Question:
Is Dr. Atkins diet safe.

The only diet that ever worked for me was Atkins Low Carb, High Protein and fat diet. I was easily able to drop 50 pounds in 3 months but then I couldn't go any where and my physician hit the roof saying I was going to kill myself. Now I just read a post that some post ops are using Atkins diet. Why do surgery and Atkins? I am rather confused, please help me understand. Thanks.    — Angie Taylor (posted on November 23, 2003)

November 23, 2003
Angie, The Atkins diet DOES work for a lot of people. For me, it didn't. But what was different about that?! No diet ever worked. And that's part of the reason that I felt I couldn't be a successful RNY post-op - I was just dieted out. So I chose the DS instead. It means no more dieting for me - ever. And now, after having lost 185 lbs so far, it just reinforces for me that I'm very happy with my decision! It is very important, however, to make sure that what your doctor is telling you is based on FACT not conjecture. Ask him/her to give reasons for their feelings about the Atkins diet, and why he/she feels that it is detrimental to you specifically. Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

November 23, 2003
Hi Angie! I am a pre-op, but from what I have "heard"/read from post-ops, is that they use the Atkins Diet to break plateaus, not as a normal (regular) diet. I hope that this helps! Blessed Be! Sherry
   — SherryWeber

November 23, 2003
If you loo at what most of us do. Protein first then water exercise and then carbs. It is alost like an Atkins diet. I try to limit my carbs now to between 30 and 50g a day and always get protein first. I also try to limit my carbs to fibrous veggies and not starchies. I could eat mashed potatos all day so it is best for me to limit it.
   — snicklefritz

November 23, 2003
Angie- The Atkins diet is very safe and highly effective. Many people, however, confuse the induction phase of the Atkins diet (where you limit your carbs to less than 15 grams a day) and the on-going weight loss and maintenance phases of his program (where your daily carbs are between 35 and 50 per day). You do raise an interesting issue where you ask why have surgery and still go on a diet; what you need to appreciate is that the surgery is merely a tool to help us re-focus our lives away from food. After having WLS, you still need to decide upon a healthy eating plan-- for me, that healthy eating plan has been to limit carbs to no more than 40 grams a day and to always choose protein first.
   — SteveColarossi

November 24, 2003
I find that both the Atkins protein shakes and protein bars are excellent tools. We're supposed to keep protein intake high. Both of these Atkins products are digestable and portable (to pack for work). They are also sugar-free and tasty.
   — Margaret G.

November 24, 2003
I used the Atkins diet before surgery to lose 40 pounds but I did watch the fat very carefully during that period of time. I cannot use the Atkins shakes or bars though. It seems they have some ingredient that does not sit well with me but I had the same problem prior to surgery. I was on the diet for about 6 1/2 months and when I had a heart cath and stress test before surgery, all was normal. My blood pressure dropped and I felt good for the first time in years so I'm still confused as to why so many in the medical community swear we're going to kill ourselves by following that plan!!!!!!!!!!!! If you go low carb, high protein and keep the fat intake very low, it pretty much looks like the "heart healthy" diet to me.
   —  SCbabe B.