Looking to do semi-Atkins...what do you think?
 

Hi all,

I've been a calorie counter and I also have a very long history of binge eating. I recently watched my husband drop 13 pounds in about 14 days so I decided to do what he's doing....sort of. My husband eats low fat meat, veggies but also low fat dairy like low fat cheese and low fat greek yogurt (Fage). He also counts calories. So, I started doing it as him, except I also included the Atikins bars and was eating like 3 of them a day! :o I did some research and found out this wasn't the best idea...but in 3 days I had lost 3 lbs. anyway. However, this morning, I got on the scale and didn't lose anything. I also ate way more calories (1800 as opposed to my usual 1100-1500). So, this morning, I have made a commitment to stay away from those bars. I'm hoping I can get rid of more cravings this way and also I'm hoping to continue the weight loss. I'm actually at 173 lbs. because after I got down to 171 I was binge eating a lot and felt it all slipping away. I started reading about Gary Taubs and really was shocked by what he had to say. I can't get myself to eat exactly like that at this point.

So....do you think I'm doing it completely wrong? Are any of you doing what I'm doing or something similar? I'm sorry if I sound completely clueless...I'm just starting out so please be gentle? :^:

p.s. How many of you exercise? Do you find that it's important? Gary Taubs says it just stimulates appetite, although it does have other health benefits.

First, Atkins is not a low fat WOE. Secondly, the best advice to do Atkins is buy the book (circa 2002 or earlier). Thirdly, Yes I exercise. Finally, I had done Atkins about 10 years ago, lost 60 lbs in 3 months, but gained after going back into MY bad eating habits. It's not that Atkins failed me, I failed to maintain the weight loss and started eating badly again. Now this time, I have lost 60 lbs since July 26, 2010 (5 months give or take a few days). The DIFFERENCE between then and now is that I am truly committed to this. Not only do I do Atkins as my WOE, I use portion control, I eat between 1400 to 2000 calories per day (some days a little higher, some days a little lower - but that is rare), I walk 2 or more miles per day, everyday and use light weights for toming. As I am loosing, I don't want my skin to just hang there. I want to tone as I go.
I hope this is helpful to you. Best of wishes on your Atkins weight loss journey :)

Judy

How about South Beach or Primal Blueprint? Those aren't the only ones. There are all kinds of modified carb and modified fat programs.

Keep reading and keep asking :)

Thank you both! I am actually looking at the Primal Blueprint as an option. I'm sort of nervous about doing "my own thing" so I was hoping to find something quite similar to what I'm doing now. Thanks again. :)

I think you should look into South Beach. It's a low-fat, low-carb diet which allows fruit, dairy, and whole grains. They have an "induction" phase just like Atkins and then you can start adding things in. It sounds like the perfect plan for you.

Thanks Linsy, I'll check it out. :) I just know that I feel so much better not eating hundreds of carbs per day.