Low-Carb Dieting

joannawhite09

Is anyone else doing a low-carb or the Atkins diet?  I'm on day two of Atkins, and I'm doing well so far.  I think I'm starting to get over my sugar addiction! 

tinydancer842

Atkins is a quick fix you will never be able to sustain it long term. My FI did it once and after weeks of eating bacon & eggs he couldn't look at eggs for a year. Try a diet that is actually sustainable for a long period of time instead of a fad diet. Eat healthy carbs -- cutting them out all together is bad for your body -- you need them to fuel your body properly. The girls on here are a big help, so quit atkins & make a real change in your life.

Also if you don't believe me, look at my ticker & all the other regular's tickers -- they've lost big weight & we all love & enjoy carbs. I have lost 24ibs & my FI lost 70ibs both eating carbs.

beccanscott

Don't be too discouraged, if you make cutting carbs a lifestyle change, the weight you lose can stay off. The truth of it is, we eat WAY more carbs than our bodies can use, anyway! Once you're done, just make choosing whole grains, brown rice instead of white, high fiber and protien a priority, and you won't have to worry about all the weight coming back! I did it for a few months, lost 30 pounds, and have only gained back 3 in the 2 years since I stopped! Unfortunately, since I totally hated doing in, I haven't had the will power to start up again! But I should!!!

Also, I'm sure you know this already, but DRINK TONS OF WATER! Low carb diets can actually damage your liver if you're not increasing your water intake.

Good Luck!

raynes

As tinydancer said, diets like Atkins are only good for a short term fix.  Unless you learn how to eat healthily for life, once you start mixing normal food back into your every day life, any weight you've lost will just come back.

Read this article for a different perspective.  You'll probably find that you have a harder time with basic cognitive activities if you stay on Atkins.  That's because your brain needs carbs to function properly. 

The best way to lost weight (and keep it off for good) is through simple portion control and awareness of what you're eating, along with exercise of course.

I've already lost 20 lbs simply by being aware of portion sizes and make healthy, balanced choices.  I choose to track my calories using The Daily Plate (Livestrong.com), but other like sites like SparkPeople or FitDay.  A lot of people have also seem some really great success with Weight Watchers. 

The point is that those things teach us to eat well.

The other important part is exercise.  While diet alone will help you see weight loss, without strength/resistance training along side your weight loss, you'll lose you muscle mass right along side the fat.  Then, if you gain weight back in the future, you're only gaining fat.  Yo-yo dieting like that is incredibly bad for your body.

So please, for the sake of your long term health, rethink your Atkins choice.

mynameskatie

I've lost 32 pounds over the last 3 months and I eat carbs every day. In fact my trainer has told me that increased amounts of animal protein in your diet are linked to different types of cancer. Atkins is dangerous both short term and long term and it isn't a feasible option for keeping weight off. I hope you will consider a different weight loss option that involves a lifestyle change rather than a quick fix. 

kelseyd625

Any diet that can hurt your liver is obviosuly not a good one, and beccanscott said it herself, she couldn't maintain the diet, so she gained weight back.

Read Raynes' article, ask others on this board about how they're doing it and track your calories through a free online website. Just think about how much animal fat and cholesterol you are getting from eggs and bacon and foods like that...you can't live on chicken alone. The best diet consists of a protein/carb/fat mix. And defiintely work out! We're all here to support you and we just want you make sure you're doing this the RIGHT way!

lmark7786

I did South Beach in college, and I was absolutely miserable the entire time. I eventually couldn't stand not eating carbs and gained back more weight then I lost. Word to the wise, drop the low carb fad and learn to eat a balanced diet, with carbs, so you can sustain it for a lifetime not just a quick fix until you can't take it any more.

joannawhite09

I think you guys have the wrong impression of what the Atkins diet is.  It once was a diet rich in animal protiens and fat that could be damaging to your liver---this was about 20 years ago when the diet first came about.  NOW, the diet takes a whole new approach, which you can read about in detail if you go to atkins.com.  I am not eating too much animal protein.  It is not a "bacon and eggs diet!"  The Atkins diet is a four phase diet that is not a quick-fix.  It is a lifestyle change.  The basics of it are cutting out refined carbs (bread, pasta, sugar) which any health expert will tell you are not good for you.  In the first phase, which is the strictest, you do cut out almost all carbs, except those that come from vegetables.  This phase only lasts two weeks, then as you progress into the other three phases, you add fruit first, then you start adding in some of the starchy vegetables, etc.  It is NOT A NO-CARB DIET!   This is a healthy diet that helps your body jump start its metabolism in the first few weeks by burning fat your body has stored instead of carbs, then once your metabolism is going strong, you keep that going all while eating lean protein, tons of  veggies and fruits, and healty whole grain carbs!  I have only been on the diet a short time, and i already feel more energetic, and my cravings for sugar are gone!

