Couple Loses Hundreds Of Pounds On Atkins Diet

wlky ^ | 11-04-03

[SamAdams76]

You are a relative newcomer so I'll try to explain why debate is heated on this particular topic. The low-carb diet plans have been discussed on this forum for years now. All the pros and cons have already been addressed. You seem earnest in wanting to point out what the critics of this diet are saying but we have already been down that road many, many times. In fact, I used to be on the other side of the issue myself. I was a real skeptic.

But as I read more about this type of eating, I came to realize that the critics were wrong and that this is not an "all-you-can-eat-meat" diet at all. In fact, it is the most balanced diet imaginable. So, having been about a hundred pounds overweight most of my adult life, I decided to give it a try and within six months I had lost nearly all my excess weight (and I'm working on the rest right now).

Contrary to the skeptics, my cholesterol has actually dropped. I now eat more vegetables than I ever ate before in my life. This is because I am not eating processed foods and refined sugars. No high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated vegetable oils and bleached flour. I'm eating all the good stuff. Meat, vegetables, fish, nuts, olive oil, cheese, yogurt, eggs, berries, etc.

While I'm not proclaiming that this diet is perfect for everybody, it is very beneficial for a lot of people who have become addicted to our sugary processed and refined food products.

[Huck]

Well, the good thing is that low carb is getting so popular, consumers are getting more choices. I read that Heinz is coming out with One Carb Ketchup. That'll go great with my steak and eggs. You make some good points. Thanks for the input.

[Huck]

Go ahead and add me to the list. Thanks!

[Mjaye]

It has been over six months since I tasted chocolate in my mouth. <<<<<<

I took some "Heavenly Dessert" meringue cookies to work, and people freaked over them. Zero calories, zero carbs, nice and crunchy and they take the edge off any cravings. I've seen them in vanilla, chocolate and cappucino at the local health food store, and I know CVS carries them, as well. They're made by a diabetic chef, wish he'd market more stuff. May not suit everyone, but I really like them.

[hattend]

BTTT

[BibChr]

Good for you. Two pounds a week is wonderful. The success stories here helped move me to go straight-Atkins; but one of the things I liked was individuals messing with this and that, finding what works for them, as you are with fruit and veggies.

I think nuts have slowed me down. Like them nuts!

But I'm not discouraged. I'm not sprinting; it's a marathon.

Dan

[wheelgunguru]

You are a condescending nitwit

No, moron, you're the nitwit. Where'd you learn to spell, anyway? Riteous?

You can't be that freaking stupid, can you?

BTW, my stocks are in med tech, with a concentration on dialysis clinics. So, go ahead, you fat freak. Stay on Atkins, your kidneys will shut down, and I'll get your money. Or go off Atkins, stay fat and stupid, and I'll get your money anyway. I could care less.

Loser.

[Queen Jadis]

I've been told more than one that I could instantly loose ~30 lbs. of ugly fat on the Marie Antwanette diet plan... HUH???

What does "let them eat cake" have to do with Atkins?, I am assuming you were referring to Marie Antoinette. Actually I am currently on the Atkins diet, I had thirty pounds to lose, I only have ten more to go. I love it!!

[Queen Jadis]

Your post was very civil and logical....interesting that it did not elicit a response. Some look to add to a discussion, some argue, some agree and some look for a fight. Just like in real life. BTW been on Atkins induction for two weeks with FANTASTIC results.

[Queen Jadis]

If you are doing induction you really need to do it properly. Either you have not read the book or you have chosen to bypass some of the rules, I can tell by what you are eating. If you can't get to a bookstore, I urge you to go to the link posted below to get the "skinny" (pun intended) on how to follow the rules of induction. I have been on induction for nearly two weeks following these rules with great results.

Induction Rules

[CindyDawg]

I need to ask you (or anyone else that knows) a question. Why is a baked potato (yeah, I know but I'm not there yet) twice as much with the skin? Is there something in the skin that absorbs with heat or is it only if you eat the skin? In other words, if I eat a baked potato , leaving the skin, is it too late, or only half as many carbs?

[Maven]

About 80# down since April, first on Atkins-like, then on Atkins-period.

Whoo hoo! Yay!

