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Weight Loss Forum / Low Carb / March 2004Why I gave up on Atkins
Let me say that first, I am NOT an Atkins detractor. I researched a lot. I read his book. It makes sense. I have also read the detractors. They also have valid points about high protein diets putting more stress on your kidneys. I had heard naysayers say that Atkins would be bad for my heart etc; I made the determination that being 30lbs overweight was bad too. Obesity kills. Obesity increases your chances of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease. We all know that. Anyway..........I went on Atkins 2 weeks ago. I adhered to it 100% I dropped 8 lbs the first week! However, I suffer from GERD ( gastro esophageal reflux disease ). I take Nexium ( which is a Godsend I tell you! ) for this. I have to do my part though. I can't eat chocolate, tomatoes, too much coffee etc; because this aggravates GERD and I suffer for it. If you've never had really bad reflux you can't begin to know how much it hurts. My GERD symptoms were non stop during Atkins. Eggs tend to aggravate this to some extent so, I had to refrain from eating them after 3PM. I would have beef ( hamburgers ) and this would bother me. On and on it went. Trust me, I adhered to the diet 100% and STILL, I had neverending headaches. I had nausea every night. So much so that it disrupted my sleep. A lot. I had a couple of good nights but, the fatigue, nausea, GERD was too much for me. I did get the euphoric "high" after 3 days. I did have more energy but, even though I ate all the time ( the right things too ) I felt weak. After the 8th day, I decided that while I learned a lot from Atkins I would try things my own way. What I did was cut my portions down drastically. I have one piece of toast with PB in the morning. I have a small salad for lunch with a small glass of milk. I eat a small portion of pasta and meatballs for dinner. I do NOT snack. The one thing that stayed with me after quitting Atkins was my craving for sugar was GONE! Period! I believe I am on to something here. Atkins induction phase equipped me with a tool to diet. Sure, I watch my carbs but, I don't obsess over it. I figured I would eat what I want but, in small portions. Seems that sugar craving aspect of my life has been alleviated! Bottom line is that Atkins gave me a great springboard to diet. I didn't go on a "carb binge" the day I stopped Atkins. I just kept it simple: eat what I want, use common sense, no snacking, no eating after 5 PM, less dairy products ( cut this down by 70% I figure ), watch the carbs ( probably 40-70 grams per day ), watch the fruit juice. Results? I lost 8 lbs in 8 days on Atkins. I stopped 4 days ago. I have lost 2 more pounds. I feel great! If it works for you. God bless you. Really. I want to emphasize that I am not knocking Atkins. However, perhaps it is not for everyone? I am just one example. I am 5'10" and weighed 210. I am now 200. Not grossly obese but, I feel I am on my way to my goal of 175. FYI. Regards to all,  SignatureVector Newman **It may be great to be king, but you're never safe on the throne. Just ask Elvis. > Let me say that first, I am NOT an Atkins detractor. I researched a lot. > I [quoted text clipped - 69 lines] > > Regards to all, Cool. As long as you do what works for you. How do you not eat anything after 5pm? I don't even get home until 7pm, so I end up eating dinner at about 8pm (then going to bed at 9pm to get up at 4:30). SignatureBob in CT Remove ".x" to reply > Cool. As long as you do what works for you. How do you not eat > anything after 5pm? I don't even get home until 7pm, so I end up eating > dinner at about 8pm (then going to bed at 9pm to get up at 4:30). How the heck can you eat an hour before you go to bed? I toss and turn all night if I do that : ) Marsha/Ohio If you are only eating 40 to 70 grams of carbs per day you are not really far from "doing Atkins". Had you gone on to OWL adding 5 grams more per week you might well have ended up where you are. It's still low carbing and you are following Atkins' principles though not his methodology. In news:404e47e2_1@corp.newsgroups.com, Vector Newman <b@alphabetsoupwithbiscuit.com> stated | Let me say that first, I am NOT an Atkins detractor. I researched a | lot. I read his book. It makes sense. I have also read the [quoted text clipped - 59 lines] | **It may be great to be king, but you're never safe on the throne. | Just ask Elvis. Been tested for H. pylori? I had a co-worker who had surgery for acid reflux. Surgery went ok, but he stopped breathing in the recovery room. He was brain dead when they noticed.... Negative for H Pylori. SignatureVector Newman **It may be great to be king, but you're never