Atkins: Works for Some, Not for Me.
Written: Mar 11 '04
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Pros: Quick weight loss, loss of cravings, emphasis on non-processed foods and lifestyle change.
Cons: Hard to stick to, and expensive! Very hard to eat out.
The Bottom Line: While it works for some, if you don't enjoy eating low carb, this diet will not work for you long term as a lifestyle change.
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| xiabelle's Full Review: Atkins Diet |
In one sentence: Good for weight loss, but it can be hard to stick to if you don't enjoy the way you're eating.
The Beginning
After hearing quite a few friends rave about this diet, I decided to check it out. Being a compulsive person about this sort of thing, I read extensively on the web, looked through reviews of both the diet and the book, and bought the book and read it -- then verified some of the information in it through my own research.
I found much of it to be sound, but also a bit much for my tastes. I've had my gall bladder removed; all the fat made me cringe, so I modified it a bit to have less fat -- leaner cuts of meat, a lot of chicken. Especially positive is the emphasis on preparing your own foods, staying away from the empty calories and simple carbohydrates of junk food and the necessity of exercise. Less compelling is the sheer amount of carb counting you have to do, and the restrictions in the diet.
It's divided into three stages, and this is where much of the confusion about the diet enters, I believe.
Stage 1: Induction
Induction is the stage that most people think of when they think of Atkins, and Atkins himself describes it as trying to get you to see how luxuriously you can eat. The gist is, you cut out all but 20 grams of carbs a day, get off the caffeine, and generally cleanse your body of all the carbohydrate cravings. You're eating a lot of meat, cheese, celery and spinach, among some other things. The goal is to put your body into ketosis so you burn fat for fuel, and to give you a kickstart.
This does work, but it wipes you out. The first time I tried it, I was exhausted to the point of going to bed at 8 pm the first four days. I had a terrible caffeine headache. I didn't really crave carbs, but I was really feeling terrible and that's why I didn't make it through it. The second time I tried, I'd already started weaning myself beforehand, and did better. I also allowed myself my morning Starbucks with cream and splenda to sweeten it.
However, with only 20 grams of carbs a day, I wasn't getting enough carbs! I'm one of those people who had to go up a level on them. I clearly remember trying to make it to my spinning class after work one day -- and hitting such a wall and getting such leg cramps I thought I wouldn't make it through. And this was a half-hour into an hour class. I started eating more carbs before I went and it worked better. To his credit, Atkins does tell you if you're very active you might need more carbs. I don't need to be as low carb, as I'd lose weight even when I cheated.
You're supposed to stay on Induction for at least two weeks. I know many people who stay on it for longer. I was off after two and a half weeks, as I could no longer stand not eating the fruit I wanted.
Stage 2: Ongoing Weight Loss
Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) is the real meat of the diet (no pun intended.) It's what comprises the weight-loss portion that people stay on for a while. You gradually add 5 grams of carbohydrates a week, until your weight loss either stalls or you go out of ketosis, then you step down 5 grams again and eat at that level.
Here, you start adding back in your fruit, your carbs, and it's where some of the more creative substitutions come in. It was easier to eat here for me, and I suspect for most others. You get some choice, but it is still quite limited.
This requires a lot of discipline, as you gradually add things back in. Weight loss is not as quick here, and this is why some people stay on induction for a long time, because they want to keep losing weight quickly. This is the stage where you make or break the diet. If you're not going to be happy on this plan, it quickly comes out here.
Stage 3: Maintenance
This is the final stage, and is just what it says. Here, you've lost your weight, and are interested in maintaining it. Yes, you have to eat low carb for the rest of your life! You find the level of carbs you can eat at and not gain weight, and stick to it. Here, an occasional indulgence is allowed, but not regularly.
The Final Verdict
I tried this diet for a couple of months to varying success; the most successful time, I lost about 15 pounds in a two month period, even with cheating quite a bit. It does work. However, I have also since gained all this weight back (my own fault, due to being too busy to eat right or go to the gym.)
Why it didn't work for me in the long run is this is not a diet plan I can be happy with. I like too much variety of foods, and I feel that low carb is not the proper diet for me. Lower carb, yes; I believe in cutting down on simple carbohydrates. But not as low as Atkins is. Besides, I hate bacon and eggs, and it makes my breakfast choices rather limited!
As with all diets, the trick to any of them is thinking of it not as a diet, but rather as a lifestyle change. You have to find what it is that you can stick with, and what you enjoy. For me, this was not the proper lifestyle change at all. I couldn't stand not having the carbs. I'm not a carb addict by any means, but the restrictions on fruit drove me crazy. And I really wanted my morning bowl of shredded wheat.
For me, the most important thing in a diet is flexibility, and I don't believe that you should be denied anything to eat. Moderation and portion control is good, but no food should be flat-out denied. This is why this diet does not work for me.
In the end, though, I think this is an exceedingly hard diet to stick to. Part of the problem is the common conception people have about not watching the fat intakes or portions, and I don't believe that it teaches you to really manage your food properly. When you don't make it a total lifestyle change, and you're used to eating very fattening foods, if you fall off the wagon and add back in your sweet junk, you're going to gain the weight back FAST. It is also, contrary to what it asserts, very hard to eat out on (at least for me) unless you always want to eat caesar salads. More and more restaurants are now offering low-carb friendly fare, but where I live, at least, carbs are one of the mainstays of the meals, and eating out on Atkins requires virtually ordering off the menu.
It works for some people, but for me, it gets two stars. Works but it fails the stick-to-it test.
Recommended:
No
Approximate Monthly Cost (US$) 75
Food Variety Restrictions A somewhat varied menu
Restrictiveness of Portions Several hearty portions
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Epinions.com ID:
xiabelle
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Location: Houston, TX
Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Help Desk Tech, native Houstonian, bookworm and writer.
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