Wow! That's an amzing loss! Congratulations! You are right, I don't think most people ever actually go thru the phases of Atkins. I know I didn't, but am inspired by your story. Very happy right now with the simplicity of IP, but may look back into Atkins at goal. Also, I always need to change things up!

I'm haven't been hungry on either diet due to ketosis. I talked to my coach today about my upcoming cruise in two weeks. We both agreed that my week on the cruise ship will be a combination of phase 2 and Atkins. Atkins is much easier to do when traveling, but I don't want to be kicked out of ketosis either. I don't care if I loose that week as long as I don't gain. She said most likely with the change in my diet I will loose that week. I hope she is right.

I wonder if there is any way to combine phase 1 of IP with the induction and ongoing weight loss phases of Atkins. I love IP, but I'm watching my parents do Atkins, and I miss having some of the things they get to have.

I'm sticking with IP for a while longer though. I want to reach 200ish and see how my parents are doing with Atkins. If they're doing great, then I might switch.

So my question is: is there a way to combine phase 1 and Induction and OWL?

I've switched from IP to Atkins (2 weeks ago) and absolutely love and prefer this diet over IP. I'm never hungry and feel much more satisfied when I'm done eating. More importantly I've lost inches and weight and feel much more energized.

I highly recommend Atkins, I find starting on IP made it easier for me to transition onto Atkins so IP was helpful in that regard.

And on a side note, I"m NEVER constipated on Atkins and have not have to take ONE single supplement to "go", I was irregular on IP many many times througout the 6 weeks I was on it.

How did you make the transition? Is Atkins working the same as IP or better than IP, or worse than IP for you (weight loss and inches wise)?

Try Bag Balm for a dryness...my husband swears by it for EVERYTHING! And on Nate Berkus or one of those tv shows a fashion women was on and she said it's her secret weapon for dryness!!! Good luck!

I found this thread interesting and of course, the thought of "real" food is very tempting, especially if it includes a bit of butter (which is totally MY weakness). So I hopped over to the Atkins board and did a little of reading. My head was swimming! It all seems so complicated. I guess I am comforted by knowing that my little packet of food is the right thing to eat -- no reading, counting, subtracting, figuring out sugars, etc. Interestingly enough, I find I am also a bit fearful of the return to "real" food. I am happy to let that be until I get there. Whew!

ok but heres the thing...from what all you guys are saying...you will be thin on atkins but your organs will fail? All that fat sounds like clogged artieries in the long run to me....and you are supposed to make that a lifesyyle? Hmmm I think ill stick to IP personally, dont get me wrong cheese and bacon sound amazing on day 7 of IP thats for sure lol to each their own I suppose.

Hmmmm I should let this comment go but I can't.
READ THE BOOK BEFORE YOU MAKE A COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT! The fats that you eat on the Atkins are good fats. Not all fats are good fats and Dr. Atkins says to stay away from bad fats! Atkins get a bad rap because of comments like this when people are too lazy to read and see for themselves and listen to others that don't read the book and make ***-umption of what his way of eating is all about. He does not preach eating an all fat diet of bacon and cheese!!!!! PLEASE read the book and you will see that Atkins is a very healthy way of eating.

If you want to live on a packet of powdered pudding that is your choice. I chose this too for a short duration until I get my eating under control. I can tell that this isn't a diet that I want to be on for very long. My hair is losing its shine, my skin is dry, my energy is dropping, I am constipated most of the time, I am losing weight but not inches so that means I am losing muscle, not fat...

OK I feel better now that I got my rant out of the way :-) I am over it now.

I am HAPPY that you took the time to go look at the Atkins board. Real butter is ok, not margarine. It can all be overwhelming with all the posts so it is best to get the book and read it first. It will be worth the time it takes. I agree that these packet are easier but we cannot live on them forever. It is best to get the research done BEFORE you decide it is time to make the switch to REAL food.

I am glad to hear that the transition was easier since you started on IP. I am trying that this time and hope I can get back on track with Atkins.

On your side note: I too have constipation issues on IP. When I was on Atkins before, it was never an issue. I think it was because all the healthy fats and healthy carbs that kept the motor running :-)

I am new (3 weeks) so I don't know if you can combine IP and Atkins. My only suggestion would be get the Dr. Atkins book or go to their website and read up on it. There is an Atkins section on this forum also. While you are doing IP you can get the info read on Atkins and make the change after you are more informed if that is what you want to do.

I lost all the weight with IP, something I never would have imagined I could do at age 55. Low carb works for me and I plan to still use some IP type items such as their pancakes for breakfast (which I love with Walden Farms syrup) and their wafer bars as a snack. Otherwise, its salads, vegetables and 5 or 6 oz of meat (which is now plenty for dinner). I do keep track of EVERYTHING though with a free app on my iPad and figure I will always need to. Food calories and carbs can really sneak up on us if we don't keep track. As for normal food, well I have learned to taste something but not eat everything I see. I remind myself that I like being a size 4 now and have a whole lot less aches than when I was a size 16. It is worth giving up the cheese bisuits at Red Lobster I'd say.

I've read a lot of good things on this thread. Jersey Gyrl was correct in referring to Atkins not being about a high fat pig out (my words, not hers). When followed correctly, it works terrifically and has been a life saver for many people. I have never lived near a center, if there is one outside of NYC.

(It reminds me of the food program that worked the best for me - the Heller Plan - and constantly having to defend it, as people would say things like, "Oh, that's the diet where you can eat anything you want for an hour once a day." NOT. As far as I can see, the Hellers have disappeared and run off to Disney World, and their website seems frozen in time every time I've checked it.)

Here's a few differences that are working for me right now about IP. 1. I have neat coaches who support me keep me accountable. Some of the coaches I've heard of out there would have me running for the hills. 2. I DO get hungry. BUT, THANK YOU, GOD, I DON'T HAVE CRAVINGS. I find I can tolerate, even kinda like being hungry for an hour or two or so ... a craving, what, about 5 minutes, and I'm into some crap or driving to the store? I never got hungry on Atkins. 3. I don't know the medical explanation, but the ketosis on IP is not the stand back 5 yards when you see me kind I had on Atkins. That's just me.

I too don't like the idea of eating out of packages that take quite a bit of experimenting (thank you, Finn!) to turn something that probably resembles ground sheet rock in some cases (I haven't eaten sheet rock) into something palatable, BUT; and this is the big but, it's working for me. I don't know if it's true that my long abused pancreas is taking a well-earned rest or not, but I'm losing weight, am sleeping like a lamb, am in a terrific mood a good share of the time, have a blood pressure I haven't seen in 30 years, and, as the King said, etc, etc., etc. I had never even heard of anyone going from diabetic to pre-diabetic before IP. It still doesn't sound linguistically correct, but as long as the doc wants to use these words, it's gloriously fine with me.

I truly suspect we all got to where we were by different paths, and that it may take different paths to get us where we need to go. If I'd had a good coach from the Heller plan for the first several months or year, who knows? Lots of people like groups and Weight Watchers works well for many of them. I personally can't imagine doing this program online, but I'm sure it's working for many folks.

My husband's favorite diet was the "reach for your mate instead of your plate."



Barb

LOVE THIS!! Different strokes for different folks.