Atkins Diet (again!)

[serafina]

Just watched Tonight with Trevor MacDonald re. the pros and cons of the Atkins Diet and have reread the Induction bit with determination.

Has anyone got suggested menus for the first 2 weeks? Something apart from the suggestions in the book.

I know I could work them out for myself but it's late and I'm a lazy cow! Thanks.

i really wanted to watch this tonight but something came up. what is the latest, is it safe or not? i'm going to a wedding in 2 weeks and i could do with a quick weight loss!!

Hi Marble,

Seems the verdict is that it is safe and very effective for the short term but they do not have enough scientific evidence for the long term. Short term = 2 weeks and you can lose 1 stone in weeks if you are overweight.

Sounds good to me for a few weeks at least, I just need a variety of menu suggestions.

thanx serafina think i'll give it a go

My Dh and I have just started this diet again as everything went pear shaped with the birth of dd - as you'd expect of course. My fav to eat is salads with light dressing and meat - hot from the oven..any kind but lamb or chicken is my fav.
I find I eat a lot less cos I just can't be stuffed trying to figure out a snack I can eat - and who really wants to eat meat alllll day (except dh!)

Hi, I've nevr done the Atkins myself but have had, father, stepmum, sister on it and they all swear by it. My father didn't lose much weight as his interpretation was to swap bread, pasta etc for clotted cream, cheese and nuts by the bucket load! His cholesterol which is dangerously high plummeted though. My sister didn't stick to it for very long but her observations were that she felt less hungry, more energetic and healthier. My stepmum only did it to keep the others company and since she isn't a glutten like my dad and ate normal quantities and she lost 1.5 stone she didn't know she had to lose, was also more energetic etc.
I would try it but I think it is a very expensive diet, you cut out all your cheap bulk items, potatoes, pasta, rice etc but have to replace it. I think if you can't afford it it turns into a very boring diet as all the yummy snack things, cheese, cold meat and extra veg add up.

This sounds like pretty good, I think I'd like to give it a try...where did you get the details....is it via the web or a weekly club thing like weight watchers? Never done a diet before but needs now prove I must try.....so complete novice on where to start

There must be a web site it has been all the rage for a while. First two weeks are tough as you basically detox but after that all the food can be varied just nothing with more than a certain percentages carbs.

there is a website for aitkins, but watch out as they bombard you with e mails, i was doing really well lost 101bs then ooh my god, fell pregnant, so thrilled but also secretly very pleased that i could get off diet and have a bowl of cornflakes, first thing! it is v expensive though buying all meat, fish, just shows how much we all rely on the good old pasta supper!.

Has anyone got any suggestions for Atkins-friendly snacks? Meals are pretty easy, it's the daytime grazing that gives me a problem. I'm just doing without at the moment, but would love to be able to nibble ... will I have to bring hunks of meat and hard boiled eggs into work with me?

spacemonkey - try some rolled up peices of ham or other cold meats with a bit of cheese in the middle even with a small slice of tomato. Just roll it up tight then its just as easy as eating a sandwhich. Not very exciting I know but nice and easy.

Thanks cathncait. Just found out that pork scratchings are virtually zero in carb - replacement for crisps!

Also pepperami are ok.

I peeled chopped carrot and/or cucmber dipped in sour cream and herb dip or other equally fattening dip.

Lots of nuts are okay, not cashews though which is a shame, brazils etc, that cooked bacon from the supermarket is very tasty

I've been playing about trying to do this but am finding it absolutely horrible. Hate, what feels like, the constant taste of meat and eggs in my mouth. Am craving so badly a fresh juicy apple or fruit juice, and I never normally eat much fruit. Can't stick to it rigidly at all and am going out for a meal on Saturday and have no intention of limiting myself then so I imagine, that defeats the object of doing it.

Is everyone else really sticking to this strictly?

I only started in earnest today Tinker, and I have already started missing fruit and fruit juice. The weird thing is, the food you're eating on Atkins doesn't feel very healthy, yet the scientific basis of the diet makes sense, so I'm trusting that. It felt really odd to munch on pork scratchings, a pepperami and slices of cheese today instead of my usual mix of fruit, biscuits/cakes and crackers or rolls!

We're starting on Beef Jerky now to - easy snack food. Like the dip idea. Think I might have that now!

i'm having egg n bacon for breakfast

Tinker - agree with you totally. I did it for two weeks, felt rubbish but lost 1/2 a stone, but the one thing I craved more than anything was a big crunchy apple.

God I'd love to do this diet.

I spend most of my life craving meat and getting bread or crisps because they are cheaper.

I may have to try it out.

willow - but have you put weight back on and, ahem, did you cheat at all? I've realised how little meat I usually eat and I normally buy about 6 eggs per year. Am feeling lighter but think it's just cos I'm not eating so much in general. Turkey sausages for breakfast - yuk. Breakfasts all seem to be cooked, when do people have the time to do that every day?

Tinker - no, I've lost over 1/2 stone more since stopping. Eating a lot of fruit, protein and veg but limiting carbs and no refined carbs like white bread or cakes. Hardly eating any crap actually - and exercising like mad. Which makes me sound like the perfect dieter - but am off on holiday any minute so am driven by desperation. One thing I did notice with Atkins was that it seemed to stop me wanting to snack - and since then I've found that the less I eat the less I want. Long may it continue but I'll probably go mental on holiday and come back a stone heavier. Aah well.

Simonhoward - you caveman you.

I am now in my 2nd week of the induction phase.I have stuck to it really well and in the first week lost 2.5 kilos.I shall keep at it for the second week but after that will change to a more reasonable(for me) diet. I'm not a big meat eater and I'm really struggling to eat what I should.I had already planned to do more or less what willow 2 suggests.I'm goig to follow the weight watchers programme (much more likely to stick at it long term) but I shall be very careful with carbohydrates as I find that a lot of what Atkins writes in his book applies to me.I shall limit them more than on the suggested ww diet and as someone suggested on this or another dieting thread I intend no carbs after lunch.
Good luck to all dieters.

I've been on induction for 3 days now - am waiting for the halitosis to kick in! I used to find it difficult to drink a lot of water, but since I've cut out fruit/juice I feel really thirsty and find it easy to keep swigging on a bottle of evian. Definitely don't feel as much need to snack as I did before - must be the blood sugar settling down.

Do any of you seasoned Atkinsers know if I've ruined everything by eating a small bag of almonds over the last 3 days (didn't spot that nuts are forbidden in induction until today!).

Also are there any artifically sweetened drinks that are OK in the induction period - I'm missing sweet things!