Hi Everyone

I've not posted on here in a while as mega busy but I keep popping in to have a nosey and see what you are all up to :D

I'm thinking of giving the Atkins diet a try and have been looking at their website which I have to say is rather complicated.  I know this has been discussed in the past and I wondered if those of you who have done/or doing this diet could give me some ideas on what you actually eat ?  By that I mean, what do you have for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Bearing in mind I work full time so no time for cooked breakfasts before heading out to work.  Also some folk say you can eat full fat things like cheese, butter etc. which sounds strange to me.  Is that true ?  And can you eat as much as you want of the right things or should you still be sensible ?

Would appreciate anyones thoughts/ideas on this diet.  If I decide its not for me then I'll go back to WW, I only need to lose a stone.

Cheers! :-)

Hiya Claire, I've done the Induction part of the diet (the bit you do for 2 weeks max) several times.  I tend to do a week - 10 days on it every couple of months.  The last time I did it I lost 11lbs in 8 days.

The basic idea behind it is to eat a high protein diet rather than a high carb which is why yes you can eat cheese and other dairy products.

Here was my typical menu:

Breakfast - chicken/ham/turkey slices with optional cheese wrapped up in them (ideal for work) or at the weekend some scrambled egg with bacon.

Lunch - cheese and onion/bacon omelette with a little salad or a quarter pounder with cheese and bacon minus the bun.

Dinner - steak, chicken, lamb burgers, basically anything which isn't processed which doesn't have too many carbs in along with a little stir fry vegetables (though avoid sweetcorn as this is quite high in carbs).

Your meant to not have more than 20g of carbs a day and that is through the salad/veg that you can eat.  You also have to watch what you drink - no orange juice etc.  I found that Sainsbury's do the Perfectly Clear water drinks that have 0 carbs so you can drink as much as you want and also diet drinks tend to have low carbs.

You'll find that things like 100% beef burgers etc don't have too many carbs though watch out for sausages as they contain bread which is high in carbs making them no good for the diet.

I work full time and found it quite easy to stick to - good luck!!  :D

Ooh and forgot to say - you generally find that your appetite supresses itself after the first few days.  I can seriously put my food away (why I needed to diet in the first place) but found that I was getting full up on really small amounts!!

A lot of normal sensible things aren't allowed on Atkins for the Induction Stage - ie fruit and certain veg etc however this is only for a maximum of 2 weeks, if you then stay on the diet you are meant to then increase your carb intake by re-introducing fruit etc again.

ive done it,it does work,
i lived on hot dog sausages!

wouldnt do it again,but tend to still separate carbs & protien to a certain extent,

give it a try,it does work but dont think its really very healthy long term....makes a real change from pasta & yoghurts!

id have,breakfast, eggs/bacon/sausages

lunch, scotch eggs

dinner,steak,or mince,chicken

for snacks,cheese or hot dog sausages!!!!!

er don't hot dog sausages have a lot of maize in them usually?

Scotch eggs have breadcrumbs

still worked! sometimes id bite the breadcrumbs off & give them to the dogs!

Just remember that Atkins himself died from blocked arteries at 52 years!
They don't tell you that in the book!

ROTFLOL at Sharon :D  I was just beginning to think "I can do this diet" then I got to your post :D  :D

Seriously though, I might give it a try, even if only for a couple of weeks, I am a bit of a carb junkie so might struggle at first.  Its just knowing what to eat and what not to eat.  I guess I need to buy the book unless you think I can do it without it ?  I'm pleased someone said you are only allowed 20g of carb per day as I did wonder what the amount was.

Thanks for all the replies :-)

You do really need to get the book, and read it through thoroughly befores starting on it.   It's worked well for several people that I know - but it was very bad for me - started iritation of the gallbladder which almost meant gall bladder removal for me :( - there was too much fat/high protein for my system.

I've cut carbs substantially now (not cut them out completely) and eat as many portions of fruit and veg as I can manage - start each day with a fruit smoothie - banana, some raspberries or blueberies (a handful) and 4 spoonfuls of organic (Yeo Valley) low fat yoghurt, all whized together in a pint beer mug (stick blenders are wonderful ;) - and drink that down whilst I'm preparing dogs' breakfast.   I KNOW we're supposed to sit down quietly & eat - but hey - this is the real world, dogs, cats & OH to be fed before I rush out the door.

I feel so much better for having breakfast - and knowing that I've already had 2 of my 5 portions of fruit & veg makes me feel so smug!!

Margot

I know the principal, BUT
What can I do for lunch when I really CANNOT do anything else but a pack lunch???
It has to be able to be packed at 8 am. and not eaten till 12.30 as out in the field all the time.
OIh and I LOVE my tea with milk.
If I could do the lunch thing. I would do it. And only need to loose about a stone, so should be able to do it on the starter thing!!!!!
Lea :)

There was an episode of Quincy (the Medical Examiner), which featured a model on a high protein diet. It appeared to me from the story that such diets are likely to be very unhealthy. Also I understand that Dr Atkins weighed 18 stones when he died!

