Switching from Atkins to Weight Watchers - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

catcookie · 06-16-2011, 04:50 PM

I've been doing really well on atkins but, I can't think of going all summer
without having summer fruits so I'm rejoining tonight. After I finish typing
this I'm heading to the weight watchers site to find a meeting. I was doing
it on-line but I think I need the meetings this time around.

Anyone else switch from a low carb to a low calorie plan?

Lovely · 06-16-2011, 04:52 PM

Welcome =) I'm not switching (as I've only ever used WW), but I wanted to give you a "hello!" and a "good luck!"

Proatthis · 06-16-2011, 05:05 PM

Just be careful because you may go through a period of gaining do to reintroducing carbs into your diet. I was doing an Atkins/keto diet and switched and my body went through a difficult adjustment period.

I am on WW now and I have always done better with a WW diet. I just wanted to give you the heads up and to be prepared if it does happen to you.

Good luck with the switch and your weight loss.

catcookie · 06-16-2011, 08:37 PM

Thanks guys! I'm reading over the materials and it sounds really good! And, I plan to slowly add the carbs back in as in starting with low sugar fruits then low carb bread and not all at once. I won't have cereal I'm guessing until maybe 2 weeks or so but I'm lowering the fat intake for sure. And, enough with the eggs already! lol!

kaplods · 06-16-2011, 11:30 PM

The important thing to remember when switching from low-carb to a higher-carb plan, is that a few pounds of water weight gain are almost inevitable. This isn't "real" weight gain, in a sense (it's real enough, but it's water, not fat). It's just that your body needs more water to process a high-carb diet, than it does to process a low-carb one.

The reverse is also true. When you switch from a high or typical carb diet to a low-carb diet, the first few pounds aren't fat, they're water, as your body rids itself of the water it doesn't need.

So if you see the scale go up a few pounds, don't panic and think you're doomed to "gain it all back." That won't happen unless you eat enough calories to gain fat. Once your body adds the extra water it needs, you'll lose weight as well or nearly so than on low-carb. I've found I can eat slightly more calories of low-carb than of higher carb to lose similar amounts of weight (if you don't count the first week of water weight difference). On low-carb, I'm also less hungry, so that's just another bonus. I do sometimes swithch between low-carb and higher carb plans. I just have to be conscious of the differences.

For me the difference is about 6 to 8 lbs. It can be traumatic to see jump on the scale if you're not expecting it, but if you realize it's just a matter of your body needing a little more water for the carb digestion, it's not such a big deal.

catcookie · 06-17-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaplods

The important thing to remember when switching from low-carb to a higher-carb plan, is that a few pounds of water weight gain are almost inevitable. This isn't "real" weight gain, in a sense (it's real enough, but it's water, not fat). It's just that your body needs more water to process a high-carb diet, than it does to process a low-carb one.

The reverse is also true. When you switch from a high or typical carb diet to a low-carb diet, the first few pounds aren't fat, they're water, as your body rids itself of the water it doesn't need.

So if you see the scale go up a few pounds, don't panic and think you're doomed to "gain it all back." That won't happen unless you eat enough calories to gain fat. Once your body adds the extra water it needs, you'll lose weight as well or nearly so than on low-carb. I've found I can eat slightly more calories of low-carb than of higher carb to lose similar amounts of weight (if you don't count the first week of water weight difference). On low-carb, I'm also less hungry, so that's just another bonus. I do sometimes swithch between low-carb and higher carb plans. I just have to be conscious of the differences.

For me the difference is about 6 to 8 lbs. It can be traumatic to see jump on the scale if you're not expecting it, but if you realize it's just a matter of your body needing a little more water for the carb digestion, it's not such a big deal.

Thanks Kaplods!

that's good to know what to expect because on the low carb board I used to post on (not this site but another)I'm being told I'm being foolish to switch and that I'll just gain all the weight back if I start eating carbs again but the leader of the weight watcher meeting I went to last night lost 79 pounds eating carbs! so, I'm just going to take this as a lesson learned and follow a plan I can live with.

gagirl1 · 06-18-2011, 10:49 AM

Catcookie, I just made the switch myself. I lost about 13lbs on Atkins in about 3 weeks. I started adding carbs back about a week ago because, like you, I really want to enjoy the summer fruits and veggies.

I gained about 3lbs back but I wasn't making the best food choices either. I didn't go crazy but I wasn't watching as carefully as I should have.

I have always had success on WW when I've been faithful with it. I lost weight on this plan many years ago and rejoined as a lifetime member. I have a lot further to go to reach my goal this time but I think I've made the best choice in order to have healthy and satisfying food and an overall all healthier lifestyle.