safe on the throne. Just ask Elvis. > Been tested for H. pylori? > > I had a co-worker who had surgery for acid reflux. Surgery went ok, but he > stopped breathing in the recovery room. He was brain dead when they > noticed.... > I had a co-worker who had surgery for acid reflux. Surgery went ok, but he > stopped breathing in the recovery room. He was brain dead when they > noticed.... you're just a great big bundle of joy, aren't you? > Let me say that first, I am NOT an Atkins detractor. I researched a lot. I > read his book. It makes sense. I have also read the detractors. They also [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > because this aggravates GERD and I suffer for it. If you've never had really > bad reflux you can't begin to know how much it hurts. That's actually kind of odd - I also had GERD (was on Prevacid daily for it), and after being on LC for a while it just went away. I don't remember exactly when the symptoms went away, but seems like by a month or so into it I had stopped taking the Prevacid entirely and have not needed it since, either. Many others have posted similar relief from reflux symptoms as well, so I'm definitely not the only one. It seems to be a fairly common (if not widely known) side benefit of LC. I also thought (prior to starting Atkins) that eating foods higher in fat would make it worse, but I found the opposite to be true. Now I might get a little heartburn if I eat something too spicy, too near to bedtime - but a couple of Rolaids or Tums takes care of it, it's nothing like the problems I used to get. I used to wake up in the middle of the night gagging from the reflux, and couldn't get back to sleep except sitting in a chair. I couldn't bend over and touch my toes without getting immediate severe heartburn - so yes, I know exactly how painful it is. The relief of symptoms without medication is in itself enough to keep me LC for the rest of my life, really. One question that I would ask you - did you cut out carbonated beverages during Induction, if you drank them previously? I really think that losing the sodas (I can't drink the ones sweetened with aspartame) is part of what made such a big difference for me, though of course that's just a guess on my part as well. I'm sorry that Atkins has had the opposite effect for you, that's a real bummer. :( Stargazer Atkins since Apr '03 192/148/140 | That's actually kind of odd - I also had GERD (was on Prevacid daily for | it), and after being on LC for a while it just went away. I don't [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] | reflux symptoms as well, so I'm definitely not the only one. It seems to | be a fairly common (if not widely known) side benefit of LC. Yep, me too. I have absolutely no more acid reflux symptoms, laying awake at night trying to sleep propped up on 4 pillows, chronic heartburn, et al. Low carb may not have cured the disease (I'm not sure about that) but it most definitely made all the symptoms disappear. I no longer take any medications - prescription or over the counter - for digestive problems. The surest way to instantly get those symptoms back, though, is for me to eat a small piece of banana, a few sips of orange juice, anything with sugar, etc. Those carbs are killers on my digestive system! SignaturePeter website: http://users.thelink.net/marengo >That's actually kind of odd - I also had GERD (was on Prevacid daily for >it), and after being on LC for a while it just went away. I don't remember [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >well, so I'm definitely not the only one. It seems to be a fairly common >(if not widely known) side benefit of LC. You're not alone. I can sleep laying down now. If Dr. Atkins was alive, I'd kiss him! LCing since 12/01/03- Me- 265/223/140 & hubby- 310/244/180 > That's actually kind of odd - I also had GERD (was on Prevacid daily for > it), and after being on LC for a while it just went away. Me too. My body has completely forgotten what acid reflux is. And this is after nearly 2 decades of bulimia and binge eating which I had assumed had damaged it for life. CM I haven't had a tums, Rolaids, nexium, prevacid, otc acid reducer since I changed my way of eating over 6 months and 60 lbs ago. And no, I'm not doing Atkins either. Just made sensible changes in my way of eating and exercise. Susan 260/200/140 > > Let me say that first, I am NOT an Atkins detractor. I researched a lot. I > > read his book. It makes sense. I have also read the detractors. They also [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > Atkins since Apr '03 > 192/148/140 > Let me say that first, I am NOT an Atkins detractor. I researched a lot. I > read his book. It makes sense. I have also read the detractors. They