Atkins diet

Bat · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Top of the Northern line.

Anyone done this diet? Did you lose weight? Any side effects?

Thinking of going on it myself - NURSE, any views?

faceless · admin Joined: 25 Apr 2006

It makes you fart a lot - but that's never been a problem for you in the past!

Bat · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Top of the Northern line.

Skylace · Admin Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA

I tried it and yes you loose weight but I was pretty miserable. No bread, no pasta, no potatoes, etc. Also, it's just not healthy in the long run because you're eating loads of fatty foods.
The best way that I have lost weight is simple healthy diet and exercise. Energy in has to be less than energy out to loose weight.
I've have known people who did the plan and lost quite a bit of weight but like any diet you have to make it a lifestyle change. None of them that I knew were able to stick to it for more than a year. One died of cancer and another got high cholesterol. While I don't think the cancer is at all related I'd bet money the high cholesterol was.

Twirley · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Location: North Carolina

My husband did it a few years ago and lost about 30lbs over 5 months but within a year after stopping it he'd put it all back on and more besides.

I'm with Sky - better to exercise and watch what you eat to safely lose weight in the long term.

SpursFan1902 · Pitch Queen Joined: 24 May 2007 Location: Sunshine State

I have to agree. It is a horrible way to eat. Everything in moderation with lots of exercise and water is the best way.

Bat · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Top of the Northern line.

Time to get my bicycle out and to stop drinking so much beer then eh? Crying

Skylace · Admin Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA

SpursFan1902 · Pitch Queen Joined: 24 May 2007 Location: Sunshine State

Bat · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Top of the Northern line.

Lostinthestates · Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Location: Bethlehem, USA

Skylace · Admin Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Skylace · Admin Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA

eefanincan · Admin Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Location: Canada

I think Sky's had the best advice.... watching what you eat and exercising.

That being said, Atkins diet has some advantages, but I'm not a fan of it. I feel it's too drastic in it's carb reduction and too liberal with it's protein and fat intake.

The basic principle of the Atkins diet is a drastic carb reduction. Carbs are used for energy, or "fuel" for the body. If you don't intake enough carbohydrates, you body starts a process called "Ketosis --- this is where the bodyfat is broken down into small fragments called ketones, and these ketones are used for energy. When your body is in a state of ketosis you tend to feel less hungry so you tend to eat less than you normally would. Fruity/bad breath and constipation are common side effects. So your body changes from a carb burning machine into a fat burning machine.

In theory, it sounds like a good diet, but many experts disagree. I think it's far too limiting of differnt food groups and nutrients and in my opinion people will loose out on too many vitamins and minerals.

So, while carb reduction is good for weight loss, we still need carbs for energy, plain and simple. Complex carbs are far better than simple sugars as they won't raise your blood sugar as high (which tends to put the fat on). Try eating your carbs with a source of protein which should help steady the blood sugar.