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Atkins Diet

T

tofumonkey

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Has anybody tried the atkins diet?

No carbo, but full of protein, is a little too tough for me.

wat ya all think? :confused:
 
I know several people that went on that diet and according to my docs - it is a diet that should not be done more than once a month for no more than 3 days or you can damage your body.

And of those that went on it and stayed on it longer - they all gained the weight back and thensome and also that diet can cause you to not be able to lose weight later.

Best diet - eat anything you want - just watch those portions. And exercise - whether it is as simple as breathing exercises, stretching or walking if you are not the "exercise" type.

You can safely lose 1 pound per week by cutting 500 calories each day off your intake - 500 X 7 days = 3500 calories = 1 pound. Add a walk for 15 to 20 minutes every day (12,000 steps on a pedometer) and you can safely lose up to 2 pounds each week combined with the cut in calories.

And you can still eat your desserts, etc. - just eat SMALL portions and push yourself away from the table. You don't need seconds!
 
Wow Mama,
That is really good advice and I couldn't say it better. Exercise, eat less, loose weight. My tip: Try an apple if you're hungry. It's high fiber, raw carb, and will satisfy the hunger need for hours.

Matt
 
Wow Mama,
That is really good advice and I couldn't say it better. Exercise, eat less, loose weight. My tip: Try an apple if you're hungry. It's high fiber, raw carb, and will satisfy the hunger need for hours.

Matt


Definitely! Apples are so good for! Ditto for any fresh fruit and veggies. Bran muffins (especially those made with All Bran cereal) are also excellent. I prefer homemade over the store bought - at least I know what ingredients are being used. Steamed, baked and boiled potatoes (sweet or white) are also good for filler-ups! If you want to do alot of salads - add beets, hard-cooked eggs, beans, green or wax beans, chickpeas or diced cooked chicken - that little bit of different items can make a dull salad much more interesting to eat as well as being more satisfying! Simple vinaigrette made from a bit of olive oil and fresh squeezed lemon juice, light on the salt, use black pepper, basil or a salad blend (for instance, Mrs. Dash Medleys come in different flavors) is also very healthy. The best thing for a good diet - homemade and fresh items. There is much less sodium and you will know exactly how it is all made - plus - and the best part of it - it is healthier for you.

A friend of mine loves to steam a potato when she is very hungry (this way she doesn't over eat) and instead of the butter/sour cream - she dips the potato into a cup of bouillon for flavor. Even though there is a lot of sodium in the bouillon, she is not consuming the full cup - it is just to flavor the potato. With a grilled or baked piece of meat and salad - and she is satisfied. There is so much you can do.
 
really?

then I think it's my mental problem, cos whenever I'm hungry and eat an apple. I'll have to eat at least 2 to curb the hunger... hmmm...

cos i'm somewhat of a big eater myself.
 
I know several people that went on that diet and according to my docs - it is a diet that should not be done more than once a month for no more than 3 days or you can damage your body.

And of those that went on it and stayed on it longer - they all gained the weight back and thensome and also that diet can cause you to not be able to lose weight later.

Best diet - eat anything you want - just watch those portions. And exercise - whether it is as simple as breathing exercises, stretching or walking if you are not the "exercise" type.

You can safely lose 1 pound per week by cutting 500 calories each day off your intake - 500 X 7 days = 3500 calories = 1 pound. Add a walk for 15 to 20 minutes every day (12,000 steps on a pedometer) and you can safely lose up to 2 pounds each week combined with the cut in calories.

And you can still eat your desserts, etc. - just eat SMALL portions and push yourself away from the table. You don't need seconds!

hey mama (mangia),

thanks for the tip. I've not tested the atkins diet, because, i need to have my rice! hahaha... i rather be excercising than to diet.

cos i simply love my food too much, though i agree with your [eat in moderations] method. that's what i used when I lost 20 pounds for my wedding (9months period). :)
 
My husband tried the South Beach Diet, which initially is very similar to the Atkins diet. He loved the fact that he lost weight, but he hated it because he was always hungry. He's a big man, he used to play football in high school & still has the wide shoulders & muscles to prove it. He really doesn't like the belly he's developed over the years. I've tried getting him to eat in moderation, but since he's always hungry, he can't do it. I just don't know what I'm going to do to help him lose weight & eat healthier. I know it will start with me changing the way I cook, you know make more vegetables & all that but I can't find the motivation I need to do that much cooking since I'm so close to delivering this baby. I guess that could be my New Year's resolution; to start cooking better foods for my family.
 
phoenystarr - please don't think this is rude - but does he have a vitamin deficiency?

many times when on a diet you are not get enough of something that your body needs creating a craving for something - and sometimes not knowing what you are craving; a body can be lacking something

if he is still hungry try to increase his protein, and increasing his veggies is not going to hurt him a bit!

maybe an added sauce or gravy for that certain "flavor" may help some of his craving and if you can get him to eat fresh fruit right after his meal his body will feel more satisfied - even a dessert pizza made with fresh fruit on top once in a while

try a few extra herbs or spices for flavor - that could help as well

and of course - there is always the "salad" that can compliment most meals - there are many different types of salads out there to choose from

even a healthy appetizer before the meal may also help
 
It's my opinion that the SBD (the regular diet, not phase I) is a fairly sensible way to eat. Lots of lean proteins, veggies, whole grains.