As you know, as of last December, I had lost about 190 pounds. This was a bad year - in many ways - and I did have some regain, but it wasn't low carbing that did it. However, I'm back on the straight and narrow again and feeling so much better (why do I keep forgetting that part? Ah well - at least my lapses get shorter and shorter since I started in 1998). I'm still down about 150 pounds so far.

My father has lost about 90 pounds since July 2002, and gone from a 54 waist to a 42-44. My mother claims she hasn't lost much weight, but the last time I remember her this small was in the 1960s when she was taking "diet pills." She's much healthier now.

And you and SamAdams76 - WOW! I'm so proud of both you!

Maven

[Maven]

The Atkins controversy deals with excessive protein intake which produces strain on your renal system.

What excessive protein? If you're doing it right, about 22-25% of your daily calories come from protein, with about 3-5% from carbs and the balance in fat. Atkins is not a high protein way of eating - it's a high fat one (preferably 50% or more of fat calories in the monosaturated group and almost none in the hydrogenated/transfats/polyunsaturated group).

Plus, any meat-intensive menu is going to raise your cholesterol level significantly.

Low carbing doesn't raise cholesterol levels. In fact, it tends to lower them. Last test I had showed an overall cholesteral level of 142 with triglycerides of 46, normal LDL and slightly low HDL (for which I've increased the amount of monosaturated fats consumed).

BTW, my wife is a medical professional who told me the docs, with whom she works, despise the Atkins diet because of the health problems they're seeing.

Tell your wife she has my deepest sympathies that the doctors with whom she works are so unenlightened. A doctor put me on low carb in 1998, and every doctor I've seen since has been supportive.

Maven

[Maven]

Can anyone recommend low-carb cookbooks that don't require hard-to-find ingredients?

The best low carb cookbook was put together by the folks at alt.support.diet.low-carb (ASDLC) - which you can find here:

Tina's LowCarb Cookbook

Many thanks to Tina MacDonald for putting it together from the ASDLC archives.

If you want some delicious low carb baked good recipes, like cookies, muffins, cheesecake, etc., just send me a private message, and I'll send you some of my own. One of my "rules" for creating a recipe is that it not have hard-to-find ingredients.

Maven

[Maven]

Am I the only one doing Atkins that eats pizza?

Try a "meatza," using spiced ground beef/pork/whatever as your base instead of a carby crust.

Maven

[Maven]

Any advice?

Cut down on the cheese, as it averages about 1 carb an ounce. Use it as a condiment - sparingly.

Rediwhip - about 1 carb per 2 tablespoons, or about 8 carbs in a cup.

Don't forget - coffee and tea also have carbs - about 1 carb per 10 ounces. Many people forget about that!

Calories do count and eating more than 10-12 calories per pound of body weight (or 12-15 if you're very physically active) may cause a stall in weight loss. Don't cut down too much though - or that can cause a stall, too (starvation mode).

Try this place to plug in your daily consumption, so you can see how many calories/carbs, etc. you've eaten:

FitDay

Maven

[tubebender]

the 1960s when she was taking "diet pills."

My wife looks back on those days in disbelief and wonder at kicking the habit. People go to jail today for what Drs were handing out then...

[Maven]

This is not a cheap diet for me (I bought a $6 carton of "LeCarb" reduced carb milk this morning ... very good stuff

You paid $6.00 for "low carb" milk??? Yikes!

Why not just take some heavy cream and mix it with water until it's milk consistency? Much cheaper.

Maven

[RedWhiteBlue]

I highly recommend "Crystal Clear" flavored water. I get it at Kroger @ 2/$1 in quart bottles, but I'm sure other stores carry it as well. It is delicious. Comes in about 8 flavors (all fruit flavors) is low sodium, and sweetened with sucralose (Splenda).

[Maven]

Re 1960s "diet pills":

My wife looks back on those days in disbelief and wonder at kicking the habit. People go to jail today for what Drs were handing out then...

I was just a little kid, but I remember how, uh, odd Mom was on those "diet pills." Normally, she's the sweetest human being I know, but I remember that on the "diet pills," she got mad once and broke a Melmac dish over her knee. Those are supposed to be unbreakable!

Maven
Mom was and is very sweet, but also very, very strong.