As some of you know I have been on a low carb diet since the beginning of August.  So far I have lost 24 pounds and have 13 more to go.

I have not had any bread, sugar or starch of any kind since I went on this diet and now Thanksgiving is coming up.  My question is can I for one meal have a small amount of potato and small desert or will just one meal with some carbs screw me and set me way back?

I am hoping that for Thanksgiving and Christmas I can cut lose a little and have a small treat.

Two mates of mine have done what you propose without harm, have to be very disciplined to get back on course afterwards. I am approaching my high cholesterol with a low fat, high carb diet and I slip up all the time, you are doing well, stay with it but give yourself a treat now and again.

I worked at a book store this summer. Most common question "wheres the Atkins books?" We had a entire section set aside for all the bastards. I am sure one meal won't make you balloon those 20 sumthin pounds back on. Also, May i just say I hate the Atkins program, these middle aged house wifes would come in thinking it was some kind of miracle. In my opinion, anyone that wants to lose weight: 1.  decent proportions at meals (americans have this tendancy to eat till were stuffed not till no longer hungry) 2. get out and exercise, power walking isnt exercise! 3. exercise more, treat it like goin to church make it a manditory part of your routine.

That is the way to live healthy and stay that way, otherwise what r u not going to eat bread the rest of your life? Get real.

-ash

I'll agree with Ash about Atkins but I admire anyone who can stick with a regime of self denial and make it work. Eat less, exercise more is the simple answer but it's very easy to say and not quite so easy to do. I'm lucky, my low fat thing is simply for cholesterol, it's tied up with my recent op and I don't have a weight issue. If you can't have a decent meal for whatever festivals your god(s) sponsors when can you, enjoy the spuds!

It is actually a good idea to break from the atkins periodically for two reasons one it gives your body some nutrition that it has been missing.  W/o carbs it is 10% harder for your body to extract nutrients out of food (which is in part why you body starts to eat its fat reserves) also periodiaclly adding the carbs helps to keep your metabolism up by giving it that quick energy it has been missing.  But the most important is to exersize this not only tones muscles and burns fat but it also helps keep your metabolism up which will eat fat.  (one of my best friends is a personal trainer which is were I get my info from)

The Atkins diet fools your body into thinking you're diabetic.

You still need carbs to live.

I recommend reading the book The Zone Diet .
Yes you may about once a month but make sure you balance with some protein.

give yoruself one day of the week, every week where you can eat as you like. It wont feel like you're depriving yourself and you'll still have 6 days of dieting. It may slow your progress but will be more livable.

Quote from: ashmanI worked at a book store this summer. Most common question "wheres the Atkins books?" We had a entire section set aside for all the bastards. I am sure one meal won't make you balloon those 20 sumthin pounds back on. Also, May i just say I hate the Atkins program, these middle aged house wifes would come in thinking it was some kind of miracle. In my opinion, anyone that wants to lose weight: 1.  decent proportions at meals (americans have this tendancy to eat till were stuffed not till no longer hungry) 2. get out and exercise, power walking isnt exercise! 3. exercise more, treat it like goin to church make it a manditory part of your routine.

That is the way to live healthy and stay that way, otherwise what r u not going to eat bread the rest of your life? Get real.

-ash

Thats it.  You're banned. :nana:   ok just kidding   I went low carb only because I felt I had my best shot at making it work with my particular tastes -I like meat and eggs.  I like sweets but not crazy about them.   I even bought some of that Atkins ice cream but I discovered I really don't neeed it.

I have self control, I have discovered that so in 13 more pounds I will switch to eating a healthy and reasonable portioned diet.  No way can anyone live long term without starch in their diet, but stort term deprivation has helped me lose weight.  I bet if I ate a vegetarian diet I'd lose weight too but for me it would be a lot harder to follow.

So I guess I will allow myself one meal where I will eat a little potato and maybe a dessert.  We'll see what happens after that.

ps.  Today I bought some low carb bread,  6g per slice.  I made up some seasoned croutons with it so I can put into my salad as a treat.  This is also my way of slowly introducing bread back into my diet.  Being 2/3 the way home with my diet I figure its about time to stop the fast weight loss and go for a 2 to 3 pound a month goal(which I should to easily do) from here on in.

I will tell you this, I don't plan on eating nearly the amount of bread I used to.  I am convinced I am somewhat alergic to flour as I have never felt better inside, and my system has never functioned better since I went on this diet.  But mashed potato OTOH, I plan to go back to eating that I've always loved potatoes    

God bless Sleaman CLear - (low carb bear, only 2g per bottle)  tastes a bit like corona.

TTFN

Quote from: johnI have not had any bread, sugar or starch of any kind since I went on this diet and now Thanksgiving is coming up.  My question is can I for one meal have a small amount of potato and small desert or will just one meal with some carbs screw me and set me way back?

