Maximus, question about Atkins

C

Cbelle

Cathlete
I've read some of your posts about turning 30 and nothing but Atkins working to lose weight and can really relate! I've resisted doing the Atkins route because of all the controversy. I'm mostly concerned about lack of energy. As it is, I have to really psyche myself up to finish Imax 2! did you have any lack of energy problems? Was it something that was in the beginning but then went away? And could you give me an idea of what a daily menu looks like for you? Thanks in advance!

Cindy
 
I am not Maximus, but why do Atkins? I will never understand all of these diet crazes that are out there. The bottom line for losing weight is that you have to take in less calories than you are burning. Why make it more complicated than that? And you are going to need carbs if you are really working out hard. I recommend following a 40-30-30 plan or maybe 25 percent fats. Cathe follows it and it sure works for her. Plus you'll feel good as well as look good.
I have co-workers who do Atkins and although they lost weight they are always low on energy and I wonder what that diet is doing to them internally. Often when we are focuse don looking a certain way on the outside, we forget what may be going on on the inside of our bodies.
 
Well, really the bottom line is that for about 4 years I've tried other diets, resisting the low carb craze, and nothing has worked. I've researched it a bit and it doesnt have to be unhealthy. And all that being said, have you seen pictures of Maximus? she looks amazing!
 
I may have seen her pics but would have no comment on them either way. You've seen Cathe, she follows or did follow, what basically amounts to a 40-30-30 strategy and she looks good. Although her recent muscle gains would never be realized by just doing her videos.
I will say that you can be thin without going on Atkins. My point is that without carbs, or going very low on carbs, I myself would be hard-pressed to complete my workouts. I workout harder than most people though.
Why you'd want to go through life with the many restrictions that these diets put on you is just beyond me. Constantly depriving yourself in an extreme way is not going to make for a happy life.You may be able to just tweak what you are doing now and maybe alter your workouts to get your desired results.
Let Maximus respond. I just wanted to add my thoughts on it.
 
Cindy! I just wanted to chime in here. I have never done Atkins, but I know a lot of people who have. My dad, my stepdad, my husband's best friend, and one of my great friend's did. They all lost a lot of weight on it. They all experienced a drop in their energy level, though I don't know for quite how long. I know that my GF suffered with constipation. I don't know anyone who hasn't gained all of their weight back after they finished the diet and looked exactly as they did months earlier. My step dad has been on the diet for a few years now and we all pretty much expect him to go into renal failure anytime soon now (I hear he some some stinky urirne from all the protein he has consistently consumed over the past couple of years). I hate the Atkins diet. It cuts out antioxidents, tons of vitamins and minerals (supplementing with vitamins is not the same!), and necessary fiber, not to mention a great number of healthy foods that taste wonderful!

Do you do fitday.com? You can track all of your calories, where they are coming from, are you getting the nutrients you need?, and wether you are getting enough (a lot of people don't get enough so they can't lose weight!). I love this site!

I really don't like any diet of anykind as they only offer temporary solutions. It is really just a lifestyle change that makes a difference. I know how frustrating it is when you can't lose weight (I have had three kids!) but hang in their and make healthier choices and feed your body what it needs. It will respond in kind! Even if you don't get the perfect body, you will be rewarded with great health and a thinner if you if you treat it right.

Good luck!

Missy
 
All I can say is that Atkins worked great for hubby at one time. He lost alot of weight and lost it fast! Nothing else worked for him.

Charlotte~~
 
Hi Cindy--yes, after 30 low fat/low cal just stopped working for me. Even though my exercise routine stayed the same, that scale just kept inching up bit by bit every month.......

In any case, yes I did experience a drop in energy. Also, after losing a lot of weight in a short amount of time (about 30 lbs in 8 weeks) I lost strength as well.

It took about 2 months for my body to adjust to fewer carbs, and another 2 months to get my strength back to the level it was before I started the diet. But it's the easiest diet I've ever tried. After I got through the sugar addiction it was easy--I can eat as much as I want & I'm never hungry.

The basic premise is this: your body has two sources of energy, carbs & fat. Your body burns carbs first. So, if you lessen your carb intake your body is forced to burn the fat. It sounds simplistic but it's very effective.
 
