for more than a few weeks at most. Your body gets resistant to it. There are people out there that need more carbs than some, just like some people don't seem to miss them at all.

I am not trying to create a huge argument here, or piss off the Atkids to the point they think I'm trying to sabotage the board. I will continue to offer insight and suggestions to people who may have had a similar problem as me, tell them what I did, and wish them luck. That's why the board is there. So people can ask questions. Learn. Change, if needed. If Atkins worked the same for EVERYONE ALL THE TIME, there wouldn't be much to the board besides weigh-ins and newbie questions. There seems to be a 50/50 ration of folks on the board who are doing great, and those who aren't as impressed with it as they were to begin with. Educating yourself and listening to your body and using common sense are paramount.

And don't even get me started about the dipwad who asked " What's carbs ?" as a discussion post. AAAAAAAAAAACK!



Amy :)

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2004
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 4:27pm
Thanks for the links Amy! A lot of good info there, and will help me once I move into the second phase of Atkins at week three.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Sun, 04-25-2004 - 8:23pm
Your'e welcome ! i hope it helps !

Amy

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