Atkins tips?

Question

I'm starting Atkins tomorrow. Anyone have some good tips or good induction recipes? Thanks!

Answer 1

Think carefully before starting the Atkins or any diet similar to it. Lower carb can be a good idea, but cutting sugars, breads, yeast, pasta and starchy foods while maintaining healthy carbs such as whole grains may be a better plan than Atkins or the like.

Atkins cuts essential nutrients out of your diet, while not limiting any of the unhealthy oils and milkfats (butter, cheese, etc.) that should really be kept to a minimum. Extra virgin olive oil, fish, almonds and avocados, for example, all contain healthy fats that you should increase, while decreasing the other, unhealthy, fats.

If you really need to lose weight fast, try replacing meals with protein shakes - bananas, real fruit juice (no added sugar, corn syrup, etc.), fresh fruit, soy milk, soy protein and ice in the blender. I went from a size 7 to a 3 in four weeks (to fit into my wedding dress) on protein shakes!

I know a couple of people who developed extremely painful kidney stones after being on an Atkins-type diet.

I highly recommend a healthy lifestyle change accompanied by exercise instead of a "diet".

Answer 2

I would say don't do it. Dr. Phils the ultimate weight loss solution is much safer and healthier. My own personal experience has been drink water for hydration and flushing fat. Walk and eat those veggies. Walking will give you energy guaranteeed. Get yourself a pedometer. You can usually get one cheap at Wal-mart. Even if your not a fan of Dr. Phil he does have a good motto on junk food. If it aint there you can't eat it, so keep the junk food out of the house. I have a piece of hard candy when I have to satisfy a craving. It's sweet but not a lot of calories and takes a while to melt, I also chew sugar free gum. If you don't care for plain water, there are a number of flavored waters and green tea has many healthy properties. Watch the sodium content in the drinks you choose though or you will retain fluid and therefore have a problem with the weight. The same goes for the vegetables you choose. READ LABELS. Good luck whatever you do.

Answer 3

Be strict. Keep your calorie count up. If you don't get enough calories, your body starts conserving energy and the diet fails. More than a few carbs at once, and the whole metabollic process that makes Atkins work shuts off.

My typical breakfast:
Cheese omlette
Sausage

My typical lunch:
Chef's salad, no tomatoes.
Or tuna or egg salad over letuce

Favovite dinner:
Steak with sauteed mushrooms
Broccolli with cheese sauce

Care with cheeses -- the less fermented ones contain two many carbs
Watch the labels -- so many processed foods (e.g. sausage, sauces) contain added sugar
Chicken -- dark meat has less carbs than white meat

Answer 4

For desserts, since you can't have much of anything like dessert on Atkins, I saved my sanity by having sugar free Jello with a spoonful of Cool Whip on top. There are very few carbs in Cool Whip, and surprisingly there are MORE carbs in the diet Cool Whip than in the regular, so treat yourself to the regular Cool Whip.

Also, I liked taco salads, without the chips of course. You could throw on a couple fritos just to have the taste of a taco...kind of cheating, though.

Answer 5

Well,,,where to start...

I never did the induction....i simply cut out all my sugar. I was addicted anyway. No soda, and replaced it with water and walmarts brand of Crystal light. I love it...this is what i use for my sugar fix.

Carbs....you need carbs in your diet...however.....read the label. Heres my rule of thumb..::::no starch, no sugar. as in refined sugars and pastas or breads

I use veggies as my starch...BUT...i do eat them about 3 x a week. pasta or rice or bread...i just dont go over board.

When i do eat it...i feel sluggish...Sugar makes me feel bad anymore.

I'm not diabetic or have any other health problems other than being overweight.....My doctor gave me a full bill of health just shortly after i started back using the diet and exercise.

Exercise....this is a must. You must exercise to "trick" your body to understand that you are not starving it. Also eat about every 2-3 hours with the high protein you will need to do so when you ate starch it sticks to the "ribs" and you feel full longer. Protein does not do that. so you have to eat more often.

Veggies...read the label.....Green ones are always ok. Canned you have to look at them...I eat a whole can of green beans or spinich in one sitting and drink the juice.

Lots of protein....meat, eggs, cheese, tuna, etc....read the label....anything under 5 carbs in my book is ok....the less carbs on the label the more you can eat for free.

Amounts....if it is free of CARBS....eat all you want. The more carbs...the less you eat

Dressings.....fats....read the label...
I dont use alot of butter or oils but i do use mayo with my tuna...and i eat it everynight because i also lift weights.

Good luck......I've lost 25+ pounds in about 4 months

Answer 6

One thing that saved me was omelets. In the induction phase u can have all the eggs, cheese, meats, with very low carbs. Try making omelets with different cheeses and meats to avoid getting bored. Good luck.

Answer 7

luck for me i LOVE protien so i would take hard boiled eggs, chicken, tuna with mayo, to work with me. i made sure i would eat about every 2 - 3 hours and when i came home for dinner i would eat chicken and a dark green veggie--watch out for season salt tho--there is sugar in it and thats a no no.
i lost 8 lbs on my first week--
the sad thing is since i am an emotional eater, i feel off the wagon in like 3 weeks when i fed my emotions instead of my body. :o(

Answer 8

good luck. I was on it for 2 months. I ended up VERY sick. I had no energy and didn't feel like moving. When I ate or drank ANYTHING i had horrible diarrhea and nausea. I stopped the diet when my hair started falling out. I didn't really lose much weight. It wasn't worth it at all.


I really hope it works for you, but know that even if you do everything right, you could get sick. But good luck.

Answer 9

A tip, if you usually eat sandwhiches, take all your fav salads (tuna, turkey, tomatoe etc) and wrap in a lettuce leaf instead. Minus about 2000 kjs.

Answer 10

Don't cheat on Atkins. If you eat one french fry you will ruin your progress.