Ben
Hammersley: Atkins goes on about sugar causing ‘brain
fog’, with fluctuating insulin levels really messing with
your mood. Given the evidence so far, he may well have been
right.
I started Atkins most decidedly not by accident.
Last December I turned 41. I noticed that my father was not
attending to his health. I decided not to follow his
path. I got a physical in January.
I basically got a clean bill of health. The one issue the
doctor was concerned about was my weight. He suggested I lose
40 pounds based on some silly formula. I had not been that
weight since grade school. We negotiated and settled on 30
pounds which was roughly what I was in college.
My plan was to achieve that goal in 12 months, in time for my
next physical.
I achieved it in two months. Effortlessly.
The first three days were hard. I had weird cravings... I
never have cravings. I was also in a bad mood.
After that, things were smooth sailing. In ways that I
can't precisely describe, I feel much younger. Which is
strange as I never thought I felt old. I definately have more
energy. I bound up staircases. I also sleep through the
night... something I rarely had done since college.
Clothing that once was tight now falls off of me. My shoes
don't fit right. I can fit in clothes that I haven't worn
since college.
Once I reached the 30 pound target, I realized that 40 pounds
was achievable. But this seemed too fast.
What I really wanted to find out was if this weight was
sustainable. So I went off of Atkins. Completely.
Or tried to. I found that to be hard. My
appetite is smaller. I don't enjoy potatoes any more.
But I do like pasta. ;-)
The most I have been able to put back on was 5 pounds, but I
keep slipping back. This is fine. My plan is to stay
roughly here and make sure I am exactly at my 30 pound goal at my
next checkup in January.
I can't attest to the long term affects on mood. My mood
changed permanently on
March
21st. The last thing my father said to me was to notice
that I had lost weight, and he inquired if it was
intentional. I replied that it was. He liked that.
Funny you should mention this now: I just restarted Atkins yesterday. I did it for the first time last summer, stayed on for about 4 months, and lost 20 pounds. But the weight returned, so it's once again into the fray.
My cholesterol is near 300, so I'm concerned about this diet although I'm considering it. I need to lose about 25 pounds. Granted if my cholesterol is at 300, I'm not sure it could be that much worse than what I'm eating now. Did you notice any change in your cholesterol level?
Christian, it didn't seem to raise my cholesterol, but I already had very high triglycerides, which I take medication for, and which make it difficult to get an accurate cholesterol reading. My triglycerides did not go up, however.
While I am worrying lost control of my weight, been seen Sam Ruby and Sifry’s experience with Atkins. Not knowing if the plan/product is available here, I am planning to try more exercises first, maybe at least swimming for two......
[more]
I also need to lose 40 pounds. The thing is Atkins works for everyone but me. My sugar instability (insulin resistannce) is so severe that even Atkins doesn't work. I have pretty much been on Atkins for 2 years without effect. The science is right but my case is called "unique."
My wife's dad & stepmom have been on Atkins for more than 3 years. It's done very well by them, but even now, they talk about missing foods like bagels. They're talking about switching diets, because they're getting bored of Atkins. I could see that a food-limiting diet could get boring after a while...
Brad: I certainly haven't been on it as long as your inlaws. But I have been eating bagels, french fries, and bread, and I don't appear to be putting the weight back on. Of course, I am eating all of the above in moderation.
Can't sleep. Not unusual for me, though, this being the night previous to a big day. Here are a couple weblog posts that caught my eye recently, with regards to health (my trip to Portland afforded me time to think about some things that up until...
so i finally decided to do something about the love handles. today, i started the atkins diet. i've been a little hesitant to try this diet due to the fact that my cholesterol levels are usually high, but after consulting a good friend of mine who...
[more]
This is in no relation to this post, but I found your site through a Google search: "Atkins Diet Blog". I read your post and was wondering how you are doing on/off the diet now? :)
[ed: in deference to future google explorers, the above comment was relocated to this blog entry and the original author notified]
Essentially, I'm off of Atkins now and varying between the 25 and 30 pound weight loss point. The only change to my diet at thispoint is that I will try to avoid having multiple meals in one day which have large amounts of carbs (in other words, I wouldn't have a bagel and pasta in the same day).
If I start gaining weight back, I'll resume Atking proper. Either way, I plan to resume my weight loss around Thanksgiving so that I achieve my goal in January.
Just my +1
I have done Atkins for 8 months now. Lost 30 lbs. I am at goal. First real diet of my life. Acutally seemed relatively easy for me. The only hard part for my was Chinese food with out rice.
I've been on the Atkins Diet for a little over four weeks and I've lost 11 pounds. I knew the diet worked before trying it because I watched several co-workers where I use to work just melt away their weight on this diet....
[more]
Have been on Atkins for 9-months. Lost 15 lbs in the first three weeks, but have bumped into a wall ever since--due, I suspect, to drinking too much red wine with my low-carb meals.
After a while carbo-lust became all but uncontrollable in me, so I back-slid. Now, I find it hard to get back into ketosis, even though I am being quite good about avoiding carbs and booze.
I can't speak for others, but I stopped counting carbs about six months ago, and I have not bounced back. I will say that when given a choice, I will avoid foods that are lighter on carbs, but I do routinely eat pasta and pizza.