I don't think I have known anyone who lost weight on Atkins who didn't gain it all right back.
 
I have heard that many people who get their carbs out usually gain the weight back after awhile. I for one don't think I could give up carbs. I love bread and pasta.
 
this i agree,

i'm too much of a rice/noodle/bread person...
will NEVER feel full /satisfied without one... :p

anyone else tested the atkins diet here?
 
One of my best friends was on the diet for 3 months - she lost about 85 lbs. She swore by this diet! After that 3 months - she did not look good - her skin and hair did not look good - her nails were brittle. She looked sick. Then she started to introduce more carbs - 2 months later all the weight was back on. She tried to go back on the Atkins diet - she could not lose the weight. As soon as she put any carbs in her mouth - she gained. A year later she signed up for Weight Watchers to lose the weight. A year after that - she lost the weight again. Three months after she quit WW - she gained about 30 lbs. back. Her doc said she should never had gone on the Atkins diet - that is what is causing her to have such a hard time losing and keeping it off.

I talked to my doc about it - that is a good diet for no more than 3 days - and only once every month and a half or so. The rest of the time - eat in moderate portions and walk - move around - that will help you to lose the weight and keep it off. If you hit a plateau for a couple weeks and you are not losing anything - then "jumpstart" with 2 to 3 days of all protein and no carbs - but no more than a handful of times a year. And don't overload on all the butter and fats allowed on Atkins!!!
 
Mama, I've been thinking that he may have a vitamin deficiency. I've been trying to figure out if a multi-vitamin would be good for him, at least until I get my new cooking habits set in place. Which I've got to figure out how to get those figured out & start getting them set in place now. No need to wait until the new year since I'm back from the hospital with the baby and all that.
 
Mama, I've been thinking that he may have a vitamin deficiency. I've been trying to figure out if a multi-vitamin would be good for him, at least until I get my new cooking habits set in place. Which I've got to figure out how to get those figured out & start getting them set in place now. No need to wait until the new year since I'm back from the hospital with the baby and all that.

It's very smart of you to start now and not wait for the new year - and yet you will still be able to enjoy the holiday without worrying about gaining after enjoying yourself for a day or two. If he is like most men - he may not be too receptive to seeing a doc to see if he does have a vitamin deficiency. In that case - One A Day makes a nice vitamin for men. And if you balance out his meals with enough protein, a moderate amount of carbs and some fruit - you will see a difference within a week or so. And don't forget that there is a lot you can do to satisfy a sweet tooth using fruits, jello, pudding, etc. And an occasional snacking cake or small pie (I have a couple 7-inch glass pie plates that I love for making "just enough") won't hurt.

note: for 7-inch pies i use a regular pie crust recipe and roll it a bit thicker (who said you have to have a thin crust anyway!) and the fillings are nice and high!
 
He is definitely a typical man when it comes to seeing the dr... But he has to go to get a prescription for Nicorette, its the only way his insurance will pay for him to quit using tobacco. We're hoping that it will get him off the stuff completely, he doesn't smoke so we're not sure how well it will work.

I took a shortcut to figuring out how to balance our meals... While I was in the hospital, I saw their menu & I wrote down the food groups served at each meal. Now to implement the changes. I think I'll start by changing dinner since that's his most important meal during the week. And I'll make small changes, while giving him time to get used to each change before I make another one.

I'm going to have to find some 7" pie pans.
 
phoenyxstar - I meant to ask if he eats breakfast. Eating a good and well balanced (and filling) breakfast could also help in curbing cravings. Now that I am older - I try to make my big meal of the day at lunchtime and a smaller meal for dinner. Fresh fruit or some jello or a small dessert about 2 to 3 hours before bed. Some days you consume more calories and/or "bad" foods - and on those days I don't eat a thing past 6PM. Just tea or warm milk before bed. Sometimes when you stop eating at a certain time - the next morning you are not that hungry. But when you devour foods up until bedtime - the next day you want more. Also - if you don't get enough sleep - it's another reason to over eat.
 
He doesn't normally eat anything after 7pm, and rarely eats breakfast before work. He does eat breakfast on the weekends though.

I wish I could make his big meal of the day lunch, but he only get 30 min for lunch so whatever I send has to be quick to warm (or doesn't need to be warmed up) & quick to eat.
 
Also - if you don't get enough sleep - it's another reason to over eat.

What is the reason why we overeat when we dont get enough sleep? I just saw this post and I realize that's what I've been doing for the past year.
 
clara - I don't know why - all I know is that sleep deprived people often eat more - most likely because they feel they need the extra energy due to the lack of sleep. They are looking for the extra "push" they need to keep going. I am not much of a breakfast person - I like my tea and then I am off and running - cleaning, laundry and getting as much done as I can. But I am now starting to eat breakfast and I find that it does make me feel better and my energy level seems better. And I find that I sleep much better at night if I don't eat before bed - and of course - a glass of warm milk also helps. I'm not much of a sleeper - never was - so I try to get some zzzzz's at night.
 
I've read about this once. According to the book, when you're on Atkins, you don't necessarily lose fat. Instead, you lose muscles and water more which are responsible for your immediate weight loss. You gain fat quickly because once you lose your muscle, you decrease your metabolism and then you gain fat more quickly.
 
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