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Who's tried Atkins?

DT4K

DT4K

Diamond Member
If you want to argue against it without any personal experience, please start your own "Low-carb diets are bad" thread instead of using mine.

I would like to lose about 50-60 pounds. Currently 5'10, 230lbs with borderline high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
I would like to get some feedback from those who have tried a low-carb diet.

Did it work?

How much did you lose and how long did it take?

Any change in cholesterol or blood pressure?

Any effect on your energy level?
It seems like less carbs would mean less energy.

Do you watch calorie and fat intake also, or just eliminate carbs?
Some have argued that the only reason Atkins works is because it ends up reducing the total calorie intake.

Has it changed your food budget?
With a wife and 3 kids, and only one income, we are on a tight budget, and it seems that all the cheap foods we buy are high carb foods (pasta, potatoes, bread)

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences.
 
It's not that carbs are generally bad for you. Bread is a healthy food item as well as pasta and potatoes. The trouble is, if one is overweight and seeks to lose weight quickly while either before or while beginning an exercise program, then a low-carb diet works. Once the initial weeks have passed, the carb intake increases.

Personally, I've been re-visiting Atkins for the last few weeks but only intently for the last week. I don't have a scale and haven't measure myself and I've also taken up jogging 1.5 miles every other morning and I've noticed a difference and so has a friend of mine.

I drink much more water than I did before. No soft drinks. Well...a diet Sprite every other day or so to give some flavor with dinner. My food purchases concentrate on vegetables, salads, meats (pork, chicken, fish fillets). I still get my daughters typical food (cereal, toaster scrambles/struedel, pop tarts, etc.) and they have sandwiches for lunch or rolls/potatoes with their dinner. But, they've always tended to snack on cucumbers, tomatoes, pickles or other veggies instead of chips and cookies.
 
I've been doing Atkins for about 16 weeks. My Weight Chart

I am 5'9" tall, and in March I weighed 215lbs. Today I weigh 179.5, and I feel better than ever!

I just had a physical today, so I won't get my cholesterol results back for a few days, but the Doc says I am in "amazing health". My blood pressure (118/62) hasn't changed a bit.

My energy level is way up from before. No doubt about that. I no longer have the "energy swings" throughout the day, like I used to. I no longer get hungry in the late morning, tired in the afternoon, etc... I honestly feel great!

I don't pay attention to calories or fat at all. I can't imagine they are any higher than before, since I definitely eat less throughout the day.

Yes, food budget has gone up a little for me, but I don't think it has to. I tend to experiment with the Atkins Protein bars, low carb pancakes, low carb muffins, etc... Those packaged low carb items can add up.
Buy in bulk and freeze the extra seems to be the best way to keep the costs down.

But don't let finances keep you away from being healthier. Just pay more attention to what you buy, or cut out something else in your budget. How much is your health worth, anyway? 😉

If you have any more questions, feel free to post/pm/icq/msn/aim/whatever. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Wingznut
I've been doing Atkins for about 16 weeks. My Weight Chart

I am 5'9" tall, and in March I weighed 215lbs. Today I weigh 179.5, and I feel better than ever!

I just had a physical today, so I won't get my cholesterol results back for a few days, but the Doc says I am in "amazing health". My blood pressure (118/62) hasn't changed a bit.

My energy level is way up from before. No doubt about that. I no longer have the "energy swings" throughout the day, like I used to. I no longer get hungry in the late morning, tired in the afternoon, etc... I honestly feel great!

I don't pay attention to calories or fat at all. I can't imagine they are any higher than before, since I definitely eat less throughout the day.

Yes, food budget has gone up a little for me, but I don't think it has to. I tend to experiment with the Atkins Protein bars, low carb pancakes, low carb muffins, etc... Those packaged low carb items can add up.
Buy in bulk and freeze the extra seems to be the best way to keep the costs down.

But don't let finances keep you away from being healthier. Just pay more attention to what you buy, or cut out something else in your budget. How much is your health worth, anyway? 😉

If you have any more questions, feel free to post/pm/icq/msn/aim/whatever. 🙂
Click to expand...



Or head over GeekFitness.com

😀
 
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: Wingznut
I've been doing Atkins for about 16 weeks. My Weight Chart

I am 5'9" tall, and in March I weighed 215lbs. Today I weigh 179.5, and I feel better than ever!

I just had a physical today, so I won't get my cholesterol results back for a few days, but the Doc says I am in "amazing health". My blood pressure (118/62) hasn't changed a bit.

My energy level is way up from before. No doubt about that. I no longer have the "energy swings" throughout the day, like I used to. I no longer get hungry in the late morning, tired in the afternoon, etc... I honestly feel great!

I don't pay attention to calories or fat at all. I can't imagine they are any higher than before, since I definitely eat less throughout the day.

Yes, food budget has gone up a little for me, but I don't think it has to. I tend to experiment with the Atkins Protein bars, low carb pancakes, low carb muffins, etc... Those packaged low carb items can add up.
Buy in bulk and freeze the extra seems to be the best way to keep the costs down.

