I am glad that atkins works for various people. I started the diet in sept 03 and found that i lost something like 9 kilos in the 2 months that i was seriously following the diet. At the end of October i suddenly stalled and stopped at 70kilos.
i stopped the coffee intake and cut out milk completely (i was having about 4 full fat latte's a week). i still remained stalled. i stopped the lc muffin i was having each day and still remained at 70 kilos. i cut out all artifical sweetners (splenda) and still remained at 70kilos. It was at this point also that the energetic feeling i was getting being on this diet suddenly disappaited leaving me feeling tired, lethargic and headachey. It seemed that no matter how low carb/hi protein/hi fat i went the same weight i stayed. my exercise regime could have been a bit more intensive i was using my treadmill 5 times a week walking briskly for 20min intervals. but i figured why have i stopped losing weight when im doing what ive been doing for the last two months and succesfully lost 9 kilos there, yet now all im doing is maintaining.
So i decided to test this diet out. i switched from atkins to a low fat low calorie diet (pasta/rice/veggies etc) and maintained my weight of 70kilos. Christmas came around and i went a little beserk and ate alot more of foods i shouldnt have - sweets etc and you know what?? i maintained my weight of 70kilos. In all honesty after the massive sugary binge i indulged in over christmas the only horrible thing i felt was again tired, lethargic and headachey - but what could i do i eventually felt the same way on atkins anyway!
so i feel that while atkins must work great for some people, and sure i lost 9 kilos due to it i daresay my loss was mostly water and muscle. the amount of fat i consumed during the time was alarming, cream, fat on meat, skin on chicken, almond meal in muffins, liberal amounts of butter...it was freaking me out and obviously for ME not doing me any good due to this stalling.
Because i feel so horrible atm and not sure of which way to go, i have picked up the SBD. As low carb as it is it also promotes low fat and allows you to introduce healthy carbs after a strict phase similar to Induction.
The reason i am replying to this particular thread is because maybe the media is right... for some people anyway. of course you guys will be dissing the media for throwing bad press at your diet..but keep in mind atkins is not the be all and end all for everyone who tries it.
SBD is very messy right now..some days its dont eat this other days its hey you can now have that! the forums (other sites) seem to be in total chaos and im not sure how i will go with this, but i am definitly looking forward to phase two of sbd and adding whole grains, steel cut oats, carrots and potatoes back into my diet - not in abundance but at least knowing they ARE allowed because they ARE healthy carbs!
Be well all, and remember as much as the media can seem to be one sided so too can followers of a particular diet