Is atkins for life?

[forbey]

Re: Is atkins for life?

This has been on my mind for awhile. I have been on Atkins for going on 2 years now. It worked great. However, I will be leaving for basic training with the Air Force very soon and that is when I will have to get off the diet. I figured that with the amount of exercise I will get in the Air Force that will keep me in shape, but I do wonder how my body is going to react to eating carbs again.

Let me thank you in advance for your commitment to the Air Force.

You will quickly find that military chow (Air Force especially) will provide you with a wide range of options. In boot camp you might try and see just how the carbs effect you. Then adjust them as you go. Once boot camp is over you lose the constant baby sitting (DIs) to force you to do PT. This was a bad thing for me and I put on weight. You might be fine after training, but, you can chose to stick with quality carbs sources, or you can go for the mashed potatoes and gravy and chase it down with a carb filled soda.

It wasn't until my second enlistment (in the Marine Corps) that my barracks CO introduced me to Atkins (1981 or 82) I should have stuck with it then!

Be safe!

forbey

[bykerdruid]

Re: Is atkins for life?

This has been on my mind for awhile. I have been on Atkins for going on 2 years now. It worked great. However, I will be leaving for basic training with the Air Force very soon and that is when I will have to get off the diet. I figured that with the amount of exercise I will get in the Air Force that will keep me in shape, but I do wonder how my body is going to react to eating carbs again.

You really shouldn't have too much trouble. I'm not sure what an Air Force diet consists of, but I'm sure you'll have healthy choices available. And you're right, the exercise will burn off most of the carbs you eat, as long as you're not stuffing yourself on them. The more you burn in exercise, the more you can have, just don't eat more than you burn. Most of your hard core exercisers will tell you that you need carbs for fuel. As long as you're burning that fuel. Good luck and much success.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Is atkins for life?

>>she loves the 'freedom' of eating on WW.>>

There's a lot of "freedom" on Atkins, too. There's more to Atkins than Induction.

>>she wanted more variety and wanted to learn how to manage that >>

How could that not happen on Atkins?

>>prefers WW now...which is perfectly fine.>>

Absolutely.

[Mutantmom]

Re: Is atkins for life?

If "atkins for life" sound like a prison sentence it is not likely for you For me it sounds like liberation. I love having not to worry about weight because lowering my carbs helps me regulate my appetite and keep cravings under control. Because of my addition to sugars and starches it I eat those I will be heading straight for obesity again. So I am good where I am. More than good If I am ever in doubt I look at pictures of sugarfree Sheila.

I know she is so beautiful!

However, I don't think that if Atkins for life sounds like a prison sentence is it is not for you...nope...I started out believing that and am now fully onboard with Atkins, My SIL felt the same way, lost her weight and is now happily on WW. So I would hope that if Atkins for life sounds like a prison sentence the person would first learn as much as they can about the plan, second, give it a chance and if it does work for them, go ahead and lose the weight, just figure out your final plan before you get there...if you are switching research and fully understand how the change might affect your body and weight loss goals, but please do not rule Atkins out simply because it seems like a prison sentence, if I had done that, I would not be losing right now and would still be on WW gaining.

[Mutantmom]

Re: Is atkins for life?

This has been on my mind for awhile. I have been on Atkins for going on 2 years now. It worked great. However, I will be leaving for basic training with the Air Force very soon and that is when I will have to get off the diet. I figured that with the amount of exercise I will get in the Air Force that will keep me in shape, but I do wonder how my body is going to react to eating carbs again.

You should be eating carbs now. Why do you have to get off the diet in the Air Force?

[bykerdruid]

Re: Is atkins for life?

I have to agree with Atkinsgal. How can you not have variety on Atkins in Maintenance? You can have meat, cheese, veggies, nuts, an occassional rum and (diet) coke, fruits, beans, whole grains.... That pretty much covers every kind of food you'd want, sans junk and refined foods which aren't good for anybody on any diet. Go out for dinner and have a steak, (grilled chicken, salmon, whatever) salad, grilled veggies and if they have it available, whole wheat roll and a tall glass of ice tea (I don't use any sweetner in mine anyway). What's not to love?

If you really want the bare bones truth, Atkins Maintenance is simply eating real foods and eating them sensibly. No points to count and no dues necessary.

[Mutantmom]

Re: Is atkins for life?

>>she loves the 'freedom' of eating on WW.>>

There's a lot of "freedom" on Atkins, too. There's more to Atkins than Induction.

>>she wanted more variety and wanted to learn how to manage that >>

How could that not happen on Atkins?

>>prefers WW now...which is perfectly fine.>>

Absolutely.

For you Atkins offers freedom, for her it did not...different people, no need to try and belittle her choice or to try and figure out how to prove her wrong, again, she is 167 and has maintained that for about 7 years.

You eat far differenly on WW than you do on Atkins, maybe look at the diet and you will understand what she means by this. She eats chips and breads and ice cream and other things that I can not and will never be able to eat and is perfectly happy doing so...all within her points.

Did I mention she lost over 300lbs doing Atkins? Do you ever have anything nice to say?

[Mutantmom]

Re: Is atkins for life?

I have to agree with Atkinsgal. How can you not have variety on Atkins in Maintenance? You can have meat, cheese, veggies, nuts, an occassional rum and (diet) coke, fruits, beans, whole grains.... That pretty much covers every kind of food you'd want, sans junk and refined foods which aren't good for anybody on any diet. Go out for dinner and have a steak, (grilled chicken, salmon, whatever) salad, grilled veggies and if they have it available, whole wheat roll and a tall glass of ice tea (I don't use any sweetner in mine anyway). What's not to love?

