Is Atkins Right For Me?

[fabulis1]

Hi everyone. I've been on Atkins for 6 weeks now. The first 4 weeks I did great, never cheated, not once and lost 17 pounds. I felt amazing! Since then I can't stay on track and the scale is creeping back up! NOT HAPPY with myself.

But I am starting to feel like I'm too deprived on Atkins. Is it so bad to enjoy some low carb flax pitas once in a while or a nice low carb pasta?

I am starting to think Atkins might not be right for me, but low carb is. I did great at 25 carbs or less a day. Can I do that with having a little low carb bread here and there? Or is it all or nothing?

Frustrated!

[not2late]

Re: Is Atkins Right For Me?

Hi everyone. I've been on Atkins for 6 weeks now. The first 4 weeks I did great, never cheated, not once and lost 17 pounds. I felt amazing! Since then I can't stay on track and the scale is creeping back up! NOT HAPPY with myself.

But I am starting to feel like I'm too deprived on Atkins. Is it so bad to enjoy some low carb flax pitas once in a while or a nice low carb pasta?

I am starting to think Atkins might not be right for me, but low carb is. I did great at 25 carbs or less a day. Can I do that with having a little low carb bread here and there? Or is it all or nothing?

Frustrated!

you need to re-read the book and refresh your memory with how this Diet works.

Alot of people make the big mistake of thinking that the Induction Phase is the entire Atkins Diet. It's not. You posted this thread in the "On-Going Weight Loss Phase" forum of this Board. During this Phase, we eat more vegetables, we introduce fruits, starchy veggies, grains, and nuts to our Atkins diet.

So get to re-reading and see for yourself what Atkins really is.

[fabulis1]

Re: Is Atkins Right For Me?

I've read the book over and over, but haven't brought my carbs above 25 because I am very resistant: hypothyroid, Hashimoto's, Celiacs, etc. I'm adding on more veggies (the ones I like), I just don't think I can wait until that rung to have a flax pita. I have a nut allergy, so I can skip that rung.

[Razzle39]

Re: Is Atkins Right For Me?

I've read the book over and over, but haven't brought my carbs above 25 because I am very resistant: hypothyroid, Hashimoto's, Celiacs, etc. I'm adding on more veggies (the ones I like), I just don't think I can wait until that rung to have a flax pita. I have a nut allergy, so I can skip that rung.

AHA BIMBET has arrived! I speak of her often because she really is a . BIMBET stands for Bully In My Brain at Every Triumph. She is a very real part of my personality that I had to give a name to so I know who I am fighting with. This is my journal entry from August:

I did it!.....I did it! 3000 crunches in 25 days. I think its interesting that yesterday I was only 200 crunches from my goal and feeling really good about having gone so far....and something strange happened. I started wanting just one more cup of veggies.....who cares if I have another ounce of cheese and Wow that cold beer in the fridge looks really good.I dont even like beer.
I have lost 3 inches from my waist and 5 inches from my hips. I drank 120 ounces of water daily in the semi annual drink up challenge for 5 days! I gave up Splenda and diet soda. How could I be self sabotaging now? Luckily my husband was there to bring me to my senses.
I really think that somewhere in my subconscious is a voice that I listen to much more than I think I do. A traitor lives within, and she really is a . She does not have my best interest at heart and she is the reason I am so fat in the first place. I am going to call that subconscious traitor,'Bimbet.....Bully In My Brain at Every Triumph.' So stand back Bimbet I know your there and I am coming at you Blazing.

For every time I defeat you I will grow stronger.

Ok,Ok thats enough drama but you get the point. I think we need to look further inside ourselves and ask if who we are is the same as who we want to be. If there is a difference than we need to find out why? I am sure everyone of us has a Bimbet waiting to sabotage our goals. Just be on the look out for her or him and show it the door!

You have lost 17 pounds...That is awesome! You know you can have that flax pita....when it is appropriate in the plan. That flax Pita or pasta is not more important than you and your health You can do this.Have you tried some of the other amazing recipes in the recipe forum. You may find some new recipes in there that is just the ticket for making you feel more satisfied! I hope you stick with it, you will feel so defeated if you dont. We are here for you!

[fabulis1]

Re: Is Atkins Right For Me?

yes, i love to cook and have made wonderful meals. I know they are all excuses, but I'm kicking my own *** out of this diet and don't know why! I know I can do it, I know I can. I think my goal today is to plan for this weekend so I don't budge and plan meals for the next week as well. Freeze what I need to do and leave some fresh.

I will start by adding more veggies and upping my carbs to 30.

Thanks everyone. I need you!

[not2late]

Re: Is Atkins Right For Me?

I've read the book over and over, but haven't brought my carbs above 25 because I am very resistant: hypothyroid, Hashimoto's, Celiacs, etc. I'm adding on more veggies (the ones I like), I just don't think I can wait until that rung to have a flax pita. I have a nut allergy, so I can skip that rung.

If you have thyroid disease, then your doctor has you on medications right? If so, then you really shouldn't worry about being "metabolically resistant" because the medications make you behave like you have a normal thyroid.

As for being metabolically resistant to weight loss per Dr. Atkins' criteria---17 pounds in 4 weeks, isn't metabolically resistant at all.

If you're eating 25 net carbs daily and still losing weight, then you should increase your carbs to 30 to see if you still lose with that amount of carbs. If you lose, then you increase to 35, and keep going until you find your CCLL.

A big mistake I see people make is that they don't try to find their CCLL.

And in terms of your Celiac disease, you have to be very, very, very, VERY careful about those low carb pastas and breads because the majority of them contain wheat gluten or grains that may contain wheat gluten contaminants, which is totally imcompatible with people with Celiac.

[liv]

Re: Is Atkins Right For Me?

I have a low Carb Limit (CCLL) under 30 but that has not prevented me from following Atkins, from losing weight or from eating a variety of food. (And I have a thyroid problem too). I did it by the book and I am now at the last rung where I can eat about everything (some in small quantities - but still if I want it I have it )
The last few rungs I am cycling my carbs. Means if I want to eat starchy vegetable or a some legumes or fruit I have to eat 5 carbs less of something else (veggies or cheese or nuts). It is not that complicated - just do it
You can not guess what YOUR CCLL is. You have to try adding those carbs and find it out. Good luck with those next 5 carbs. You can do it.

PS Razzle I loved you post. I think we all have a Bimbet in there somewhere.

[julirama723]

Re: Is Atkins Right For Me?

Regarding celiac and "low-carb" pasta and breads...

I have not yet seen ANY gluten-free pasta or bread that is even remotely low-carb. Usually these products are made with tapioca starch, potato starch, rice flour, amaranth flour, corn starch, etc. These flours are devoid of fiber, many nutrients, and will make your blood sugar spike like crazy. If you're lucky, you can find something made with soy flour or coconut flour, which are slightly lower-carb and higher-fiber with less of a glycemic load, but usually still have other flours added. (It usually takes 2-4 flours to get a good product, they seem to have to work synergistically.)

The problem with "low-carb" breads are often made with added fiber and unusual flours, so gluten is ADDED to increase the elasticity of the dough. This is the last thing a celiac wants or needs!

The Atkins diet is quite easy to follow if you are celiac. You still have to look for hidden gluten (and it's possible you may have other food intolerances, such as dairy or soy) but the vast majority of Atkins-legal foods are naturally gluten-free.

I know that when I consume gluten, I bloat and GAIN WEIGHT. I am not able to lose weight. Perhaps hidden gluten (in condiments, on unwashed produce, in personal care products) might be contributing to your seemingly-low CCLL??