I have tried both Atkins and S.B. and am back on Weight Watchers. I didn't go right from one to the other, though, so can't say that I would have gained by making an immediate switch.
I can eat carbs, which I missed dearly, and I am much more content and happier on the balanced WW plan, to be honest. I think this is the best and healthiest choice for me, personally.
There was a study done recently that was reported on Good Morning America a few weeks ago where they compared diets and the results. WW was a slower and steadier weight loss vs. S.B. and Atkins being faster. The WW people didn't regain their weight, on average, and kept it off (which is truly what we all want!) and the other low carb dieters tended to get sick of missing their carbs and had very fast weight gains. I think of it as a tortoise (sp?) and the hare kind of approach. I am slowly, but surely, taking off pounds. I am working out and eating healthy. I feel better than I've felt in probably about 3 or 4 years, including times when I tried low carb and other things.
I'd say go for the ww, you can always get into their program a bit more gradually? You can follow their points program and start incorporating the carbs slowly, maybe?
Good luck, please post and let us know how you are doing!
Linda in NH
From what I understand after the first phase of SBD it is very much what W/W wants you to do with complex carbs (yeah some are still missing) so it can be combined very easily with W/W. I know several who have.
Being satisified is looking at the points pies and deciding which keeps you satisified:
Points Pies
Balanced (under 250 pounds)
Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 8-9 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 6-7 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 0-3 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 2-3 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day
20-28 points a day
Higher Protein (under 250 pounds)
Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 5-6 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 9-11 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 0-1 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 2-4 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day
20-28 points a day
Higher Carb (under 250 pounds)
Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 9-10 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 5-7 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 1-3 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 1-2 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day
20-28 points a day
-----
Balanced (over 250 pounds)
Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 11 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 10 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 3-4 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 2-3 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day
30-34 points a day
Higher Protein (over 250 pounds)
Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 8 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 12 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 2-3 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 4-5 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day
30-34 points a day
Higher Carb (over 250 pounds)
Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 13 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 8 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 2-4 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 3 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day
I actually combine South Beach and WW and have had some success with it. I had to give up white flour products and cut back on sugar as I found that I was getting headaches afte eating carbs and if I ate them at lunch I was sleepy and unfocused at work for the rest of the day.
I eat potatoes maybe once or twice per month, same with white rice. I have switched to whole grain breads, brown rice and whole wheat pasta products so I still get my grains in.
I like the support I get at meetings and the points system with WW so I am sticking with it.
I also do a sort of SBD with WW and it works great for me!
When I did SBD alone, though I loved the way I felt, I didn't loose a single pound because the only bad thing about SBD is the book doesn't talk about portion control at all, just eat till you are no longer hungry and I think I just ate too much of it or something....lol
The good thing about WW is it is versitile, most of the low glycemic foods are also low in points (1 C blueberries=1 pt, lean meats 1pt per ounce for most of them, etc). Some people do low-fat WW, some low carb WW, high carb WW, whatever works for you.
My Dad did Atkins & lost 60 lbs. but has gained it all back. I tried to do Atkins but only lost 5-10 lbs. max and gave up. I missed the carbs. But, all the experts are saying, you can't just cut carbs, you have to watch your calories too. I've also done the Carbohydrate Addicts Diet...no carbs all day until dinner...then you can have all the carbs you want in a 1 hr. period.
I have hypoglycemia and really got headaches from not eating any carbs. Weight Watchers is the easiest diet I have done. There is nothing I CAN'T have. I never feel deprived. This is my 3rd time, but it's been a charm. For some reason it's easier now than ever. Maybe I'm actually ready to change myself. My mother is a lifetime member. My husband follows it with me. We have both lost 35 lbs. each. I've never lost this much weight before. I don't avoid carbs, but the points keep me in check and I try to choose whole grain breads as much as possible and avoid too much sugar. I use Splenda whenever possible.
Make the switch. You can still do low carb with Weight Watchers. They don't tell you you have to eat carbs. It's not a requirement.
amcap: You are sooo lucky your husband is doing WW with you. I feel like if I had someone close to do WW with I'd be a lot more successful. I also am struggling with hypoglycemia and cannot do SBD phase 1 so I'm going to do a WW/SBD phase 2 combo. I'm glad to read it has worked for other people. Cutting out as much refined sugars and flours as possible seems to be the one thing all of the popular diets have in common (WW, Atkins, The Zone, Dr. Weil, SBD, Sugar busters, Dr. Phil, etc.).
I have also done both diets, but switched from WW to SBD. I have approached both programs with the disciplined intent of reaching my goals. On WW, however, I found that, the closer I got to goal, the hungrier I was becoming. Upon reflection, I felt like I was starving myself. Hence, I abandoned the program and gained 30 - 40 pounds back.
On SBD, I am satisfied all the time and find that it is less work to follow - not necessarily less work to prepare food, etc. but less work in keeping track of number of points, and writing it down.
The one thing that you need to consider when you choose an eating program is the kinds of foods that you like. Personally, I can do without eating carbs like potatoes, rice, white flour, etc. The only one that I really miss is pasta. I also am more inclined to want a piece of cheese for a snack rather than munching on carrot sticks.
When I consider the likes and dislikes, SBD is a better plan for me personally. You need to examine all the plans and find one that is healthy and supports the way you like to eat.
Low Carb (Atkins, SBeach) to WW
