Atkins and Low Carb Weight Loss
I'm new here and I need help/support/info....
Hi, I'm finally (slowly) coming to the conclusion that I need to fully embrace a low carb lifestyle or I'm going to be in trouble...and soon.
So here I am. 16 months post RNY. I have stalled out after losing about 120 lbs. Started at 339, now hovering between 216-220, but REALLY struggling lately with my diet and cravings. I think I'm one of those who posted in the Introductions thread that just can't do a "little bit" of carbs without being completely enslaved to them.
So I came here and I'm ready to do this but not really sure where to start. I get the "basics", but how did you guys do this? Hard core Atkins? Low carb? No carb?
Any and all thoughts/advice/ideas welcome.
So here I am. 16 months post RNY. I have stalled out after losing about 120 lbs. Started at 339, now hovering between 216-220, but REALLY struggling lately with my diet and cravings. I think I'm one of those who posted in the Introductions thread that just can't do a "little bit" of carbs without being completely enslaved to them.
So I came here and I'm ready to do this but not really sure where to start. I get the "basics", but how did you guys do this? Hard core Atkins? Low carb? No carb?
Any and all thoughts/advice/ideas welcome.
Welcome to the group. I am like you - can't do little carbs. Specially simple carbs. If I start then I want it all the time. So I decided to do low carb.
But - to be able to start that - I needed to do very low carb for a few days - to what we call it - "Decarb" myself. Once I got on a really low carb diet (net carbs - I do not count fiber) and stayed on it for a few days - my body slowly adapted and i no longer craved the simple carbs. It took me 2 weeks to do that - but then I was not on a really high carbs anyway.
Some people can do that in one week, some - may take them 3-4 weeks. It depends how many carbs you ate before and what type of carbs.
To make sure I do not get constipated - I take extra magnesium and healthy fats.
As time progresses - I noticed that more and more carbs are "sneaking into my diet" so after Easter - I will need to decarb again.
When i do not eat carbs - I really do not crave them.
It is almost impossible to have no carbs.
I do not tolerate Sugar alcohols, and I try to exclude them from my diet. Also - splenda - has some carbs and I developed sensitivity to it so I also try to avoid that. I use stevia.
My goal on maintenance is 60 carbs- with 30 or less net carbs. When I'm m trying to loose weight - it is 20 net carbs, 40 carbs total, and less than 5 gr of sugar (from natural sources).
Sugar is sneaky. They add it to almost any foods: processed meat, salad dressings, soups, etc. some vegetables have more of it than others (i.e. carrots, beets, peas, beans, etc.)
Really measuring the food and journaling will really tell you how much you are getting of each.
First few weeks are more critical - since you trying to break the cycle - carb addiction.
After that, you know more, and you can be more flexible.
Since I am typically on a very low carb style - I usually take 1- 2 weeks of very low carb days to start new cycle. I now can feel when I no longer crave the carbs. During initial phase I avoid fruits and high sugar veggies. Also stay away from milk and even yogurt.
Once you start - start posting your daily intake and ask for suggestions.
But - to be able to start that - I needed to do very low carb for a few days - to what we call it - "Decarb" myself. Once I got on a really low carb diet (net carbs - I do not count fiber) and stayed on it for a few days - my body slowly adapted and i no longer craved the simple carbs. It took me 2 weeks to do that - but then I was not on a really high carbs anyway.
Some people can do that in one week, some - may take them 3-4 weeks. It depends how many carbs you ate before and what type of carbs.
To make sure I do not get constipated - I take extra magnesium and healthy fats.
As time progresses - I noticed that more and more carbs are "sneaking into my diet" so after Easter - I will need to decarb again.
When i do not eat carbs - I really do not crave them.
It is almost impossible to have no carbs.
I do not tolerate Sugar alcohols, and I try to exclude them from my diet. Also - splenda - has some carbs and I developed sensitivity to it so I also try to avoid that. I use stevia.
