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ItWasMe · 04-04-2009, 05:31 PM

I was on Atkins for a while, about 11 years ago. I did it for several months.

Atkins (back then, don't know about now) is NOT about NO carbs. And it's not exactly an all-you-can-eat bacon eggs & cheese bar. In fact, cheese is supposed to be limited to 1-2 ounces per day of hard cheese. Soft cheese isn't even on the menu for a while. For two weeks, it's 20 carbs per day, as Ratbastid said. After 2-4 weeks (although supposedly you can wait for up to 6 months), the plan is to reintroduce more carbs to your diet, a little more each week. And to be smart about ... Fruits and whole grain breads and such ... but more with a low glycemic index number, and sparingly with higher G.I. numbers. Such as blueberries vs. peaches. Whole grain bread vs. worthless white bread. They key was to learn to not spike your blood sugar and then drop low, but to keep it even with healthier foods.

My experience:

The CON's:
*The first day was ok, but days 2 & 3 (going into the 'induction phase') I had intense cravings for a potato or a roll. Like a smoker quitting cold turkey.
*What I call 'dog poop' breath. Not kidding; that is what it smelled like. Had to use breath sprays and/or sugar free mints every hour.
*It was often inconvenient when eating at work.
*Alot of processed 'low carb' foods, such as bars, are high in sugar alcohols (for sugar free sweetness) and fiber. Too much sugar alcohol causes the same problems as too much fiber.

The PRO's:
*I lost weight. I lost it more quickly when I was taking in fewer carbs.
*I stopped taking all reflux meds because my GURD basically disappeared while on the low (not no) carb diet. It returned when I went off the diet ... but I learned which foods aggravate it (NOT fats, as the doc originally thought ... but combination of salt and high carb).
*I had blood work done. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels actually improved while on the diet.
*Oddly, I had more energy at the gym.
*I stopped getting shaky and tired before meals.
*I got hungry at the next mealtime, but I was not hungry or having cravings between meals.

04-04-2009, 05:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
ItWasMe But You'll Never Prove It. Location: under your bed	I was on Atkins for a while, about 11 years ago. I did it for several months. Atkins (back then, don't know about now) is NOT about NO carbs. And it's not exactly an all-you-can-eat bacon eggs & cheese bar. In fact, cheese is supposed to be limited to 1-2 ounces per day of hard cheese. Soft cheese isn't even on the menu for a while. For two weeks, it's 20 carbs per day, as Ratbastid said. After 2-4 weeks (although supposedly you can wait for up to 6 months), the plan is to reintroduce more carbs to your diet, a little more each week. And to be smart about ... Fruits and whole grain breads and such ... but more with a low glycemic index number, and sparingly with higher G.I. numbers. Such as blueberries vs. peaches. Whole grain bread vs. worthless white bread. They key was to learn to not spike your blood sugar and then drop low, but to keep it even with healthier foods. My experience: The CON's: The first day was ok, but days 2 & 3 (going into the 'induction phase') I had intense cravings for a potato or a roll. Like a smoker quitting cold turkey. What I call 'dog poop' breath. Not kidding; that is what it smelled like. Had to use breath sprays and/or sugar free mints every hour. It was often inconvenient when eating at work. Alot of processed 'low carb' foods, such as bars, are high in sugar alcohols (for sugar free sweetness) and fiber. Too much sugar alcohol causes the same problems as too much fiber. The PRO's: I lost weight. I lost it more quickly when I was taking in fewer carbs. I stopped taking all reflux meds because my GURD basically disappeared while on the low (not no) carb diet. It returned when I went off the diet ... but I learned which foods aggravate it (NOT fats, as the doc originally thought ... but combination of salt and high carb). I had blood work done. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels actually improved while on the diet. Oddly, I had more energy at the gym. I stopped getting shaky and tired before meals. I got hungry at the next mealtime, but I was not hungry or having cravings between meals. __________________ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "Ok, no more truth-or-dare until somebody returns my underwear" ~ George Lopez I bake cookies just so I can lick the bowl. ~ ItWasMe