Atkins Diet, How Good Is IT?

[BDog231]

I lost 170 pounds on the Atkins Induction Diet, and I'm having a bitch of a time keeping it off bro!

 

[Bill W]

I have gone from 252lbs (test/deca/dbol) and 20% bf down to 226 pounds by virtually eliminating carbs, with the exception of post-workout where I'll get like 15 gs. My strength has not suffered and I feel and, dare say, look much better. All this since Dec. 1st, and between Christmas and New Year's I ate horribly. Deserts, mashed potatos, pizzas, the whole deal. This is a great diet. I am taking Provigil, which helps the carbs cravings I think.

 

[Droo]

thanks

Thanks for all your help, Bill I think I am going to start the diet tommorow

 

[Bill W]

The first couple of days are difficult from a craving point of view, but if you follow the diet strictly (no boozing), I guarantee you will lose 10 lbs in a week. Some will be water, but you'll get the idea.

 

[MS]

Ummm just to be clear ('cause I haven't read the whole book) where do pizza/mashed spuds/test/deca/dbol come into the Atkin's diet Bill W???

That aside, it doesn't really matter what diet you lose weight on. If you go back to your old lifestyle habits you will eventually gain back any fat you've lost (and then some YIKES). Rebound weight gain is particularly noticeable coming off of an Atkin's style diet because of fluid gain. Of course the up-side of that is weight loss is pretty rapid for the same reason. If you're a bloat bag like me then gaining or losing10-14 pounds in a week is normal.

 

[Bill W]

I was writing about that week's bad dieting to say that my improvements could have been even better if it hadn't been for that week. I am by no means advocating that kind of eating. I am dumb, but not quite that dumb, close though. I agree with you 100% though about old habits. I was mentioning my cycle along with my resulting weight to indicate that that weight had been elavated because of the cycle and that even had I not been dieting, I probably would have lost some body weight anyway. Going from 252 to 226 is drastic, so I was trying (and failing) to suggest that some of the weight loss was a result of coming off the gear. Sorry for the confusion, its a little late.

 

[MS]

OK, so you were coming off of gear while starting Atkins at the beginning of the pig-out season???? Geesh, talk about jumping in the deep end!!!!!! Keep up the good work.

 

[Bill W]

1) I came off the gear
2) Started a lo carb diet
3) 3 weeks into the diet, I went off the diet for a few days, badly
4) Back on the diet now since the 29th
You're right, it wasn't the smartest thing to do.
In the past, I have dropped carbs rapidly post cycle, while keeping protein very high. It has worked for me, particularly when I'm at a high bf %. Sorry if I upset you and sorry if it flies in the face of logic. I'm not claiming to know more than anyone else. If my strength drops and I end up a fat-ass in a month, I will promptly admit that I was wrong. I get alot of useful knowledge from this board, but I'm no expert. Just sharing what I did.

 

[The mann]

atkins will make youlose weight but it will only be a short term weight loss program,..............

 

[fawnmarie]

atkins

I lost 65 pounds on Atkins (which was all I had to lose) and most of it stayed off easily for several years - until I was hit with a serious chronic illness. I did not gain it all back, even then.

If you are willing to be patient, you can lose all you need on Atkins. Like any diet - loss slows as you progress. Like any diet, exercise helps a lot.

You will not gain it back as long as you are willing to keep your carbs moderately low. Depending on your weight, gender, metabolism and activity level - you can maintain the loss on 60 - 200 grams of carbohydrate a day. The average American intake is about 300-350 per day.

As a relatively small woman who did strength training 3-4 times a week, I was able to maintain on as much as 100 grams per day and a low-carb day once a week (-30 grams).

If you work out and are pretty active, after meeting your goal you can maintain by just avoiding sugar and high GCI carbs. You may need to "tweak" as you go, doing a week or two of induction every couple of months, or whenever you find yourself putting on a couple of pounds.

You WILL gain all the weight back if you go back to a diet of sugar sodas, breakfast cereals and pasta and potatoes.

Fawn