Atkins ..about to start. Any words of wisdom for me?

[poppyseed]

Oh dear, I've been at it again - eating that is and far too much of it!
Thought that we'd try Atkins on Monday (hubby and I). Wondered if any of you had tried it and had any successes or if you had any words of wisdom/snack ideas for me? I'm a non cheese eater by the way so I'll have to stick with the other stuff........
Here's to a slimmer me........?

[norash40]

Don't!

[poppyseed]

why not then?

[happymerryberries]

GI instead!

[happymerryberries]

Very Unhealthy!

[poppyseed]

what's Gi?

[Expectantmum]

I'm with Norash, I did Atkins successfully for a couple of weeks and the weight just fell off, but after that I started to feel really ill, lack of energy, constantly tired, constantly constipated (sorry I know TMI), so came off it and ended up put on double the amount of weight I had just lost. The best diet I found was Weightwatchers, which I fully intend to start again once I've had my baby, but personally, I wouldn't recommend it.

[norash40]

When we put on weight, it is a gradual process. It does not happen overnight. Therefore we should be very weary of all those quick fix diets out there.

I think we all know that it is important to have a balanced diet, does it make sense therefore to go on a diet that encourages cutting out of a certain fruit juice and having too much of another.

I know we all here this everyday, but the only way to stay fit is to have a balance diet and have regular excercise. I don't want to bust your bubble but quick fix diets will work (short term) but the weight soon comes back on and sometimes even more of it.

[Expectantmum]

Yep I agree, as my mum says a little of everything in moderation won't hurt you! But thats why I like WW, its slow, but after about 4 weeks I started to notice a difference and I felt great too!

[norash40]

I rest my case. These are just some short term effects God only knows what long term effects they have. As I said a balanced diet and regular exercise. It may be harder but in the long run it may be the difference between sustainable weight loss and a lifetime of yoyo dieting.

[norash40]

I think we all need to take time and try and find out about how the different types of food groups help our bodies then and only then can we begin to understand the effect of our diets on our bodies.

Sorry guys if I seem to be going on a bit, but I feel very strongly about this topic.

[poppyseed]

gotta go out but will be back to hear more later!!!!

[Expectantmum]

Me too, spent years dieting and the most effecive ever was a low fat diet, took six months to lose 3 stone, but it stayed off for years! I'll never do such a drastic diet again!

[happymerryberries]

The GI is very healthy. It was fisrt designed for diabetics by American teaching hospitals. You eat lean meat, fish, nuts etc in moderation, small amounts of fats, and vast quanitities of fruit and veg. The idea is that you eat carbohydrates which are slowly broken down, so lots of compex carbohydrates, like seeds and pulses. That way you don't have a sugar rush after eating but a steady releace of sugar, so no insulin peaks. That way you don't feel hungry so soon.

I have been doing it since January and I have lost a stone and 5 pounds. Todays meals have been Buckwheat pancakes with pears, with a glass of orange juice for breakfast, for luch I had a coleslaw salad with beansrouts and chicken with a peanut dressing, and cooked chicken dinner for dinner. I have also had two fresh fruit snacks.

It is a wonderful diet, low fat, enough protein and more than 5 portions of fruit and veg, and plenty of fibre to keep you regular!

Have a look on the GI thread for more ideas. Healthy and something that you can live with long therm for maintainece and health.

[happymerryberries]

Oh and GI stands for glycemic index.

[dabihp]

Don't break it! Atkins works for as long as you eat clean!

Take your vitamins, and drink pleanty of water...

Enjoy...

[norash40]

for how long?

[dabihp]

If you are dedicated then u should never have to break it, you rgadually add more veg and good carbs until you are at ideal weight and eating a very healthy (similar i suppose to GI index) diet...

How can white processed bread, pasta and sugary snacks be good for you anyway?

[happymerryberries]

Pasta is relativly high on the GI index as it contains protien as well as carbohydrates and that slows down its metabolism.

Why not just start as you mean to go on, and start with the GI diet? It is so healthy right from the start, trust me I'm a biology teacher! Dh is also doing it and he metioned it to his haematologist who said it sounded like the healthiest diet she had ever come across!

It isn't good to be pumping out ketones...

[poppyseed]

Here's the funny - I'm a biology teacher too!
I suppose I agree with you about long term dieting and healthier eating, but that's not what I want right now. It's the irresponsible two week fix to get back onto the straight and narrow, to get some psychological benefit from being able to fit back into the clothes I need. Ketones won't hurt for 2 weeks out of my life - constipation might though!
I'm not that much over weight either- BMI of 24.5 and really only need to lose a few pounds.
Anymore advice out there?

[happymerryberries]

I lost 4 pounds in the first week of the GI diet. Granted I need to lose 2.5 stone in all, so I will lose it faster than you, but even so, a stone 5 down the line I still lost two pounds this week. As you know (since we share the trade!) anything will work if you eat less calories than you need, nothing else will do it. So why not do it in a maintainable way tht makes you feel better not being constipated and all!

Yesterdays breakfast was a fresh fruit smoothie and two slices of teast with peanut butter. once I got that down me I was fit for Y8 first lesson

[happymerryberries]

After 10 days they say you have eated as much fruit as the average british person eats in 10 weeks!