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Original poster

Atkins diet questions....

73 replies

LadyP · 22/06/2003 20:02

I only want to lose about half a stone but am too lazy to do it the conventional way.

SamboM asked a question on the 'diet starts tomorrow' thread re breakfast alternatives so I will look at the responses to that but my main concern is the bad breath and constipation.

Can they be avoided? Can drinking lots of water help?

Also, is this just a diet where you eat yourself slimmer or do you have to undertake excersise as well (if so, I'll go to WW as I can defo avoid the bad breath/constipation thing with that ).

Finally, how realistic is it a weight-loss to maintain once a 'normal' diet is resumed?

Thanks

OP posts:
Tinker · 25/06/2003 19:45

They're all weird looking though, these diet gurus. Who'd want to look like Rosemary Conley with her oversized head?

katierocket · 25/06/2003 19:47

tinker

lilibet · 25/06/2003 21:31

Crunchie, do you have all 'green' days, I thought that you were supposed to alternate? You can only have one bottle of wine a week??!!??

The website is really good tho'! but I do know what you mean about the founder.

Enchanted · 26/06/2003 23:22

I have been on the Atkins for almost 3 weeks and have lost half a stone. At first I loved the food but I'm getting pretty bored now, I'd love a bar of chocolate or some sweeties. Then again a bag of chips would be fantastic.
SamboM did you find out if the oat cakes and water biscuts are ok? I'd love something like that.

Enchanted · 26/06/2003 23:23

I have been on the Atkins for almost 3 weeks and have lost half a stone. At first I loved the food but I'm getting pretty bored now, I'd love a bar of chocolate or some sweeties. Then again a bag of chips would be fantastic.
SamboM did you find out if the oat cakes and water biscuts are ok? I'd love something like that.

cathncait · 27/06/2003 03:45

Ok...so this may seem like a silly question..but how is doing the Atkins diet while breastfeeding? Anyone have any idea? I am still breastfeeding my 10 1/2 month old. I started on the diet again and then it occured to me that it may be bad for me and dd? Not sure what to do. (by the way, can I just add that dd started walking this week! I'm very proud )

Furball · 27/06/2003 07:18

Enchanted - I think someone further down the thread mentioned you could have diabetic chocolate as it was sugar free, but not to have too much as it could work as a laxative!!

Crunchie · 27/06/2003 09:38

Lillibet, theroectically you could have 2 bottles of wine a week = 60 sins, which leaves just 10 sins a week for other stuff. Therefore I compromise on one bottle. You can do all green days, you don't have to alternate, some people do all red days with the odd green. It depends on what suits you. That is why on red days you can have measured amounts of potatoes, wholewheat pasta etc and on green days a bit of meat/fish etc.

I beleive the diet works, well it does for me, but I go to class. I know the view towards Slimming classes can be really naff, it works for me as it goves me a bit of disipline and also makes me realise I am not the only one.

However all these diets only work if you don't go back to what you were eating before. Something must have made you fat, so the hardest part is not losing the weight it is keeping it off. I go to class every week for a 5 min weigh in, even though I am at target (it's free) as it makes damn sure I am really good Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday (class is Wed pm) and then I can relax the rest of the week!

Good luck with whatever, I am not preaching about sw, but I found it fab.

ghengis · 27/06/2003 09:47

I bit the (low fat) bullet yesterday and joined Slimming World. Spent yesterday trying to understand the food combining side of things and planning today's (red) menu. It seems I can have loads to eat if I plan correctly and I like the fact that you have to balance your diet, i.e. that you have to have a certain amount of calcium rich food a day, etc.

Baba · 30/06/2003 11:38

Am thinking of doing the Atkins Diet and about to buy the book but wondering what the hell can I eat for breakfast?

My diet at the moment consists of toast and cereal for breakfast, sandwich for lunch with yoghurt and pasta/rice and fish/chicken for tea with snacks of oat cakes, chocolate, potatoes etc etc. Oh dear, will I ever eat again???

SamboM · 30/06/2003 11:42

Baba, try the following

Eggs
Bacon
Bacon and Eggs
Scrambled Eggs
Omelette

errr...... that's it!

Kippers are good too if you like them.

Breakfast is a nightmare on Atkins till you get used to all the eggs. Mine has gone wrong this weekend, I ate pudding when I went out for dinner and drank wine. still have not put on weight, so back on it today and hopefully another 5lbs gone by the weekend!