joannawhite09

the truth is, i only want to lose about 15lbs.  i'm sure i will reach my weight goal in a quick manner.  i'm not using atkins as a quick-fix, as you can see because my wedding is 8 months away, and i only want to lose a small amount of weight.  my real goal is to eat foods with a lower glycemic impact so that i can reduce my risk of diabetes and other obesity-related diseases!  i believe that sugar/bad carbs are the root of most obesity!

Reilly626

I did South Beach and did extremely well and kept the weight off, after a week the cravings for sugar will die down.  The people on this board telling you Atkins is so terrible are wrong.  I have a friend who had a stroke scare.. The doctor said get the weight off immediately, recommended Atkins, dropped 100 lbs, and is so healthy.  Even eating the bacon, etc. So good luck! Carbs keep weight around your belly, so you will lose that first!

joannawhite09

Thanks Reilly!  Its nice to hear words of encouragement instead of discouraging words from people who don't know what they are talking about!  Atkins has a bad reputation for whatever reason, but if people would just take a minute to read about what the new Atkins approach is, they too would see that it is a healthy lifestyle!

gonnabelilygreen

I have lost 50 pounds in 2 years.  I did this through gradual changes to my lifestyle and diet.  Fast dieting is not a good idea, and cutting out an essential part of a balanced diet is not a good idea.  My doctor told me when I started to get serious about losing weight to avoid low-carb diets for many reasons.

It is unhealthy to eliminate carbohydrates from your diet.  The majority of calories in a healthy, balanced diet, you eat in a day should come from carbohydrates.  Bread and pasta and not inherrantly bad for you, it's a matter of choosing the right kinds (whole wheat, high fiber varieties) and watching portion size (one slice of bread/one cup of pasta). 

Not only is it unhealthy, but it makes exercising, especially high-impact exercise, dangerous.  After you work out your body needs essential vitamins and minerals, typically found in fruit and some grains.  My doctor and various trainers have recommended eating an apple and oatmeal after a hard workout, because it will help your metabolism go longer and restore the nutrients that your body loses when you work out.

Any weight-loss more than 1-2 pounds a week is unhealthy.  Yes, we'd all love to get rid of fat and slip into a size 4 tomorrow, but that will not happen.  Losing weight takes time - it took time to put the weight on didn't it?  Your are shocking your body by crash dieting, and in the long run it will slow your metabolism, which obviously does not lead to a permanent change in your weight.  Losing weight slowly by following a balanced diet means you are more likely to keep the weight off - even after the wedding. 

Finally, low-carb diets tend to be a recipe for yo-yoing with your weight.  Yo-yoing more than 10 pounds is extremely abusive to your body.  It is better to keep those 10 extra pounds then to continually lose/gain them.  It's a vicious cycle and many people after the first stages of low-carb diets gain back all of the weight they initially lost and then some.  Yo-yoing over long periods of time also slows your metabolism, making losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight even harder.

Do what you think is best, but I would think long and hard about following any diet plan that tells you to eliminate a certain food group and promises quick results. 

joannawhite09

Once again, I think you, along with many others who have posted on this thread, are completely misunderstanding what the Atkins diet is.  Why don't you follow the link and you will see what I mean. 
http://www.atkins.com/Program/ProgramOverview.aspx

You were right about one thing, the Atkins diet does cause you to lose several pounds quickly within the first few weeks (up to 15lbs), but after that, as you enter phases 2 through 4 of the diet, you re-introduce carbs such as fruit, healthy grains, and starchy vegetables into your diet.  You will continue to lose weight, but at a more relaxed pace until you reach your goal weight.  The rest of the diet, which will be phase 4, lasts a lifetime.  Pretty much in phase 4, you just avoid unhealthy carbs...which I think should be a part of any healthy diet plan.  You can't tell me that eating refined sugar is good for anyone. 

