Atkin's or Sth Bch?

[evie25]

:wave: Hi, I've done the Atkins (year & 1/2 ago)..but now the thought of fat,eggs,Cheese & More fat, leaves me feeling a bit nasuous!(sp) I love eggs & cheese buttttt,,I
I've read a bit of the SB diet, who has changed over from AT to SB? & did you lose the belly fat right away like it claims?..Thank you for any replies ..evie :D

[gwuinifer]

Well, I was a very enthusiastic Atkins groupie for about two years. I hated the grease myself, and staying at levels of carbs low enough to keep me in ketosis meant virtually no vegetables. The longer I stayed in induction, the greater sensitivity to ANY carbs my body had, and eating too many broccoli spears could throw me off just as surely as a slice of cake. I would stay up at night dreaming of fruit. Pathetic. But trying to envision this as a lifestyle was hugely intimidating for me. I mean, who wants to be a constipated carnivore forever? I really have never actually LIKED meat all that much, I didn't ever hate it either- I just didn't care much about it. Like, hamburger patties and cheese and bacon with a side of mayo and a heaping serving of sugar-free Metamucil - and the occasional round of super-greasy high-fat desserts, like ground almond cookies with splenda and more butter than almonds, or heavy whipping cream that coats the roof of your mouth with grease, or an ounce of full-fat cream cheese with splenda when all I really was lusting for was my daughter's light, tangy yogurt... Really. Just couldn't envision myself living that way for the rest of my life, despite the quick initial weight loss.

I really don't care if South Beach doesn't work as magically fast as Atkins did. I feel healthier all over. My skin is prettier, my bowels are working normally, I can have anything fresh and wholesome that I want without guilt (Like, how in the H-E-double hockey sticks is having a raw apple a sin?? Criminy! If I'm gonna sin, give me double chocolate ice cream!) I hugely agree with the SBD take on good fats, versus fat as my friend, because frankly, my body just isn't happy with heavy animal fats and not much else. Maybe for a few weeks, but for the long run, no way. I think that's why so much has changed about the Atkins diet over the years (ie the differences between the original DADR and the recent DANDR) and they have changed their tune to sort of maybe hint that calories are still kinda calories, and fiber is our friend, and perhaps enzymes in their many forms are beneficial. You just can't get everything you need from field greens and steak and bacon grease. I have never really bought that, but the initial quick fix kept me hoping, even when after four or five months the weight loss has completely stopped despite weighing and measuring every little thing, running around after two toddlers and remodeling, etc (no energy left for formal "exercise" at the end of my typical day!) and I could hardly bring myself to eat, and was totally lethargic all the time.

I am hoping that if nothing else, the SBD will be a happy doable healthy medium for me, somewhere between the sad bare landscape of the traditional Atkins diet that I just can't seem to get the hang of, and my decadent carb-hogging pasta-inhaling out-of-control comfort zone. I want to be healthy, as much as I want to be thin, if not more so. And I think this diet is offering me both, without the slavery to counting that has burdened me right out of dieting and back into binging so many times before.

In closing, to answer your question finally :smile: ; my tummy, with all the fiber in this diet, was the first thing to change. Along with my skin. My husband said, "You look all glowy."

[tonya0725]

I did Atkins for about a month over a year ago and I felt nauseated to. I also had some troubles going to the bathroom regularly. Not fun. I have been on South Beach since Sept. 2003 and have kept off almost 60 lbs. for over a year. It's much easier to stick with. I couldn't live without yogurt and some fruit and whole grain stuff. For me, SB has been just plain healthy. It's very similar to the diet a friend of mine who is diabetic is on. Good luck to you!

[evie25]

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I appreciate what you both said,it's exactly how I've been feeling too.I'm going to go with SB, it's makes more sense for myself! & yes, I love my yogurt too, specially when I put frozen fruit with it & nuts!,,that has alway's made such a nice snack! ..happy on the belly fat too :agree: ..Congratulations Tonya on your 60lb.loss & keeping it off!..SB is deffinetly more doable for a long term plan :yum: Evie

[LC-Laur]

You just need to do what works for you. I do Atkins and have considered SB - but I didn't think it's for me, per se, after reading the book. However, everyone has their own take on Atkins - there's a lot of room for interpretation in the book. For instance, yeah... You "can" eat all the skin and fat on chicken and beef but YUCK! May work for one person, but definitly not me. I'd rather have extra olive oil or an avocado in place of that fat... Also, you only seem to be looking at the first two weeks of Atkins, which is where your carbs are severely restricted. After that you can add fruit, higher GI vegi's and even whole grains! I've found that most people that start Atkins get "stuck" in Induction and can't seem to move on. It's fine to stay on for more than two weeks or to pop back into for a week here or there when needed, but it's definitly not a way to live your life. As you add back fruit, more vegi's and whole grains your meat and fat consumption usually naturally drops, simply because you're not as hungry...

That said, I'm not trying to convince you to do Atkins or anything. SB is a great plan and if you think it's right for you then give it a try!