New, but with questions and worries

[Jade83]

Hi everyone. First off, let me say that I have been reading so many of these posts for about a week, and you are an amazing bunch. I love the encourgement and help that you veterens are willing to give.

I had always heard about Atkins in passing, and like many people, I thought it was just crazy! Eat eggs and bacon? After hearing "low-fat is where it's at" for years and years, I just would not even consider this. But one day I found a book in my library by Dana Carpender called "How I gave up my low-fat diet and lost 40 pounds," and I was intrigued. How on earth could eating this stuff help you to lose weight, be healthier, etc.?

For my New Year's resolution (like everyone, to lose weight), I started following a diet that told you to eat like every three hours, and eat a carb and a protein with each meal. I ate all kinds of whole-grain breads, slow-cooked oatmeal, brown rice, chicken breasts, etc. And you know what? I didn't lose any weight. If anything, I gained a bit. I decided it was time to try this low-carb craze. I started last Sunday and lost 5 pounds in one week. I am not really heavy (started at 145), but I would like to get to 130 and just prevent health problems. I am a medical transcriptionist, and all day long I transcribe notes for the congestive heart failure center and diabetes center. These things scare me! I can't believe what these patients go through with those diseases. Anyway....

I was doing so well, and then the other day there was stuff all over the news and in the paper about heart disease, and how every doctor in the world says you should cut the saturated fat and eat more and more whole grains and fruit. My husband thought the low-carb thing was insane and went nuts when he saw me eating cheese and egg on top of a sausage patty the other day. So, you know he saw that article and brought it to my attention. He thinks I am slowly killing myself and is very mad at me. How can a handful of docs be right and the rest of the world wrong? he asks. I don't know. I really don't. So, since then I'm back to eating oatmeal and whole grain, and I have put 2 pounds back on already.

I know this works for me to lose weight, but I'm concerned about health. I have read the Atkins book, and when I read what he said, I am 100% convinced. But where are the rest of the doctors? Why is everything so contradictory? This makes me just want to go buy a Snickers bar and be done with the whole thing. I just want long-term good health and not to get heart disease where you can't even walk up a flight of steps.

How do you deal with people who just don't get it and won't read anything about it because they are CONVINCED it is bad??

Sorry so long.

[pgmr_64804]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

Well the regular docs are not going to go against the mainstream and be ostrocised, besides they are making way too much money keeping people sick.

Sausage might not be the best choice because of the nitrates and sugar curing. I could not loose and eat it but then I am trying to loose the final few pounds so it is very hard and any little thing will cause me to gain.

That every 3 hour diet sounds like the abs diet or body for life and I tried that and was starved to death the whole time becasue of all those carbs and you could not eat enough at one sitting to satisify your hunger. I think I gained weight on it too.

Tell your husband to worry about his own diet and leave your alone.

[Scooterjam]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

Hello welcome to the board!

Okay, here is my take. I'm a 44 year old male. I have tried low fat diets, I have tried diet pills, I've starved myself, I've eaten right and I've eaten wrong, I was even a vegetarian for 1 year. Everytime I have dieted I have always put the weight back on, sometimes, even more. 3 years ago I tried Atkins, 2 months passed by, I lost 30 pounds, down to about 225 pounds. I was happy about myself and my appearance. Then my neighbor who is a nutrionist asked how I lost the weight, I told her Atkins. Well long story short...she freaked out. No no no it's hard on your body, god put grains and pasta on the earth for all of us. You are doing your body so awful, another family member (a dental assistant) said the same thing. I thought, wow maybe this is really bad.

Slowly but surely I did what everybody said to do. Added yogurts, ice cream, bread, pasta.....as of one year ago around Easter, I went to the doctor, my heart was enlarged, he wanted me to go on blood pressure medicine, my weight had ballooned to 295 pounds, I couldn't walk around the store without breathing heavy....I got my book out and read it again......had blood tests done, I remember my Doctor being very upset that I would not go on all these medications....

In August this past year I went in for a check up and blood work, heart was fine, blood pressure excellent, cholesterol excellent, weight was about 226 at that time. Doctor was very happy. No medication. Only a healthy way of life eating wholesome foods the way Dr. Atkins said. Other than a holiday falling off the wagon for a few weeks, I dusted myself off and I'm back in the saddle again.

Now....the other doctor's don't agree totally with Dr Atkins, so what. You do what works for you. You are not endangering yourself. What is wrong with eating when your hungry, and eating almost gourmet if you ask me?

My neighbor the nutritionist, tried to have the same arguement with me this summer, I showed her my stats, she went and read my fitday journal and has had a change of heart....she said she never realized that Atkins was more than meat and eggs (this kind of shocked me that a nutrionist thought like this) but she now realizes I have pretty much kept this weight off longer than I ever have.

There are 1,000's of other members here who have similar stories, use the search engine and read some past posts, have your husband read them too.
Look at KENT (that man went from like 360 or more pounds down to 220 or so) and has kept it off for years, RICHT, another fellow, he doesn't even look like the same guy!! VALIDROGUE, absolutely beautiful. Look in the before and after pictures, amazing amazing stuff!

