Hi

I have been on the atkins diet for two weeks now and i have lost about 7 kg (about 16 pounds)

my question is if get to a weight that i am happy with, and then move to a sensible diet without going crazy on the carbs, would i still regain all the weight that i have lost? is it people who go back to all their bad habits (sweets, chips, snacks...etc) that get their weight back or is it anyone who leaves the atkins diet?

thanks

The first thing you should understand is that the Atkins approach is all about learning to eat healthy and getting to understand the variables in the foods you eat that affect your weight. As you go into OWL, you will learn the level of carbs that you can consume that will not result in a weight gain, all other factors being the same. based on the research I did before I started the Atkins approach, I understood that if it worked for me, it was a way of eating (WOE) that I would have to follow for the rest of my life, otherwise the weight would come back. As a result, I looked for recipes thaI liked and for things that would substitute for the higher carb foods that got me in trouble. In theory if, by not "going crazy" on the carbs, you mean eating at a level that does not exceed your CCLM level of carbs, then you should not regain the weight. However, I suspect that that is not what you mean. If that is the case then, based on the experiences of others, I would say that you probably will regain the weight. The Atkins approach works for me, but if it is not something that you can adopt as a WOE for you, then you may want to consider other low-carb regimes that may be better suited to you. Which ever you select though, their objective is to teach you a WOE not a short term diet. Good luck.

__________________
Henry

Hi hassony,
Welcome to LCE. Also, congrats on a great loss for a 2 week period. First of all, I would reccomend you get DANDR(Dr Atkins new Diet Revolution) and read it from cover to cover so you get all the information you need for success, and to also understand how low carb eating works.
Sadly, yes, you could possibly re-gain the weight if you were to go back to non low carb "sensible" way of eating. But why not continue on the road of success and gain the knowledge you will need to maintain a healthy weight? You've done excellent thus far; I think you've most likely got the hang of eating low carb, now you just need to know how to keep going and make it work for you and your lifestyle. Sooooo, that being said, read the book. Really. You'll be surprised at how all the pieces fit once you get the proper "instuctions"

Good luck on your weight loss journey. Post often and let us know how things are going for you, OK?

hth
Shelley

__________________
~~~~
Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

hassony-it's also an individual matter what level of carbs you can maintain at. shelley gave you some excellent advice when she suggested you get dr. atkin's book. not only will you be more successful overall, but you'll learn how to tell exactly what you need to do to maintain your losses.

good luck to you!

__________________


Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

thanks for the replies and the advice, at the moment I am happy to continue with the diet and there isn't anything really that I am craving too much, and i am in the second stage now so i can increase my carbs count a bit, and as long as the weight keeps going down ( i still have about 20 pounds to go) I think i will continue with it. its great to see other recipes on this forum that i can try in the coming weeks

Hassony, yes - do explore the recipes and have some fun experimenting. That is one of the fun parts of this way of eating - discovering new foods and new ways to prepare familiar foods. Your tastes will likely change and things like traditional sweets and starchy foods will have less appeal. Especially after you've built up a collection of LC recipes you like. Personally, I like mashed cauliflower (w/cream cheese and brie) much better than I ever liked mash potatos (thank you, Marcie, for the inspiration of your recipe)!

Now in my 4th year of maintenance, I still have to be vigilent. I'm quite a carbaholic and it doesn't take much to set me off. I find that I have much more trouble and struggle with food cravings when I let my maintenance diet get too high in carbs, alternative sweeteners, and legal treats (such as peanuts, almonds, cream, etc.).

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

Ditto to what was said above. I've been doing this for 5 yrs and never stray too far from the foods I know I can eat. I try new recipes ALL the time, which keeps boredom from entering the picture. However, I find that during holiday times, I will allow myself little indulgences (a taste of this or that) in order to keep myself from feeling deprived. But when I do this, I find that I wake up in the morning the next day with incredible hunger. I know why this happens, carbs stimulate the appetite. They don't set me off on heavy carb cravings so much as they just make me feel DEEP hunger. I get right back to my LC eating right away in order to not derail myself. That being said, I KNOW if I return to my old eating habits, the pounds will again pile onto my small frame. I NEVER want to go back to weighing almost 200 lbs.

Another thought..........returning to some of the foods from your previous life may or may not cause you to gain. There are lots of factors that can affect this. What's your exercise routine? If you are exercising more than you used to, you MIGHT be able to add some of your old favorite foods back (although make them healthier choices). Also, your body might react differently now, but you won't know until you actually try it. I'm not saying you SHOULD try it. That's up to you if you want to risk it.

This WOE is a matter of trial and error and each person has to find out what works and what doesn't for themselves. I just know for myself, if I were to go back to my old ways, my weight, high blood pressure, fatigue and heart burn would return with a vengence. I WILL NOT go back to those days.

__________________