I'm a 23 year old 2nd year medical student. I started Atkins (finished 1 week of induction so far) with the intentions of getting back into shape. Ideally I'd like to lose about 30lbs.

Here are a few questions I hope some of you can answer for me.

1) Considering I only want to lose 30lbs, is Atkins too 'severe a lifestyle change' for only 30lbs?

2) With me still being in med school, I have to study alot. Caffiene is something I dont think I can eliminate. I drink a lot of diet drinks during the day (maybe about 6 12oz cans a day). I drink different kinds like diet pepsi, diet coke, diet dr.pepper, diet lemonade, diet cherry pepsi, etc. Will drinking all these diet sodas affect Atkins in any way?

3) As far as carbohydrates go, do I need to keep an eye on all carbs or just sugar content and starchy foods like potatos. Basically does fiber count?

4) Is there anything I can snack on in the car? Basically something in the morning while I'm driving the 30mins to class. I used to eat an apple in the morning, but cant do that now.

Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated. If there is anything I can do for you guys, let me know!

regards
V

1) I don't think Atkins is severe at all. Since you only have 30 pounds to lose, I wouldn't do induction for more than the initial 2 weeks, and then make sure you move to ongoing weight loss (OWL). This will help you learn what you need to do to make this a lifestyle change and not a diet.

2) Some people do give up caffeine. I wasn't one of them. If you find that your weight loss slows, it could be due to the citric acid or the aspartame. Try switching to a Splenda sweetened diet drink to see if it helps. If you never stall, don't worry about it.

3) Count all your carbs. Deduct the fiber counts from the carbs that you take in to get the "net" carb count.

4) I snack on cheese, pepperoni (bring some wet wipes, it's a little greasy), once past induction, nuts are good and healthy. Other people will have suggestions too, I'm sure.

5) If you don't have the book, buy the book or at least borrow it from the library until you can afford a copy. The book is so full of information and motivation that I re-read mine at least once a month or so.

__________________
Katie
275/238/150
Restarted 01/08/2007
37 pounds lost!
http://justanotherfatgirl.blogspot.com

thanks for the quick response!!!

Is there anykind of fruit I can eat in the morning? I suppose I can eat carrots while driving, hopefully they are allowed?

hello md2b--

congrats on your choice to address your weight before it gets to be a "big" problem. that's great!

regarding atkins, though, i don't actually consider anyone to be "doing" atkins until they have purchased the book, read it cover to cover, and are actually following the plan instead of the various home-brewed versions you may hear from your mother's friend's sister-in-law, most of the time way off-base. from your questions, it's clear you have NOT gotten ahold of the book yet, so i would suggest you put that first on your list.

also, if you expect to maintain your losses, you cannot ever go back to eating just the way you did before. while there are obviously differences between eating for losses vs. for maintenence, low carb has to become a _permanent_ part of your lifestyel in order for it to work for you. otherwise, you're wasting your time and energy....cannot look at it as a quick fix. so there is some adjustment in thinking in order, as the change won't be for 30 pounds, it's for life. (and once you read the book and are actually following the plan as written, you'll also understand it's not as "severe" as you might think.)

my very best advice to you is get the book, read it cover to cover, and THEN come back and ask questions, (possibly after doing a quick search on the threads here to see if you question has already been covered in depth). while this is a very helpful and friendly bunch here, we simply cannot effectively summarize the book in 200 words or less. no one here will be able to give you as much good information and advice as you'll get if you go to the source to begin with. we can help you build on your knowledge with our experiences and perspectives, but the knowledge has to be there to build on.

did i mention you may want to get the book? it WILL make the difference between being successful and not being successful. good luck!

peace out.

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hahaha...i understand, READ THE BOOK. You would think that with me still being in school, I would enjoy reading.

