Thread: Afraid of not counting calories

It's an amazing diet. Give it a few weeks and you'll be amazed! The first time I went on Atkins I lost over 60 pounds. My stepsister has been doing it for a month and has lost 12 pounds last time I talked with her and dh went on it before and lost I believe 15-20 pounds. It works! I've known quite a lot of people who have been successful on it as well as those here. Welcome!!

Welcome Talmidah. When you read the book, you will understand the science behind Dr. Atkins approach. It does work. You don't have to count calories, at least in the beginning. On that point, you should also understand that your body needs a minimum amount of calories to keep its metabolism from going into starvation mode. Sometimes people who are used to counting calories reduce their intake to a level that the body thinks it is starving and tries to hold on to muscle and fat by slowing down its metabolism. That results in a lot slower weight loss, which is why sometimes the advice we give is to eat more in order to lose. Everyone is different and I understand from a lot of comments, particularly from the ladies, that at some point, as they approach their goal, the feel a compulsion to count calories to get over the hump. One thing you should know, is that the Atkins approach is not a license to eat unlimited calories. There have been any number of studies that show that you can eat more calories on a low carb diet than other diets. However. there is no diet where you can eat 6,000 calories a day and expect to lose weight. With all of the fat and protein you will eat, you will feel full and not be hungry. If you are hungry, then you must eat something. The trick is to know what to eat. That is what you learn. I started Atkins a little over 3 years ago and have been eating butter, heavy cream, full fat cheese, etc ever since. In fact, I am eating better and richer foods now than I have ever eaten before. It only took me 40 years of yo-yo low fat, low calorie diets to learn that they did not work for me. I have never had English butter. I will have to try some. Good luck.

Ditto on everything that Heather and Henry said.

Eating fat isn't a license to eat butter by the stick, or mayo by the cup, but a normal person wouldn't do that, anyway! But we don't have to limit our fat. Eating fat is self limiting, anyway. There is a point where you just can't eat anymore, because you are not hungry. It's because you are satisfied with the fat and protein you are eating.

And do NOT skimp on the veggies! Eat what you are allowed, because you need the fiber, the vitamins and minerals, the antioxidants, and the variety. Find out what you enjoy that is allowed on whatever level you are on, and incorporate them into your daily diet.

You'll get nay-sayers telling you how unhealthy this diet is, with all that bacon, butter, and meat, but it's a way of eating with more veggies than most people consume, and you'll find that your portions of meat aren't all that big because you'll probably be satisfied with less.

Welcome, and I hope we've been of some help to you. Wishing you success on your loss, and that you have a lovely trip to England, and a wonderful visit with your family.

Talmidah - welcome! As Henry said calorie counting is not necssary on this WOE. But that doesn't mean you can't count them. I use fitday ( www.fitday.com) and track everything i eat and I do check my calories every day. I don't limit calories I just monitor them. I have had English butter and it is better than American. The fat content is higher I believe. European style butter is available in specialty markets in this country. so you needn't feel deprived.

Talmidah, go to the Atkins website, you'll find an overview of each phase, and what foods are appropriate. It's a nice overview. Just don't get caught up in buying their products. You are better off with fresh foods than with with bars & shakes.

Talmidah, sorry about the pineapple - it's just not going to fit. Best thing to do would be to give it to a friend or neighbor.

You can buy Irish butter at Trader Joes. And, around here, most upscale markets sell a nice variety of European butters. It is good... what is it? creamier, less oily?

It takes so much out of me to memorize everything that is low carb that counting calories would take the fun out of not having to worry about that or fat anymore. Long ago are those "diets" and days.

Don't fix it if it ain't broke,..
My two cents....

Originally Posted by Talmidah

I have to freeze my bread.

I do that too! I have 40 cal/lc bread that I keep in my freezer. I pull out some slices each day in a ziplock bag and have a nice lc sandwich for lunch. They have 4 carb net bread now too. Yummy!