[Brainhose]

Everyone's metabolism is different and you need to find the diet that suits you best. I personally lost almost 80 pounds on Weight Wachers and plenty of exercise. At the same time I don't believe that I could have lost the same amount on Atkins, plus totally cutting out carbs is a little unnatural. Carbs are a very important part of your diet and just need to be consumed cautiously, which I know is hard to do. I'm guessing that I shall be excoriated for this belief.

[CajunConservative]

At the same time I don't believe that I could have lost the same amount on Atkins, plus totally cutting out carbs is a little unnatural. Carbs are a very important part of your diet and just need to be consumed cautiously, which I know is hard to do. I'm guessing that I shall be excoriated for this belief.

First of all congratulations on your weight loss. Carbs are not completely cut out on Atkins. It is just that for some people their bodies don't metabolize them correctly and they wreak havoc on their bodies. For those people they do have to be careful, on which type of carbs as well as how many carbs.

I find that the real carbs really don't bother me too much except for most fruit. So I eat it sparingly. I don't like feeling like crap. That is my motivation to low carb.

It's the refined junk, you know the fake foods, partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, white flour, sugar, chips, cakes that really is the culprit.

[abigailsmybaby]

YOu only completely cut out carbs for the first 2 weeks on the Atkins diet. After that, carbs are added back to your diet gradually. But there are certain carbs that you can't have. Most of them are the starchy variety. Corn, potatoes, bread, anything with flour is a no-no. But you can have sweet potatoes and carrots in small amounts.

[GregoryFul]

Atkins does not "totally cut out carbs". During the induction phase (1st two weeks) one limits carbs to 20 gms/day. And those carbs should be good carbs (whole grains, nuts, veggies, etc.) Later one increases carbs depending on their tolerance, weight loss goals, and exercise calorie budget. Most carbs in the US marketplace are processed junk foods - aviod them and one can achieve lots of health benefits. Eat them and one tempts all sorts of health problems!