This is a way of life. It is not a diet. When you get into that mind set you will be successful. Don't be afraid to look around in all the forums, there are also forums with other medical conditions that people have that have went away or improved. So don't even think about that Snickers bar....put it down 'smack your hand' haha

Welcome to the board.....sorry...I get really angry sometimes when people say that something so good has to be terrible. I'm sure my grandkids (when ) I have them will be happy that Grandpa is here and happy and healthy and with them!! I know my wife is very pleased with the weight loss.

Okay I'm off my soapbox. Next?

[tkdhabidah]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

good post scooter!

[Scooterjam]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

Thank you!

[Jade83]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

Thank you, Scooter. That was just what I needed to hear. I guess I am just easily swayed by other people, and in having low self esteem, just always assume THEY are right, I am wrong.

Your story is amazing. Thanks so much for sharing it for me, even though I'm assuming you have had to write it numerous times. I will take some time and do some more reading and searching here. It truly is motivating.

[jade7600]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

I know that I sound like a broken record but the first Indians did not eat pasta and bread all the time. The had mostly a meat and veggie diet. with some different stuff thrown in during the different seasons. you will get to the point where you are eating less meat and more veggie then what you have been.. It will be okay, just keep going.

I know that everything Scooter told you is true. I watched him go through it. They say negative things because they don't understand, and what most people don't understand is a bad thing, so they have to negate it to everyone else.

Again I say it will be fine keep going and as you go up the rungs in the ladder people will see the difference and that to them it might just be okay too.

[Scooterjam]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

Hi Jade 83,

Listen, do what YOU need to do for YOU. You will know right away if this works for you. You can listen to all the Pro's & Con's in the world, but only you can make the decision for yourself. I don't care how many times I tell my story, I always love doing it with passion, because I believe so much in the way of life.

You don't have to worry about anyone pointing fingers here, we all are here because we're tired of the way we've let ourselves go but we've worked so hard to not be that way. Dr. Atkins' wonderful man that he was, in my eyes was an amazing man with such vision. Jade7600 is correct, think about it, pioneers and indians, and settlers, survived on foods like we're pretty much trying to do now.

I really do wish you luck, and hope that we hear about your success and willing to stay with us!

[sallyseachange]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

Nice one Scooter!

Actually Jade... there's a huge amount of literature around supporting low carb (for general and heart health). Also a lot of studies that vindicate sat fats and come out against the "cholesterol con".
Diabetes is a huge problem these days (in itself, and because it leads to heart disease and other serious maladies)... on Atkins most people's blood sugar numbers are vastly improved.

Eating this way you are taking out sugar, starch and refined foods and adding in more veggies and "real" foods. Nothing very unhealthy in that, I don't think.

Search the internet and you'll be surprised (and relieved) at some of the studies out there.

[ValidRouge]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

It is my opinion that the "Atkins" diet that most people follow is NOT the Dr. Atkins published diet. Most people who go around "doing Atkins" don't a stinkin CLUE how this diet works. They then have health problems and blame it on the "Atkins diet" that they were NEVER following to begin with.

The best thing that I can tell you, is that IF you are going to do the "Atkins diet" that you read the book and follow the plan the way it was written. It is a sound and healthy plan. I have lost 77 lbs, lowered my blood pressure to 96/63, lowered my cholesterol by 53 points to 119, quit smoking, and I eat roughly 6-10 servings of vegetables per day, I weight train 3 days a week and run 3 miles or more 3 days a week.

I dare anyone to tell me Atkins is bad for my health.

[Jade83]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

Thanks everyone. You have all been very helpful. I am starting back up today. Actually, with every book I have read (Atkins, Dana Carpender, etc.) I am always convinced of the health benefits. I am a pretty thorough researcher and have found tons of information out there, but my way of researching also means looking at the other side. And, in doing that, I have found so many things that are contradictory. That is what bothers me. But in reading all your stories, looking at all your stats, pictures, etc., and just seeing how quickly the weight came off the first week that I did this, I am now convinced that this is the long-term way of life for me. I guess my results are just going to have to speak for themselves instead of verbally trying to explain this to anyone. I know that for me personally, I cannot handle my carbs well. If I eat one cookie, then it's soon into the bag of chips, loaf of bread, another cookie, and that is insane! It's pretty bad when you have to hide the Nutty Bars from your kids just so you can have them all.

Thanks again.

[Scooterjam]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

Yeah...hiding the nutty bars!! Been there done that! Haha....now when they all see the cool stuff you're eating, they'll all be like.....hey, why do you get that? I want some of that!...

My son loves the fake mashed potatoes (made with cauliflower) that I make, heavy cream, butter, chives...yummmmy!

Just think, you're husband is going to notice too!! Haha!

Keep us posted Jade83!

[ValidRouge]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

These days I have to hide my Atkins friendly food because my family doesn't want the junk quite as much. I won't say they don't eat it at all, because they do, but if healthy vegetables and meats and such are available, they'd rather have that.

[julirama723]

Re: New, but with questions and worries

Ditto what Joy said. My boyfriend LOVES that I'm on Atkins, because that means his food choices and tastes are changing too. He said the other night that he really likes how he's been feeling--we've been eating a lot of grilled meats, dinner salads, veggies. He still eats bread, but not nearly as much, and he'd rather have a salad and grilled chicken for dinner than a pizza.

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