About to start Atkins.....Can anyone offer advice??

[Jodyray]

hi i am about to start on the atkins diet and wondered if anyone had any tips or if anyone else is about to start it? i am in the process this week of emptying my fridge and freezer of all the banned foods so will start Monday....lets hope i stick to it!!!

OK. I've given up with Atkins per se as I did in the end find it incompatible with normal life - but I did it for nearly 2 years! I now eat normally but use my own version of Atkins induction every now and again for a few weeks if I feel my eating habits are getting out of control (I love starchy and sugary foods toooo much )

1. Be prepared to feel hungry to start with. You will because you are not eating the bulk of food that you would on a high-carb diet.
2. Don't be scared of fat. You need it for fuel. And it fills you up.
3. Be prepared to feel a bit ill for a week or so. Some don't but many do.
4. Water, water water! Drink loads.

I will think of more later...

OK cheers. Have chosen this diet as i think i have become immune to weight watchers ha! My carb intake is bread pasta rice potatoes, at least one everyday so i think for drastic action this is the kick start i need. I did it once before but gave up after a fortnight but this time DP is doing it too so i will have the support. He has done it before and lost 3 stone so i know it works its just the will power!!!The baby weight now has to go!!

Agree with OrmIrian on points 2, 3 and 4 but I have to say that I've never felt hungry on Atkins (or now, my own version that it's morphed into!) because fat and protein do fill you up so you aren't craving food as often.

If you're a coffee drinker, you might find decaff with a teaspoon of double cream helpful when you're feeling the need for a snack - delicious and induction-friendly.

The other thing that helps me is to make revolution rolls (or oopsie rolls) - hope this link works. They are yummy and are basically eggs and cream cheese, so Atkins induction-friendly. Having something to put butter on helped me enormously. Also, mashed cauliflower (lovely if you cook it till it's really soft, then mash it with butter) when the rest of the family are having mashed potatoes stops me falling off the wagon!

You will get smelly breath.

k999 i know thats why i packed in last time!!! but i will stock up on mouthwash lol!!

SugarBird the link does work thanks

It is a good way to lose weight but what happens when you start to eat carbs again? I heard that your body holds onto them even more because it does not know when it will be deprived of that food type again....my sister did Atkins, she lost 2 stone....introduced carbs again and put on 3 stone! Am not too keen on diets where you cut out food groups tbh.

i dunno?? most people i know have kept it off but they said they naturally did not crave the carbs as much. i think i will just have to cut down and keep introducing the atkins when i find my weight creeping back up its just i have done weight watchers for years on and off and after 2 kids i just found it was not working as well as it used to...i am willing to give anything a go at the min!

I dont crave carbs as much since doing atkins, and have completely lost my sweet tooth, which I think will help me keep weight off long term. I imagine I'll allow a few potatoes etc back in, when I'm at my target weight. I doubt I'll ever eat carb-based meals again though like pasta, or jacket potato.

My tip would be to always have hard boiled eggs in fridge for a snack with some mayo, and have the right food in generally, so no temptation to reach for the bread bag. And I still cook normal family meals, just miss out the potatoes/rice for me, and have plenty of veg, and a good sauce.

Agree with Minum - forgot to mention eggs! And avocados - delish.

Contrary to popular myth you don't actually cut out carbs when doing Atkins. You cut down and at least in the beginning you get most of your carbs from low-carb veggies. Over time you reintroduce more veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds and some whole grains.

A very healthy way to eat: lots of fresh foods! IMO far better than all the low-fat frankenfoods And good for your heart and blood sugar levels too.

Bad breath not a problem for everyone so it won't necessarily affect you. If it does, it's not a halitosis kind of smell (sorry if TMI!) but a sweetish smell caused by your body producing ketones.

Should also add that Atkins bars are not terribly healthy either. When Dr Atkins sold the brand, the Atkins company started selling frankenfood products but although the more recent Atkins books say that they are ok for induction, lots of people find that they lose weight much better (and are healthier) if they avoid these and stick to fresh, unprocessed foods.

k999 - if you clean the ketones from your system by drinking anough water you won't get smelly breath. I didn't. And beleive me my DCs would have told me They are merciless on DH when he's has a curry.

