Small concerns about starting...

[tcv]

I wound up on this site via an "Atkins forums" search on Google. How did I come to type that into Google? Well, I have been reading Gary Taubes' Good Calories/Bad Calories. I honestly have no credentials with which to verify or debunk the various claims within that book, but it has sparked an interest in Very Low-Carbohydrate Diets and, in turn, an interest in Atkins.

You might wonder why I haven't said I "will start" Atkins. The truth is I still have concerns about it that I hope to talk about here.

My name is Mike. I am 37, 5'8", 160lbs. I exercise roughly 4-5 days a week, 60 minutes a session and have been doing that for the past three years. Through calorie restriction, higher-protein, and lower carbs, I have lost over 50 pounds.

I am not heavy. I have a pretty well-defined musculature -- at least, it's okay for me -- but I am stymied when it comes to losing weight in my midriff. More than handles, I have a steering wheel. All-in-all, I would be happy with a 10 lb. loss. I would be ecstatic with a 20 lb. loss.

Of course, I have a lot of the same concerns about starting that many have. I am worried about carb deprivation and cravings. And, yes, I am concerned about it in the sense that it seems to fly-in-the-face of most other conventional advice.

I have read about the supplements. I have read about the importance of reading the book, which I have not done yet.

What most concerns me, however, is my current exercise routine and whether I will be able to complete it while on Atkins. It's fairly intense. I do a fair amount of core work -- balls, balance, free-weights, etc. My cardio routine is intense, with stair-stepper, elliptical, and bike.

Occasionally, I experience an intense hunger during the intense aerobic portion of my routines. I start to shake and break out in a cold sweat. I once thought about eating discarded candy. It's THAT intense and I typically cannot continue my workout. I used to work on an elliptical for a single hour and it came on routinely at about 25 minutes in. Since switching to three aerobic machines over the course of 60 minutes, I rarely experience it.

The only thing that has prevented it nearly every time is eating carbs before I workout. I usually eat whole wheat bread, a slice or two.

I'm worried that were I to start Atkins, I would feel this way every time and not be able to workout. And when I can't workout, perhaps I won't be nearly as effective an Atkins devotee. Atkins sounds like it's quite painful in the beginning and I'm worried that by the added stress of my workout I won't continue on it.

I wonder if anyone has experienced these feelings during workouts and, subsequently, tried Atkins.

In general, I would love responses regarding my concerns, even if you've not experienced my specific set of symptoms.

Cheers,

Mike...

[kate58]

Re: Small concerns about starting...

I am no expert here, but from a LOT of reading about all this stuff (I was a bit of a sceptic also!), I'd be fairly sure that what you are experiencing is due to unstable blood glucose - and Atkins will not worsen that, it will resolve it.

Because when you are doing Atkins your body is burning fat, not glucose, for its energy, via Ketosis, you are not depending on glucose in the first place, so the issue of your glucose becoming depleted and you feeling weak simply does not arise.

There are several people here who work out very intensly and eat low carb. Some do marathons. However there is very little research on eating optimally in a low carb way while exercising at such a level. It's sort of trial and error for most people. Hopefully with increasing interest in and acceptance of this as a healthy way of eating that will soon change.

I would say however that for the first couple of weeks on Atkins, while you are doing the induction phase, it would probably be a good thing to ease back a little and listen to your body. The change over from being a carb burner to being a fat burner can be a little rocky and it takes time for your system to adapt.

After you get past the first 4-5 days you should be able to ramp up the intensity again without too much difficulty, though again, at a time of change like this it is obviously important to listen to your body as you do so.

I am no athlete (I am working on it, but it's a long way off yet). But I can tell you that I experienced the symptoms you do on a very regular basis, just from ordinary living. Most afternoons I was a rag, and only some high carb food would give me the boost I needed to get going again. Of course now I have lost quite a bit of weight and have a lot more energy, but in fact my energy levels ZOOMED after less than a week eating this way, and the slumps simply disappeared and have not returned. A similar outcome has been experienced by very many people.

You say you have lost weight through calorie restriction, higher-protein, and lower carbs. The low carb bit may resemble Atkins, the rest doesn't. Atkins is a low carb, moderate protein, high fat diet. The high fat bit is the key - fat becomes your friend, it is your source of energy, satisfies your appetite and is, despite all the propaganda to the contrary, an all round good guy! Plus, especially at the beginning, you don't really need to worry too much about calories, especially when you are using up a lot of them as you will be.

Be a little cautious about describing Atkins as a very low carb diet. It certainly is at the outset, but as you climb through the various stages you do introduce quite a lot of carbs back in. There are a number of people here maintaining on 80 - 100g of carbs daily, or even more. It isn't the case for everyone, but it is for some and tends to be more so for men.

How much exactly is a very individual thing, and the stages of the diet (which is really better described as a lifetime way of eating) will teach you as you go through them in a methodical manner to know what amount works best for your body.


