Did you try other diets? Why did you choose Atkins?

[boonie stomper]

Re: Did you try other diets? Why did you choose Atkins?

My old life:
I tried _________ diet (fill in the blank) and stayed on it as long as I could stand feeling weak and hungry, and lost a little, but gained it back quickly. Then I gained even more.
I took _____________ (insert 1 or more diet pills or supplements) which were expensive, both on and off my diets, sometimes for months, but noticed no significant beneficial effect.
I tried Atkins induction, more than once, for as long as 6 mos. and felt great, and lost weight, but was afraid of what people said about staying on it too long.
Back to Atkins this time with improved knowledge, and what bad thing can I say about it after almost 7 months?
NOTHING!!

[ttdriver]

Re: Did you try other diets? Why did you choose Atkins?

Low calorie = starved.

Lowfat = got fatter.

Fatfree = blech. Who can eat fat free crap anyway?

Atkins = Great food, unbelievable results.

No more dieting; Atkins for life.

Betty

[kristenxo]

Re: Did you try other diets? Why did you choose Atkins?

I've struggled with my weight since I was about 10 years-old. I remember my first "diet" was at 11-ish during sixth grade and I tried to limit myself to 1000 calories per day. I think I lasted a few days on that "plan" (don't know how well a 6th grader can plan anything). I went off-and-on similar low-calorie and/or low-fat diets until I was 15 and never lost any weight (granted I wouldn't stay on my "diets" for very long due to extreme hunger, fatigue, frustration over not losing fast enough, etc.). At 15 I put myself on a strict diet of 500-700 calories per day (not based on any research, it just sounded good at the time) and actually held myself to it for quite awhile. I lost about 35lbs. in three months (at the time that put me at healthy weight of about 155lbs., I'm 5'10"). Unfortunately I was extremely irritable, weak, STARVING and exhausted all the time as a result. After being on that diet for about 5 months I quit, not because I felt like cr@p but because I wasn't losing any more weight (toward the end I was flat-out starving myself one to two days per week - I would only drink water).

I slowly regained the weight I lost plus quite a bit more over the years. I started Atkins in 5/2003 after hearing about my mom's co-worker who lost 60lbs. in about 7 months. Needless to say it worked! In order to stay motivated I needed to see results fast, which is exactly what happened. I lost 90lbs. in less than a year I started at 235lbs. and ended up at 145lbs. by March-ish of 2004.

I went through a pretty bad period in my life at the begining of this year, though, and went back to eating junk. Things started getting better in July, but I continued to eat the wrong foods regardless and gained about 10lbs. which is why I'm back on Induction

[stephbob]

Re: Did you try other diets? Why did you choose Atkins?

I tried Slimming World when I was younger (like, 14) and I don't personally remember having any success, but my mum says I lost a lot of weight. I just cant understand why I dont remember it, as my weight was my main focal point back then.

I tried WW, but I found it too easy to demolish an entire box of their treats (cookies, cake bars, etc) When you're only meant to have one.

Then I tried just eating healthy, a low cal diet, and took up walking 3 miles a day. And GAINED a lot of weight! (I got fatter, not muscley)

Then I tried the GI diet, which worked a treat on me. I lost about 15 lbs in 2 weeks, which I was very pleased with, but I did it with ediets.com and found myself stuck to only a few meal options because I'm a terrible cook, and a lot of the meals required so much preparation and skill. So I gave up.

Then I tried Atkins because the GI diet worked and they were similar to me, and after a few attempts over the years, I got on track, and a year later, I'm 10lbs from goal!

[Momtofour]

Re: Did you try other diets? Why did you choose Atkins?

On W.W. I would lose 10 pounds and then stop losing. Frustrating to say the least!

Low calorie and I felt like I was starving

South Beach was hard because I felt like I was dieting because of it being low fat.

Low fat diets never worked for more than a couple of days.

Ketosis is what made me choose Atkins. I was eating good food, wasn't hungry, losing weight fast, and felt better than I had in years and I didn't feel like I was "dieting". There's no going back now.

[eschli35]

Re: Did you try other diets? Why did you choose Atkins?

I agree on the Atkins not feeling like you are dieting. You are losing weight and staying full!! It is amazing. And I feel good about myself, on low cal or low fat I would be starving and then binge and feel awful. I am dedicated to this WOL.

[Chris]

Re: Did you try other diets? Why did you choose Atkins?

I did WW all the way to goal, twice. Both times (the second one was for over a year) there was almost never a moment when I wasn't hungry!

I did Nutri-Systems, and was losing (although still always hungry) but the local franchise closed before I reached goal.

Thanks to Atkins, I now know that it's the refined carbs that have always been my nemisis; and, I also know that Atkins is the only way to lose weight without constant hunger. Thank goodness for Dr. A.

[sadie147]

Re: Did you try other diets? Why did you choose Atkins?

I did weight watchers 3 times, lost 15lbs the first time around (i also started going to a gym so i actually credit that for it mostly)..the second/third time around i just lost alot of $$ I found it really hard to sit and eat 3oz of fish or skinless chicken while i sat across from my husband who would be eating a steak. I was also bad for saving up my points and using them on things like chocloate cake LOL.

I did slimfast shakes, problem was i would drink one..then half an hour later end up eating a full meal because i was hungry..ended up gaining weight on that. My brain cannot grasp the concept that a liquid can be a meal.

When i started atkins I had long given up on losing weight...I just happened to see an article in a local paper about someone that was very successful on it. they had the Atkins website listed so i went on there just out of curiousity...i realized the foods listed were everything I loved, so i decided to try it w/o any expectations. It's now a way of life for me..Have been eating this way for over 2.5 yrs now.

[Vampyre]

Re: Did you try other diets? Why did you choose Atkins?

I went on WW points and in three months I had lost 10 whole pounds. That's when I was sure there was something wrong with me. I had a physical done and my doctor realized I was hypothyroid. He also ran a blood pannel and found that my triglyceride level was through the roof. He called me at home and put me on thyroid medication and told me to do Atkins to get my triglycerides under control. My triglycerides are down 250 points and I've lost 79 pounds. I'm coming up on one year at the end of the month and I'm very very happy to be doing this WOL instead of dieting. I still have a lot of weight to lose, but so far so good.