But don't let finances keep you away from being healthier. Just pay more attention to what you buy, or cut out something else in your budget. How much is your health worth, anyway? 😉

If you have any more questions, feel free to post/pm/icq/msn/aim/whatever. 🙂
Click to expand...



Or head over GeekFitness.com

😀
Click to expand...
Excellent suggestion! How about the lowcarbsweb forum found in my sig? 😉

(Me wonders if us geeks would be better off with just one such forum...)

 
Originally posted by: Wingznut
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: Wingznut

If you have any more questions, feel free to post/pm/icq/msn/aim/whatever. 🙂
Click to expand...



Or head over GeekFitness.com

😀
Click to expand...
Excellent suggestion! How about the lowcarbsweb forum found in my sig? 😉

(Me wonders if us geeks would be better off with just one such forum...)
Click to expand...

Possibly. I believe GeekFitness covers more than just one specific type of diet, though 😉
 
Originally posted by: conjur
Possibly. I believe GeekFitness covers more than just one specific type of diet, though 😉
Click to expand...
Yeah, it does. But adding a Low Carb section to GF might be a good way to speed up both forums, as they are both pretty slow.

 
Originally posted by: Wingznut
Originally posted by: conjur
Possibly. I believe GeekFitness covers more than just one specific type of diet, though 😉
Click to expand...
Yeah, it does. But adding a Low Carb section to GF might be a good way to speed up both forums, as they are both pretty slow.
Click to expand...

Good idea although I think GF and LCW compliment each other nicely I still would prefer ONE source.

Hopefully Entity will see that there is a demand for a Low Carbs Diet forum and will create one 🙂
 
i started the atkins diet, i was 210 pounds. my height is 6 feet. i went from that 210 to < 160 pounds in less than 2 months. i am having some sort of mental problems becuase of this, i know i am, does loosing weight real fast really mess with your head? is that what is wrong with me? my intellegence is not affected, but i am begining to think i am going crazy. i am dead serious too.
 
Originally posted by: Wingznut
I am 5'9" tall, and in I weigh 179.5... the Doc says I am in "amazing health".
Click to expand...
Either you have a lot of muscle, or you are carrying extra fat and are not in amazing health.

 
Originally posted by: Spac3d
Originally posted by: Wingznut
I am 5'9" tall, and in I weigh 179.5... the Doc says I am in "amazing health".
Click to expand...
Either you have a lot of muscle, or you are carrying extra fat and are not in amazing health.
Click to expand...
Nah, I still have ~15lbs to lose.

She meant that in the way of vital signs, sporometer test, and all the other tests they do in the office.

Fat isn't the only gauge of good health, y'know. And nobody said I was perfect... I also have some lower back issues (from 10+ years of working on cars for a living.)
 
Thanks for responding guys.
I'll definitely check out the websites in your sigs.

I'm not one to jump on the fad diet bandwagon, and it's hard to know what is fact and what is fiction.
I had been worried that depriving yourself of carbs would make you feel tired since carbs are supposed to be the source of energy.
So getting some real life personal experiences from you guys helps out.

I've started riding the exercise bike, and I'm going to start riding my bike to work at least a couple of times a week (about 7 miles each way). But in the past, even when I was working out on a regular basis and trying to keep to a low-fat diet, I never seemed to lose any weight.
I had always blown off the low-carb thing as just a fad, but I had heard several of you mention it working for you, and since it has worked pretty well for a couple of people I work with, I'm thinking of giving it a shot.

Any other tips are appreciated.

Thanks

 
If you have sweets craving, stock up on some Atkins advantage meal replacement bars or endulge bars. They are so good, just like real chocolate or brownies. They are expensive though, so your wallet will also lose weight.
 
Originally posted by: Shanti
Thanks for responding guys.
I'll definitely check out the websites in your sigs.

I'm not one to jump on the fad diet bandwagon, and it's hard to know what is fact and what is fiction.
I had been worried that depriving yourself of carbs would make you feel tired since carbs are supposed to be the source of energy.
So getting some real life personal experiences from you guys helps out.

I've started riding the exercise bike, and I'm going to start riding my bike to work at least a couple of times a week (about 7 miles each way). But in the past, even when I was working out on a regular basis and trying to keep to a low-fat diet, I never seemed to lose any weight.
I had always blown off the low-carb thing as just a fad, but I had heard several of you mention it working for you, and since it has worked pretty well for a couple of people I work with, I'm thinking of giving it a shot.

Any other tips are appreciated.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I completely understand your concerns... I researched the Atkins plan for almost a year before I started it. 🙂

Get the book, and read it cover to cover before you start. The plan is easier when you understand why/when/how to do it.

Atkins.com is an excellent place to start.
 
Originally posted by: conjur
Agreed.

Entity...you listening?? 🙂

I PMed him asking before I added one 😉
Click to expand...

There is now a Low-Carb Diet section to the forums at geekfitness.com

Thanks, Entity! 😀
 
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