I am thinking of doing a joint Atkins/South Beach approach.
Has anyone else done this successfully? If so exactly how have you approached it?
Did you count carbs at all? What about all the sugar put in low-fat foods that ups the carb count?
I have both the Atkins book and South Beach (I am reading currently).

I began Atkins last May and successfully lost 17 lbs. I was at my lowest a week after we got back from vacation (and I even had some cheats).

Then the holidays came! And I stuffed myself with stuffing and pie at Thanksgiving, and gained some, then cheated some more and gained more, then decided I to start fresh AFTER the holidays (all the while stuffing my face). I haven't been able to muster enough gumption to go through induction for a full 2 weeks again, though I did make it through 1 week. I have since cheated more!
Admittedly I have not been drinking water like I should and since summer is coming I will begin that again.
I have Atkins engrained in my thinking.........

I have now gained back the entire 17 lbs. I had lost!
My face is beginning to look "fat" again!
I refuse to change my stats!
I am just so disgusted with myself!


I am also a dedicated Diet Dr.Pepper/Diet Coke drinker. Is this a problem?

HELP Please.

Seems it would be easier to pick one and go with it. I mean at the very end stages the diets are so similar. Both are based on eating whole foods which are lower on the glycemic index. Atkins adds things back slower but the final maint phase list compaired to the final phase list on SBD are pretty much the same foods with the exception of high fat foods. I would pick the one that fits best into your lifestyle so you can make changes that can last a lifetime. Best of luck in whatever you choose to go with.

Jenn

Doing both can get tricky and there is a lot of room for error. I tried it and it didn't work. I slowly gained. The difference between the two is fat content and carbs. One has higher carbs lower fat and the other has higher fat lower carbs. Combining the two can 'cause a problem. What I've said is really simplified but true. I've done a lot of reading on this common mistake. It would probably work for some people but for me it was no good.

In principle I agree with Janette. But once you are a bit experienced, a combination is possible - or maybe necessary.

Please look in my and Wow's journal - we both are doing a combination and call it something different but the bottom line is: Use what is engrained in your brain as Atkins but without the fat. No fatty meats, lots of fish, only lean chicken or turkey cuts, no creme cheese, no butter. Only olive oil, and that used sparingly. I would do an induction on South Beach - very similar to Atkins, you might go into ketosis (I never checked but I had symptoms - people complaining about my smell, extreme sensitivity to alcohol). In contrast to Atkins, if you stick to leafy veggies and allowed meat and low fat dairy, you don't need to count anything. Then in phase 2 you add carbs slowly - as in Atkins, and many of us on SBD found that you might need to be slower than the book seems to say. Maybe add just one carb item every 2 days. Regarding low carb food: If sugar is added, they are also no. Low fat yoghurt and other dairy will have some (milk) sugar, but no sugar should be added. Some low fat mayo has high sugar, others not. Same rule: if sugar is listed as an added ingredient, its out - I actually eat sometimes normal mayo for that reason.

I and others find South Beach harder in the sense that you have fewer rules to go by, no counting, so if you have troubles sticking to a regime, one like Atkins that gives you exact directives (count carbs and add 5 each week) might be better. South Beach is a bit more: add and see what happens. If you are confused after reading the book, read all postings on the South Beach forum here - the diet has been changed, the book is contradictory, but there are websites to find what you need.

Good luck! Many here like me have had it work for us.

PS: I have lost 20 lbs and drink diet coke about 3-4 x/ week and more often during travel to no ill effects.

Thanks a lot for your advise.
I guess I will try SB induction and begin SB in total, and try later to incorporate a tad bit of Atkins w/o "fatty" stuff.
Sure is a little different mind set though!