also [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] > **It may be great to be king, but you're never safe on the throne. > Just ask Elvis. Victor, I so with you. Back on June 9th 2003 I decided I had to lose some weight. Not for cosmetic reason (although they do count), but because there is a history of diabetes and heart disease in my family. I did the Atkins thing and lost some weight. But here are my critical success factors; - eat low-glycemic carbs -exercise. Read "Eat, Drink, and be Healthy" by Willett. I've adhered to his plan and have kept my weight off, and all my numbers are very good. Rich > snipped > I did the Atkins [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Rich Those "critical success factors" you have mentioned IS Atkins - as described in his "Atkins For Life" book. Tara I'm very sorry to hear that. Most people, myself included,. find their GERD symptoms diminish or totally vanish on low carb. Sorry it did not work for you. Debbie > My GERD symptoms were non stop during Atkins. >Anyway..........I went on Atkins 2 weeks ago. I adhered to it 100% I dropped >8 lbs the first week! However, I suffer from GERD ( gastro esophageal reflux [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >My GERD symptoms were non stop during Atkins. First, say hi to Nikki, Nick, and Sharon. ;-) I have only heard of one other person who had more trouble with GERD on Atkins. Everyone else, including me, had fewer or no symptoms eating low carb. I hope you find what is right for you. Nothing is 100% for everyone. > My GERD symptoms were non stop during Atkins. Eggs tend to aggravate this to > some extent so, I had to refrain from eating them after 3PM. I would have > beef ( hamburgers ) and this would bother me. On and on it went. Trust me, I > adhered to the diet 100% and STILL, I had neverending headaches. As they say, Your Mileage May Vary... there's no one-diet-fits-all out there. Example. I went from being a vegetarian to someone who eats meat with virtually every meal. I am gradually inching more and more toward lower-carb (I pretty much freely eat vegetables; but I eat NO grain foods, potatoes or sugar at this point). I get attacked right and left by the veg people for "backsliding", and everyone tells me "but vegetarianism is so healthy!!". For some people maybe. It didn't work for me. In order to feel good I have to eat FAR too low a number of carbs every day than I can eat on a vegetarian diet. Most veggie meat replacement products will give me the same screaming headache as a candy bar. I still get attacked by the veg folks (esp the "meat is murder" ones), but doing the wrong diet for your body is murder too. Do what's good for you... don't worry about us. | I get attacked right and left by the veg people for "backsliding", and | everyone tells me "but vegetarianism is so healthy!!" A former employer of mine recently has quadruple heart bypass surgery. He has serious artheriosclerosis, and severly blocked arteries to his heart. This man is from India, and has been a vegetarian his wholelife. Not being able to resist my curiosity, I asked one of his relatives how a vegetarian got in this condition. They told me it was because they eat everything breaded, greasy and fried. So I guess we can't make absolute statements about any way of eating; whether vegan or Atkins. It's how we approach it with sensibility, moderation and just plain common sense that makes a difference. IMHO of course SignaturePeter website: http://users.thelink.net/marengo > I want, use common sense, no snacking, no eating after 5 PM, less dairy > products ( cut this down by 70% I figure ), watch the carbs ( probably 40-70 > grams per day ), watch the fruit juice. Ehm, it seems to me you are still practicing Atkins, or at least Atkins-like diet.... I think the most important aspect of LC / Atkins is to find out what to eat to not crave and stay in good mood. You did just that. Mirek > If it works for you. God bless you. Really. I want to emphasize that I am > not knocking Atkins. However, perhaps it is not for everyone? I am just one > example. I am 5'10" and weighed 210. I am now 200. Not grossly obese but, I > feel I am on my way to my goal of 175. I don't think low-carb is the answer for everyone. My SIL started WW about 6-8 months ago or so. She had never dieted before, so had not trashed her metabolism and loses well on WW. Apparently, she is not insulin-resistant either. She sticks to her diet, exercises regularly, and is losing weight, feeling good, and has improved her health tremendously. She knows I low-carb, and also knows part of the reason for that is because I'm diabetic. There's not much else for us to say. What she does works for her, what I do works for me. I have no vested