The reason I became interested in the diet was because it promised to cut down sluggishness, dizziness, and other symptoms that I had due to my sugar addiction.
The only book I bought is Dr. Aktins’ New Diet Cookbook in paperback. It gives the diet’s instructions in simple terms on Chapter 2, and it has plenty of examples of diet meals that I always liked. It has a one-page list of low-carb vegetables that became my prime source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber during the first strict few weeks.
The bottom line about this diet is knowledge. Once you are shown that sugar is added gratuitously to our food, you will learn to avoid such foods with hidden sugar content. For example, I love peanut butter, but most peanut butter brands have added sugar and corn syrup. Armed with that knowledge, now I look at the ingredients’ label before I choose a peanut butter jar and buy the jar with no added sugar.
If you do the diet, don't forget to exercise and drink plenty of water; I still go to the gym about 3-4 times a week, no more than 45 minutes. I will never become a bodybuilder, but now I can wear a suit and look great without those extra bulges.
The second book gives more data on how bad the starches and simple sugars are and the previous 'food pyramid'. The second book also gives some pointers on how to kick start the diet again if you reach a plateau. Things you learn over time. Funny but the things I learned in the 70's appeared in his second book.
The diet though needs to be tailored to each individual. For instance, most people can have leafy salads right from the start. Not me. He suggests fried pork rinds... not me. For whatever reason, the pork rinds stopped my diet cold. You have to watch the ingredients to make sure they do not include sugar. It was only much later that I could add the pork rinds. You can make crumbs from the rinds and use as a filler for salmon patties or for breading if you miss breaded things.
You learn to be creative with foods.
His book 'Vita-Nutrient Solution is also a nice book, but isn't about the diet.
Experiment with various meats to see which help you lose best. Beef for me was the slowest.
I used eggs a lot. Omelettes, meat and cheese ones, but later you can add some veggies. Chicken omelettes with some swiss cheese is quite good.
Use the keto stix. They help for times when you may get discouraged. The book explains them. And get yourself a good carb counter.
I agree. What gets me about these testimonials here is that people who tried and failed on the Atkins diet would be all over this thread, but they seem to be absent, and there is no commercial reason for fellow Freepers to be kissing up to Atkins here, passed away or not. This is not the first time I heard odes to his diet here, too.
I have 20 lbs to lose after having a baby (who am I kidding, I had them before, too) and I LIVE on carbohydrates. I am addicted. I have found it very hard to "cut down" before, but perhaps cold turkey quitting might be easier than trying to just eat less. My skinny DH just says, eat a little less of everything and you will be fine, but I don't eat that much anyway, and that doesn't work for me.
Please put those of us who want to give his diet a try in the right direction and give us a couple of tips for getting started, if you can. Thanks.