I have to chime in here. My feelings on Atkins are mixed. I was on it for over a year, and lost 55 pounds. I wasn't doing it properly. I stayed very low carb (20 grams or under) for the whole time. After 2 years, I didn't gain the weight back.

HOWEVER, my hair started falling out and I begain experiencing severe leg cramps. Again, If I had followed the diets as explained in the book, I would have began adding whole grains and other carbs after the induction period.

I then read Joel Fuhrmans book, "Eat to Live," and began eating vegetarian. Actually pesco-vegetarian. I eat fish. After I started eating in that way, I lost an additional 5 pounds, and eats LOTS of food.

IMHO, if you do Atkins, do it properly. Don't stay on induction past the 2 weeks they suggest.

Good luck!
 
This is true--there are different ways to do the diet & you have to do what works for you. I've been on it for about 3 years, & over the last year I've modified it so I stay on the induction phase during the week & eat whatever I want on the weekends. I also stick pretty much with white meats & salads as my staples, although I do have the occasional steak. So far it's worked great--I feel healthier than I ever have in my life & I do have my cholesterol checked regularly, it's right where it should be. :)
 
Ah, Maximus, I must venture from the closet yet again to chime in with you about Atkins. When I turned 40 nothing worked for me anymore and I really only needed to lose 10 more. I had lost the previous baby and not baby weight - about 35 lbs using regular restricted calorie/fat and exercise. I just couldn't break the plateau.

4 months of Atkins and it was gone. And, I no longer have a "problem" with sugar. I just don't like how it makes me feel and the hard crash afterwards.

My carbs come from veggies, then whole grains, then fruit, then sugar. This really works for me an if you REALLY follow Atkins the whole way through the program and don't eat the kooky "carb free" and low carb stuff that is flooding the market, you will be eating food that is good for you and gives you energy! If you just cut carbs and don't follow it, it is very unhealthy and constipating.

The Induction period for me just really showed me how much sugar is in everything I was eating and how cruddy I was at getting whole grains in. When you I "only" have 20 or 30 carbs, I pick what is going to power me.

When I work out hard or go hiking or mountain climbing - where I could be in a calorie burning zone for 7 - 10 hours a day, I up my carbs a lot, but not with candy or sugary stuff. I still stick to whole grains or fruit.

Good luck - hope this helps. This way of eating is not for everyone, but if it works for you it is easy and healthy.
Melissa
 
Thanks for the tips everyone! I know this is a controversial diet and I really don't want to get into a great debate about it. I think its fair to say what works for one person won't work for everyone.

Sounds like I can expect a drop in energy if not strength for a few months maybe. I guess I can live with that as long as I'm prepared for it.

I plan on doing the diet as layed out in the book and eventually tweaking it to meet my body's needs. Something along the lines of what Maximus is doing (low carb during hte week, ease up on the weekends).

Can I ask what a daily menu looks like? right now I'm looking at something like this:

B- egg beaters with veggies and canadina bacon or turkey bacon
L- chickne on a salad
S- nuts
D- some sort of meat and veggies
S- maybe some of the ricotta dessert from South Beach Diet or sugar free jello.

I'm hoping that will be enough food. thanks again everyone!
 
That sounds pretty much like what I do. I have a couple hard boiled eggs for breakfast, an enormous salad for lunch (usually something like a chef's salad, an antipasto, a chicken or tuna salad platter), and a meat & veggie for dinner. Snacks can be nuts, cheeses, celery & cream cheese and/or peanut butter (you can sub other veggies here like cucumbers, carrots, etc.).

Good luck--let us know how you make out! :)
 
If I end up looking half as good as you, Maximus, I'll be thrilled! since you're hear, I noticed in your workout week you only hit each body part once a week. I'm looking at putting together a rotation using the gymstyles and wondering if I need to throw in a fullbody dvd as well. Eventually I'm going to start working out in the gym again (I got burnt out a few years back) and I plan on using that excellent plan you posted yetserday. Unfortunately my husband just left today for 3 wks so I'll have to wait til he gets back (children issues).

anyway, for someone looking to gain strength and lose body fat, what do you think, once or twice a week to hit the muscles?
 
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