Atkins diet....

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i asked for your help a couple of weeks ago. there were a few of you who emailed me. i found the exercise ideas to be the most help. i went to the dr and i tipped the scales at 258lb :imbar i am only 5ft 3in tall. see i was not kidding when i said you may save a life here. alway he adviced me to do the atkins diet. this was on the 27th of this month. i ran out bought the book that day and began the diet the following one. i feel so much better already it is like i actually have energy now. the first two days i was the :devil: i could not have my bread! once i felt the energy to increase i was :D. well today i could not wait any longer and climbed on the scale. i lose 2lbs. i am 256lbs for me this is big in a good way:chuckle

here is the question: have any of you been on this diet? i hear so many different things about it. but the dr. is the one who pointed me is this direction.

thanks to all of you who offered a helping hand in my time of need!

Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.
Oh and I was going to tell you too, that I am taking Nutrition this summer and I really am anxious to see how much that course enlightens me!

It will, believe me. My nutrition teacher, a certified registered dietician put the Atkins Diet down left and right. Brought us facts from scientific journals to prove that this is not a safe diet. Not interested in it at all. Also, same as Lizz stated, physiology, pharmacology, nutritionist instructors...all don't think this is a safe way to go.

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Specializes in Geri, psych, TCU, neuro--AKA LTC.
I would love some ideas for breakfast though because after a while eggs and bacon get a little tiresome Someone told me they eat chicken I think I will try it this week.:)

A typical breakfast on the run is a can of low-carb Slim-fast and a low-carb yogurt. I get really tired of eggs really quickly. There are also many low-carb breakfast cereals choices now for breakfast at home. Of course there's All-Bran with extra fiber (if you need the extra fiber...)

I love Atkin's or a modified version for hunger control and blood sugar stability. Even if I'm not on I try to watch carbs especially in the AM b/c I get bad rebound hunger after carb laden meals.

One note on water, I was told by my NP that on Atkin's water consumption should increase to at least a gallon a day (d/t ketotic diuresis, constipation, and added renal stress r/t increased protein.) JMHO

To the poster who suggested taco salads: I second that! I could live on taco salads (minus the chips of course.)

To the nursing students: as a former atkins-dieting SPN, bring your own food to school! Don't rely on the cafeteria having something appropriate.

I really love South-Beach. You can have fruits, vegetables, and beans (thus chili and other prepared soups.) I think the weight loss is a little slower, but it's a lot easier!

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[color=#282828]please don't take this the wrong way, but i really don't agree with the whole low carb fad. starchy foods hold onto water, so when you omit carbs from your diet during the first 2 weeks of the low carb diet, you're really just losing water weight. carbs are vital to the functioning of your body. they are broken down into glucose, which is the preferred source of energy for your body. when you have no carbohydrates available, your body turns to other energy sources. some fat yes, but also lean muscle tissue.

[color=#282828]without carbohydrates to break down fatty acid chains, ketone bodies are produced (very acidic). ketones in excess result in a condition called ketosis, which is basically an upset between the acid/base balance in your body. many of these ketones are excreted in your urine, but some are released through your lungs when you breath. the acidity of the ketone bodies damage your lungs.

please don't take offense at this. i just want to make sure you are informed about the dangers of a low carb lifestyle. the key to successful weight loss is not dieting, it's a lifestyle change. i wish you the best of luck with your weight loss.

...jennifer...

jennifer,

i am not taking your post the wrong way but maybe you should review what you wrote. you said you do not agree with the whole "low carb fad". everything after that sentence referred to a "no carb" diet, which is awful for you. south beach/atkins is not no carb, but the right carbs (eliminating white sugar, flour etc). so, if people are reading the books and not completely cutting out all carbs, then they will still be healthy. its all about choosing healthy carbohydrates rather than ones that are non-nutritious.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
[color=#282828]please don't take this the wrong way, but i really don't agree with the whole low carb fad. starchy foods hold onto water, so when you omit carbs from your diet during the first 2 weeks of the low carb diet, you're really just losing water weight. carbs are vital to the functioning of your body. they are broken down into glucose, which is the preferred source of energy for your body. when you have no carbohydrates available, your body turns to other energy sources. some fat yes, but also lean muscle tissue.

[color=#282828]without carbohydrates to break down fatty acid chains, ketone bodies are produced (very acidic). ketones in excess result in a condition called ketosis, which is basically an upset between the acid/base balance in your body. many of these ketones are excreted in your urine, but some are released through your lungs when you breath. the acidity of the ketone bodies damage your lungs.

please don't take offense at this. i just want to make sure you are informed about the dangers of a low carb lifestyle. the key to successful weight loss is not dieting, it's a lifestyle change. i wish you the best of luck with your weight loss.

...jennifer...

jennifer, i agree in part with you. i'm not a fan of the high saturated fat, high protein adkins diet either. but as was pointed out it's not no carb. the south beach diet is a great diet as it addresses glycemic index and is low saturated fat. all carbs are not created equal. many of us don't tolerate rapidly released starchy food and do better with low glycemic.

i think a diet that includes low gycemic food, non-processed foods, lots of fruits, veggies, grains, and beans is best for my body, and probably a lot of people. when i eat this way and stay away from processed junk (which is usually high carb refined foods), i don't have to count calories and can stay lean.

i also think not all bodies are not equal. i've eaten a relatively high carb vegetarian diet for a long time and didn't gain much weight. but i feel better on lower glycemic foods. i know another high-carb vegetarian female that doesn't overeat but is overweight. i've seen people on adkins loose a couple of pounds and then get stuck and gain it all back. i've seen people loose a lot of weight on low fat high carb diets.

i think for the very overweight, those with a lot of weight to loose, adkins and other low carb diets seems to work very well for them. but i'm not sure about long-term maintenance, the research isn't out there. but so far things are looking good.

life and diet is a mystery. one size doesn't fit all.

