Just getting started and in need of support and tips

New here....I am making a big switch from weight watchers to Atkins. I lost close to 30 pounds 3 1/2 years ago on WW early on...I've been paying the monthly fee for that long and attending weekly meetings nonstop. I've never been able to move on to losing the rest of my weight, I've been losing and gaining three or 4 pounds and just basically maintaining what I lost. I am feeling atkins is not realistic but doing nothing will get me back to square one. Anyway, I started yesterday at a party to show myself I could do this. I know the next few days of detox will be quite challenging with the headaches, etc. Now that I will not have ww meetings for support I am so thrilled to have founds this great place to share, learn, and support. I hope to make some buddies. AppleRose

The problem with WW is that since they began their PointsPlus program not everyone is having success with it. A lot of people have been doing Momentum on their own which is the points program used before PointsPlus. IMHO it was a better program and it works much faster than PointsPlus. I couldn't do Atkins long term. It is not livable for me. Best wishes on your weight loss journey!

AppleRose I think the big thing from switching to Atkins is just make sure you stick with it for those first 2 weeks! It will change your life! For me personally the WW way, carbs and low fat would just trigger cravings.

Good luck and I'm always so excited to see someone switch! I sent you a buddy request if you would like some extra support!

Thank you so much. Starting Atkins this time I am not doing the induction, I am mostly eating just protein anyway but if I want a strawberry or two I take them. I know this is not long term but I need to jump start my weight loss. My husband started with me so we eat the same thing, makes it much easier but he will lose much faster. When he is on the Atkins he is not hungry, that doesn't happen for me. Also, not sure where to accept a buddy request.

I would like to add more buddies to my list.

AppleRose: Why do you feel Atkins is "not realistic"? I wonder if you really know the plan. Everything I eat is natural (if I can't say it I don't eat it). I eat tons of vegies, meat and some cheese. I lost #60. When I went off plan I gained #40 back

Bella: what isn't "livable for me"??

Both these statements make me curious. For me it's because sugar/carbs set off horrible cravings, plus they bring my IBS/GERD back to life. On Atkins I have none of those problems.

I'm not trying to pick on anyone, or change your minds about anything, I'm just curious about your statements.

I agree with Ebony and... ; Atkins is definately realistic, but you have to make a committment, to yourself, to give it a chance to work. If you just think of it as a quick fix, then you are barking up the wrong tree; because it's a healthy lifestyle, that offers a variety of tasty food options, including certain fruits, once you are at the pre-maintainance, and maintainance levels. The thing is, you can't just jump in, and say you are going to follow the Atkins way of eating without learning about it; you have to get educated about it, and follow the plan, for it to work for you. Overall, I've lost more than 130 pounds, while following the Atkins lifestyle, inspite of slip-ups, and time spent away from the program. I could never have done the same following WW, or any other calorie restriction way of losing weight.

Wow, thank you for the great advice. I spent time at the Atkins site to read in order to learn about all the revisions since I attempted it years ago. It truly is a lifestyle and not a diet, in my heart this time things will be okay for me. WW was good for my 30 pounds but I couldnt move from that number over three years of the diet. I am addicted to foods with sugar and high carbs...my body simply can't hand it...I was always craving and always hungry...just awful. Now five day into Atkins and I not craving and I feel so much better. I am just thrilled to be surrounded by people like you who give real support and who know how to walk the walk. I can't thank you enough.

Weight Watchers is good but you are probably making a mistake somewhere. You really ought to talk to your group leader to find out where you are stumbling. Perhaps you have not updated your points? As you lose weight, you have less calorific needs so you need to reduce your intake in order to maintain weight loss. Points is just another name for calories... to illustrate when I began dieting here in January, my needs were 2800 kcal but now I am down to 2300 but take a bit less in order to have some leeway on celebration dates. I am happy with losing 2 kgs a month. My doctor is happy. My body is changing but not in a dramatic, scary way. I can feel my bones in certain places and the fat in my legs is now softer instead of rock hard. I love me. I love being in control of my body. The hardest fight happens in the brain. First couple of weeks are difficult, then it becomes a routine and you don't even think about it. I now avoid buying foods I had been addicted to and there is no mad dash late evenings to find a treat. It's so liberating! I recommend you to weighing yourself and do it once a month or once every 3 weeks. Tell yourself you are not dieting, you are just eating sensibly, and try to fill your days with other pkeasures. You can do it! Go girl go!

