Atkins Diet ?

[Georgie]

I used to like you, KC.

[dananne]

This is an interesting thread. My wife did the Atkins, and lost quite a bit of weight. She went off it and gained much back. She didn't have the stomach to take it on again, so she's South Beaching it right now.

Unfortunately, she's not of the body type or lifestyle where she can adjust her activity level to burn the amount of calories needed to hold at a good weight -- she'd have to work out 3 hours a day, and already works about 12-14 a day. When discussing her body type, she says she's Darwinianly evolved to survive famine. I, however, would be hard-pressed to survive one.

I'm vegetarian (meaning I've gone the complete opposite direction from her Atkins-ish diet, making our dinners particularly difficult -- I'm also pretty certain I'm the only one on this board), but I've been lucky enought to never really have any weight problems. I'm an active competitive soccer player, eat healthy, and almost without trying stay at about 119 (I'm just shy of 5'6"). That drives Anne almost insane, and I'm no longer allowed to weigh myself in her presence.

From what she says, the Atkins diet works if you do it right, and the cholesterol stays low if you limit the fat.

Quijote referenced a great read above with Fast Food Nation. I also agree 100% with the above post about portions. The portions we eat in this country, especially when dining out, are truly absurd, and they're shockingly higher than they were in, say, 1950. My God, everything in this country seems supersized today.

[tandkvd]

Well down south we are raised to eat until you have to unbutton yer britches.
I was the oldest of four boys growing up and you figured you had better eat all you can incase you were late for dinner the next time and it was all gone.

A tough habit to break, when your stomach is telling you to stop and you mind is saying oh go ahead and eat another biscuit. It might not get eaten and will be thrown away, and thats wastefull.

Yeah KC and Dan, I used to think you were prety good fellers, but now I see you are the type that needs to be tared and fethered!
Common Georgie, you take care of KC up north and I'll get Dan. [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[sedhed]

I went on the diet in 1996 just before getting surgury[disc fuse in neck]. I started exercising also. I wanted to be in good shape before going under the knife. I lost about 25lbs and my choles. did not change much. I did notice that the diet seemed to stop me from getting hungry and want to snack like I did before the diet. Maybe fat and protein is an appetite suppressor?

[cheeps]

dananne - your wife sounds like me! I always say I have the metabolism of a speed bump! And yes, the weight comes back with a vengeance when you go off low-carb!

I stopped eating meat and poultry for 2 1/2 years after reading Fast Food Nation. I started back eating meat again when I started Atkins! I've been thinking of giving it up again with all the mad cow, e-coli and such.

Lisa

[Thomas]

tand, I was the last in a string of ten children--you wanna talk about survival!!!

Funny thing, though. I am the slimmest of the lot--and the handsom...oh, forget it.

[tandkvd]

For any techno geeks out there carrying a PDA, the atkins.com has a carb counter, that you can save to Acrobat Adobie then download to your PDA. It has Total Carbs, Fiber, Net Carbs, Fat, Protein and Calories for alot of foods. There are nine pages. The main problem is that it is so large that when it comes up you can't read it, you have to zoom in and scrol up and down, & side to side. But it should come in handy when eating out.

I noticed that the net carbs is total carbs minus fiber. So which do you go buy on a lo carb diet?

Foodie, I'm the oldest, shortest, heaviest and best looking [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img], of my brothers. I guess the younger ones have to fight harder for the food.

[Innkeeper]

You count net carbs. Supposedly the fibre goes right through you.

[Bucko]

Georgie -- KC is a real $hit, isn't he? [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

Foodie -- You're such a liar. Your siblings told me.... oh forget it. [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

[quijote]

And don't forget that Dananne guy.... Tand, you catch him yet? [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

[Kcwhippet]

What did I do?

[Innkeeper]

Ate anything you wanted and stayed thin.

[tandkvd]

Yeah, and thems fightin words!

[dananne]

Nope, he hasn't caught me yet, though I'm quite nimble [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[tandkvd]

Well it starts tomorrow. My wife has talked me into trying this diet. We will go through the 2 week period induction phase and see how it works. I am supposed to have a physical in 2 months so, then I should be able to see how my Colosterol is doing. My doctor was staunchly against it last time I saw him. But we'll see how it goes, I will probaly have to modify my fat intake. I have gotten alot of good recipies from Atkins,com and from our very own IK. One thing for shur this will make you have to get more organized with your meals and cook more so you can control the ingredients.

I'll be doing a 2 week sabitacal from wine to start. I have a half bottle of Rocca Della Macie Chianti Classico left for tonight, to go with some pasta and marinia sauce from last night. I was going to do IK's meatballs today for my last meal, but my son was wanting to go out to eat today for his birthday today.

[winoweenie]

Just going off my 2 week intro period and blew off 12 lbs. Feel great, will drink and eat tonite, then back to maintenance. WW

[tandkvd]

Well, I through in the towel after 5 days. The diet was working well, I had lost 5 pounds. I just was tired all the time and didn't feel good after I ate. Although, my wife is doing great with it. She has lost 10 pounds.

I have been using some of IK's recipies, they are very good. But my work has realy picked up the last two weeks and it is hard to stay organized for this diet.

[Georgie]

I'm down 28 lbs. on Weight Watchers. Still enjoying veggies, bread, rice, cereal, occasional pasta and I even had a couple of glasses of wine Saturday night...I think it's a good program for the long haul.

[wondersofwine]

Good for you, Georgie! I've lost twelve pounds since January without a particular diet. I'm trying to cut down on fat, cholesterol and sugary foods. I do like fruit, vegetables and grains so I'm increasing my intake of those and probably having less meat. And I gave up cheese for Lent (with the exception of cottage cheese) so that may help lower cholesterol. It limits my choices of Mexican or Italian dishes however. At an Italian restaurant the other night I ended up ordering the Calamari appetizer with a wedge of lemon.

[hotwine]

Attaway, Georgie! But look out for the breads, cereals, rice and pastas..... all loaded with carbs, which get converted to sugars and pack on the pounds.