Looking for optimization help

[kaaina]

Hello all,

I have done the Atkins diet in a wide variety, and most of them have worked. What I am looking for now is the "optimized" version.

In other words, what is the absolute best way to work a low-carb diet?

Do you count calories too?

Do you keep your fat intake low? Do you keep your fat intake high?

Do you need to worry about fiber? Or does the higher fat intake keep everything moving smoothly?

Any input would be helpful.

Thanks.

[Georgiana]

Re: Looking for optimization help

First of all, welcome to the board!

Now about the "optimization" business. There is only one Atkins -- no "variety". You either do Atkins as Dr. Atkins wrote this "diet" (this is misnomer, because Atkins is a way of eating for life, not a diet) or you are not doing Atkins.

There are several editions of the book that explains this diet, but on this board we go by DANDR 2002. I'll answer your questions below, but you can find more details in the book.

In other words, what is the absolute best way to work a low-carb diet?

I don't know what is "the absolute best way to work a low-carb diet", but the best way to do Atkins is to do it by the book.

Do you count calories too?

It's a personal choice. If you have the tendency to overeat, I would say count them. While Dr. Atkins wrote we should not count calories, he never wrote calories do not matter. If we eat to many, we will put on weight no matter how few carbs we are eating. However, on Atkins you have the advantage you can eat more calories than you could on a low-fat/low-calorie diet, and this is because it takes more energy to break down fat for energy (lipolysis) than to break down carbohydrates (glucosis).

Until not long ago, I used to count my calories. I don't always do it now.

A word of caution. During the first few days, you might be hungrier than you will be after ketosis sets in. Therefore, I would not care too much about calories for 4-5 days.

Do you keep your fat intake low? Do you keep your fat intake high?

Atkins is a high-fat diet. During induction, approximately 65% of your calories should come from fat, 5% from carbohydrates and 30% from protein.

Do you need to worry about fiber? Or does the higher fat intake keep everything moving smoothly?

Some people have to, others do not. I never had any issues on induction. If you do, Dr. Atkins recommended 1-2 tbsp of flax meal, psyllum husks or course wheat bran.

[Desertthorn]

Re: Looking for optimization help

Read the book, then read it again and you will understand how and why this diet works. We don't count calories because we don't have to, at least while we are in induction. We found that folks who keep tweeking it, get no where fast, and the real losers will all tell you they did it by the book

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Looking for optimization help

kaaina, not only is doing it by the book the optimized version, but the book also has suggestions for which supplements to take to optimize the fat burning process, and information on which permitted foods can stall you, and that you might want to avoid if you want to lose faster.

Many years of research went into DANDR, and we can't optimize it better than Dr. Atkins presented it.