Hi all!
I am very new to the low carb world, and have been following Atkins to the letter for the past week. I have done as much reading as I can via the internet but I really wanted some honest feedback regarding low carb from those who have been living it.
I have lost approx. 6 lbs this past week which I am thrilled with. I have tried and tired other plans with minimal results over the years and am wondering if this is finally an answer for me. I was blown away by the amount of carbs I actually used to eat when I started paying attention - I was a fruit juice junkie and a single serving had more than the total carbs allowed per day during induction!
I would really like to hear some of your experiences with low carb and your honest assessment of the plan.
Don't know if it is my imagination or not, but I would swear my nails and hair are in better shape after just a week...maybe all that protein? Please include any real or imagined side-effects you might have encountered and any obstacles, etc.
Thanks!
Casey

Hi Casey, and welcome to the low carb board!

No, it is not your imagination....your hair and nails are most likely being strengthened by eating more protein. Many of us low carb to lose the excess weight, but there are alot of us who low carb because it keeps our blood sugars under control and we just plain feel better doing it.

I am sure others will come along and add their two cents....or more!

again, welcome!
peach

Ruth - Did you censor my post? I didn't say something bad did I? Now it's gone.

Short version - My hair and nails are happy on this diet. And so is my skin.

Dyan? What post? Did it have the F word - for Florida?

I've been very pleased doing the low carb diet so far. Although the weight is coming off slower now, I can tell a big difference in the way I feel a couple of hours after a meal. I don't need a nap!

Exercise is also very important and I know that is keeping my metabolism up. I'm also using the ketone test sticks to be sure that I'm "in the zone."

I write down what I eat, the numbers of carbs and calories in each serving, and what exercise I did for the day. At some point, I will be able to look back and remind myself how far I've come and what I did to get there.

Keep up the good work!!

When I am a good girl (!) and ACTUALLY follow the LC way of eating I notice a BUNCH of changes that are not weight related: no heartburn/indigestion, major reduction in headaches, pimples disappear (you know, it really sucks to have to deal with wrinkles and pimples at the same time!), more energy, clearheadedness, and the best thing of all THERE IS NO MORE STINKIN' CARB MONSTER VOICE IN MY HEAD!

Kel

okay kel, I just had a visual of you lifting the wrinkle to pop a pimple.

Casey when I first started low carbing, within a couple of days I had more energy than I knew what to do with, it was wonderful.

My sister lost 110 on low carb, she did the Heller's plan, "Carbohydrate Addicts Lifespan Plan." She has kept it off for almost 3 years.

Debbie

Well, Kel, my recent experience on any weight loss plan is pretty depressing, but I can tell you about how I felt when I first went on the Atkins plan way back in the mid-70s. I'd never heard of Dr Atkins until one day I was ironing and watching some afternoon talk show and he was on it. The syptoms of hypoglycemia that he described matched my symptoms to a T. Mood swings, carb cravings, shakiness and disorientation just an hour or so after eating, lack of energy, etc etc. I honestly thought he had looked into my head! So, I immediately started the Atkins plan and within a day I was into deep ketosis (it was so easy in my pre-prescription med days). The first 10 days saw 14 pounds fall away like magic. I had boundless energy and took up bike riding. My mood swings and periodic depression disappeared completely and for the first time in my LIFE I felt like a "normal" person. Over the next year or so I lost close to 100 lb, never felt hungry (in fact sometimes I forgot to eat) and felt fantastic. Then, all the so-called nutrition experts got to me with their dire warnings of kidney failure, etc etc and I gradually fell off the low carb wagon. Naturally, all my bad habits came back with a vengence along with all the misery of weight gain, hypoglycemia, mood swings, etc. I wish to he** I'd never listened to the experts and stayed on the Atkins plan. I'm sure I'd be much slimmer and healthier today. Instead I have to take meds for diabetes and cholesterol, problems I bet I never would have encountered if I'd stayed low carb. I can't praise the program enough.

I'm on the third day of induction, so too soon for results (I haven't weighed myself since Monday - a first for me).

