i have lots of questions

[BillyAndKirstin]

okay....my fiancee and i are starting this diet. he has been on this diet before and therefore knows a lot about it, but i have lots of questions before i can really dedicate myself to this.

first of all, i understand this diet is not just a diet, but a LIFESTYLE CHANGE. but when people go on this diet, do they continue to stay on this diet, or do they drop it once they have met their weight goal? i have heard lots of success stories about people losing lots of weight, but i have also heard that once people drop the diet, they gain back every pound. who wants to be on this diet forever? i know that if i were on this diet for a long period of time, i would probably start to hate my life.

another one of my main questions is, how healthy can this diet really be? how healthy can a diet really be that doesnt allow necessary nutrients like fruits and such? fruits do have sugar, i know, but they do have important things like vitamins. i know youre supposed to take a multi-vitamin, but can that really be enough of the certain vitamins you need per day?

another thing is...the discipline. how can people really do this? it seems very difficult to me....but then i am not necessarily a very disciplined person... : / for the past year i was a vegetarian, but a few months ago i started eating meat again. i stopped eating meat because of ethical reasons, and also, i just dont really like meat that much, so i dont eat it that often. can a vegetarian exist on this diet?

okay...i think those are all the questions i have....any input is appreciated.

thanks a lot!
kirstin

[Bren]

Re: i have lots of questions

Chuckling here as you obviously do not have "the" book. All your questions are answered in The New Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution!
A diet is just that a diet! How you are eating now is a "diet". Atkins has phases. MANY phases and the last phase is maintenance. Maintenance is the best!
Along the way, doing the phases you add back many food groups! Furit included!
I can see by your post that you think Atkins in induction. NOPE! Induction is a very small phase in the overall way of eating!
This is IMHO the BEST way of eating! Done properly and by following the book, once you start you will never doubt it!
Just make sure you do it properly!

[Bren]

Re: i have lots of questions

Pardon my poor manners.

Hi and Welcome to ADBB! We are all here to help you on your Atkins Journey. Look around and check out all the forums here on the board. There is a wealth of information. But, please remember, nothing takes the place of reading the book to understand Atkins!

[not2late]

Re: i have lots of questions

Hi and welcome!

okay....my fiancee and i are starting this diet. he has been on this diet before and therefore knows a lot about it, but i have lots of questions before i can really dedicate myself to this.

My first bit of advice is to borrow your financee's book and read it from beginning to end. That way you'll know what to do too and that will make it easier for the both of you to support each other through your Atkins.

first of all, i understand this diet is not just a diet, but a LIFESTYLE CHANGE. but when people go on this diet, do they continue to stay on this diet, or do they drop it once they have met their weight goal? i have heard lots of success stories about people losing lots of weight, but i have also heard that once people drop the diet, they gain back every pound. who wants to be on this diet forever? i know that if i were on this diet for a long period of time, i would probably start to hate my life.

Atkins is a 4 phase diet plan. The first 3 phases are the weight loss phases. The fourth phase is a weight maintenance phase. If you go through each phase of the diet, you will learn how to eat for your individual body and that that will decrease the chances of regaining it all back. Too many people make the mistake that the Induction phase is the entire Atkins diet. Induction is a minimum of 2 weeks. After that period you can move to the On-Going Weight Loss phase and begin to individualize your diet in terms of carbohydrate amounts and types of foods (fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, etc.)

However, no matter what diet you use, if you return to the eating habits/lifestyle that made you fat in the first place, you'll regain that weight.

another one of my main questions is, how healthy can this diet really be? how healthy can a diet really be that doesnt allow necessary nutrients like fruits and such? fruits do have sugar, i know, but they do have important things like vitamins. i know youre supposed to take a multi-vitamin, but can that really be enough of the certain vitamins you need per day?

This diet allows ALOT of vegetables, which also have nutrients. In fact, some vegetables have more vitamin C than an orange and more potassium than a banana and these vegetables are allowed during Induction Phase.

That's another mistake people make. They fail to eat the vegetables we are supposed to eat. Even on Induction Phase we eat 3-5 USDA servings of vegetables daily. Or if they eat the veggies, they don't eat the vegetables with the most nutrients.

another thing is...the discipline. how can people really do this? it seems very difficult to me....but then i am not necessarily a very disciplined person... : / for the past year i was a vegetarian, but a few months ago i started eating meat again. i stopped eating meat because of ethical reasons, and also, i just dont really like meat that much, so i dont eat it that often. can a vegetarian exist on this diet?

Yes a vegetarian can do this diet. If you are a vegan it might be more difficult particularly in the Induction phase. But during the remaining phases the diet is liberal enough that vegans shouldn't have a problem. However, if you are willing to use eggs and dairy (ie: lacto-ovo vegetarian), then Induction will be incredibly do-able for you.

On-Going Weight Loss phase is a veggie-lover's delight. I am in that phase and I eat more vegetables daily than what the USDA's 5 daily servings. I also incorporate fruits, nuts and legumes into my diet and the grains I'm not allergic to. Pre-Maintenance and Maintenance phases are very liberal in comparison to Induction and you will be eating a wide variety of foods.

If you click on "FAQ" on the top navigation bar, you will find a "Vegetarian FAQ" on the first or second page.

[jcapulet]

Re: i have lots of questions

Hi there and welcome

Just wanted to comment, I definitely want to be on this "diet" forever. There are so many delicious foods (check out the recipes in the food forum)...and I'm never hungry.

[TammyJo348]

Re: i have lots of questions

Welcome! So glad to have you here and, as you can see, you have come to the right place. Everyone here is SOOO knowledgeable on EVERYTHING Atkins related.

My situation is similar and I can understand your hesitation. I did Atkins last year, lost 34 pounds in a few months and stopped dead in my tracks and replaced my eggs for donuts agaiN! I gained back DOUBLE what I had lost. I tried over the year to lose it other ways, but it never worked. I couldn't get it off.

Finally it clicked for me one day that THIS was the only way I could lose weight. It was the trash I was putting in me that was hurting me, and I had to stop eating that. I LOVE fruits and can't wait to get on that rung again, but it's not so bad not having them. I have been on the WOL for 3 weeks now and I feel better than ever. I lost 31 pounds and am 3 pounds away from being what I started at this time last year! Hooray!

Everyone will warn you abuot losing then gaining, they don't understand though that it's a WAY OF LIFE, not just a way of eating for a couple weeks till you are happy with your body. It's a lifetime commitment, but, aside from my marriage last year, it's the best one I have ever made for myself...honestly!

[adreliluc]

Re: i have lots of questions

I too will stay on this "diet" forever... It's not just about induction foods... As you move on to the other phases you will be eating more and more foods... soon it'll be just like an all american crap free HEALTHY diet... nothing wrong with that! You'll also know what your body can and can not tolerate and that alone is enough for me to be a true beliver.

Like the others have said, it's clear you have not read the book... read it and then decide if you should attempt this WOE... this isn't a quick fix so if you're not in for the long haul you might want to consider something else...

Either way, good luck and welcome!!!