I remember that! I used to love Quincy!

Do you remember the one with the femur bone that he built up a picture of the victim from?

I must admit Atkins is one diet i wouldn't touch - the thought of all that protein makes me feel quite ill!!! :D

Lindsay
X

My boyfriend did it with me and he had to take packed lunches in with him.  He took some cooked chicken drumsticks, or a lunchbox with tuna and a bit of salad or prawns, a bit of salad and full fat mayo. You could also have a chicken salad with bacon, made up and taken in a packed lunch.

They also now do in places like boots etc a low carb sandwich (chicken and bacon), breakfast bars (which are delicious!!).

I would recommend buying the book.  You can do the diet with the basic info but if you like to do things properly (like me) then having the book really helps as it lists all foods that you can and can't have and also explains the process properly.

With regards to the safety of the diet, it probably isn't the most healthiest in the long term but by doing a week - 2 weeks max at a time it hasn't done me any harm - I believe its those who change onto it permanently or who do the diet without reading the book who generally think that you stick to the Induction Phase permanently.  You are meant to increase your carb intake after 2 weeks.

Hope that helps!!

I have just gone on a diet, started last thursday after watching the fat challenge on TV,
all i have done is stopped eating in between meals by making myself busy, eating healthy and cutting my portions down,
Its working a treat i can feel the weight going off because my clothes feel loose, i weighed myself this morning and i have lost 3lb already feels like more,
I would never do the Atkins diet for one im a vegetarian and i think its so unhealthy and then when you come off the diet you will put the weight back on, personally i would rather loose the weight and be healthy,
I never go over 10 stone as soon as i reach 10 i cut my eating down, my ideal weight is suppose to be 9st.5lb but i feel happier at 9 stone,

Heidi

Heidi - I'm not going into the ins and outs of the diet as to whether its healthy or not (a diet high in carbs is also bad for you).  You can still read the book and take away a LOT of good ideas from it.  People everywhere are now more aware of the fact that high carb diets are bad and this has made people start to look at their own diets and reduce the amount of carbs they are eating. 

Atkins doesn't say that you don't ever eat carbs again - you start on the 2 week induction of low carbs as a booster.  You then begin to increase your carb levels until you find that you are putting weight back on again.  You then discover what your own correct carb level is and by sticking to that as part of a healthy diet you will maintain your weight.

However I would like to point out that I have been doing the Atkins as I've previously described and I HAVE kept the weight off. 

Yes i agree high carb diets are also bad for you,
I think the solution is everything in moderation but plenty of veg, salad and fruit, Im lucky as in i love salad,veggies
but i do know people that cant do this because they dont like veggies,
Im not saying it works for everyone but i find it works for me, yes i do put weight on but as i say when i reach 10 st i know to cut down, it works for me :)

Heidi

Do you know (coming away from Atkins for a minute) I've gone through about 24 years of my life saying that I hated mushrooms, I had a memory from childhood and that was it I'd never eat them.  Then had to go to dinner at the MIL's for the first time and she made something with mushies in - I braved it and guess what......Loved them!!!  Now I'm making up for all those years by having mushrooms with about everything!!!  :D

Mushrooms yummy had some last night,
As a child i hated veg and put tomato sauce and vinegar on them to hide the taste but now i love all veg, i dont think there is any veg i dont like and believe me being a veggie ive tried them all.

Heidi

Well, I got the book and read it over the weekend and today is day one of my atkins diet.

I hope to be able to stick to it for at least the 14 day induction period to see how I feel. I can't imagine me staying on it strictly long term but given how much carb I eat it probably wouldn't do me any harm to at least cut down on that.

It does feel rather strange though.  I went shopping yesterday and I've never seen my trolley look so unhealthy   Still, we'll see what happens, I'm certainly enjoying the food so far :D  I will also be interested to see if I feel any health benefits as the book said those that suffer headaches should see a difference whereas folk I talked to said the diet actually gave them headaches

Thanks for all the tips, I'll keep you posted :-)

Diets do not work.
Eating sensibly, regular small meals and take exercise, that works.
If diets work why do they keep bringing new ones out every month?

Errrr because they are mainly all based around the same principles ie healthy eating and are all just people's variations on that.

Sometimes people need to be told a little bit more than "ooh you should eat healthily" some people need to be given a bit more of a definitive answer than that.

Diets do work.  I've been dieting this year and have lost (and managed to keep off) 2.5 stone.  I've got another stone to go and will continue dieting to do this.

Diet/Eating Healthily = the same IMO.

healthy eating and not over eating too many calories works !!!!!!!!! I lost 5 stone by eating sensibly and watching my daily calorie intake ....... i never went hungry just found foods that were better for me .....