I gave up caffeine cold-turkey the first day. Probably not the best idea. I hit a brick wall around 2 PM. Went home early and took a nap. Tuesday morning, I had a headache. So I decided to have one cup of regular coffee. I immediately felt better!

Like LindaBC, I lost weight easily on Atkins back in the 70's. Since then I've regained and snow am losing very s l o w l y, if at all, on Dr Bernstein's diabetic plan. I too am on meds some of that may be affecting my loss rate.

Thank you all for your feedback - and for the welcome Peach.
I have noticed this weird taste in my mouth the last couple of days. I have been told it is an indication of ketosis...is that true? And how do you guys deal with it. It does make me want to drink water all day...kind of a thirsty bad taste.
From what I have read from your posts here and on other threads it sounds like the first few weeks are great in the weight loss and then things slow way down - fair enough assessment?
It would be great to actually see statistics for weight loss on a week by week basis from real people - not the informercial type people. But I guess it isn't a matter of how quickly we get there...just that we keep working toward our goals.
Have a great day all!
Casey

first before you get too far read my comment on the 8 week post. that will explain the reason of the slowered weight loss.

but for me all the above i have expereienced.

but most importantly the doc was considering placing me on a lowering cholesterol med i have since dropped my cholesterol to absolutly fantastic levels so what more can i say. the health bennies are to far beyond anything i can say. the energy levels are though the roof (when i folow plan) and i feel fantastic!

do be sure to take a good multi vit and some potassium and some magnesium. those are the most importnat things to take. for the dragon breath. drink and may be just up the carb intake just a slight bit as it is the ketones that are causing the breath. get a bit out of the deep ketosis and you will find that it is fine. all you need to be is in mild ketosis to burn the fat.

Hi Casey, I just wanted to put my 2 cents worth in too. I've een doing LC on and off since 1980. Back then my metabolism was so good I'd get down to weight in a matter of weeks. Unfortunately today I'm very resistive to weight loss. Probably HRT isn't helping matters, but there you are. Anyway induction was the pits, but I'm very comfortable with what I'm doing now. No more headaches, or feeling sluggish. There is an LC answer to anything you are craving so I don't miss the carbs at all except for once in a great while. Make sure you drink alot of water, and take your supplements(They Really Help). There are people more knowledgeable then myself that can give you the reason why it works, I just know it does and for the first time in a long time I don't have the moodswings, and I am more human with my family. My husband knows when I've had too many carbs, he claims I get a little testy. He was against this when I first started, but now he sees where I'm coming from. Hang in there the first 2 weeks are the hardest, Judy

Hi all,
I started Atkins on Monday and can relate to some of the comments here. Giving up all my vices all at once has really had an impact on me. I've had caffeine headaches and have just been tired and grumpy. I go from fantasizing about being 20 lbs. lighter in one month to thinking that I'm not going to make it another day. I went to the gym at lunch and that really helped a lot. My dh has been very supportive too...he told me to give it a chance and see how I feel after two weeks. He even bought my ketosis sticks for me.

I look forward to getting support from all of you experts!

So tell me, what is wrong with aspartame? I made some diet Jello and then looked at the box and realized it is the sweetener. How many of you still include caffeine and aspertame in your diet? I really miss regular coffee and diet coke...I guess this is a sign of my addiction.

Jeanne,
Hi! I'm too new to officially welcome you...we are in pretty much the same place - I started Atkins a week ago tomorrow. I too was so excited about sugar free jello (and crystal lite) until I read the Atkins info on sweetners. I don't drink coffee or pop, but am lost without fruit juice. I just started a thread regarding beverages. Everyone here is so friendly and helpful and I am totally amazed at how much great information and advice is flowing through this forum - I am sure some of the experts around here can answer our questions.
As for the caffein headaches - they do go away. I gave up caffein about 3 years ago (except for chocolate, of course) and after just a week or so they were not so bad and now things like soda taste just disgusting.
Hang in there - I'm certain experts will be here shortly!
Casey