If you really want the bare bones truth, Atkins Maintenance is simply eating real foods and eating them sensibly. No points to count and no dues necessary.

Again, for those of us who love Atkins that is fine, but it was not enough for her...which is equally ok. I did WW for quite some time (I was not successful at it obviously) but I did not mind the points just like I don't mind counting carbs on Atkins and the price, though I would rather not pay for a diet, eating this way is not cheap either. To each their own.

[MBchrono]

Re: Is atkins for life?

Well of course I eat some carbs now. But it is unrealistic to think that I am going to be able to maintain a specific diet (unless vegetarian) in basic training. You eat what is provided in the allotted time provided.

I am just wondering how my body is going to react physically. If I will experience some of the same symptoms as induction.

[Mutantmom]

Re: Is atkins for life?

Well of course I eat some carbs now. But it is unrealistic to think that I am going to be able to maintain a specific diet (unless vegetarian) in basic training. You eat what is provided in the allotted time provided.

I am just wondering how my body is going to react physically. If I will experience some of the same symptoms as induction.

I'm not sure I understand. Why would you not be able to maintain a specific diet in basic training? You can eat your veggies and meat just as quickly as you can eat meat and potatoes right? Do they force you to eat everything they put in front of you? I've never been in basic training, though I have several family members that are enlisted, I've never had a discussion about how they eat...I really would not worry too much about it, I've never been witness to anybody coming out of basic training fatter than when they went in. Like someone else stated, you know what foods are good and which ones are not, unless they expect you to eat every drop of food in front of you (which they could I guess) eat what you know is healthy and leave the rest.

[AJs-mommy]

Re: Is atkins for life?

I think for my SIL the grass was greener on the other side. She loved Atkins and has bouts of Atkinish eating now. But she is a WW girl and states over and over she loves the 'freedom' of eating on WW. I'm sure people have many reasons for not doing maintenance on the plan they lost the weight on...for her she wanted more variety and wanted to learn how to manage that (which she has done beautifully). I know for sure she started and ended Atkins as a diet to lose the weight, I don't think I can say she did not have enough belief in Atkins (or understanding) because she lost over 330lbs while on the diet so she must have understood the plan fully. She also went through all the phases, she stayed on induction for over a year, but she progressed through the phases and has no problem telling everybody around her about her experience on Atkins, which was VERY positive. She regained her sense of self on Atkins, but prefers WW now...which is perfectly fine.

I think that's what I loved about WW, the freedom. I miss fruit sooo much. At first I was a bit angry but now I realize I do have control. I decide when it's time to move to the next rung. I realize I will have fruit, when I decide it's the right time to introduce it (of course in the order it should be introduced). Atkins can be as varied as WW, to a degree, but I think what happens is, SOME people stay on induction to lose as much weight as quickly as possible and then become so tired of restrictions that they move on to something else. Some people move on to a different restriction, like WW, and are able to maintain the weight loss. Others become overwhelmed with the fact they are now "allowed" to eat everything they weren't for so long and end up over indulging over and over again until they weigh as much, if not more than before. Regardless which WOE people choose, the one thing in common is learning how to take back control over food. Atkins, WW, south beach, etc are all just tools to teach people, who have no idea how to control what goes in their mouth, how to take back that control.

[MarlaSinger]

Re: Is atkins for life?

(Sorry, that soapbox was a real downer, but it needed to be said and this seemed like the perfect thread to say it!)

forbey

I think it all comes down to motivation.

I am here because I recognize that my former eating habits were putting me in line with preventable diseases like diabetes and heart disease. I only hope it's not too late for me at 35.

I suppose there are others who utilize Atkins for other reasons. Fast weight loss is attractive.

[Mutantmom]

Re: Is atkins for life?

I think that's what I loved about WW, the freedom. I miss fruit sooo much. At first I was a bit angry but now I realize I do have control. I decide when it's time to move to the next rung. I realize I will have fruit, when I decide it's the right time to introduce it (of course in the order it should be introduced). Atkins can be as varied as WW, to a degree, but I think what happens is, SOME people stay on induction to lose as much weight as quickly as possible and then become so tired of restrictions that they move on to something else. Some people move on to a different restriction, like WW, and are able to maintain the weight loss. Others become overwhelmed with the fact they are now "allowed" to eat everything they weren't for so long and end up over indulging over and over again until they weigh as much, if not more than before. Regardless which WOE people choose, the one thing in common is learning how to take back control over food. Atkins, WW, south beach, etc are all just tools to teach people, who have no idea how to control what goes in their mouth, how to take back that control.

What she said

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Is atkins for life?

>>For you Atkins offers freedom, for her it did not...different people, no need to try and belittle her choice or to try and figure out how to prove her wrong,>>

I wasn't belittling her choice.

Nor was I trying to prove her wrong.

To be quite honest, I don't really care what she chose to do ... it was and is her choice.

However, the topic of this thread led me to believe that discourse was welcome.

I guess I misunderstood.

[Mutantmom]

Re: Is atkins for life?

>>For you Atkins offers freedom, for her it did not...different people, no need to try and belittle her choice or to try and figure out how to prove her wrong,>>

I wasn't belittling her choice.

Nor was I trying to prove her wrong.

To be quite honest, I don't really care what she chose to do ... it was and is her choice.

However, the topic of this thread led me to believe that discourse was welcome.

I guess I misunderstood.

Nope, you didn't misunderstand, you've just decided to pick at someone that won't just roll over and take it...simple.