Ok please don't yell at me since i am SURE this has already been brought up before. Is there anyone who does a low carb diet/atkins ????? Everytime i bring it up to anyone they say the diet is horrible. The problem is i have been doing WW for about 7 years on and off and they have changed all the Lean Cuisine's that i eat ( i am a very picky eater ) and i am sick of "low fat" ! I want to try something new but i was wondering if i am out there alone on this !? I found by reading the forums that there are people that like to work out as much as i do so i was wondering if it was the same for the diet. I have no clue really how to eat clean, i have pulled up the website and there is not much info on the site......any suggestions ?!?!?!?
Low Carb/Low fat
- Thread starter Jachum77
- Start date
LauraMax
Cathlete
I did Atkins for about 5 years & had great success. I lost about 30 lbs in 8 weeks & kept it off. At some point, which happened to coincide w/my 40th b'day, it stopped working for me. I've been told your metabolism will adjust to it after a while & start using fat as its primary fuel source instead of carbs.
In any case, it can be done in a healthy way. My diet consisted of a lot of salads, lean meats & veggies. I'm still working on low carb, but I started taking cals into consideration recently to see if it'd bump my meta & take off some weight.
Good luck whatever you do!
ETA: I totally forgot to YELL AT YOU!
In any case, it can be done in a healthy way. My diet consisted of a lot of salads, lean meats & veggies. I'm still working on low carb, but I started taking cals into consideration recently to see if it'd bump my meta & take off some weight.
Good luck whatever you do!
ETA: I totally forgot to YELL AT YOU!
looking good
Cathlete
I lost about 25 pds but I did Southbeach. I got the book and it was so worth it. Great recipes...meal plan for phase 1, 2 and 3. Unlike Aikens it stress lean proteins and lots of veggies. Even my kids loved some of the recipes in the book and I still make them. Good luck....it will definitely jump start you in the right direction.
Therese
Therese
looking good
Cathlete
Get the book because it is very easy to follow and you can sub things in and out if you don't like fish and such. What nice is Southbeach does reintroduces carbs but the healthy ones. For me it finally got me to lose and I have maintain fairly well on my own.
Therese
Therese
Lastchance09
Cathlete
I've done atkins before and even though I've followed other diets since, it's principles have always stuck with me. I watch my sugar and added sugar like a hawk. I don't purchase any "white" foods. I don't have to watch my fat intake because I'm eating mostly whole foods and my sides are always veggies. Go ahead and do it, but I strongly advise that you read the book(s) first and decide if that is a lifestyle you can maintain. People don't gain weight when they continue on their chosen diets, they gain weight when they go back to eating the way that got them fat in the first place.
do not go to the extreme and do no-carb, like a lot of people that went no-fat instead of low-fat.
do not go to the extreme and do no-carb, like a lot of people that went no-fat instead of low-fat.
I did Atkins after I had gained 20 lbs. during a very stressful time in my life. I lost 7 lbs. in the first two weeks and the rest very quickly. Ate lots of salads, fish and chicken--no red meat. After you get thru the first 2 weeks the diet is not as strict as people seem to think. I had no problem really giving up the carbs. I never felt sick or hungry for that matter. Ate lots of jello for dessert tho. But please, if you choose Atkins, buy and read the book! You really need to do this. Good luck!
RapidBreath
Cathlete
I do low carb but not as low as Atkins. I average 30-60 grams of carbs. I do eat a high fat diet. Its not a bad lifestyle. I tried higher protein but I developed a kidney stone/infection and that derailed my progress because of the antibiotics I had to be on. If you want to try low carb check out the Livin' La Vida low carb podcast, its great for when you are using your ipod during workouts. Watch out for processed meats because they have hidden sugars/starches/msg. All of those will prevent weight loss. I do low carb to support my insulin resistance and PCO. I still weigh/measure my eats to help keep my calories up. I did not like doing as strict a diet as induction because I did not lose weight with that (PCO is weird.) but some people do ok with it. Be aware that it may be easier to slowly reduce the amount of carbohydrate in your diet rather than drastically cut it. Low carb really works for me. I'm not losing as fast as I was because of being sick this past year. But, I had lost 80 pounds and I only put on 5 so over all I am happy with that. Watch out for constipation, eat the vegetables, its crucial! Drink water, its really important!
My eats look like this (If I'm behaving myself lol!!!)
Pre WO 1 hard boiled egg
Post WO 1/2 cup. steel cut oat meal, 2 tbsp cream, 1 tbsp. coconut oil
Snack: walnuts 1-2 ounces
Lunch: Protein 4 ounces (poultry, fish or meat.) and 2 cups salad greens, as much vineagrette as I want.
Snack: plain Greek yogurt or ricotta or skip it.
Dinner: Protein 4 ounces and 1 cup steamed or sauteed vegetables with olive oil/butter.