And I have not put weight on after coming off Atkins. Admittedly I try never to go back to a 'normal' high-carb diet but there are times when the crisps and biscuits creep back in. It helps to exercise too. I think that following a diet of this sort properly forces you to think about food and what it does to you - especially high-sugar, high-carb foods - and that knowledge remains.

Agree with sugarbird. Eat clean food. Avoid processed crap - even crap with the Atkins brand on it

Tried Atkins twice, hated it both times (and found it didn't fit in with living a normal life).

Breakfasts very difficult.

Now trying slmming world and quite surprised by what you can eat. Today I had an omelette, a salad, fruit, salmon, veggies and wholemeal bread. Don't feel hungry or deprived and have all my 2syns" left so could have a Cadbury's Creme egg if I fancied. This is the diet for me!

And BTW, if you've done it loads of times before, surely it doesn't work long term for you???

Thanks for the tips everyone. I am not as nervous about starting this as I was now. Minnette I have tried Slimming World and even been to classes in the past but I usually lose a stone and then thats it nothing, similar to how i get on with Weight Watchers. I have only tried Atkins once before, when i was living on my own, and ended up packing it in after 2 weeks cos I didnt have the motivation to stick to it...and at the time as a single girl found a night out more appealing! This time I am still on maternity leave so less temptation for the office snacks, and DP who has been successful on this once before will be supporting me by doing it. The only time he put the weight on in the 4 years since he last did it is last year when i got pregnant and he ate for two...and packed in the gym!!! I am not a big eater and rarely eat 3 meals I dont do cakes or sweets really therefore my vices are pasta, bread and rice. I think this is my only option. I may switch to something else once the weight has shifted!!...well hopefully it will!!

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Loads of water, Keep a food diary as it helps to keep you in check, join an Atkins bullentin board or group as it helps when you want more ideas, Have double cream, mascarpone cheese, and some cheese to hand for those horrible cravings.

After induction, you can have some nuts. Smoked Almonds are ace.

After about 5 days, hunger suddenly fades. Quite amazing.

So far today, I have had 2 boiled eggs and 2 grilled rasher of bacon in the morning and mince and bacon with a dollop of pasta sauce with my veggies for lunch.

IMHO, the best diet for me as I can't fudge the issues and cheat. It does keep me on the straight and narrow.

lowcarbluxury.com have loads of recipes. It is an American site but great for ideas. At the beginning, best to keep it simple. No processed foods, veggies and lean meats. Some fats but not with gay abandon just because you can have it.

Sorry, I went on for soooo long.

How have you done? made it past induction?

can you give idea of typical day's food please (in induction)

I do have the Atkins bars for breakfast ad lunch while I am at work as they are so easy. I have a large green salad with mayo and big lumps of meat for tea. I miss wine but have lost 2.5 stone. I also have the occasional carb weekend so as to relieve the pressure.
I can honestly say I have never felt hungry between meals which I always did on other diets.
Drink loads of water and check labels.
Good luck.

wd purple, how long has it taken?

sorry Dabbles not been on all week. Istarted in November but had two weeks off over Christmas and went back on. I have one weekend in four off, but I love this diet never really settled on any others.
Only time will tell if it stays off but fingers crossed haven't been in a 12 since I was young. Good luck

Hello everyone well I have so far lost 1 stone 5lbs. Pretty good goin!! I started Atkins on 3rd March. Found it fairly easy so far, however things may change now as DP walked out last night, lets hope I dont hit the chocolate

Poor you - sorry to hear you're having a bad time. If you're going to hit the chocolate, though, go for 70% or more dark chocolate or a bit of Thornton's sugar-free diabetic.

You're doing amazingly well! Keep going and don't be discouraged if the weight loss slows down a bit as that's normal. You'll still be losing inches.

Thanks Sugar. i have another thread about what DP has done or rather ex DP now. i will try hard to avoid easter eggs!! x