The main thing is that the carbs you eat are all good and nutritious ones, obtained from vegatables, seeds, nuts, wholegrains, fruit and so on - not the nutritionally valueless carbs which are provided by sugar or white flour or pasta. They raise your blood sugar alright, but that's about it. They provide little in the way of minerals, vitamins or other health giving nutrients.

I'd recommend that you buy and read the book - and get the 2002 version, it's the last one that Dr Atkins himself wrote, and the later ones really push Atkins products, and go against a lot of what Dr A said and believed in.


Oh, and welcome to ADBB - you've found a great place for information and support

[tcv]

Re: Small concerns about starting...

Thanks for your reply!

The biggest question I get from your reply is: How does one get a 2002 edition? I just checked on Amazon (very quickly) and it's an 04 edition! YIKES!

[kate58]

Re: Small concerns about starting...

Just took a quick look at Amazon, and this is the one you want. I was unable to buy that though, as none of the sellers would ship to Ireland - BAH I hate that!!

eventually tracked a copy down.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Small concerns about starting...

Thanks for your reply!

The biggest question I get from your reply is: How does one get a 2002 edition? I just checked on Amazon (very quickly) and it's an 04 edition! YIKES!

I went to a Friends of the Library book sale and got three copies of the 2002 edition! Another book you might want to read is "Living the Low Carb Life--From Atkins to The Zone" by Jonny Bowden. He is a certified nutrition specialist, has a Master's degree in psychology and is a former personal trainer. He addresses your very exercise questions and talks about carb-loading (and why fat burning is better). I got my copy for a couple of dollars on Amazon in like new condition. It would have been worth full price.

Sunny!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Small concerns about starting...

Atkins is excellent at burning belly fat. That's where most of my first pounds came off. You also tend to keep losing inches while the scale does not go down.


Sunny!

[tcv]

Re: Small concerns about starting...

Well, I think I found it at Alibris. I used to have an account with them some time back so I think it would be a pretty good bet that it's a good copy. It's about $10.00 w/ expedited shipping!

[sallyseachange]

Re: Small concerns about starting...

Well you've had great replies from Sunny and Kate, so I just want to welcome you to ADBB. Good to have you here, while you decide whether or not to take to the Atkins way of eating. I hope you do.

Re your concerns about whether Atkins is healthy or not... actually, if you think about it, by the time you reach the maintenance level of Atkins, all you've really taken out of your diet totally, is sugar, refined flour and highly processed foods. Nothing very unhealthy about that, imho. Your health numbers (cholesterol, BP, blood sugar) will most likely reflect a big improvement after six weeks or so on the plan.

My advice would be, instinctively, that if you decide to give Atkins a try, then to take it easier exercise-wise the first week or so. Your body needs to get used to burning fat for fuel and that could cause you to feel off colour for a little while. After a few days, when you find you feel terrific (and you will), you can notch your exercise up to where it was before.
Just my thoughts. I'm sure some of the strenuous exercisers will be along before too long with their more specific knowledge.

Happy losing!

[sillygirl]

Re: Small concerns about starting...

Welcome to the board Mike!

I ditto what others have already said. I might add if you are nervous, you might want to go get some routine bnlood work done now so that you have somethng to compare to at a later date.

Also, as Sally said, if you think about it, you're only eliminating sugar, white flour and very high carb foods. By the time you're at the Whole Grain rung, you will have added every food group back into your eating.

[Adena]

Re: Small concerns about starting...

Hi, Mike -- I second what everyone here has said. You might find decreased energy (and fuel) for the first week or so, but once your body switches from glucose as fuel to fat as fuel, you'll really see and feel a resurgence.

I am training for my first marathon (in about 3 weeks), and I did 2 half-marathons last year. You'll find a number of marathon runners (and other avid runners) on this board, as well as other avid, intense exercisers -- including fitness class instructors, weight trainers, and triathletes. The key is to rely on good carbs -- in the beginning, it will be from veggies, dairy, nuts and fruit (in that order) -- and later, you can go back to eating whole grains.

I rely on fat and protein to fuel me for exercise. I also make sure to eat some carbs both before and after a heavy workout, but remember, carbs come in all forms -- mashed cauliflower with butter is a great, Atkins-friendly (and Induction legal) source of carbs. However, on my long runs, I do bring a small box of raisins and a few whole wheat peanut butter crackers, as well sf electrolyte products. You might want to consider these when you workout, as they may help you with the faint feeling. I use both www.nuun.com and www.enlytenstrips.com.

The only problem I've encountered is that I MUST be sure to plan well for a filling, fatty, satisfying meal after a long run (or other intense workout) as your body desparately needs FUEL at this point. Here is where you MIGHT think your body is craving carbs. But really, it's just craving FOOD. My problem is that sometimes poor planning makes me super-hungry, and then I grab the first easy thing I can find, which is often something carby that I shouldn't eat. But don't mistake that for your body "needing" carbs -- it's just that sometimes I put myself in a vulnerable situation and grab whatever is readily available. And because I'm hungry, my defenses (and will power) are down, therefore that sugary carby crap (or that bagel... a favorite) that I'm normally able to resist looks extra good to me...

Hope this helps -- best of luck to you!