Also, I want you to realize that THE ATKINS DIET DOES NOT ELIMINATE ALL CARBS FROM YOU DIET!  If that is your impression of the diet, once again, I urge you to follow the link to get a better understanding.  Yes, in phase 1 you are to limit you carb intake to 20 grams of net carbs per day (15 of those carbs should come from veggies) and this allows your metabolism to rev up and burn body fat instead of burning carbs.  The program asks that you not take part in any extreme exercise during this phase, because you are right....your body does need carbs to function properly.  I am getting enough carbs to function, yet my body is burning up its excess fat.  In a week and a half, I will be done with phase 1, and I will slowly start adding more and more healthy carbs back into my diet.  This is not a yo-yo diet....it is a lifestyle change.

Nebb

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_low-carb-dieting?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:48eed7d9-1e83-48d5-9a54-71242e1aa9a1Post:6378c993-cbe4-4b6b-8482-6be2b944805c">Re: Low-Carb Dieting</a>:
[QUOTE]Once again, I think you, along with many others who have posted on this thread, are completely misunderstanding what the Atkins diet is.  Why don't you follow the link and you will see what I mean.  <a href="http://www.atkins.com/Program/ProgramOverview.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.atkins.com/Program/ProgramOverview.aspx</a> You were right about one thing, the Atkins diet does cause you to lose several pounds quickly within the first few weeks (up to 15lbs), but after that, as you enter phases 2 through 4 of the diet, you re-introduce carbs such as fruit, healthy grains, and starchy vegetables into your diet.  You will continue to lose weight, but at a more relaxed pace until you reach your goal weight.  The rest of the diet, which will be phase 4, lasts a lifetime.  Pretty much in phase 4, you just avoid unhealthy carbs...which I think should be a part of any healthy diet plan.  You can't tell me that eating refined sugar is good for anyone.  Also, I want you to realize that THE ATKINS DIET DOES NOT ELIMINATE ALL CARBS FROM YOU DIET!  If that is your impression of the diet, once again, I urge you to follow the link to get a better understanding.  Yes, in phase 1 you are to limit you carb intake to 20 grams of net carbs per day (15 of those carbs should come from veggies) and this allows your metabolism to rev up and burn body fat instead of burning carbs.  The program asks that you not take part in any extreme exercise during this phase, because you are right....your body does need carbs to function properly.  I am getting enough carbs to function, yet my body is burning up its excess fat.  In a week and a half, I will be done with phase 1, and I will slowly start adding more and more healthy carbs back into my diet.  This is not a yo-yo diet....it is a lifestyle change.
Posted by joannawhite09[/QUOTE]
I think you are just ignoring the good advice and statistics people are giving you because you dont WANT to hear it. You want to be told what youre doing is the best thing you can be doing, when its not. 20 grams of carbs a day is absolutely ludicrous, and I hope you realize what a stupid idea that is. If you cant recognize good advice for what it is, youre hopeless. Have fun screwing up your body. I can guarantee you that you will inevitably gain that weight back and continue to spend the rest of your life losing the same 10-15lbs over and over again, but what you dont realize is by turning to fad diets that require you to restrict yourself of whatever macronutrient you are completely ruining your metabolism and it will make it harder and harder to lose weight each time. Its harmful to your body.

You dont want to hear that though, you have your mind made up. Common sense is lost on you.

joannawhite09

lol....thanks for the support janie!  i'm glad somebody realizes what the atkins diet really is.  i can't seem to convince anyone that it isn't a bacon and eggs diet.  lol 

ok, neb...  i didn't mean for this thread to get nasty, even though i'm pretty sure that it was you that brought that element into play.    i only came onto this board looking for support and for other brides who were taking a similar approach as i am to losing weight by eliminating excess unhealthy carbs.  that is obviously not you.  you keep your approach, i will stick with mine, and let's call it a truce.  i can see that you and some others have a bad impression of low carb diets.  you see the atkins diet as a quick fix or a fad diet....if you would take a look at the program, you would see that is not the case.  i'm sure what you are doing is working for you, and what i am doing is most definately working for me....so be happy for me.  rest assured that i am not damaging my body because i am eating carbs....good carbs. 
let's agree to disagree.

mynameskatie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_low-carb-dieting?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:48eed7d9-1e83-48d5-9a54-71242e1aa9a1Post:d740a923-967e-47b5-b644-ebc18437ecdc">Re: Low-Carb Dieting</a>:
[QUOTE] Just know after you are married your husband will appreciate you for staying fit and slim and the majorityof these women ( that are giving you crap) ... will grow to twice their present size and then complain that their husband don't find them attractive anymore. 
Posted by Janie56t[/QUOTE]