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How much whipping cream do you use for 1 quiche? I tried to make with evaporated milk and didn't like at all. Also, chicken, brocolli, and cheese quiche is OUT OF THIS WORLD and I HATE brocolli.

First, it has to be cream to get the custard effect, or you can use sour cream.

I can't give you an exact amount because I usually make quite a few, I would imagine at least 6 ounces to about three eggs, you can go up to as much as you want, also depends on the size of your pan.

I have a very picky little Yorkie and he will actually give up his outside walk to stay in and eat the quiche when I make it with the cream....

Let me know how it works for you.............. :balloons:

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Specializes in Psychiatric.

Good luck in your weight loss! I joined Weight Watchers in January and have lost almost 40 pounds now, and I love the lifestyle changes it has brought about...I am much better at deciding on healthy foods, and planning healthy menus. I am a little leery of the Atkins diet because my aunt's friend tried it and went into kidney failure as a result, after having healthy kidneys prior to beginning the diet.

Just be careful about it! My doc recommended weight watchers so that's the one I stick with!

Good luck!! :balloons:

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WHere my biggest problem lies, is that I don't like anything that costs a lot of money. I feel like some of these "fads" are taking advantage of us. I am amazed at all the different low carb foods that come out all the time (didn't know that there was a low carb slim fast) and if you look at prices...the low carb always costs much more than the regular food. I just can't do it! We are on a strict budget and seriously have to watch every penny we spend so we need cheap alternatives to the crappy lifestyle that we have been adhering to all these years.

It's amazing to me how many diet products there are and how many people claim that each one works. I have always heard that healthy eating and exercise is the only way to really lose and keep it off (healthily) and I guess that is ingrained into my brain.

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Specializes in Cardiology.
Jennifer,

I am not taking your post the wrong way but maybe you should review what you wrote. You said you do not agree with the whole "low carb fad". Everything after that sentence referred to a "NO carb" diet, which is awful for you. South Beach/Atkins is not NO carb, but the RIGHT carbs (eliminating white sugar, flour etc). So, if people are reading the books and not completely cutting out ALL carbs, then they will still be healthy. Its all about choosing healthy carbohydrates rather than ones that are non-nutritious.

I have read some of the South Beach book, but not Atkins. I know during the first 2 weeks of these diets, carbohydrates are restricted to 30g or less per day. With amounts that low, the issues that I discussed are still relevant because 30g is simply not enough.

Now the right carbs thing, that I can agree with. Getting rid of the highly processed foods is a great thing to do for your body. I guess what I really object to is the first phase of these diets, which many people stay in long after they were supposed to move on to the next phase. I worry about those people the most.

Thirdshift guy wrote: I think a diet that includes low gycemic food, non-processed foods, lots of fruits, veggies, grains, and beans is best for my body, and probably a lot of people. When I eat this way and stay away from processed junk (which is usually high carb refined foods), I don't have to count calories and can stay lean.

I completely agree!

...Jennifer...

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
WHere my biggest problem lies, is that I don't like anything that costs a lot of money. I feel like some of these "fads" are taking advantage of us. I am amazed at all the different low carb foods that come out all the time (didn't know that there was a low carb slim fast) and if you look at prices...the low carb always costs much more than the regular food. I just can't do it! We are on a strict budget and seriously have to watch every penny we spend so we need cheap alternatives to the crappy lifestyle that we have been adhering to all these years.

It's amazing to me how many diet products there are and how many people claim that each one works. I have always heard that healthy eating and exercise is the only way to really lose and keep it off (healthily) and I guess that is ingrained into my brain.

Just cutting my food intake in half and exercising and I have lost 19 pounds in the last 2 1/2 months,

unfortunately the food Ive cut in half, Ive given to my dogs and they are getting chunky

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Tom.....GREAT! I've lost 30 pounds since January and haven't even really been trying for the last couple months. Haven't been able to exercise because of the pain from my "endometriosis" as we are calling it right now. I just cut down portions still and try to stay active throughout the day.

Why I'm asking about Atkins, etc. is mostly for Bry and his fibromyalgia....according to many sources, he's supposed to cut down on the "bad" carbs.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
Tom.....GREAT! I've lost 30 pounds since January and haven't even really been trying for the last couple months. Haven't been able to exercise because of the pain from my "endometriosis" as we are calling it right now. I just cut down portions still and try to stay active throughout the day.

Why I'm asking about Atkins, etc. is mostly for Bry and his fibromyalgia....according to many sources, he's supposed to cut down on the "bad" carbs.

you should see how fat my dogs are getting :rotfl: :rolleyes:

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Hi here is a web site I have found very helpful on this program

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/index.php

You will find a BUNCH of help there.

How old are you? Have you been dieting off and on for years? If not, the Atkins program should really work well... but you NEED to drink your water and you NEED to exercise for your success!!!

Kathy

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