For how long is it safe to do Atkins diet?

Question

I've started my Atkins diet late May of this year, and I've already lost approximately 20 Ibs, I am still doing the same diet until now. I noticed that the weight loss is slowing down (maybe because I was only losing water weight in the beginning), now I started taking Hydroxycut 4.5 to boost up my metabolism. I moderately workout every night before I go to bed, I feel like im not losing weight anymore but skin is getting firmer, is it because I am gaining muscle mass? My goal is to lose 30 lbs by September, will I make it?

I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT NOT ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE TIME IN A DAY TO REALLY SPEND HOURS WORKING OUT,AND ITS NOT ABOUT BEING "LAZY", I HATE IT WHEN "SOME" PEOPLE HERE MAKE IRRELEVANT COMMENTS THAT WHEN YOU'RE NOT GETTING "INTENSE" WORKING OUT, YOU ARE CLASSIFIED AS LAZY!

Answer 1

If you are following it properly as written and going through the steps, the final step is Maintenance, which you should be in forever. If you're still doing Induction, Dr. Atkins said that you could do it for up to six months, though many people find that they actually lose better if they move on to OWL after the minimum two weeks is up. If you're in OWL (Ongoing Weight Loss) or Pre-Maintenance, they are meant to be done for however long it takes until you are ready to move on to the next phase.

The weight loss does slow down as you go along, that's normal.

Yes, gaining muscle will make you heavier on the scale, even though you are smaller.

Here's an excellent support forum for low-carbers http://forum.lowcarber.org/

Answer 2

It is effective for some people but not all... It really depends on your body composition. At first you eat virtual no carbs, which can effect your brain function as we need carbs (preferably ones that come from whole grains and fruits and veggies) to live and burn energy, and gradually build how many carbs you can eat. Some people lose lots of weight while others lose none on the Atkins diet. I would recommend talking to your doctor or a dietician about what diet course you should take. In two weeks you shouldn't have seen big results anyway... as 1 - 2 pounds should be the typical weight loss for a person in a week. ADD: Again it's not effective in all people... an example is in my workplace I have a co-worker that swears by the diet, but then another one said it didn't work for him... so it may work for you but it also may not... Also the co-worker that swears by it has also said that when she was going to full fledged Atkins diet that she experienced short-term memory loss... so that is a possibility as well..... My advice is, if you have been losing weight (even if just a little) on the diet plan you are on right now, then stick with it... there is no magical diet that will make you loss massive amounts of weight quickly.. just be patient, keep exercising, keep eating healthy and the weight will come off... It's not healthy to lose more than 2 pounds a week all the time. ADD2: I know you can't eat some fruits and veggies (beyond just potatoes) on the full fledged Atkins diet.... things like Tomatos...

Answer 3

The Atkins Diet contrary to people's belief is the one and the same as the diet given to many hypoglycemics. I compared my diet I was prescribed for hypoglycemia to the Atkin's Diet book, the same but Atkins suggest whole grains over bleached and processed foods. It was also the same diet that got me back on track from anorexia.

You are probably slowing down some as we all do when we diet. You will hit a plateau for awhile. And you need to keep the metabolism up as well as healthy eating habits so you don't regain the weight. That is where most end up packing the weight back on, they don't give their bodies a chance to catch up to the new lowered metabolism from dieting. And yes, muscle weighs more than fat.

Depends on if you are wanting to lose the weight itself or just inches. Weight shifts on your body, I found out when I battled anorexia. Good luck and keep it up! You can do it!

I forgot to add, most diets should be done no longer than two weeks at a time, rest your body a week, and then resume.

Answer 4

If you read the book you should know that it is not a diet, it is a new way of eating for life. I strongly urge you to purchase the book "Life Without Bread", it is not a diet book but a deeper explanation of why excess carbs cause so many health maladies. The authors of this book believe anything over 70 - 100 carbs is excess,

Maintaining carb intake in the 70 to 100 gr range a day should be a health goal for all Americans.

Low fat diets are the truly unhealthy diets. Read the first link.

You should also only fry food with coconut oil and use your extra virgin olive oil for salads. Avoid food fried in restaurants, just too many trans fat-the real artery clogger.

Stay away from those artificial low-carb bars. Too much crap in them. Eat nuts if you want to snack. Stick with berries; blueberries and strawberries are great.

And before the vegan nuts jump in. Dr. Atkins did not die from his diet. He hit his head fell into a coma and died 9 days later. See the last link.

Regarding the knuckleheads that say you need so many carbs: Please pay them no mind. First off, when you do Atkins correctly you will probably end up eating more healthy veggies and fruits than you did before. NOONE needs 50-70% of calories from carbs! That is insane and the road to fatsville. This is precisely why we Americans are plagued by diebetes and heart disease.

I would like to know the name of just one disease or condition caused by lack of carbs. Lack of protein, yes, lack of essential fatty acids, yes. Lack of vitamins and minerals yes. Lack of carbs? Get a clue to the one who said you need 50-70% of carb calories.

Answer 5

First of all, you are looking for a quick fix, and it's just not out there. Are you honestly going to do Atkins for the rest of your life? You say you "moderately" work out. How about ditching the fad diet, ditching the pills which don't work anyway, put yourself on a healthy diet which DOES include carbs, since your body NEEDS carbs for fuel, watch your intake of certain sweet or fatty foods, eat more protein and fiber, and FINALLY, get off your A** and INTENSELY work out. Enough to get your heart rate up and thus burn calories. Your weight loss is slowing down because you are at a plateau, where your body is used to what you're doing. It's time to step it up a notch and actually do something to improve your life, not jump on a fad bandwagon. Why do you think there are so many diets and products out there? Because NONE OF THEM WORK. Not long-term, anyway. If you want to lose weight and do it SAFELY, decrease your calorie intake while you increase your calorie burn. That's the only way you are going to lose weight and keep it off.

Answer 6

The Atkins diet cuts carbs and you need approximately 55-70% of calories consumed consisting of carbs. 10-15% protein and 10-20% fat. Sure you'll lose weight at first on that diet but the weight will come back because your cheating your body out of what it needs.

Answer 7

You need to drink a huge amount of water everyday on low carb to boost the loss.

Dr. Adkins did not die of a heart attack.


Don't go too crazy on the fats and you will be fine. Truthfully Adkins is my usual diet minus the sugars and carbs, I actually eat more veggies and not more meats.

Answer 8

If you dont get sick first, you might make it. The Atkins diet is unhealthy and those diet pill things are dangerous.

Answer 9

not safe at all
initally what you lose is the water retention which you lose it with any kind of diet change. Work out , walk , jog, do yoga. thats the best way to loose weight

Answer 10

Try a cardio routine that engages multiple muscles simultaneously