My goal on maintenance is 60 carbs- with 30 or less net carbs. When I'm m trying to loose weight - it is 20 net carbs, 40 carbs total, and less than 5 gr of sugar (from natural sources).
Sugar is sneaky. They add it to almost any foods: processed meat, salad dressings, soups, etc. some vegetables have more of it than others (i.e. carrots, beets, peas, beans, etc.)
Really measuring the food and journaling will really tell you how much you are getting of each.
First few weeks are more critical - since you trying to break the cycle - carb addiction.
After that, you know more, and you can be more flexible.
Since I am typically on a very low carb style - I usually take 1- 2 weeks of very low carb days to start new cycle. I now can feel when I no longer crave the carbs. During initial phase I avoid fruits and high sugar veggies. Also stay away from milk and even yogurt.
Once you start - start posting your daily intake and ask for suggestions.
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
Thanks for all of the great info! I'm gearing up for this and getting my kitchen prepared over the weekend. I think it's something I just need to accept. Gotta get rid of the cravings and the cycle of carb addiction as you said.
Thanks again. I'm doing a lot of reading from the links on this forum as well as other stuff on the web.
Thanks again. I'm doing a lot of reading from the links on this forum as well as other stuff on the web.
Hi there, and welcome aboard!!!
I'm doing Atkins. It has taken me several "tries" and countless "starts" to finally get the idea that I'm not on a diet, but gradually changing over to a low-carb way of eating for life. Periodically I wind up "off the wagon," but the nice thing about this way of eating is, you can repair your mistakes by eating correctly with the very next bite, and then history is history, and the future is the future!
A good way to get started is by
1) getting a good idea of how much protein you should have (adequate protein is the cornerstone of any healthy low-carb way of eating)
2) deciding if you're goin to start with a ketogenic program (such as Atkins), or something else;
3) figuring out how much carbohydrate you will limit yourelf to, for the "induction" phase (if you're doing Atkins, in which case it's 20 grams/day)
4) laying in a supply of healthy protein and higher-fat foods; then
5) doing it! And finding support whever it will be useful.
If things don't go exactly as you wanted, then forgive yourself and do it better with the next bite you take!
We are glad to have you here!
I'm doing Atkins. It has taken me several "tries" and countless "starts" to finally get the idea that I'm not on a diet, but gradually changing over to a low-carb way of eating for life. Periodically I wind up "off the wagon," but the nice thing about this way of eating is, you can repair your mistakes by eating correctly with the very next bite, and then history is history, and the future is the future!
A good way to get started is by
1) getting a good idea of how much protein you should have (adequate protein is the cornerstone of any healthy low-carb way of eating)
2) deciding if you're goin to start with a ketogenic program (such as Atkins), or something else;
3) figuring out how much carbohydrate you will limit yourelf to, for the "induction" phase (if you're doing Atkins, in which case it's 20 grams/day)
4) laying in a supply of healthy protein and higher-fat foods; then
5) doing it! And finding support whever it will be useful.
If things don't go exactly as you wanted, then forgive yourself and do it better with the next bite you take!
We are glad to have you here!
Interested in low-carb nutrition? Thinking of trying Atkins? Want to try high-fat and/or high-protein eating? Whether or not you have had (or are thinking about) WLS http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/atkins/
in order to lose weight I need to do hard core Atkins. maintaining is what I have been doing lately and that is because I have been eating carbs that I have no business eating.
lately I have been trying to stick to natural, low carb foods. lots of eggs, beef and chicken with a small amount of veggies. to make the meals more interesting I do make lots of curries, satays or cumin based sauces to add to the meats. to make it very low carb I make everything myself. no premade nothing. this I feel is the best way to ensure that there are no hidden carbs.
lately I have been trying to stick to natural, low carb foods. lots of eggs, beef and chicken with a small amount of veggies. to make the meals more interesting I do make lots of curries, satays or cumin based sauces to add to the meats. to make it very low carb I make everything myself. no premade nothing. this I feel is the best way to ensure that there are no hidden carbs.
Plus an additional 42.2lbs pre op! Starting weight 300lbs. 
