A Dieter's Dilemma (Atkin's diet)

The New York Times Magazine ^ | 08/25/2002 | JASON EPSTEIN

[DentsRun]

Your results sound impressive. Can you give some more details of your diet? How many calories per day? Where I get killed is on breakfast. I can't seem to find any noncarbohydrate breakfast that satisfies me except eggs. I don't want to eat eggs seven days a week. I tried wheatgerm the other day. I figured the germ isn't carbohydrate (or not much anyway). My blood sugar went to 255 in a microflash.

[DentsRun]

For those who are sensitive to carbohydrates, eliminating them from the diet simply breaks the craving cycle that makes cutting calories so difficult.

You're right about that. Sometimes when I eat nothing but protein in the morning I find myself going all day without remembering to eat. Even when it's dinnertime I'm not really hungry (just feeling a bit weak).

[DentsRun]

For those who are sensitive to carbohydrates, eliminating them from the diet simply breaks the craving cycle that makes cutting calories so difficult.

You're right about that. Sometimes when I eat nothing but protein in the morning I find myself going all day without remembering to eat. Even when it's dinnertime I'm not really hungry (just feeling a bit weak).

[Jaidyn]

I go on the Adkins diet for special occassions like weddings, etc. I always gain it right back but I look good for that special weekend. I'm not that much overweight but I look frumpy in formal clothes so like to trim down what I can and hide the rest.

[ecru]

Atkins was the only way I could lose weight and keep it off. I lost 30 lbs in less than 2 months and have kept it off for almost a year. I can't eat carbs. I mean once I start I can't stop. I have basically stopped all consumption of bread, pasta and potatoes, I don't eat sugary fruit, and i have chocolate all the time and have not gained any of it back. When I was on the diet, I ate and ate way more calories than I ever consumed trying to "cut out fat".

[DentsRun]

Thirty pounds in two months is impressive. I'd be happy with a pound a month. But what did you eat? What would a typical breakfast/lunch/dinner be? Did you use aspertaine? What fruits did you find acceptable?

[Salvation]

There are other low carb diets. I have lost 45 pounds on a low carb diet connected with Lindora Clinic in California. Eat regular food, all the snacks I want (protein), exercise, and 80 oz. of water a day. You can Freepmail me for additional details.

[Dianna]

I lost 19 lbs in 3 weeks with Atkins (and have fallen off the wagon since then). I also had a terrible time with breakfast. I tried the breakfast bars, but they were awful! I have gotten used to the powdered shake mix.

For lunch, it was 1 cup salad plus whatever meat we had leftover from dinner, and some grated cheese. Dinner was another salad, the meat of the day and one cup veggies (usually broccoli, asparagus or cauliflower).

I am not a big meat eater at all, so I am hungry on this diet. Most people don't seem to be. My other large problem is that I have gotten into the habit of simply not eating most of the day. Typically, I eat nothing until 4 or 5 o'clock. I have to be very on top of things and make sure I am eating or I lose no weight at all.

[ladyinred]

I know a fellow freeper, who shall remain nameless, who has lost 13lbs recently on low carb diet. They do seem to work for most people. Suzanne Somers diet works well too, and it is based on not mixing protein and carbs together, and no sugar period!

[ppaul]

This probably isn't anything due to Atkins,but when I sit by the office Atkins guy at meetings-hes been on it a year and a half,down probably 75 pounds-is that the odor of "health" I smell or what?

LOL!
Actually, yes.
When you are burning up the fat, ketones are the by-product of your body's metabolizing the fat. Ketones are excreted through the urine and breath. Some folks find the slight odor offensive. I, personally, don't find the odor anywhere near as offensive as the sight of morbid obesity. Go for the ketones! I say. Keep peeing purple on the keto-stix and you're on your way to a new, slimmer, you.

[ppaul]

Thirty pounds in two months is impressive. I'd be happy with a pound a month. But what did you eat? What would a typical breakfast/lunch/dinner be? Did you use aspertaine? What fruits did you find acceptable?

How about 50 pounds in six months?
I did it.
Make sure you drink lots of water throughout the day.
Typical day's menu:
BREAKFAST: Mushroom & cheese omelette with sausage, coffee.
LUNCH: Buffalo wings, celery sticks, bleu cheese dressing dip.
MIDDAY SNACK: Starbucks tall capuccino made with heavy whipping cream instead of milk.
DINNER: Rib-eye steak, green salad, ranch dressing, and an ice-cold beer.

[ppaul]

BTW:

No aspartame.
Never did like artificial sweetners.
I'll have an occasional ice cream
Other than that, I've gotten over my cravings for sweets.

[ppaul]

Fat doesn't make you fat; sugar does. And carbohydrates, even complex ones, turn into sugar.

That's been my experience.
And, my blood tests prove it.
Eating over a dozen eggs every week, and my cholesterol actually went down!

[WellsFargo94]

A friend of mine started Weight Watcher's in March and has lost 40-45 lbs. and looks great. She has learned to make healthy choices. The program encourages excercise, and foster's a support group with tips and tricks, and helps folks explore the reasons behind poor eating habits. She can eat what she wants, within reason, so that she can satisfy a craving from time to time.

I don't work for Weight Watchers, but I know many other folks who have made great progress. Some are even skinny folks who just want to get good advice on healthy eating choices. Personally I find the point system that WW uses to be a burden, but who knows if I can't shed these extra 5-10 lbs. I might just give it a try!

[HiTech RedNeck]

and i have chocolate all the time

Whoah, doesn't that have a lot of sugar? Or you eat unsweetened baker's chocolate?

[WellsFargo94]

One of the problems with this diet is that after a period of not ingesting any carbs, and then when you do introduce them, even a bit, your blood sugar will spike. Some people have turned into diabetics as a result.

[Rudder]

Water Mill is in Southampton.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"Typically, I eat nothing until 4 or 5 o'clock."

Atkins says that you have to eat breakfast and to have some fat in the AM. This fat is a catalyst in the fat burnin process and necessary to get the reaction going good.

I excerise in the morning and I get hungry after so that's how I do it.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"mixing protein and carbs together, and no sugar period!"

Now remember that when you're on maintenance you can have a lot of carbs but I still watch anything with sugar.

I found that I can eat any fruit or vegetable but if I have bread or candy I get sick and feel "carbo-dazed" for awhile.

This is my reaction to sugar that I had no idea it did it to me until I stopped.

[ladyinred]

I have never been on these diets, however I do know that sugar is like the worse thing we can eat. Unfortunately, it is also one of my favorite things.
So, did this diet work well for you?