I dont consider myself overweight. But I do acknowledge that I certainly have some weight to lose. I'm 6'1 and weigh ~185lbs so my BMI is at the very very very high part of 'normal'. Eventhough that 'test' says I'm at an OK weight, I just feel heavy. I came to this realization when I played tennis a couple of weeks ago. I was so tired at the end of it. Clearly out of shape. Yet, maybe only 5-6 years ago, I was on the high school tennis team playing an easy 3-4 hours a day with enough energy to keep playing.

I think I know the basic rules of Atkins. I've skimmed through the Atkins book maybe a year ago (Is it yellow with the word 'revolution' in the title somewhere?). My diet so far consists of steak and chicken made on a G. Foreman Grill, eggs, diet sodas, crystal light, and water. That literally is all I ate/drank for the past week. I also take a multi-vitamin (mega-man from GNC) 2X a day and a fish oil pill. So I think I have the very basics of the diet down. Its the subtle nuances that might confuse me.

Is there any other info you need from me?

thanks again for the advice, I can see this forum helping me out a lot.

Yep! Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution (DANDR).

No carrots on induction, and they should be somewhat limited depending on your carb intake as they are high in natural sugars. Do you like celery or bell peppers? Both of those are good snacks. You should also try to make sure that you get some fat and protein with your carbs (veggies) so that your blood sugars stay stabilized. A huge part of this WOE is to keep your blood sugars (and therefore your insulin) stable.

__________________
Katie
275/238/150
Restarted 01/08/2007
37 pounds lost!
http://justanotherfatgirl.blogspot.com

Just thought I'd add that you *do* need to eat veggies, not just meat and eggs. You need some carbs, and good veggies give you just the right amout. Visit www.atkins.com for some basic info on induction and the acceptable foods list. Fruit is not allowed on induction.

__________________
Michelle
209 / 187 / 150




DH's R&R Goal:
209 / 187 / 165
(2 months to go!)

md2b- the diet you describe is NOT atkins, and it's NOT healthy. you have pretty much no carbs at all and NO VEGETABLES at all.

low carb is NOT no-carb. you need healthy carbs in moderation. low-carb is also not crash dieting....if you want to try atkins and simply won't get the book, at LEAST please go to the atkins website and read something on it. while it's no replacement for the book, you can avoid common misconceptions about atkins by getting some real information, and then you can make an informed decision of whether or not it's for you, based on the facts.

__________________

What they said.

Atkins is not "severe" as a lifestyle. But first you have to find out what it is. READ THE BOOK.

When you are a practicing physician, knowing the benefits of low-carb firsthand will be a great asset. Suggest you get baseline blood tests so you can understand the advantage of low-carb for reducing triglycerides and increasing HDL. Reduces or eliminates the need for blood pressure medication and diuretics for many, and definitely reduces the risk of Type II diabetes. You'll want this information for your future patients--even if you're a dermatologist.

Don't wing it.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Dear MD2B: why don't you come to this conference on the Metabolic Aspects of Carbohydrate Restriction?

Not only will you get some science, you'll maybe get some extra credit.

And I'm shocked they don't teach anything about Atkins where you're going to school. Very distressing!

V, I have to ditto what's said above, so I won't retype it all.

I highly suspect you might have an old version of DANDR. Check the copyright date. If it's from the 70's or 80's you have an old version. DANDR was revamped sometime in the 90's I believe. My copy's latest copyright date is 2002. It has "NEW" stamped over the title.

I would like to address your question: What can you eat in the car on the way to class?

Eating LC in a car is difficult at best since a lot of foods that are convenient on the go are wrapped in carby wrappers like buns, muffins and tortillas. You are going to have to find some time to prep some foods to make them portable. A lot of us have gone to carrying small (six pack sized) coolers in our cars, especially during the warmer months. You could get heat packs to put in the cooler to help keep hot foods warm also.

Things like scrambled eggs, hard boiled eggs are quick to cook. Scrambled eggs take minutes and hard boiled eggs can be made ahead of time. You can peel them, put them in a ziplock and keep them in the frig for quick grabbing. You can add veggies (a must!!!) to your scrambled eggs too for flavor variations.

