I've been very successful on the Atkins diet, but I am noticing some things and I'd like to know if anyone else has experienced these symptoms. I've noticed some hair loss. I'm older so that could be age.
My biggest concern is the cravings I've been experiencing. I could eat a whole loaf of bread if I let myself go. Candy sounds good to me also. When I was losing and being very careful, I couldn't believe how I didn't miss any of the high carb foods. Now that I am eating more fruits and good carbs, I find myself wanting the bad carbs. Does anyone out there have these cravings? I continue to fight these cravings and have been pretty low carb. But this is the first time I've noticed that it's getting harder and harder to not let myself go. I've lost and gained so many times in my life and I feel so good now that I can get up in the morning and not have to worry about what clothes will fit. I will not give in, but would like to hear if anyone else has experienced this. Thanks for all the support. I love this site.

Actually, as I moved into Premaintenance and Maintenance, I found that it was harder as well. I think that for me, it had to do with the way I chose to do it. In DANDR Atkins says that you can go fairly low carb all week and then have one or two high carb meals as long as your weekly allowance is the same. However, I found that having a cheat night led to two or three and I gained back six pounds. So, for me-this is not a good idea.

I think I also became a bit complacent when I no longer had to actively lose weight. I became slacker. Not horribly so, but enough.

So....How many carbs to you allow yourself on maintenance? Your profile shows that you have been very successful. Congratulations!!!!!! Did you get rid of the 6 pounds?

Not yet I haven't.

I lose best on between 30-35 a day and can maintain on 40-45 or so a day. I have a low thyroid though and that keeps me pretty low.

I've been back on low carb since January (2nd time for me), but this time has been for a longer period of time. I have noticed that when I eat junk, it's due to a type of craving I've never had to deal with before. It starts out annoying, but won't let up over a period of DAYS, until I eat the offending food, usually sugar-based.

It then takes me up to a week to detox, because sugar calls to sugar.

It's a diet-killing little habit.

Vicky

BTW: What torments you in your greatest nightmares?
A) A fiery building from which you cannot escape.
B) Monsters that tear you limb from limb.
C) Your ex-wife demanding alimony payments.
D) Unicorns, rainbows, and puppy dogs with big eyes.

Answer: Puppy dogs, tearing me limb from limb, WHILE demanding alimony payment.

One more question.....has anyone been eating the so-called low carb candies by Russell Stover. I can't tell you how many times I've had them in my cart at the grocery store only to put them back. Is it the sweet taste that brings on the cravings or is it the real presence of sugar (not Splenda) that does it?
I spent a week-end with my sisters awhile ago. We had a great time.(All low-carbers) I did eat a whole bag of Russell Stover chocalate covered almonds. Boy did they taste good! I spent the night in the bathroom however. I didn't gain any weight but I'm afraid if I have them at home I won't be able to stop. Anyone have any words of wisdom?

Russell is evil. I have heard nothing good about them, except that they keep yu regular!

If I get the urge to go sweet, Hersheys, ZCarb and the new Low Carb Reese's are made with erythritol, a sugar alcohol that doesn't bother a lot of folks regarding stalling, gas and lotsa trips to the john.

Hope this helps.

Vicky

1. If you think a food might be trouble, it is. This is how my intuition informs my conscious mind. Listen to it.

2. Clearly, there's something in the newly-introduced sugars that you are not handling well. Might try some isolation to see if you can figure whether it's a specific food product, or simply "more carbs." For me, high-fructose corn syrup is death.

3. I have had pretty good success with CAD--eating two LC meals, then one that's more flexible, but ABSOLUTELY honoring the "stop eating 60 minutes after the first bite," even if the first bite is just a taste. I still can't eat the real high-carb foods, but this has stopped late-night eating that, it appears, was triggered by afternoon snacks and long dinners.

Good luck.

jjjjjjjj

Ketosis is a strong appetite suppressant, so my guess is that you are no longer in ketosis - shouldn't - and that is why you notice cravings.

The hair loss is worrisome. Are you taking vitamins? Are most of your carbs still from veggies? 40 g carbs that are mostly candy isn't the way to low carb - Atkins isn't any different from SBD there.

I don't think the sweet taste is what makes you crave. I would try out which ones work for you. I have low carb yoghurt which is sweet, the small hersheys and 85% real chocolate (which contains sugar but very little and is very chocolaty rich but bitter - a matter of taste). While I am having troubles to shed the last lbs, I don't have cravings for carbs - only for peanuts.

It really helps to write a food journal here or elsewhere. For me, it helped identify peanuts as one of my problems.

Hi Everybody,
Thanks for all your replies. My mind has been on something else lately. My dog was just diagnosed with diabetes.
Needless tosay, all my cravings are gone. I can't get her to eat anything and I can't eat myself.
I'll be back when things get better and they will.

So sorry to hear about your dog! Low-carbing works for dogs in the same way it works for humans with diabetes. Please consider it for your pup.

My pups are low-carbers. They're going on eight and their health is impeccable.

Karen