Atkins diet

[gg333]

I am not going to buy the book but, in general terms, what can I eat on the Atkins? Meat, eggs, cheese but what else? (I don't like fish or nuts!)???

[woofgang]

go and take a look at the website. http://www.atkins-uk.com Basically, during induction, you have to cut out all starch..bread pasta, potatoes, rice, legumes and all refined sugar plus sugary food like fruit, also caffeine and alcohol. You can eat more leafy green veg than I would care to, shellfish , smoked salmon, all fresh meats, bacon, ham, most salad veg plus salad dressing and sauces that are carb and sugar free or very low. If you are serious about trying the diet then at least try and get the book from your library as it will dispel a lot of common misconceptions. After the first two weeks, you can start adding all but the refined sugar products back in. Is it easy? no, but its way easier than any other diet that I have ever tried...does it work? oh yes.. Is it healthy? YES if you follow the instructions and don't listen to the hearsay.

[Moog]

I would recommend that you do buy the book, just like any other diet it requires you count things, in this case the number of carbs you consume and the book will give you a good indication of how carbs there are in things plus it gives good information on what supplements you shoulkd take especially during the initial induction period. The diet does work if you follow it correctly, but only the book will allow you to do that.

[cardi88]

just backing what moog says really, the diet changes how you eat with science, and only by reading the book will you understand how the science works. A friend of mine tried the diet without the book and didnt follow it properly - she thought it was like any other diet that you cheat on, she put weight on! but with the atkins diet you need to follow it to the word in order for it to work, and get some strips from the chemist to check your body is in 'ketosis' where the body is actualy burning fat and not still storing it which is where the danger is. its all explained in the book! i gave up after a while and now on a fruit and veg diet - seems to work a lot better!

[Dave Potts]

It might be worth trying to Google somewhere you can buy low-carb mints too (if such things exist), because Atkins WILL make your breath smellier than a wet dog on a hot Sunday afternoon. Good luck!

[gordy_b]

Echo the above but speaking from experience, you MUST find a way to alleviate constipation due to the lack of bulk in the induction process.

[woofgang]

I have done induction, no smelly breath (yes I did ask people who would tell me! ) and didnt get constipated.

[Manthehunter]

There are a million and one low carb diet websites and forums which are very useful. I never got bad breath or constipation either. It's a fallacy that you only eat eggs and bacon on Atkins. Green leafy veggies have fibre, pure bran is low carb. If constipation is a worry take psyllium supplement from the health shop - no carb, pure soluble fibre. And no cheating!!!! When you are on a diet which is higher than normal in fat, as soon as you cheat with carbs your insulin goes through the roof and all the fat in the diet goes to your hips!!! On the subject of fat. I avoid as much saturated fat as possible - I fry, but I fry in olive oil, iI bake with olive oil(lighter flavoured varieties) instead of butter and marg. And you have to learn to read all your food labels for hidden carbs!!! It's a way of life not just a diet. It gets you over the addiction to sugary, processed foods and I feel great on it.