I hope that helps! If you choose to go low carb, awesome! If you want to try the South Beach diet before trying Atkins, that is ok too. The trick is learning to be comfortable with a high fat diet. I use mostly healthy fats but I don't restrict butter/cream. I'm not perfect, sometimes I will have a piece of bread, some ice cream, a cookie (today was a peanut butter cookie.) If I'm still feeling like I need more carbohydrate post workout I might have some fruit. But, fruit can make me pudge up so be aware of that.
My eats look like this (If I'm behaving myself lol!!!)
Pre WO 1 hard boiled egg
Post WO 1/2 cup. steel cut oat meal, 2 tbsp cream, 1 tbsp. coconut oil
Snack: walnuts 1-2 ounces
Lunch: Protein 4 ounces (poultry, fish or meat.) and 2 cups salad greens, as much vineagrette as I want.
Snack: plain Greek yogurt or ricotta or skip it.
Dinner: Protein 4 ounces and 1 cup steamed or sauteed vegetables with olive oil/butter.
I hope that helps! If you choose to go low carb, awesome! If you want to try the South Beach diet before trying Atkins, that is ok too. The trick is learning to be comfortable with a high fat diet. I use mostly healthy fats but I don't restrict butter/cream. I'm not perfect, sometimes I will have a piece of bread, some ice cream, a cookie (today was a peanut butter cookie.) If I'm still feeling like I need more carbohydrate post workout I might have some fruit. But, fruit can make me pudge up so be aware of that.
JodelleFitzh20
Cathlete
Find what you can stick with
I agree with Lastchance09 when she says figure out if this is something you can stick with and maintain. Low carb doesn't work for everyone and every body has different needs, and once you start something that works, the only way it continues to work is if you continue to work it!
Low carb works for me. In fact I tend to have more energy with less carbs than I do when I eat more carbs. I still eat plenty of carbs but they come in the form of mostly vegetables and two servings of fruit a day. Then on the weekends I up my carb intake with mostly gluten free carbs such as quinoa, and potatoes to replenish my glycogen. Plus it revs up my metabolism to up my calories and my carb intake for a day or two. That works for me even as a runner who averages 20 miles a week. My runs never suffer from my low carb week, and I honestly feel like my "machine" runs cleaner. That being said, i don't advocate that for everyone. That is what works for me, and the important thing is that you find what works for you,...and stick with it. Consistency is key.
I agree with Lastchance09 when she says figure out if this is something you can stick with and maintain. Low carb doesn't work for everyone and every body has different needs, and once you start something that works, the only way it continues to work is if you continue to work it!
Low carb works for me. In fact I tend to have more energy with less carbs than I do when I eat more carbs. I still eat plenty of carbs but they come in the form of mostly vegetables and two servings of fruit a day. Then on the weekends I up my carb intake with mostly gluten free carbs such as quinoa, and potatoes to replenish my glycogen. Plus it revs up my metabolism to up my calories and my carb intake for a day or two. That works for me even as a runner who averages 20 miles a week. My runs never suffer from my low carb week, and I honestly feel like my "machine" runs cleaner. That being said, i don't advocate that for everyone. That is what works for me, and the important thing is that you find what works for you,...and stick with it. Consistency is key.
I have been low carbing for 5 going on 6 years now. I lost 63 pounds and I have maintained that weight. My body loves it, I love eating this way and it has been so very worth it.
I started out on SB, but switched to Atkins. I frequently shop online for great items that really help me out.
I like JodelleFitzh20 find that I have much better energy. I went to the Dr. a few weeks ago and my blood pressure was wonderful, my blood work awesome and I've never had a problem with kidney stones or any other thing.
Find what works for you and make it work!
I started out on SB, but switched to Atkins. I frequently shop online for great items that really help me out.
I like JodelleFitzh20 find that I have much better energy. I went to the Dr. a few weeks ago and my blood pressure was wonderful, my blood work awesome and I've never had a problem with kidney stones or any other thing.
Find what works for you and make it work!
cindi1
Cathlete
My DH lost 150 pounds on a low-carb diet. Now he is a vegetarian and sticks with complex carbs to maintain his weight.
For him - the low-carb diet was easy to follow and easy to follow when traveling. He loved it. I think the key for him was to focus on whole foods and avoid processed-low carb items. If you do that, then you will be getting healthy foods and you can lose weight.
His BP dropped and his good cholesteral doubled. It really suited him well.
I lost around 30 pounds also on low-carb - then switched to a more 'clean' diet along with exercise to maintain it. I've always had good BP and cholesterol so that didn't change overall.
I think it can be a really helpful tool - just don't get too crazy - I've seen people pick carrots out of their salad to avoid the carbs.
For him - the low-carb diet was easy to follow and easy to follow when traveling. He loved it. I think the key for him was to focus on whole foods and avoid processed-low carb items. If you do that, then you will be getting healthy foods and you can lose weight.
His BP dropped and his good cholesteral doubled. It really suited him well.
I lost around 30 pounds also on low-carb - then switched to a more 'clean' diet along with exercise to maintain it. I've always had good BP and cholesterol so that didn't change overall.
I think it can be a really helpful tool - just don't get too crazy - I've seen people pick carrots out of their salad to avoid the carbs.