Baba · 30/06/2003 13:14

Thanks SamboM

Bit worried now though as, after buying the book and cookbook, I have come back to work to be told by our health specialist that it gives you heart disease???

Now what?

JaneyT · 30/06/2003 13:40

baba - try a Fritata - recipe in Atkins book - you can put loads of stuff in it - peppers, ham, cheese, tomato etc, its very like a quiche without the pastry !

Best thing is it is great cold as well, so you can make a big one and take slices cold for lunch or breakfast if running late etc.

HTH

willow2 · 30/06/2003 19:50

SamboM - you weren't walking the dog near Barnes pond today at 5.30 were you? Saw a r-r-b and thought it might be you.

SamboM · 30/06/2003 19:54

No, sadly not. I was in Sheen actually buying some shoes! My dh is out with her in Richmond Pk today. That was prob Arnie (the dog) - he lives in Barnes.

gosh2 · 05/07/2003 07:58

I have been having the odd bar of chocolate, but I dont want to advertise but it was from one of the coffee chains, pure cocoa and the carbo per 100g was 26g, but the bar was only 45g. What is our daily allowance of carbo? I had to eat the bar throughout the day so my body woulndt get a sugar rush and I would leave ketosis.

Also had vodka and tonic last night - it says "trace" carbo in tonic. That's ok isnt it?

God I am such a cheat! Glad to know there are others.

Mumski · 05/07/2003 10:51

Just thinking of starting atkins on Monday, but love bread - have just worked out how to use my bread maker! seems a shame not to use it now. Has anyone come up with bread alternatives to make or buy? ALSO being lazy/working/children I could really do with some sort of list of convienience foods from Sainsbury's/Tescos which are low carb. I know I'll 'stumble' if everything has to be prepared from scratch. Everything seems so American biased.
Thanks

jojo21 · 05/07/2003 13:45

to all you atkins dieters out there i have found the most wonderful place for you all! look for www.lowcarbluxury.com/lowcarb-recipes.html it has the most tasty treats in the site including an alcoholic bevvie that sounds totally yummy! and includes my favorites baileys and coffee (decaff of course)! just have a read you'll never want to stop the Atkins!

buzzybee · 07/07/2003 10:36

I haven't read this book but am curious about the diet. Does it give guidance on how to choose foods according to the number of grams of carb per 100g of fodd for example? So if I went to the supermarket and tried to only select products with

StripyMouse · 07/07/2003 10:44

If you are talking about the Atkins Diet revolution books - they do give good outline carb counters and some great starter recipes but if you do it for a while it is easy to work out your own recipes based on the ingredient lists - hot BBQ chicken and bacon salad with creamy blue cheese and mayonnaise dressing...mmmm. The carb counter little book is great for a more definitive list and the recipes you get on the website are good too (and free compared with the books!!)
If you do it - my tip would be to buy some laxatives, multi vitamins and breath freshener first... you are likely to need them!!

alibubbles · 08/07/2003 13:08

I'm back on the Atkins again, omelette for breakfast, sald nicoise for lunch and a slab of fillet steak for dinner!

I find using the ketostix to test your urine really spurs me on as I can't wait for it to turn red/purple and know that I am burning fat!

pipsqueak · 08/07/2003 21:32

Does anyone know what salad dressings you can have with the Atkins diet apart form Olive oil which I am not too keen on..I've just started it and am struggling a bit with plain salad . Also can you have coleslaw? thanks for any tips

jasper · 08/07/2003 23:03

pipsqueak you can have full fat mayo, delicious flavoured with blue cheese or parmesan.
You can have a great caesar salad with fried bacon bits and yet more parmesan.
You can have soured cream as a dressing/dip.

You can have coleslaw - make your own with full fat mayo , cabbage and a little carrot, once you are past induction.

Tinker · 08/07/2003 23:17

Can I ask, why does induction need to last 2 weeks? If the body starts to burn fat after 2 to 3 days then surely a week would be enough to kick start it? Anyone?

jasper · 08/07/2003 23:29

Always wondered that too Tinker, and always thought induction was a bit bogus, particularly once it is all over ...what do you get? Two pounds of chocolate? No, a cup of vegetables.

Having said all that I do think Atkins works a treat. I did find it hard going, then came off when I got pregnant and couldn't face restarting it afterwards.

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