interest in proving the low-carb gospel and she is not an evangelist for Weight Watchers. We both eat tons of veggies. I fill-in my diet with protein-and-fat and she fills in hers with fruits and whole grains. We each exercise. We're both doing what is best for us... so there's no need to prove we're "right" cause we're *both* right. > > If it works for you. God bless you. Really. I want to emphasize that I am > > not knocking Atkins. However, perhaps it is not for everyone? I am just one [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > We're both doing what is best for us... so there's no need to prove > we're "right" cause we're *both* right. I've said before that you can lose weight either on low-carb or low-fat. Both are just different approaches to lowering overall calories, which approach you use should depend on which foods you like and how you feel on the diet. High-carb and high-fat together are what make you fat, imo. SignatureMichelle Levin http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws. > From: Luna (Wed, 10 Mar 2004 18:10:46 GMT) > MsgId: <lunachick-AF14FF.13100310032004@news4.west.earthlink.net> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > approach you use should depend on which foods you like and how you feel on > the diet. High-carb and high-fat together are what make you fat, imo. I agreed before, and I agree now. But there is a difference. I feel low carb results in less cravings as you do with less calories. There are also physical difference between eliminating fat from your diet and eliminating sugars. I don't want to describe in a family newsgroup what happened to me when I eliminated fat from my diet (many days were less than 10g). > > From: Luna (Wed, 10 Mar 2004 18:10:46 GMT) > > MsgId: <lunachick-AF14FF.13100310032004@news4.west.earthlink.net> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > sugars. I don't want to describe in a family newsgroup what happened to me > when I eliminated fat from my diet (many days were less than 10g). Not everyone has those problems though. I do know people who do low-fat eating and don't feel deprived. I'm just not one of those people. SignatureMichelle Levin http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick I have only 3 flaws. My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws. > jpatti@ccil.org (jpatti) writes: >I don't think low-carb is the answer for everyone. > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > We're both doing what is best for us... so there's no need to prove >we're "right" cause we're *both* right. I'm glad to see someone make this point. My SO lost 65 pounds on WW, and it was totally right for him, and it's totally wrong for me. He doesn't have a sense of satiety, so he needs to measure his food by some standard (the WW "points") in order to have structure in his eating. I am not a volume eater, but I was very definitely eating the wrong thing, and that's why I went low-carb. We've both been pleased with our respective diets, though at times it reminds me of being married to someone of a different religion. But there are a lot of similarities: I avoid pasta for the carbs, he avoids it because it has a lot of points. We both eat more veggies now. Etc., etc. It goes back to the notion that the best diet is the one you'll stick with. He's approaching 3 years at goal weight, and I'm feeling increasingly comfortable with this new WOE. Daria 166/149/140 sugar-free since 2/1/04 low-carb since 2/17/04 | I'm glad to see someone make this point. My SO lost 65 pounds on WW, and | it was totally right for him, and it's totally wrong for me. He doesn't [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] | diet is the one you'll stick with. He's approaching 3 years at goal | weight, and I'm feeling increasingly comfortable with this new WOE. /17/04 Your post reminds me of that old childres rhyme: Jack Sprat could eat no fat His wife could eat no lean And so between the two of them They licked the platter clean :-) SignaturePeter website: http://users.thelink.net/marengo > | I'm glad to see someone make this point. My SO lost 65 pounds on WW, and > | it was totally right for him, and it's totally wrong for me. He doesn't [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > :-) Peter your regressing!! LOL Its pick on Peter week!!! Ya know I love ya like my favorite pair of shoes!!Laureen And we care because...??? SignatureLC since Feb '04 205/194 . .goal 175 by May '04 > Let me say that first, I am NOT an Atkins detractor. I researched a lot. I > read his book. It makes sense. I have also read the detractors. They also [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > > Regards to all, |
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