You can make meat roll ups and stick them in a plasticware container. Stick a little dill pickle in the middle along with a layer of cream cheese or swiss cheese, roll em up and they're ready to go.

Cut up raw veggies could be made portable along with some sour cream dips. You might have to wait until you are at a stop light to do your dipping tho!!!!!

As for the amount you want to lose, I lost 30 lbs and am at a comfortable weight for my height. (I could stand to lose another 10 lbs, but my lipids and BP are perfect now, so I'm not in a hurry.) Losing 30 lbs makes you a perfect candidate for Atkins.

I gather you are male. That's actually an advantage, men lose VERY well and quickly on this WOL. The high protein works well with their metabolisms and their need to keep their lean muscle.

It's GREAT you are getting into this. We need MORE doctors that understand this Way of Living. (as in Lifestyle) It would be SO cool if you could go to the conference Andrea mentioned!!!!!!

Oh and................WELCOME to LCE!!!!!!

__________________

The conference probably would be beneficial for me. Especially if they go over the biochemical aspects of the diet. But, I have my first block of tests on the 23rd (Pathology, Pharmacology, and Genetics) so that weeked will be spent studying.

Vegetables might be tough for me to incorporate into my diet considering my cooking skills are limited to the Geroge Foreman grill, but I will certainly try my best.

I remember very briefly discussing the Atkins diet in my Biochem class last year. Stuff about strain on the kidneys thus water intake being very important and the diet changing the 'food pyramid' as we know it. Pretty interesting stuff.

thanks for the advice, much appreciated

V,

I understand you are a busy student and have LOTS of studying and reading (for classes) to do. But it would serve you well to read the newest version of DANDR. It explains, thoroughly, the biochemistry of why we Americans have become so obese (on the whole), why diabetes has become an epidemic, why heart disease is killing us at astonishing rates, why asthma is on the rise, and on and on and on. And in a nutshell, what it boils down to is that we consume copious amounts of sugar and processed white stuff, i.e., flour, rice, corn, and partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats) etc., and not enough GOOD fats, vegetables, fruits, etc. This sets up a cascade of events that triggers huge amounts of insulin to be produced, which eventually leads to insulin resistance. Then our bodies don't know what to do with the excess blood glucose, so it then has to be put somewhere........into our fat cells (including our arteries.) Which then leads to increased triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc.

Granted, if we ONLY ate protein, our kidneys might give out on us more quickly than they should, given that protein molecules are larger than fat and carb molecules. But the truth of the matter is we eat BALANCED which includes TONS of veggies and some allowed fruits (lower glycemic ones.) As for your eating vegetables, you CAN cook them on the G. F. Grill. And of course, since they are heated on both sides, they will cook VERY fast. After (or at the same time, for that matter) you are done cooking your meat, you can throw the veggies on and cook them in a matter minutes. You might have to cut them up first, but that doesn't take very long. They also cook very well in microwaves.

Drinking water is important no matter what lifestyle one leads, what "diet" they are on, or whether they are "dieting" or not. People just plain don't drink enough water, period.

The misconception that the Atkins "Diet" is harmful and is a meat, eggs and cheese only diet couldn't be further from the truth. Atkins is NOT about eliminating an entire food group. If you need to eat apples, that probably won't kill you. (in fact it's very healthy and one a day WILL probably keep the doctor away, LOLOLOL ) I have been eating apples lately, especially dipped in ORGANIC (no hydrogenates added) peanut butter. It's my dessert now. So I would say, go ahead and have that apple once in awhile. But I'll bet you are starving an hour later, eh? What you really need to be doing is eating some form of fat and protein along with that apple, and organic peanut butter fits the bill nicely, it contains both.

BTW, Quaker has a new "Weight Control" instant oatmeal out on the market now. It's high in carbs, but low on the glycemic index, is sweetened with splenda and is quite tastey. It's QUICK, nutritious and sticks to your ribs and comes in a few flavors. A bowl of that plus your apple might get you through your busy mornings. (beats nasty doughnuts and things like that.)

