Thinking about trying Atkins...

[Jen_uk]

Hello

I'm thinking about starting the Atkins diet next week, I have briefly tried it years ago but didn't give it a proper go. I need to lose loads of weight and I find that on other diets the weight loss is so slow I lose heart and give up.

One thing I am concerned about is that in 11 weeks I am off to Disney World for 3 weeks, I know that I won't be able to stick to the diet when I am there, I won't go mad and will try to eat low carb but we have lots of nice meals booked and I want to enjoy those. I am happy if I put on up to 7lbs but I'm worried that as soon as I eat carbs all the weight I lose in the next 11 weeks will just pile on.

Do you think this is likely to happen?

[Slapshot]

Re: Thinking about trying Atkins...

Yes, if you don't "stick to the diet" when you're in Disney, you're likely to pile back on most of the pounds you'll lose between now and then. Who says you can't eat Atkins-friendly in Disney World? They have plenty of Atkins Friendly stuff at every restaurant...steaks, salads, fishes, chicken dishes etc. So, for every place you have a meal booked, I guarantee you you can stay on plan.

What you're probably worrying about is staying away from all of the junk food there. You have that problem today, tomorrow, and in 11 weeks when you're in Disney. So, why not pledge to tackle it now and get on the plan, and face Disney with a new way of eating/way of life? I assure you that if you (a) stick to Atkins for the next 11 weeks; and (b) lose the weight on it that I know you will, the temptations in Disney will be nothing for you to conquer. Believe me, as a choco-holic, I went to Hershey Park (i.e. where they make Hershey's chocolate) and did not cheat once. If I can do that, you can make it through Disney on-plan (and much lighter than you are today!).

[msanjelpie]

Re: Thinking about trying Atkins...

I've been on Atkins for 10 weeks and have lost 20 lbs. After all this hard work, if I were tempted with something like junk food right now I would have no problem saying no. Taking into consideration how great I feel, how much weight I still have to lose and the strength of resolve I have right now to make it to the end...

I think if you are on the diet for 11 weeks and doing well... that you won't have any problems at Disney eating the right things...

[Elizellen]

Re: Thinking about trying Atkins...

I agree with the others - after sticking to Atkins for a couple of months you might well discover that the 'temptations' of junk food hold no interest for you at all and you have got into the swing of planning how to stick to eating to plan without feeling deprived.

[Slidesdownmountains]

Re: Thinking about trying Atkins...

Having been to Disney about 7 years ago, when I hadn't even thought about Atkins, even then I craved salad after a couple of days: there was so much sugar, well actually, just so much food in general!

BUT, in that respect there is also a lot of 'allowed' tasty food: breakfast buffets with loads of eggs, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes etc, kobe beef, excellent steaks, wings, rotisserie chickens, vendors in parks selling turkey & chicken thighs, cheeseburgers you can easily remove the bun from, loads of salad...yum!
Just because you're on holiday doesn't mean you'll automatically have to eat candy-floss, chips, chocolate and nachos all day long!
Actually, maybe it will be so lovely and warm that you won't fancy a lot of these things??

On a slightly different perspective, and perhaps I am being a little cruel, but there seem to be so, so many heavily overweight people in the parks (am I being mean?: it seemed to me when I was there that I had never seen so many overweight people?)
Perhaps you can use this to motivate you?
That may come across as being a bit b1tchy, apologies if it does, that's not my intention - but as we all know, nobody forces us to put any of this stuff in our bodies!
(I kid you not, when I was in the Magic Kingdom there was a massively obese man, who had the nerve to go and borrow an electric disability scooter as he could not walk very far due to his weight, and the very first place I saw him drive to was a food vendor stand for an enormous soda, cheeseburger and huge portion of fries!!!).

I can kind of see with myself, especially with my unerring ability to 'justify' eating junk food, that this could be a real prospect for my future - mobility scooters! - and I certainly don't want that!

I don't know what your reasons are for wanting to shift some weight, you say you have loads to lose? - but personally, I want to try and change my mind set with eating and change my habit of looking at these revolting foods: pringles, pizzas, chips/fries, chicken nuggets etc - as being something of a treat or reward: does anyone else do this?
I have no idea why they should be treats, because they are, in a way, poisoning me. Perhaps because of the dopamine/serotonin (forget which!) they release, I think of them as being a pick-me-up or reward if I feel bad/down/ill. Do you find this?

Best of luck with your new way of eating, it's a great choice, and you'll be feeling really positive and full of energy soon
Keep posting - whether it's good or bad: there's people here who will congratulate and support you.

You wouldn't put chip fat in a Ferrari, so put the best possible fuel into your own body.

[Slidesdownmountains]

Re: Thinking about trying Atkins...

God sorry - that turned into a bit of a soap-box rant!
;-)

[Jen_uk]

Re: Thinking about trying Atkins...

Thanks for the replies, I feel quite positive now.

I prob should have mentioned that I am vegetarian (I will eat chicken if there is nothing else), this won't be a problem when I'm at home as there are veggie products here that are low carb but I know from past expereince that in WDW there is limited veggie food and what there is is full of carbs. I love their salads and Im happy to have it with chicken so that would be ok. I know that I will be massively tempted by the ice creams and desserts though!

[Slidesdownmountains]

Re: Thinking about trying Atkins...

Hahaha! Yeah, so my spiel about steak: Not helpful!!
Doh!

Yep - I know the feeling about desserts: I am the sort of person who would go without a main course for dessert if I had my way!

Do you eat seafood or fish at all?

[usetababrickhouse]

Re: Thinking about trying Atkins...

going off course always spells trouble for me.. i have no addictions i know of but i think i can almost be defined as addicted to carbs.. don't miss them when i am not eating them but as soon as i do i can't stop.....

hopefully you have more control than me but let me say i went to the Bahamas for a week at an all inclusive resort and didn't go off once and had lots and lots of temptations.... but got home and someone threw us a post wedding party and i had a piece of cake i am just now getting back on track that was 7 months ago...


well good luck whatever u decide..