AIBU to think Atkins is a reasonable option?

[leanbh21]

I'm generally within a healthy BMI but have gained about 10lb in the past few months, probably through eating junk. I'm thinking maybe Atkins will be helpful to kick start and drop most of the weight in a few weeks but AIBU to try doing this with a young family and a demanding job? Will I just be a tired and smelly-breathed grump?

It works but it's an awful pain as you have to do it properly. Don't try and half-do it.

Weight Watchers is easier, esp with kids.

Any healthy eating plan which reduces your calories will work whether low-fat, low-carb or low-cal

Personally I like the low carb diets although the start phase of Atkins is too hard core for me.

Actually you should search threads for info, is it Custy who is the low carb expert? Actually I think BIWI has a bootcamp thread running (I am still trying to inspire myself to start it!)

Yes you will, and it won't be a lasting solution. Everyone I know has ragained the weight lost and a bit more besides ( I'm in the business BTW) . It's much better to make the most of the summer fruit and veg and cut out the junk . I always use the 90% rule, it's what you eat 90% of the time that matters, there's still a bit of room for a bit of what of what you fancy. Good luck

I agree with Brightspark. Just eat healthy unprocessed food, portion control, and increase your exercise. There is no need for 'fad diets', or in fact to 'go on a diet' at all.

Didn't he die of a heart attack? Or am I making that up?

That's enough to put me off.

I suggest try WW first. Yes no carbs will make you grumpy!

Thanks (and sorry for starting a thread and then falling asleep). I think I suspected that would be the answer but was seduced by the idea of dropping the lb quickly and being able to forget about it again. I think as a vegetarian it might be tough to find any variety in the induction phase too.

Low carbing is miserable, but I've lost 5lbs in a week (and I'm not actually overweight, just chubbier than I'd like)

I'm grumpy, lethargic and desperate for a glass of wine (although not at this hour! .

I know I'd be miserable following any diet though, I'd prefer 2 weeks of abject misery rather than months and months on WW or similar.

I'm wearing jeans today that I have been unable to get into for ages. That's reward enough!

No low carbs won't make you grumpy (well maybe for the first few days it might)

It is a lasting solution though if you understand the processes behind it and realise that it's how you eat for life. I'm eight years into it now and I've only regained weight on holidays and it soon dropped off.

I've done WW and SW and the maintenance level on both is not sustainable for a greedy person like me. Both WW and SW make a lot of money out of people coming back.

And no, Dr Atkins did not die of a heart attack. Urban myth peddled by the low fat gurus.

Those are comforting words Jins, I hope I cheer up next week!

Oh, and PS. I think the 5lbs I have lost have been actual fat, because I feel a lot firmer and can feel my muscles through the skin.

Whenever I have done low-fat before, I seem to end up smaller, but just as flabby, which leads me to believe I've lost muscle as well as fat.

Not sure if there is any science to back that up, but I have definitely noticed the difference.

You should do. At some point in the first two weeks you suddenly feel lighter and brighter and all the cravings stop. In the first week I would have wrestled someone to the ground if they'd turned up with a doughnut

There are loads of low carb diets around. Dukan is popular at the moment in the way that South Beach was when I started out.

www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0091884268/ref=ase_lowcarbiseasy-21 is a good one. It allows a higher level of carbs in the early days

The 17 Day Diet is also good. I am on day 14 and have lost 6 pounds, started at 9 stone ( and I haven't totally given up wine). It's low carb but includes some fruit and yoghurt. I feel healthy, my sex drive has returned and I have plenty of energy to exercise. Good luck

I had a feeling it might not be true.

I'm a calorie counter myself, then no foods are restricted!!

However, pregnancy seems to bring out the worst in me as I am never full and feel sick as soon as I feel hungry. I put on a lot of weight last time, haven't lost it all and I'm pregnant again and I'm finding it hard as I find I like certain food one day and then don't the next.

I also ended up on crutches with severe spd so spent a long time sitting on my bum. I can feel it starting again.

Can I hijack and ask for suggestions op?

Atkins is the only diet that works for me.

I went on a strict 1200 cal diet (I am short!) and it shifted zero pounds. Counting cals just doesn't do it.

I'd be on low carb now if I wasn't pg.

"STARTED at 9 stone" Puffle - really? Those were the days when I weighed 9 stone !!!!!

I gained a pound a week on 1000 calories a day on a low fat diet. I lost a pound a week on 2200 calories a day on a low carb diet. For some people it matters where the calories come from. I think this is especially true as you get older.

I'm a low carb advocate obviously but I do think that the majority of people would lose weight if they became more aware of what they ate. Low carbing made that very easy for me as it's hard to get suitable snacks when you're out and about. There's only so many babybels a girl can eat

I agree that Dukan is better than Atkins. I didn't find it hard to follow and I don't eat fish, so half of the 'allowed' foods were off for me. It's not cheap to follow though, I ended up eating loads of steak. But it worked.

Do it properly, and it's a lot of work, but I've never felt better than when I was low carbing (past the first couple of carb-withdrawal weeks) - I was more alert, needed less sleep, and generally felt good.

You have to do it properly though - don't just eat cheese and meat - make sure that you have a full plate and just replace the carb portion with greens like Broccoli and cauliflower. If I wasn't living with my meat and potatoes FIL DP and I would be low-carbing (a few carbs for me since I'm still BF)

Low carb definately works but it does make you miserable. Depends on how much you want to lose weight as to whether it is worth it or not.

The very first time I did Atkins I lost a stone in the two week induction phase. I couldn't stick to it any longer than that so came off it and didn't put the weight back on until a few months later when I undeniably started eating a lot more crap.

I've done it now and again since but can usually only manage a week. And in those weeks I tend to lose between 4 and 6lbs.

The worst bit about it is it's so hard to stick to - especially when out and about. If you want to do it - forget eating out anywhere.

Broccoli is a low carb staple and a superfood. You physically couldn't eat 20g worth of broccoli.