I really do not suggest anyone trying atkins. I myself tried it for about 3 months and lost quite a bit of weight and gained it all back and gained even more after I stopped the diet. My body didn't take well to such a reduction in carbs. I was constantly not feeling well. I really think it can get to be very unhealthy. Alot of people give it a try for a short period of time and see how good it works but then get discouraged and quit then start up again which can get to be very rough on your body not to mention unhealthy. A very close friend of mine has been on Atkins for over 3 years now and cannot get off of it! She lost about 70 lbs in less than 9 months and looks great. The only downfall is she has tried several times over the past 3 years to go off of the diet and she cannot, she blows up like a "blimp" and gains all the weight and more back. So she said it is the worst thing she has ever done to herself because she is constantly counting carbs and limiting herself. She is afraid she will have to do this for the rest of her life.

Hi Flex, I have eaten the Atkins way for over 15 years and would never consider any other way. The reason why most people fail at this plan is because they don't know what they are doing, or they allow carbs to creep into their diet and for Jadensmommy's friend, you are not supposed to come off it, if she was doing it right she would have moved into maintenance and be eating a very healthy diet now. Atkins is a lifetime committment, not just a flash in the pan quick fix for a few pounds. Your friend can be assured that if she adds a few grams of carbs to her diet every week, 10g per week, she will not regain weight. Any weight that goes with the extra 10g is water not fat and she will lose this quickly if she keeps her water balanced.

Atkins is not an unhealthy plan, don't let anyone put you off by telling you they felt ill, they were tired, they couldn't do without their sugar fixes.
Feeling ill for a couple of days at first is a good thing, it means that you are detoxing from all the crap your body has stored. It even has a name - Atkins flu. Everyone who does the diet properly knows about it and prepares for it and handles it. When ketosis kicks in at about day 3 or 4 you feel great, your energy levels soar, and your head clears. This stage means that your carb stores are empty and you are burning fat. You also lose your sweet tooth and cravings. The restricted stage only lasts 2 weeks and this is to get you into ketosis. After the first 2 weeks you can move onto ongoing weight loss and gradually add good carbs (if there ever was such a thing) back into the diet, or you can continue at induction for as long as you feel comfortable.

Don't be put off by those who say you will have a heart attack or your cholesterol will soar, it won't, in fact it will fall quite dramatically after a couple of months, particularly your triglycerides. If you are diabetic you will be able to reduce and eventually come off meds (not insulin boviously if you are type 1).

My first piece of advice: READ THE BOOK. You can't do the diet without the book but there are great sites out there to give you support.

I've just read posting from member in scotland (couldn't see a name), which says in caps READ THE BOOK. Can you tell me what extra you get from book that a website can't cover. The site covers all phases, carb counter, menu plans; Tips etc. Do I really need the book as well.

I just don't think it's healthy to remove fibre from your diet and go with a mainly protein diet. I think that the Atkins diet stalls elimination and blocks digestion. My mother was on Atkins for some short-term weight loss and experienced serious constipation. That said, I do think that eating carbohydrates in moderation is a good idea. As long as all diets are supplemented with fruits and vegetables, I think almost anything can work if you follow it.

I'm worried that I'm getting no fibre on this diet. I'm 12 days into induction and have adjusted to it in most ways. I have lost 7 lbs. I agree that the cravings for food die down and find I'm not always finishing my plate of food (something new for me). However I am worried about the constipation and wonder if any of you have any suggestions on what I can eat to help me get more fibre. Plus I'm finding breakfast very difficult - I don't want to see another egg for weeks. Lunch and dinner easy as I love salad and my meat and veg in the evening. Any suggestions around breakfast, aside of the breakfast bars which I find very sweet!

Are you allowed to take fibre supplements on Atkins? I find that psyllium seeds really help me. You can buy them either as seeds or ground into a powder (psyllium husks). They're very efficient without creating dependency. Another form of fibre that works for me is raw spinach. Maybe can you have a salad for breakfast, too?

My mother went on this diet, and I have never seen her more sick in my life. She followed that diet to the t, and she felt terrible. Trust me, after the first four days, she was anything but energetic, or clear minded.

I think we need to remember that ketosis, is when the body thinks it's starving, because in reality, that's what you are doing.

ketosis also puts major strain on the liver and kidneys, and causes muscle damage. Ketosis can also harm brain tissue.

To put your body at risk like that is in no way worth the pounds you might lose.

Any diet where ketosis is the intro of a diet is not worth risking.

Atkins diet got me to eating my veggies and off sugar, white flour, empty carbs, donuts, pastries etc basically garbage food. Calorie counting doesn't work because you're still eating sugar. Sugar is basically poison and so are hydrogenated fats. Fat is not evil, sugar is. I also lost weight and felt great so I think that speaks for itself. Those who trash atkins diet I think haven't really looked deeply enough into it. You don't stay on induction forever. You can eat fruits later in the program. There's a lot of false info going around about atkins. In regards to the supposed dangers of ketosis, this is in dispute by medical doctors. It depends on who you want to beleive.

My doctor, who is a very famous doctor ine the world says that's beter to be in ketosis than overweight!!

i think it depends on the person. this diet didn't work for me b/c i didn't agree with the foods i had to give up. and i don't agree with taking carbs out of you diet. i felt sluggish all day. they did research on this diet and some people are having long terms health problems. we have a food pyramid that's been approved the the fda. and you should be able to eat from all food groups in moderation.
i ate small meals, drank lots of water, taken a colon cleanse and i lost and kept the weight off.

I tried the Atkins diet 5yrs ago and it completely changed my life, i lost a lot of weight and am still at the same ideal weight rande ever since then.it works but u must combine it with a little exercise,u just need to be fully committed.

Atkins diet does not work. why? just like every other diet, it is not a life style change, its a short term change, there fore when you start eating carbs, watch your weight increase so rapidly fast its not funny!

the best diet is a healthy diet along with excerise, weight loss is simple, you guys just make it complicated.

source, personal life experience.

Hey Flex Your Health
I realize this is a ways past your research most likely but in case others are interrested;
I did Atkins for 3 months. I breached Ketosis within the first two weeks with very little discomfort. I did feel the increase in energy but I was sick. Despite taking fiber suppliments and eating a fiber-insane diet I had never been so irregular in my life. I constantly felt sickenningly full and logy like every meal was a brick in my stomach. I finally stopped because the diet was really turning me into a different person. I was literally turning mean, more agressive, impatient, horny. It was terrifying. I noticed it a month into Adkins and it ended almost the day I started eating bread and dairy so I have no doubt it was caused by the radical shift in diet. I did lose weight but I plateaued very quickly as my muscle mass began to increase more quickly than I was shedding lbs. My Cholesterol didn't change much but my blood pressure got dangerously high while I was on the diet, though I can't be sure that it was a major factor.

I know folks who've had a lot of success with Adkins but I don't know anyone who's stuck with it more than a year at a time due to health concerns. I've known some folks who gain weight through Adkins. There's little doubt in my mind that it isn't for everyone.