Atkins
Ben Hammersley: Atkins goes on about sugar causing ‘brain fog’, with fluctuating insulin levels really messing with your mood. Given the evidence so far, he may well have been right.
I started Atkins most decidedly not by accident. Last December I turned 41. I noticed that my father was not attending to his health. I decided not to follow his path. I got a physical in January.
I basically got a clean bill of health. The one issue the doctor was concerned about was my weight. He suggested I lose 40 pounds based on some silly formula. I had not been that weight since grade school. We negotiated and settled on 30 pounds which was roughly what I was in college.
My plan was to achieve that goal in 12 months, in time for my next physical.
I achieved it in two months. Effortlessly.
The first three days were hard. I had weird cravings... I never have cravings. I was also in a bad mood.
After that, things were smooth sailing. In ways that I can't precisely describe, I feel much younger. Which is strange as I never thought I felt old. I definately have more energy. I bound up staircases. I also sleep through the night... something I rarely had done since college.
Clothing that once was tight now falls off of me. My shoes don't fit right. I can fit in clothes that I haven't worn since college.
Once I reached the 30 pound target, I realized that 40 pounds
was achievable. But this seemed too fast.
What I really wanted to find out was if this weight was
sustainable. So I went off of Atkins. Completely.
Or tried to. I found that to be hard. My
appetite is smaller. I don't enjoy potatoes any more.
But I do like pasta. ;-)
The most I have been able to put back on was 5 pounds, but I keep slipping back. This is fine. My plan is to stay roughly here and make sure I am exactly at my 30 pound goal at my next checkup in January.
I can't attest to the long term affects on mood. My mood changed permanently on March 21st. The last thing my father said to me was to notice that I had lost weight, and he inquired if it was intentional. I replied that it was. He liked that.
My cholesterol is near 300, so I'm concerned about this diet although I'm considering it. I need to lose about 25 pounds. Granted if my cholesterol is at 300, I'm not sure it could be that much worse than what I'm eating now. Did you notice any change in your cholesterol level?
Posted by Christian Romney at
Christian, it didn't seem to raise my cholesterol, but I already had very high triglycerides, which I take medication for, and which make it difficult to get an accurate cholesterol reading. My triglycerides did not go up, however.
Posted by Dave Seidel at
Weight control
While I am worrying lost control of my weight, been seen Sam Ruby and Sifry’s experience with Atkins. Not knowing if the plan/product is available here, I am planning to try more exercises first, maybe at least swimming for two...... [more]Trackback from yowkee essential at
I'm just surprised you've got college clothes left to fit into: more than just a digital magpie?
Posted by Gary at
I also need to lose 40 pounds. The thing is Atkins works for everyone but me. My sugar instability (insulin resistannce) is so severe that even Atkins doesn't work. I have pretty much been on Atkins for 2 years without effect. The science is right but my case is called "unique."
Posted by Sam Gentile at
i've watched 3 women (aged 21, 25 & 48) follow the atkins diet. each read the book. each felt better. each lost weight.
Posted by macewan at
My wife's dad & stepmom have been on Atkins for more than 3 years. It's done very well by them, but even now, they talk about missing foods like bagels. They're talking about switching diets, because they're getting bored of Atkins. I could see that a food-limiting diet could get boring after a while...
Posted by Brad Wilson, The .NET Guy at
Brad: I certainly haven't been on it as long as your inlaws. But I have been eating bagels, french fries, and bread, and I don't appear to be putting the weight back on. Of course, I am eating all of the above in moderation.
Posted by Sam Ruby at
Can't sleep. Not unusual for me,
Can't sleep. Not unusual for me, though, this being the night previous to a big day. Here are a couple weblog posts that caught my eye recently, with regards to health (my trip to Portland afforded me time to think about some things that up until...Excerpt from Just a Gwai Lo: Filter at
started atkins today
so i finally decided to do something about the love handles. today, i started the atkins diet. i've been a little hesitant to try this diet due to the fact that my cholesterol levels are usually high, but after consulting a good friend of mine who... [more]Trackback from romney.blog: daring to write code and chronicle the mundane at
NewsGator HTTP report card
This is in no relation to this post, but I found your site through a Google search: "Atkins Diet Blog". I read your post and was wondering how you are doing on/off the diet now? :)Posted by anniebella at
[ed: in deference to future google explorers, the above comment was relocated to this blog entry and the original author notified]
Essentially, I'm off of Atkins now and varying between the 25 and 30 pound weight loss point. The only change to my diet at thispoint is that I will try to avoid having multiple meals in one day which have large amounts of carbs (in other words, I wouldn't have a bagel and pasta in the same day).
If I start gaining weight back, I'll resume Atking proper. Either way, I plan to resume my weight loss around Thanksgiving so that I achieve my goal in January.
Posted by Sam Ruby atI need the exact title of your book and the editor so I can loose weight too.
Posted by rachel gregoire at
Just my +1
I have done Atkins for 8 months now. Lost 30 lbs. I am at goal. First real diet of my life. Acutally seemed relatively easy for me. The only hard part for my was Chinese food with out rice.
Posted by Nick Chalko at
A doctor in Argentina recommended this diet to me because my high level of cholesterol. What do you think about it?
Posted by cristina at
Atkins vs. South Beach
I've been on the Atkins Diet for a little over four weeks and I've lost 11 pounds. I knew the diet worked before trying it because I watched several co-workers where I use to work just melt away their weight on this diet.... [more]Trackback from Larry's Log at
Have been on Atkins for 9-months. Lost 15 lbs in the first three weeks, but have bumped into a wall ever since--due, I suspect, to drinking too much red wine with my low-carb meals.
After a while carbo-lust became all but uncontrollable in me, so I back-slid. Now, I find it hard to get back into ketosis, even though I am being quite good about avoiding carbs and booze.
Will try the South Beach variation on Atkins, which trades fat for a few carbs. This dieting adventure is described at:
http://www.velocitypress.com/page/page/794841.htm
Hi, just wondering if anybody has had any problems when coming off of the ATKINS diet.
Posted by Stephanie at
I can't speak for others, but I stopped counting carbs about six months ago, and I have not bounced back. I will say that when given a choice, I will avoid foods that are lighter on carbs, but I do routinely eat pasta and pizza.
Posted by Sam Ruby at
Your case seems to be abnormal. This forum should be helpful to you Atkins Diet Forum
Posted by Atkins Diet Fans at
Funny you should mention this now: I just restarted Atkins yesterday. I did it for the first time last summer, stayed on for about 4 months, and lost 20 pounds. But the weight returned, so it's once again into the fray.
Posted by Dave Seidel at