<div>That's real mature. I guess the 30+ pounds I've lost over the last few months by eating healthy and exercising are going to pop right back on because I'm not doing Atkins. </div><div>
</div><div>You're right maybe this isn't the forum for you. It is natural for people to disagree with a choice they find to be unhealthy. Maybe you should find some references that aren't <a href="http://www.atkins.com" rel="nofollow">www.atkins.com</a> and maybe people will respect your position a little bit more. There is a reason Atkins is not as popular is it was years ago and that's because it was a FAD. </div><div>
</div><div>The only weight loss technique that has never died out is well rounded eating and exercise. I think both what both of you are missing is that eating carbs is not the reason why people get fat. If  you make a lifestyle change that involves eating a well rounded diet that includes all food groups you will promote a healthier body.</div>

Janie56t

again myname ... I doubt that your diet is any different than the maintainance part of Atkins.  Atkins is generally for people that are starting with larger amounts of weight to lose, have horrible eating habits, addicted to carbs and sugar, and need to break bad habits and addictions to unhealthy foods.  I'm sure you like most have not looked into the way Atkins has changed over the years and you are stating things based on what you have heard from the PAST.  I would almost bet that you are doing the maintaince phase of Atkins the way you are eating now, which is where people start if they do not have a lot of weight to lose.  Believe me EXERCISE is a main component in this diet, the reason people only ate protein before is they only half ass read the book and interpreted it the way they wanted.  I am sure that you will be successful in your weight goals because you are maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which is what Joanna is trying to express to everyone, but nobdy wants to listen.  Atkins is more healthy than the majority of the diets people are paying too much money for.  Plus you get to eat real, whole,fresh foods....

Joanna, give up ... Know you are right.

joannawhite09

thanks so much for the support janie!  that is what i came to this board for in the first place.  little did i know a few jealous b*tches on here would try to know me down.  haha    too bad it didn't work.  i am well into the induction phase of my diet, and my sugar cravings, and other cravings surprisingly, are gone!  i am having absolutely no trouble sticking to it, unlike every other diet i've tried.  i am very happy with my lifestyle change.  healthy eating and exercise is what i'm doing....as much as a surprise that may be to the ignorant posters on here.  lol

thanks again for the encouragement.

Nebb

I can assure you I am neither jealous or ignorant, and none of the other posters who disagreed with you are either.  youre really good at making assumptions about people based on them having a differing opinion.

mynameskatie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_low-carb-dieting?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:48eed7d9-1e83-48d5-9a54-71242e1aa9a1Post:8a7690e2-403a-41c7-b210-7eb88ca9ee50">Re: Low-Carb Dieting</a>:
[QUOTE] little did i know a few jealous b*tches on here would try to know me down.  haha    too bad it didn't work.  
Posted by joannawhite09[/QUOTE]

<div>Yes clearly I am jealous that you have managed to maintain 3 days on the Atkins diet. </div><div>
</div><div>I'll also mention to my doctor and trainer that they are ignorant because they don't believe that Atkins promotes a healthy lifestyle. Maybe they should have visited atkins.com instead of spending years in school for their degrees. </div>

kllm

hehehe hey Nebb -
thanks for calling our attention to this post on yesterday's accountability thread - i was highly entertained for the last 10 minutes

just my two cents - no one has said that phase 4 of atkins is unhealthy - it's actually a healthy balanced diet program and could probably be maintained long-term with good effects.  many of us who count calories also pay close attention to the carb/fat/protein ratio, to avoid eating too many carbs and make sure we're getting plenty of good, lean protein. 

however, the ridiculously restrictive (and unhealthy) 20g of carbs a day for phase 1 is just plain unneccessary, as are phases 2 and 3.  because of the length of these phases, many people give up before phase 4 (the healthy part) leading to yo-yo dieting.  so the advice on THIS board, where so many of us are well-informed and have had great success - skip straight to phase 4 of atkins and combine it with portion control and lots of exercise.  it will take longer to lose the weight (sorry, no instant gratification here), but will almost certainly be better for you in the end. (i say almost, because obviously there are exceptions.)

and Janie - none of us on this board are losing the weight for our husbands, we're doing it for ourselves.  we have married, or are marrying, men that love and support us, regardless of our weight, and are not so shallow as to need "trophy wives" who stay thin and fit to please them.  i'm healthy for me, for my future, not to make my husband happy.

and, to end, Nebb - i love your Don Draper pictures.

raynes

Wow, this thread got rediculous.

kllm, I think you hit the nail right on the head about people giving up before they get to Phase 4 because of the sevre restrictions.  I personally only made it through a day on Atkins (you know, eating lots of veggies and lean meat).  I had absolutely zero energy when I woke up on the second morning and fell down as soon as I got out of bed.