You are doing the right thing by adding a small amount of carbs back into your diet to prepare for thanksgiving.  My advice would be to eat a small portion of everything you want to eat at the mean, and try to fill up on Turkey/Ham or whatever you guys serve at this time of the year.  Too many carbs may be a shock to your system - it won't set you back, per se, but it may make you feel crappy for a day or two.
Atkins in moderation is a good diet plan for life for many folks.  I'm glad to see you have lost weight and have stuck with this.

About 2 years ago I did this diet and lost about 60lbs (230 to 170) by eliminating most carbs from my diet. Carbs where slowly added back in, but in useable portions. The few times that I splurged and had high carb foods, I didn't have any bad results. every once in while is good for body since it is starving for carb and would use them up rapidly. I stay around 175-180 now. I got back into mountain biking 2-3 times a week. Just eliminating carbs is not enough, exercise is a must! I learned more about nutrietion and what foods do to my body. Everyone's body chemistry is different. I was never a big sweet eater but loved pasta and rice. My cooking has changed to reflect a heathier diet with more fruit and veggies. At 37 now, I have the same size waist (32) as when I was in high school...almost 20 years ago.

Eat the carbs... they are yummy  

ok, this is gonna be wordy because we debate this in the lab alot, but take it from a biochemist...

Personally, I've decided that while maybe LOW carb is ok, NO carb is pretty bad.  Look at the human creature, we evolved as hunter-gatherers.. we should be living on flesh, nuts and berries, not the new staples of our agrarian society (grains and starches), our body chemistry simply didn't evolve for it.  The only reason we do it is because its cheaper and easier to feed 6 billion people that way.  Simple sugars like glucose and processedn starches have only been introduced into our diets in the past few thousand years, a blink on the evolutionary time scale.

Also, remember that not all carbs are created equal  :mrgreen:  Simple and complex carbs will affect your body chemistry in significantly different ways.  Also, glucose and fructose will have significantly different physiological effects.  Do the research, you will be convinced.

Personally, I feel that we neeeeed few carbs for quick energy.  Anyone who exercises regularly while on strict Atkins will tell you that you don't have a very good quick-energy reserve.  That's because (biologically) ketosis (burning fat) is a slower reaction than glycolysis (burning sugar).  It can't be used for on-demand energy as effectively.  Once you are into ketosis, you won't be doing any impromptu 5k's     you need some carbs for that quick energy.

As usual, I think the key seems to be moderation.  I think the food-pyramid should be turned upside down[/b]...lots of meat, some veggies and sparing on the grains.  When you have carbs, stay away from processed sugars and starches... go for fructose or unprocessed grains.  Of course, "fats oils and sweets" shouldn't be lumped together for obvious reasons, so that group makes no sense at all.  Look at the food pyrimid ... its just a ranking of how available and cheap each food-group is.. its a crock.  Think for yourself... happy dieting.

good luck with your diet.

peace

pizzleboy wrote:

QuoteThe Atkins diet fools your body into thinking you're diabetic

yeah,i am diabetic, ive got muscle tone here an there, and have been about 165 + - 10lbs for years now, what i wouldnt give to beable to gain weight, and some mass  :dunno:

I did the veggie thing for about three and a half years and lost a little weight and never felt better. I lapsed about 5 years ago, it just got too boring, If ever I need to loose weight I would probably revert to it even it it's a bit windy for the first couple of months.

Ash doesnt want to be banned   - heh. I just cant stand when people see a problem and dont take action to resolve it.  Best example is my sis. One night we go for a run(i.e weight loss topic) after she lights up a smoke and goes "want to pick up some Burger King?" Yup not too smart, oh well cant pick family. Carbs are so important if your really working hard. When I'm training hard I was running 10 miles a day 6 days a week....  I ate carbs like a mad man. Enough pasta for four people 2 or 3 chicken breasts plus a can of vegi's each night. Keep in mind i'm a stick at 6ft 155lb. If you work your body hard really needs those carbs.

If Atkins gets the job done then   But I just see it as a temporary solution. Its called a "diet" as in your usual food and drink. But as w/ other fad diets its only temporary in the end it takes action to burn fuel.

-ash

p.s. dr robert atkins slipped on some ice in his front yard and died not long after from the trama to his brain. hmmm. food for thought.

Quote"want to pick up some Burger King?"

Mmmmm...h-a-m-b-u-r-g-e-r-s.  Nothing to be afraid of--I eat one almost everyday.  Good, cheap, hot meal.  Double cheeseburger on Mac's $1 menu, or $1.29 for a local Jack-In-The-Box burger.  Can't be too fattening cuz I'm still hungry after downing one.  Skip the fries, of course.

Lots to be afraid of:

http://www.mcdonalds.com/countries/usa/food/nutrition/categories/nutrition/index.html

Dbl cheeseburger:
490 calories, 250 from fat
(more than 50% calories from fat).
26g fat, 1220g sodium, 12g saturated fat


go on, have yourself a dbl quarter pounder w/cheese...no harm.

Quote from: johnToday I bought some low carb bread,  6g per slice.  I made up some seasoned croutons with it so I can put into my salad as a treat:

Woah, easy man....don't get frickin' crazy now!

Low carb bread, once tasted, never again, really really awful!