Atkins

[Teodora]

Doea Atkins work? I've read that a lot of Holiwood celebs have slimmed down after folloing the Atkins.
Is that a good idea in yr oppinion?

It works. But in my opinion unless you stick to it once you stop you can put back all the weight you lose plus more. That is what happened to me and also a number of others I know. However my uncle and aunt who have been doing it long term have both had terrific weight losses and feel great. But they intend to eat like that forever. I found it very difficult to fit it in with "Real Life" eg eating out, at friends, with the kids. I had to eat separately a lot of the time. I am doing slimming world now and find that fits into real life much better.

i kind of found the opposite - Atkins for me was relatively easy to fit into real life, at least once i was past the first two weeks. I was on it for 7 months and lost 2 stone of which i kept off a stone and a half. You do need to do it properly - get the ketostix, drink the water, take the vitamins and i think it's vital to eat every gram of the vegetables you're allowed. It is very easy to eat in restaurants with Atkins if you're careful - a bit more tricky to eat with friends, but not impossible. Anyway, I can see why some doctors think it's dangerous but in fact it was my GP who put me on it because I have PCOS and he thought it was good for anyone with insulin resistance.

Agree with Kayleigh - my sister did this for some months and lost loads of weight as soon as she went back to 'normal' eating she put it all back on again and more! You need to eat like this forever and in my (humble) opinion this is not healthy! Weightwatchers has worked for me - normal food you can eat with the family or out with friends - I have nearly reached my target in 12 weeks.

I think for some people it works really well. My friend (male) lost quite a lot of weight quickly following Atkins early this year and looks great for it.

Me and Dh tried it however and gave it after 3 days. I found it very hard and found that it didn't suit me at all. I felt very shaky and light headed (not hungry though) and not particularly well. Dh just said he felt unhealthy not having fruit and veg (other than green stuff).

i did it for two weeks after my six week check after dd and lost loads of weight, thinking of doing it again only because it's things like bread rice potatos that make me bloated

Teodora, glad you asked this since I'm considering it too. I like the idea of a quick fix to get me started and I like meat and cheese. But I'm not intending to use it for any more than 2 weeks. I love bread and it's my main downfall so Atkins it is for me. I'll let you know how I get on if I do it.

I did the Atkins for 2 weeks and it was fantastic. Lost a stone in that time but got really fed up with such rich food all of the time. THe thought of it started to make me feel sick! I think it's good for quick fixes i.e holiday in 2 weeks + just discovered you're swimmers are a bit 'snug. But longterm I wouldn't recommend it.

It might be OK short term but long term it is really bad for you! My sister is a nutritionist and I can't remember all the details now, but something about long term ketosis giving you kidney problems. Also when you don't eat enough carbs you don't sleep as well. And there's the bad breath!

When I got kidney stones my urologist asked me if I had ever been on Atkins (I havent). He said he is now seeing up to 30% more women with kidney stones than he was 5 years ago and almost all of them are on Atkins, because you are having so much calcium without the other parts of your diet to balance it out. And beleive me you don't EVER want to have kidney stones.

No No No - don't do it. Ifyou want a "quick fix" diet, do Montignac - the precursor to Atkins, where you still eat carbs, but not with the fat and protien. So breakfast is wholemeal toast with no butter and low sugar jam, lunch would be atkins like and dinner something wonderful like brown rice and tomato sauce (mmm). High GI carbs are no-no's (potatoes, white bread, white pasta) but you should eat plenty of low GI carbs (green veg, brown rice/pasta etc.

I think it's fine if you're doing it short-term but a bit full-on as a lifestyle choice. I did it for a few weeks to lose weight for a big trip abroad - I found it easy, the weight fell off and by and large it was pretty enjoyable.

I think there has been a lot of scaremongering about it - if you actually read the book properly it's very clear that the 'hard-core' lo-carb rules are only for the first two weeks and then you adjust it to what works for you, so you do eat plenty of veggies, some bread or pasta or potatoes etc.

You don't have to slather everything in butter and cream, and we should all probably be eating fewer refined carbs anyway, so I think it's okay if done sensibly.

I agree with Prufock - I work in the food industry and every nutritionist I speak to, bar none, says avoid it like the plague and stick to unrefined carbs, good fats, lots of fruit and veg and some, lean protein. And then get out and get some exercise!!! And anyway, what sensible woman would consciously do something that made her smell bad?!

I've been on it a month and I've dropped two dress sizes.I eat as much veg as allowed, and find it quite easy to stick to even when eating out.I have also increased my exercise, which has helped shift the weight.DH also lost loads but has stoped now.
We are about to go on holiday for two weeks on Monday so I may have a break from it, or just eat a few more carbs than I have been, but plan to start all over again when we get back, as I've still got loads to lose.

Found the same as Hulababy... shaky, light-headed, no energy and no concentration on Days 2 and 3, and never got further than that because a non-functioning me is not much of me at all! So I gave up. Will probably try it again at some point after baby2 to shift the weight and then hopefully keep it off via some sort of maintenance plan...

Prufrock, can you tell me a bit more about montignac diet? Is it as hard as Atkins? After ds I did Atkins and lost a stone, but I tried doing it this year after dd but I found it too hard. Although now boots are doing atkins chocolate bars and milkshakes it's a bit more interesting, but still hard.

It's not difficult if you eat out a lot (like my dh), but quite time-consuming to do at home - many of my "staples" are out because they combine carbs and fat/protein in one meal. You are allowed chocolate (but only 85% cocoa stuff) and wine. The easiest book e's written is called Eat yourself slim.

I tried Atkins as an experiment - felt I just smelt greasy whilst on it. Plus there is no way I can give up roast potatoes and crusty bread long term.