More secrets culled from my private files on dealing with life in Phase 1, the induction, super-weight-loss phase of the Atkins' diet.
You may have questions about sports and exercise, rolling into phase 2, life after the diet, etc. so here are some life tips from my experiences.
Also, one controversial note. Women do poorly on this diet, men do really well. Dunno why. All the guys I know have lost weight, lots of it. The 3 women I know who have tried it don't like it and have not lost weight.
So, if you're a woman, take note. It may not work for you. One common thread? Cheating. Women try to make nutritious, balanced, good-tasting meals. Guys try to lose weight.
First tip: Don't worry, it doesn't matter whether you believe in the diet or not, it works. As long as you are strict you will lose the weight, at which point (usually after 1 week) the diet becomes too damn easy!
Sports and Exercise:
I play indoor soccer and during the diet, at least the induction phase of no carbs, it's more difficult. Normally in a workout your body wants carbs, carbs, carbs because they convert to sugars so easily and then the body has insta-energy.
All the products such as "goo" and whatever for cyclists and runners is just a bunch of very simple sugars to easily break down into immediately usable energy.
So, don't sweat it (pun intended) at the gym, you'll get through it. Remember, losing weight is even better than hitting the gym for your health.
Phase 2 and beyond
As for "beyond" the induction phase... couldn't tell ya from experience! I tend to simply go back to my normal diet, with changes.
I find that after Atkins, I tend to look askance at evil carbs and just naturally go lower carb as I start to think of: chips, pizza, fries, cookies, etc. as "bad" calories — which they mostly are. So, it changes my lifestyle and how I view what I eat. No more cookies and candy, it's just wasted on me, especially as I don't really have a sweet-tooth to begin with.
If it's a french fry in front of me, it better be a dang good one.
It dovetails with why I drink diet soda: why waste calories on soda when I can waste them on important things such as beer? ;-)
As for what the book says, phase 2 is basically slowing down your weight loss once you hit your target weight (say, 170 lbs) by slowly adding, each week, 5-10g of carbs per day until your weight gain slows and finally stops a bit below your target weight (maybe 165 or whatever).
BTW — Cheese is the miracle on the diet, no? I add it on everything, hamburger, omelettes, sausage, whatever! Normally I'm not a huge cheese guy, but I am on the diet, and after the diet I've learned to carefully incorporate it into my regular meals.
What about the fat?
It seems that heavy whipping cream, butter, eggs and bacon do not make for healthy eating. I have two things to say. First, losing weight is good for you. Second, after a few days you find you start going for leaner meats, less bacon, etc. and actually eat pretty well for all the bad stuff you could be eating. So don't sweat it. Lose the weight.
My Atkins' Tip Series
Atkins Diary I: why
Atkins Diary II: the menu
Atkins Diary III: Diet Secrets
Atkins Diary IV: More Secrets!
Atkins Diary V: Cartoon
Atkins Diary VI: Mental Game
Atkins Diary VII: The Lighter side (humor)
Vitamin Supplements
Atkins Diary VIII: Final Tips
Atkins: Followup
By the way, it's now March 2005... and I've kept off the weight, so that's good. As I've said, I usually just need a jumpstart back into better eating and exercise habits and Atkins did exactly what I'd hoped.
Posted by BilFish at August 9, 2004 07:18 AM