Atkins Diet-from 30+....

Hey Mark,
What's with the egg whites. As I understand it under the Atkin's diet you're supposed to be able to eat the whole egg. Is this just personal preference?

One of the things that is very satisfying and taste great to cure your sweet tooth is the carbolite chocolate bars, also found at Trader Joes.

Well, I talked about it before, but I finally decided to give Atkins a try. I have read the book and am currently rereading it. I'm 5'10'' and am starting at around 209 lbs. I've decided that I carry far too much fat on my body. Feeling really crappy about my appearance. Etc. So, I'm going to try to drop some weight using this diet method. Started it on Monday. Feeling good so far. No real hunger. Drinking lots of water.

My goal is to use this diet to get down to about 175-180 in a fairly short time period (so I'm looking at about 30 lbs.). Then, I hope to follow up with a diet that includes low to moderate carbs and proper exercise. I have been getting moderate exercise, but it just hasn't been enough. If I can use this diet to cut some initial weight (hopefully mostly fat), then I'll follow up by getting my butt on the Bowflex some more. I know that the key to long-term weight maintenance is a healthy diet and regular exercise. However, I'm feeling that I desperately need a confidence builder first.

Am I alone here? Am I nuts? Any comments appreciated.

Roost,
good luck with the low carb diet. I go back to a low carb diet regularly (every 2 weeks or so). Im 35..I play guitar in a rock band 3 nights a week and ride on the weekends, so I have to stay in shape and keep my weight in check. The diet really works for me, but I start to burn out after 3-4 days. At that point I usually go to a no carbs after 5pm rule. Ive found that I can lose 10lbs during the first week of this cycle. After that, I lose about 5 lbs a week until I give in and start to eat regular. I also lift weights atleast 3 times a week. One of my favorite desserts while on this diet is sugar free jello. Again, good luck...you will be amazed at how fast this diet mod works.
Mike

Marklx and flyingguitars...thanks for the responses guys. I'm glad to hear about others who have met with some success. I hope to use that as motivation to stick with it.

So far....only 5 days into the diet, I'm finding it fairly easy to manage. Thanks again.

Roosteater,

Tell me how you liek your bow-flex. I am in the same boat as you, and need to work out, but the gym is a pain. Do you like it? I also need tp drop like 40 lbs, and am thinking of the Atkins again, bread is my enemy.Thanks.

Asrith...I like the Bowflex a lot when I use it. Problem is that I just haven't been using it as much as I'd like to.

I have the top model. Power Pro System. Lat pulldown attachment. Leg attachment. And squat rack.

It's spendy. But, I think it's every bit as good as the infomercial suggests. It is VERY smooth. Very easy to change between exercises. The Power Pro is a quality-built machine. I'd question the cheaper model that you can see on their website. I saw one of those in a used sporting goods store and it didn't seem nearly as rugged.

Now that I have one, I'll never get rid of it. It's nice to have around the house.

Roosteater, about 18 months ago I was in a similar situation. I'm 5' 11" and weighed 218. Went on the Atkins diet for about 60 days and dropped to 187. Since then I have been on a balanced low to moderate carb diet and work out twice a week. My weight fluctuates between 185 and 195 but really has not been hard to maintain. The Atkins diet definitely worked for me. For short term weight loss it is great but you need to have and stick to a maintenance diet after.

Thought I'd post an update on where I'm at right now. I started the diet roughly a little more than a month ago. I've stuck with it remarkably well. My weight has declined to about 191 (as of this morning's weigh-in.). I weigh myself daily at the same time and on the same scale.

When I first started, I dropped from 209 or so to around 203 really quick (within the first couple of weeks). I assumed this to be mostly water. After I got by the induction phase, the weight has steadily been declining to the 191 that I weighed in at today. Generally, I'm noticing about a pound a day loss. Sometimes less. I've also noticed that it seems like I'll be losing a pound a day, then I'll go for about three days with no change, and then it starts declining again. So, it seems that I plateau a bit. But as long as I stick with it, I return to losing weight.

The diet has been relatively easy to maintain. However, I find myself tiring of salads. I still eat a fair amount of meat and eggs. However, I haven't found that I'm really eating more "cholesterol-raising" foods. It seems more like I'm eating the same amounts, but I'm just not eating any sweets and I'm keeping the starchy stuff (potatoes, rices, bread, etc.) to a bare minimum. I've also tried the Egg-beaters thing. I've found them to be very palatable and I like to think they might be healthier.

The biggest thing that I've noticed from this diet is that it has given me a whole new way of looking at food. I've always been one to eat anything and everything I could get my hands on and I've always been one to finish every last French Fry, pickle, etc. on my plate (hell....even the parsley garnish!! lol!) This diet has caused me to at least think about what I'm putting in my mouth.

I hope to be able to continue down this path with no regression. My goal remains the same: Relatively quick and painless weight loss until I reach a weight where I'm comfortable followed up by a low- to moderate-carb diet combined with regular exercise.

If anyone is interested, I'll post results in another month. Look to hear something from me again around January 10th.

Jim

Hi you have to be very careful on the Atkins diet.

Ketosis is not a good thing for your kidneys and drink lots of fluids.

You are right about the cholesterol part. Atkins is not the best way to change for the long run.

As long as you maintain it. Also stay away from the fat even though atkins says you may. Remember your brain needs Carbs to function.

Stay away from any and all white bread or rice. Whole wheat or brown rice is fine.

Atkins is a double edges sword.

Can be effective if the weight loss is maintained through proper diet and exercise. If not it is actually detrimental to your health and metabolism.

Sincerley,

kingriz1

Just to make one point.... Ketosis is not at all harmful to the kidneys or any other part of the body. It is merely a very common misconception that was started in the early days of this diet's existance.
As with any diet, the first few pounds you lose are water, and as soon as you go back to overeating you will gain the weight back. This diet is one of those things that you have to try for a month to believe how good it is. Try it, what's it going to hurt?