Best of luck.

bargoo · 06-18-2011, 11:16 AM

I did Atkins and was successful but I found counting carbs so tedious that I switched to calorie counting, I did not have an immediate weight gain after bringing carbs back into my life.

canadianwoman · 06-18-2011, 06:52 PM

I am getting very tired of low carb and all the restrictions on what I can and cannot eat so I am considering using WW points and doing a moderate carb plan.

catcookie · 06-19-2011, 08:57 AM

I see I'm not alone here, I know that weight watchers in a very sound plan with a lot of science behind it so I think we will all have success on it. As for the low carb plans, I feel they have there place but not for a lifetime. I'm guessing at one point in time before the invention of 24/7 stores eating that way would be more doable. But for most we do need good healthy carbs.

LadyOzark · 02-16-2018, 10:14 AM

I know this thread is YEARS old but it was exactly what I was searching for today. I am a Lifetime member of WW, hit Lifetime 30 weeks ago. In November I decided to try and get down a few more pounds and went to a Ketogenic diet. While I only lost 3 pounds I did drop "inches" in some spots I had previously had difficulty with even with exercise. Yesterday my DH asked me why I wasn't eating.....I had to think about that and realized I had been eating "food" but not the foods I truly enjoyed.....fruit, lots of veggies etc. I looked back over the last several months and realized I wasn't happy with my diet....I missed those things and was just sick and tired of tossing down bacon, butter and cheese! So, while I have maintained my goal weight and continued to attend WW meetings I wasn't eating a WW diet. He also said I looked "drawn and tired"....he was right. While everybody is different my skin hung, I had skin sagging in my face, my skin was always dry and I had little to no energy. I got the car keys, grabbed him and said "come on, we're going to go buy fruit and fresh veggies"! Today was day 1 back on the Freestyle plan on WW. While I'm not convinced yet, since I was use to Smart Points plan, I'm back into tracking my points and just making better choices based on carb counts. I'm going to keep breads and pasta's out of my diet as they didn't thrill me anyway and I don't miss not having those but I am adding back some of my beloved fruits and fresh veggies. Tonights supper is zucchini "zoodles" with chicken breast and homemade alfredo sauce and a salad....I'll be in heaven.

I know this was long but wanted to add my 2 cents worth and thank those that answered the OP's questions and not "passing judgement". You all were very honest and kind...

skelley331 · 03-02-2018, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyOzark

I know this thread is YEARS old but it was exactly what I was searching for today. I am a Lifetime member of WW, hit Lifetime 30 weeks ago. In November I decided to try and get down a few more pounds and went to a Ketogenic diet. While I only lost 3 pounds I did drop "inches" in some spots I had previously had difficulty with even with exercise. Yesterday my DH asked me why I wasn't eating.....I had to think about that and realized I had been eating "food" but not the foods I truly enjoyed.....fruit, lots of veggies etc. I looked back over the last several months and realized I wasn't happy with my diet....I missed those things and was just sick and tired of tossing down bacon, butter and cheese! So, while I have maintained my goal weight and continued to attend WW meetings I wasn't eating a WW diet. He also said I looked "drawn and tired"....he was right. While everybody is different my skin hung, I had skin sagging in my face, my skin was always dry and I had little to no energy. I got the car keys, grabbed him and said "come on, we're going to go buy fruit and fresh veggies"! Today was day 1 back on the Freestyle plan on WW. While I'm not convinced yet, since I was use to Smart Points plan, I'm back into tracking my points and just making better choices based on carb counts. I'm going to keep breads and pasta's out of my diet as they didn't thrill me anyway and I don't miss not having those but I am adding back some of my beloved fruits and fresh veggies. Tonights supper is zucchini "zoodles" with chicken breast and homemade alfredo sauce and a salad....I'll be in heaven.

I know this was long but wanted to add my 2 cents worth and thank those that answered the OP's questions and not "passing judgement". You all were very honest and kind...

I'm so glad I found your post. I've been struggling trying to lose 15 lbs for the last year, i was on atkins for two years and maintained by weight and hit my goal. But for some reason i cannot get back on track, so i've been debating going to WW freestyle as i love my fruits and veggies. So i just joined WW Freestyle on line and will give it a try.

Thank you and good luck to you.

ghost · 03-04-2018, 02:20 PM

I just switched from keto/vlc to WWfreestyle a few days ago. Still adjusting to being able to eat fruit and grains. But I didn't see a spike on the scale from water weight which was nice, I actually lost 1.2 lbs over night the first night. But I'm not going crazy on the carbs, just the fruits and veggies, lol!