I loose pounds when there is a new diet out ...... £ sterling I should add :D  

I'm now just being sensible in portions, cutting out processed foods, and upping the veggies & fruit!  I'm now loosing a sensible 1lb per week - so hopefully, it might take me a year, but I should lose the weight I need to lose and at the same time establish the sensible eating habits - instead of diving into a new diet, losing the lbs and then putting them back (plus a few more) when I return to old eating patterns!

Margot

Sorry if I'm beind pedantic but eating healthily if you didn't before IS a diet in itself so all those people saying that they don't agree with diets and that they have just starting eating healthily ARE on a diet - its a different diet to the one you were on before making it a diet.

To be really pedantic - 'diet' just means 'what you eat'! To that you add 'healthy', 'low-calorie', 'high-energy' or whatever.
:)

Exactly!!  So everyone is on a diet in one way or another!!  :D

That maybe but its a healthy diet, which leaves you feeling fit and full of energy not starved and tired, I eat healthy all year round, when i reach my 10 stone limit i know just to cut my portions down a little, proof is in the pudding i never go over 10 stone and im 41 years old,
I have a friend that keeps going on different diets, she looses 1 stone then puts back 2 stone,
At 41 I look good feel good so i must be doing something right hey ;)

I have no problem eating a healthy diet, pleanty of fruit and veg, small portions are no problem..............It is the chocolate addiction I can't crack :D

lol @ sandrah :D

I still have chocolate but i only buy fun size and only have one, everything in moderation

How are you doing so far Claire?

Well today is day 5 and I feel fine :-)

Monday I was a bit out of sorts, felt a bit sick and had a fuzzy head and wasn't particularly hungry.  Apparently that is normal and its carb & sugar withdrawal symptoms, which really doesn't surprise me given I've gone from consuming around 600g of carbs per day to 20g !

I wouldn't say the diet is difficult to stick to just a tad boring :D  I get on the scales on Monday so hopefully will have lost some weight !  Knowing my luck I'll have put it on   I have to say though I'm probably eating more veg now than I was previously because your carbs should really be coming from veg and salad veg whereas previously I just ate Pasta, Potatoes and Rice with very few veg.  I'm also making more of an effort to eat fish which has all the essential oils in it so fingers crossed I benefit.

Cheers for asking :-)

Snap, I have lost over 5 stone (a third of my starting weight) on the sensible eating rationale behind the weight watchers time to eat points diet, and have just got another 7 to 10 pounds to losse though am already in the healthy weight range for my height.

The challenge will be to maintain the weight loss, but as it is based on healthy eating all that you are supposed to do is increase your points intake until your weight remaions steady. 

This has always been the problem with a lot of diets bsed on meal rplacements or eating things short term.  What is needed is a total change in eating habits.

Just thought I would let you know that I got weighed yesterday and have lost 4lbs :D  It will be interesting to see what happens in the 2nd week as when I have done diets like WW before I have usually lost 2 or 3lbs in the first week then 0.5lbs - 1.5lbs after that.

This can't possibly be a long term thing though, its just too restrictive, whereas at least on WW you are allowed a little bit of everything.  But I'll stick it for another week and see what happens. :-)

Well done Claire!! :D  I know what you mean about not being able to stick to it long term.  Thats why I find it good to do for a week every month or so as a booster to my usual healthy eating diet.  I then spend the time in between eating sensibly to maintain my weight loss.

I must say I went totally off of chicken for about a month the first time I did it as I practically lived on chicken!!

What are you doing for your lunches?  If you've come up with any new ideas or meals please share them as, like you said, it does get a bit repetative so any new ideas are greatfully accepted!!  :o)

Hi Charanda

Mostly for lunches I've had some sort of cold meat (smoked ham or chargrilled chicken) with some pieces of rather tasty cheese.  Or I've had chicken drumsticks but need to check the carbs as the tasty ones are marinated in sugar but at least the carbs are still v low and the drumsticks are really filling.  Also had small salads loaded with cheese, smoked sausage, mayonnaise, boiled egg.  Also bought some of those Atkins chocolate bars and they are really nice with only 2g of carbs.  I see that Nesltle are doing low carb kitkats and rolos !

I would be delighted if I could lose another 3 or 4lbs on Monday, thats much more than I ever lost on WW.  However, if I was to do a diet longterm I would definitely go back to WW because you can have a little bit of everything.

Well, done it for 5 days and ended up asleep in the van all morning and being brought home at lunch time as I felt so ill. And only thing I could think of was the fact I havnt been eating carbs :( :(
So going to do a refined version.
No carbs for lunch, but carbs for dinner.
Lea :)
(just dont tell dad, he wouldnt be inpressed!!!!!!!!)