Sorry this is so long, but I felt I had to set you straight on some things. Knowledge is POWER. By reading a current issue of DANDR you will empower yourself on the subject and become a doctor that can advise his patients wisely on the matters of diet.

__________________

Never mind. I bite my tongue. Others said it much nicer.

Now to the part which really attracted my attention, 'cause I got *positive feedback*!




Oooo! You've got a G. Foreman. Girl you *can* do veggies!!!! (see Rosie's comment) Grilled Veggies!!!

Here's what you do:

Get some yellow crook-neck squash, or, some zuchinni squash, or, some eggplant (either Black Beauty-the dark purple ones, or, Japanese-the skinny lavendar ones), or, some Mexican squash, or, some green beans (surprised ya didn't I?)

Get some olive oil - extra virgin.

Get some Balsalmic vinegar (stop squawking you carb counters - we're only gonna use a tablespoon which is 4g on my bottle!! And, it's not all going to be ingested - you'll see.)

For the Eggplant and squashes:
(Not *all* of them unless you're having a party!! Just how many you want to cook on your grill and eat)

1. Turn on grill so it gets hot!
2. Slice length-wise in slices (between 1/4 inch thick and 1/2 inch thick)
Put in bowl - big bowl 'cause you're going to "toss" these.
3. In smaller bowl (cereal bowl size??) pour olive oil..umm...1/2 c.
4. Add 1 tablespoon Balsalmic Vinegar to olive oil.
5. Whisk with kitchen whisk until mixture is evenly mixed (whisk the **** out of it!)
6. Pour olive oil and balsalmic mixture in bowl with your veggies.
7. "Toss" until the sliced veggies are coated in mixture.
8. Pick out each veggie slice from the bowl and "shake" it gently to knock off the excess oil/vinegar mixture.
9. Lay as many of the sliced veggies as you can fit onto the G. Foreman grill. Close grill lid and GRILL!

I like mine to almost burn. I mean the lines from the grill are pretty black, but the veggies aren't exactly burned, just cooked. Say 10 minutes. (My new Hamilton Beach version of the G. Forman grill has a timer so I do 15 minutes on it.) The Black Beauty eggplant takes longer

For the Green Beans:
These you have to blanch first. Which means get a pot of water boiling. Rolling boil. Put a shake of salt into the water. While you're waiting for the water to boil, snap the ends off the green beans. Do NOT snap the beans into short sections like canned beans!

1) Throw the green beans into the RAPIDLY boiling water. Leave three minutes. (They should turn a bright green. Well, brighter than they were.)
2) Get a bowl of cold water ready (You can add ice to water if you don't think it is *cold* from your tap)
3) Pour out beans into collander.
4) Take beans in collander and pour into the waiting cold water. (This stops them from cooking further. Leave them three minutes (or five minutes)
5) Get grill hot while beans are in cold water bath.
6) Melt some butter - I use 1/2 stick and zap it 30 seconds in microwave.
7) Pour out beans into collander again.
8) Put green beans in bowl - big enough to "toss" them.
9) Pour in melted butter and "toss" green beans until coated.
10) Put beans on grill - I put mine across the bars because I like the "hatch" marks.
11) Close lid and grill 10 minutes or so. (You might have to play with how long to judge when the "hatch" marks are dark enough. Try 10 minutes to start.)

Yummy!!

Yes, you can do the same thing with the vegetables but grill them on an outside grill, or if you've got one of those fancy stovetops with a grill built-in do it there. Frankly, they're better on an outdoor grill or the stovetop grill but they're not bad on a G. Foreman!

~K

__________________
Start Date: March 2005

Goal Date: June 25, 2006 EDIT: 2007
Keeping my eye focused on 10 pounds at a time!

Restart Date June 10, 2009

STILL Keeping my eye focused on 10 pounds at a time!