I really need assuring.

[Kira]

Hey everyone,

I need your honest advice and opinion.
I'm 20 years old, 5'3" tall and 160 lbs.
I would really like to lose 40 pounds as soon as possible. It needs to be fast because if I don't see the results, I tend to give up.

Would you recommend Atkins? I have a little problem with the whole fat thing because once I was on a protein shake diet and since then, I'm nauseous whenever I only look at meat. I need to lose this weight by the end of February. I'll try this if you say sure as **** I'm gonna lose weight, but I don't wanna risk it, I'm afraid if it doesn't work, I'll have been wasting time when I could just simply not eat.

[Adena]

Re: I really need assuring.

Kira, the first thing you need to do is get Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution (2002 edition). Read it and see if it sounds like something will work for you. If speed is what you are most interested in, Atkins is a good plan as many people tend to lose quickly. But you really shouldn't jump into it without knowledge, so please strongly consider getting the book.

When you read it, you'll learn Atkins isn't all about meat. About 35% of your daily calories come from protein. Another 60% will come from fat, and about 5% from carbs.

Atkins isn't a quick fix -- those who look at it that way almost always gain the weight back because once you go back to eating carbs like you used to (which for most of us, was anything but "in moderation"), you will regain. However, Atkins, when done correctly, enables you to add back in almost everything except for sugar, white rice, and white flour... so you can eat fairly "normally" for the rest of your life. It's a big commitment, but certainly a worthwhile one.

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

[sallyseachange]

Re: I really need assuring.

Welcome Kira!
I'll echo everything Adena has said. Atkins is fast as weight loss plans go, but it isn't a "quick fix". To be successful permanently, you need to adopt the plan as a way of life.

I hope you'll read the book and decide to do this. We're all happy to help and would willingly answer any questions you might have.

Best of luck in making the decision that is right for you.

[julirama723]

Re: I really need assuring.

Ditto what the others have said, except the ratio is 65% fat, 5% carbs, 30% protein.

Atkins is HIGH-FAT because our bodies use fat for fuel. We burn off the fat we consume, and then some! It is NOT high-protein.

This is a lifelong commitment. If you "quit" Atkins, you will probably gain the weight back. That's true for any plan--if you stop doing something that's working and go back to old unhealthy habits, you'll gain the weight back, regardless of if it's Atkins, South Beach, WW, etc. But like Adena said, you can eat "normally" on Atkins if you do it PROPERLY. The only things I can't eat are basically the whites: white flour, white sugar, white rice.

Check out the book, read up on Atkins, and then decide if it's for you.

[sillygirl]

Re: I really need assuring.

Hey Kira! Welcome to ADBB. Your question is a good one since this is a lifestyle change and not a quick fix. If you're looking for quick weight loss you won't find it here. You will, however, lose weight in the process of changing your eating habits and following the rules that Dr. Atkins has put out for us. Eating this way definitely works. I hope you will choose to go Atkins!

[jilliam09]

Re: I really need assuring.

I agree with everything that everyone has said so far... but no one has responded to your "not eat" comment. I'm sure you already know the lecture about how not eating will destroy your health... but also if you don't eat, the weight will come back even faster than it would if you quit atkins. All weight loss takes time so be a smart girl and dont starve yourself. You can teach yourself to be patient and once you reach your goal you'll be proud of yourself for sticking it out.

[DuchessOfDork]

Re: I really need assuring.

Regarding the not eating comment, I'm a recovering anorexic and let me tell you, it does NOT work. You either become so unhealthy that you're miserable and your body nearly destroys itself, or you just gain weight when your body finally forces you to eat. You know when there's no protein in your body to feed from, your body starts feeding from your brain? It's pretty scary. Don't even think about it.