My love-hate relationship with Atkins

The first misconception out there is that Atkins is zero carb...it is not. Induction is 20 NET carbs a day, and after that there is a carb ladder that is followed to introduce more carbs back into your diet in a healthy way. As for Atkins causing unnatural carb cravings, that is not the experience most people who follow Atkins experience. What is more common is that following a low carb lifestyle stops the cravings that are experienced by those of us that are carb intolerant...unless we go on an unhealthy carb binge...ie, sugars and starches. Those who follow Atkins today eat lots of veggies, healthy fats, meats, and dairy, and it is a lifestyle change, not a crash diet to lose 20 pounds and then go back to the potato chips and soda!

Love this! Great post!!

I am currently on atkins and lost 10 pounds the first 4 weeks now I can't seem to lose in fact I have gained a pound. I did atkins when I was younger and did great but now i am so frustrated! I love to cook and I have found some great low carb recipes but my biggest problem is you are only allowed 3 serving of art sugar a day and i use more and each day i try harder not too I quit diet sodas and went to all water but like an occassional sweet. I don't know what I am doing wrong maybe I am getting too many calories, either way I am frustrated with atkins!

Atkins isn't a "zero carb" diet. Once you cut out sugar, other fast acting carbs and processed foods, the carbs left are mostly high nutrient, low carb veggies. This is what Dr. Atkins has been saying from the start back in the early 70's. When consuming the "good" carbs allowed on the Atkins program, I find myself eating more veggies than ever before in my life. The "net carb" part of the program results in one consuming considerably more bulk in nutrient rich, high fiber foods than one would first think when looking at the 20 carb limit imposed during the Induction Phase.

There are lots of studies published in peer reviewed journals that prove cutting carb intake is healthy in many ways including reducing excess body fat.

Weight loss is still all about taking in less calories than are expended. Atkins is no different in that facet. The big difference in Atkins, IMO, is the concerted effort to reduce blood insulin levels. This results in not only reduction in body fat and the myriad of detrimental maladys that that hormone contributes to, but a general increase in overall health. It doesn't hurt that it is also the only weight loss eating program I've been on that satiates my appetite so well.

I have been on atkins for 5 weeks and I have lost 10 pounds but I have experienced the same problems others have talked about flucuating back and forth.then going days without losing but i have noticed even when the scale doesn't move I am losing inches so I am happy. I did atkins years ago and lost but put it back on. I believe you can lose then go to a restricted way of living watching your fat and carbs, atkins has never said zero carbs. but i do believe to keep it off we have to watch our carb intake.

Sooo many misconceptions here! Atkins is NOT a zero carb diet. It is a LOW carb diet. Our carbs come from veggies, some dairy, nuts and (as we progress into ongoing weight loss stage) fruit and legumes. I would never tell someone else that this diet is right or wrong for everyone. All I can say is that for ME it is the only plan I have ever been able to stay with long-term and never feel hungry on, lose my "carb-craving" and find successful weight loss (75lbs in 14 months). I've reached a goal beyond my dreams and have been able to maintain it.

I did Atkins for 8 months, lost 50, but regained due to social pressures to "eat normal". Now I'm smarter and won't let my family, friends, or peers get to me. I fib a bit when pressed by saying I'm gluten sensitive or am eating as if I was diabetic to avoid becoming diabetic (not exactly a fib). People tend to leave me alone and I challenge servers at restaurants (nicely!) to tell me how meals are made. Now that I'm following Primal/Paleo, which seems to be a direct evolution (ha) of Atkins, I can honestly say I've found my lifestyle. It makes sense when you read and clinically compare all the unbiased research. Whether Atkins or Paleo, it's about insulin regulation (carbs trigger insulin production which in turn stores fat). It works for me, slowly but surely. And I've never felt better. Bonus...my hypothyroid meds are now reduced!! Good luck everyone. Don't stop trying.

Try eliminating wheat products. Ref Paleo or Primal methods and read Wheat Belly. Excellent information if you're ready to change it up.

ScienceLee

Atkins is a not a Zero Carb diet. It is a high fat, low carb diet. It is not a high protein diet either. If you did Atkins as a Zero Carb diet, you did it wrong.

On Atkins you get your carbs from whole healthy foods: Vegetables and low starch fruits. In fact, during pre-maintenance and maintenance you can even have whole grains if your body will allow it.

For most people Atkins will eliminate carb cravings. While on Atkins I can watch people eat French Fries and not even blink an eye. French Fries used to be my weakness. In the induction phase I did have a period of severe cravings as my body was getting used to low carb lifestyle. However, it was not Atkins that caused that. It was my sugar/carb addiction that caused that.

With all that said, if you don't believe in the program, it won't work for you. You have to believe in the WOE to be able to stick to it.

ScienceLee

Atkins is a not a Zero Carb diet. It is a high fat, low carb diet. It is not a high protein diet either. If you did Atkins as a Zero Carb diet, you did it wrong.

On Atkins you get your carbs from whole healthy foods: Vegetables and low starch fruits. In fact, during pre-maintenance and maintenance you can even have whole grains if your body will allow it.

For most people Atkins will eliminate carb cravings. While on Atkins I can watch people eat French Fries and not even blink an eye. French Fries used to be my weakness. In the induction phase I did have a period of severe cravings as my body was getting used to low carb lifestyle. However, it was not Atkins that caused that. It was my sugar/carb addiction that caused that.

With all that said, if you don't believe in the program, it won't work for you. You have to believe in the WOE to be able to stick to it.

ScienceLee - ZERO carbs? That's not Atkins. Not even close, actually. Nobody can live on a zero carb diet. It would be horribly detrimental to success, as NO carbs means you'd be without good carbs. That's not an Atkins way of life. Nor is it any way of life for any dieter, Atkins or not.