To the OP, we respect that it's your body and your decision, but I wish that you'd taken some time to read the things we had/have to say in this and other posts.  If you spend a day or two lurking around (and checking out the Accountability threads) you'd see that nearly all of us follow well ronded diets that include good sources of lean protein, plenty of vegetables and "good carbs".  One of the first things most of us learned is the evils of refined carbs and white sugar.  

If you decide that you'd like to see some references for other ways of eating (and by that I mean not Atkins, or some other named "way of eating", but the references a lot of us used to develop our ways of eating) let us know.

Jani, I don't really get how a supposed 50 y/o can come off so immaturely.  To verbally attack someone simply because they don't believe the same things as you, that's just nuts to me.  I'll have you know that both Nebb and I are *gasp* already married!  And, we both weigh less than the day we got hitched.  Here at GIS we like to promote getting healthy and fit for life, not thin for your wedding day.  So please, in the future, refrain from making comments you know nothing about.

joannawhite09

I completely agree, Raynes, this thread has gotten ugly!  Just wanted to let everyone know that was not at all my intention.  I was only on here looking for support and looking for people to discuss the low carb lifestyle with.  However, obviously, this is a highly debatable topic of which both sides feel strongly opinionated.  I wish everyone could just learn to state their opinions in a polite manner without resorting to cheap, snide remarks (regretably, I am guilty of this too!)  Sorry to anyone that I offended, and I will say that its no chip off my shoulder from any of the ugly things any of you have said toward me. 

I didn't create this post to ask people how a certain eating style would affect my body systems.  I am a highly educated woman that very well knows how the body works.  I have researched studies and med. journal articals from non-biased sources about the effects of low carb eating habbits, and I have formed my own opinion.  When I was referring to the Atkins.com webpage above, I simply wanted you all to review the eating plans/programs before judging, not the Atkins opinion on the harm, or lack there of, the diet has on the body, obviously that would be biased.  Also, some of you were quoting USDA reccomendations, that is also a biased source that is meant to promote aggricultural development and is full of propoganda.  Also, I would like to encourage you to make sure you know what you are talking about before you jump to conclusions and judge people.  Many of you were judging me on what you thought the Atkins diet is (an all meat, high fat diet) rather than what it really was, and when I suggested going to the website to review the program's recommendations for eating, no one seemed to want to take the time to do that.

Medical professionals, just like you and I, are also split on the topic.  In my opinion, many doctors are hesitant on the idea of the diet because so many people don't follow the diet accurately.  Some get too much fat and protein, or they don't eat enough vegetables, or they try to extend the phase of the diet that restricts you to 20g net carbs for far beyond the recommended two weeks in order to continue quick weight loss.  It is my belief, along with a great deal  of medical professionals, that when the diet is truely followed it is very successful and healthy.  I have formed this opinion based on observing a few friends and family members who have had great success on the eating plan and have worked through all four phases, which is why I chose it. 

I'm really not interested in hearing any more "advice" on why this diet is unhealthy for me....I prefer to get my health advice from  more reputable sources than a message board.  If anyone would like to share diet/ exercise tips relating to low-carb dieting, or words of encouragement, which is what I came here in the first place for, I would be more than happy to read that. 

Sorry again for starting a threat that is so controversial.  If I had known that so many of you think that low-carb eating is the anti-christ, I would have posted a different topic.  LOL

If anyone is interested:  I am one week into the induction phase of the diet (halfway), and I have lost 4lbs.  yay!  I am over my sugar addiction completely, and I don't even think about it anymore.  Thank heavens!  I have been eating a healthy balanced diet (minus the whole grains, which will be added back in soon) loaded with veggies and lean proteins.  I feel fantastic and energetic, and I have never been so "regular!"  lol

Good luck to all others with your own healthy habbits.

RobbyC81

I think the bottom line is everybody is different.  No one can guarantee that a diet/lifestyle change will work or not work for someone else.  I think whatever works for them is what is best for them.  Atkin's can be healthy but yes, it you reach your goal weight and go right back to your high carb, high fat diet, more than likely you will gain all your weight back. 

I think it is sad that because someone is seeking advice/support on a low carb diet people trash her... and then she trashes right back?  *shakes head*  I think agree to disagree and wish each other the best. 

Congratulations on all of your weddings by the way!