Atkins diet

[Janer]

I've been trying the Atkins diet and am amazed at how well it works. I'm really having a problem though with finding suitable alternatives to sugary and starchy foods. Does anyone know of a good alternative to crackers that can be used with a spread, or bread for sandwiches (I've tried the soya bread in the book but thought it was disgusting)?? Also I was wondering if anyone knows where I can get sugar free chocolate (I know it exists!), and sweetener in liquid or granulated form - I have managed to find these but only ones that contain corbohydrate which defeats the object really. Thanx

Bayleaf - this website may be helpful...

www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm

Good luck!

Oh you star JoAnne!!!! It's exactly what I need - have to admit to having been very very bad yesterday as it was my birthday - now I have no excuses and all the info I need - I'm off shopping tomorrow!
Thanks again!

Happy belated! Hope you had a great one...

Has anyone just watched that totally biased ITV documentary about the Atkins diet ?

Made me so cross - so unscientific !!!

Yes I saw it. That chap does all his programmes in that style - mildly amusing but quite irritating.
Sorry but that actress gives me the willies.(how scientific is that?)

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Just a quick question about this. If you stop doing it, will you put on weight quite easily afterwards, like conventional yo-yo dieting? I don't think my diet is too terrible and at 5'6" and just under 10 stone, I don't think I'm overweight. BUT, I can't stand the flabby belly, feel I'm always having to suck my stomach in. Wondered if this would be any use for me. Have never been 'on a diet' and don't really like the idea of it but certainly feel like I am gaining weight year on year.

Find the idea of no bread or rice a bit daunting though, do you need to be really organised about lunch at work etc?

Thanks

Tinker - I did it for two weeks and lost 1/2 a stone. Have since lost another 1/2 by traditional dieting and exercising - but have been really watching how much bread/refined carbs I eat and have stopped snacking on rubbish and now eat lots of fruit instead. Not sure what would have happened if I'd just shovelled loads of carbs in the minute I stopped though.

Hi Tinker - I did Atkins for about 4 months early last year and lost over 2 stone. Didn't find it too difficult to stick to when I had got the hang of it. Also, think I was having a better diet than usual as I was eating less convenience/processed foods. Going without booze for the first 2 wks was a killer though Didn't put the weight back on, though now, unfortunately, it is creeping back on again (and I really swore this time I wouldn't eat for 2!!) As with any diet, if you pig out afterwards you will bulk out again, but don't think Atkins makes you more susceptible to this, even when you introduce carbs again. No doubt I'll be back on it to shift post-pg lard. Good luck if you do give it a go

I'm on day 1 today - but has not been a great experience...
Firstly I should add that I am TOTALLY addicted to carbohydrates so today has been a bit of a shock to my system - plus altho I'm not vegetarian I'm not a great meat eater so am not excited by the prospect of lots of meat.
This morning my long awaited cupboards arrived from mfi for the playroom - the contents of the shelves they replace are already spread across upstairs and having got all the boxes up there I find that altho' the bloke on the phone said they were 2 metres tall they are actually 210 and thus will not fit as there is not enough 'turning space' to stand them up. But by now I have opened a box ( and thus ripped it) and have the contents strewn ....
Ring the shop and nearly start crying as am sooooooo cross and so frustrated. A very nice woman eventually says that if I can get them back to her she will change them for smaller ones ( no mean feat given their weight and size)but of course that still means weeks of chaos whilst we wait for the newly ordered small cupboards to arrive - and all thru this I feel like sh*t due to my body SCREAMING for carbohydrate!!!!
Had a piece of bread in the end - and have now manged to burn tonight's fillet steak when I like it rare! PAH!!!!!
For anyone who read my postive thoughts rant - I HAVE CHANGED MY MIND

Well, I'm wavering as to whether I should commit to doing it. Can't see how I can give up booze and bread or rice. Can I just lower my carbs, not give up completely? I think I know the amswer really

Tinker as you're so slim you really don't need to diet. If you feel your tummy is a bit flabby, how about a few daily situps instead? I'll do the diet for you if you do the exercise for me.

CAM's right Tinker, unless you've been eating all the pies recently you really don't need to diet. OK, so you think you're allergic to exercise but if you just think of it as pay-back time for carrying on having alcohol & rice it won't seem so bad - honest, have a look here for some ideas.

Not saying anymore, just disappearing to breathe clean air and read my new running magazine.. alright then, in the real world, to finish my wine and do a zebedee

Tinker - I think I'm in the same position as you - I'm 5' 6 and a half (very important half) and weigh 10 and a half stone. I don't consider myself to be overweight - in fact my snazzy super-duper scales tell me I am normal weight. But I have the flabby belly which I want to shift - I am fed up with it.

I honestly believe the solution is not diet - but do the exercises work - and how long do you do them for? Any recommended books / websites?

Well, very flattered CAM and Twink Thank you. But am definitely struggling to tuck my belly into size 12's now - blame hipsters for making me notice this. Yes, I should try sit-ups really - was just looking for a way out, I think. I've spotted a yoga class starting in a few weeks - think I'll take the plunge and sign up, need a class to make me do anything remotely energetic.

judetheobscure - yes the 1/2" in very important. Think I'm just under 5'6" but it's so much easier to call myself 5 6

My friend lost 4stone after her baby (and is now model skinny - gah!) and she gave up carbohydrates after 4pm. So you can have toast for breakfast & baked potato at lunch but only fish/chicken/meat & veg/salad for supper. She had a protein shake about 4pm. All recommended by her kickboxing teacher (she also did kickboxing 2xweek). I think the science is a bit dodgy but blimey, she looks great. And I used to be the slim one and now we've totally reversed roles. Where did I mislay my willpower???

Well that does sound a lot more realistic aloha. For me, anyway. I can understand the science of Atkins but surely if you just cut down carbohydrates so that you don't eat enough for all your energy, your body will need to start using the fat reserves as well. So cutting out carbs after x time would fit with that.

Tinker, in a way the Slimmimg World diet can work like Atkins. On Red days you can eat unlimited meat, fish etc, vegetables (not potato) and fruit. Add to this a measured amount of milk/cheese and carbohydrates like bread/pasta/potato. Personally, although I know Atkins works, I feel it is too limiting and therefore difficult to stick with. The problem with just having a bit to lose is that it is really difficult.

Good Luck