AR: congrats on your 2# loss so far!!! WOOT for YOU!!!!!
I hope you've already measured yourself! If not, go do it right away! It is SO fun to see those inches coming off!!

Thank you Tania ; ))

I think both diet plans are great. Just depends on each individual. If you do Atkins by the book, incorporate natural carbs, through fruits and vegetables it is great. You learn how to eat. I've also learned for myself, processed foods are not great for me. I can't control the cravings when I'm eating sugar and processed foods. I would never choose a salad with chicken if there was a donut in the house. lol. So when I get sugar out of my system, I make better choices. I think some people don't have this problem and for them WW is a great choice. Just personal preference....;0)

I really am liking Atkins and I have done WW. For me eating the sugars trigger cravings for more. I don't crave the sugar and breads like I did with WW. Also another plus for me is I am allowed more in the way of fats. I do crave the fats but on Atkins I don't ever feel deprived!! I will be glad to help motivate you and hope for teh same in return!!

I had the same problem as you Applerose , success to start with doing WW but after a while i couldnt shift anymore. I was following it strictly and even my leader couldnt work out why! Im dabbling with meal replacement and low carb at the moment just to kick start some weight loss and feeling good at the moment no cravings or hunger. I hope you do really well with Atkins, i may follow that too after doing some research. Happy Losing, keep us posted!

Well for me Atkins is drastic. I'm used to having rice and beans everyday (with meat of course).

At the moment I'm experimenting with the Insulin Resistance Diet.

I've began to notice the thing about cravings and such. Ezekiel is a much superior bread than white bread. It all started with that because I began feeling satiated and no cravings whenever I had this bread with cheese and ham. Net carbs for this bread is 12 I believe.

To me livable is, what do I do when I'm at a event? When I don't have control over what's served? In my home I can control what I eat but out and about and especially at events it would be VERY difficult. For me anyway, I need a plan that I can control in all situations. Low carb, high fat is beginning to appeal to me but I don't think I can limit my carbs down to the Atkins level. I can do say, 30 net carbs in a meal linked and balanced with 15 g of protein and adding a fat (coconut oil, avocado, butter).

I've also done WW and Atkins.. truth is, changing your lifestyle is hard no matter how you do it. We all want to eat whatever we want when we want and have no adverse effects on our weight or our health, but thats never going to happen. And as we get older, our bodies decide to turn on us and the things we used to be able to enjoy now give us indigestion and other less-than-enjoyable side effects! LOL!

WW ultimately teaches you to make better choices.. when you've been on it awhile and you know what Points value that big plate of Chicken Broccoli Alfredo has in it and what that means for your calorie intake, etc, it makes you think. Doesnt necessarily make you NOT do it though.. and thats where I think some people fail with WW, but succeed with Atkins. Some things, you just cant have. Giving someone with a food addiction the ability to have whatever they want "in moderation" is the same as telling an alcoholic that they can drink 2 drinks and its ok. But if you can learn that "moderation" DOESNT actually mean you can gorge once a week, and you are loyal to an exercise program, WW will work. I wasnt that disciplined.

I first tried Atkins in 1996 when I saw it on an Infomercial! I ordered it, read the entire book and I did it.. for a month. It was so hard. I worked in a restaurant, I had a 1 yr old, I was 21yrs old, and the plan didnt have Net Carbs, it was just Carbs, period. I lost 20lbs until it broke me. I fell off and then went back on a few months later, again for another month, lost another 20lbs. I didnt put it back on, so I was happy with that. Back then I guess you could say that Induction was the only clear-cut phase. It did tell you that you could eventually reintroduce healthy carbs, but I like that its broken out the way it is now. Its much more specific and clear-cut about when you should and shouldnt proceed into the next phase.

The one thing I DONT like is that they dont produce their own Vitamin regimen. Does anyone know why they dont manufacture the Basic 3 and Essential Oils anymore? Its so odd to me. They recommend taking these things, but nothing on the market is quite the same as what was in them, atleast not in one pill. I also know that I attempted to do Atkins again one time over the years just using OTC vitamins because it was cheaper, and I found the results werent as good as when I used their formula. Its the one thing nagging at me as I start up again (5 days now, Im n Ketosis, but no weight loss yet) and using an OTC vitamin which isnt nearly sufficient. My 3-6-9 Oil supplement seems to be ok, Im going to add a Borage Oil supplement to it. But Im worried that not having the right vitamin is going to hinder my progress.