Weight Watchers vs. Atkins

United States
April 22, 2007 12:45am CST
My husband needs to loose about 100 lbs. He would like to do the Atkins diet but I can't do the Atkins because I have IBS and it really irritates my stomach. I would like to have him try the weight watchers diet but he is giving a hard time about it. I would like to know which one you have tried and what is your feedback. Thanks!
1 person likes this
4 responses
@Dana5881 (609)
• United States
23 Apr 07
I think Weight Watchers is better since you are not restricting yourself any particular food, however if he can do Atkins then he should because you start losing weight pretty fast. I do the South Beach diet which is a lot like Atkins but a little less restricted so I would recommend that also. I lost 8 lbs in 10 days in Phase 1 and I will be moving to Phase 2 in a few days. Phase 1 in South beach and Atkins is the hardest because you limit your carbs to only 20g a day! Good luck to him!
• United States
23 Apr 07
I've been on both, and I would recommend WW. Atkins is a hard lifestyle to maintain. I also had headaches for 2 of the 3 months I was on it, and I'm not a person to get headaches. I much prefer WW. It's a slow and steady loss, going to the meetings you are accountable to another person (not the whole group, they don't see your weight unless you choose to share). The lifestyle is one I'll be able to live with for the rest of my life. It's not a diet. The support from the men and women at the meetings are about real issues that I face, and it just "works" for me. Let him try Atkins if he wants, the worst that could happen is he can not like it, then he can try something new. Support him no matter what he chooses, and give him lots of positive encouragement. Two separate meals might be in order, or make his then make your side of something else.
• United States
23 Apr 07
Thank you bunbunrocks....I think that I have talked him into doing the "WW lifestyle change"! I really appreciate the info. Have a great week!
• United States
24 Apr 07
I can't wait to hear of your journey together! I wish you both all the success in the world! Let me know when you get started and I'll share some of my favorite low point treats!
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
10 Sep 07
I know this is about 5 months late but hope it helps anyway! I know ppl who did Atkins and their problem was that as soon as they wanted to eat carbs, they gained weight instantly. However people who did Weight Watchers had a much easier time sticking to it. Weight Watchers is cool b/c you can eat almost anything and just balance out your points. Sure you shouldn't eat 5 donuts a day and that's it, but if one day you decide to have a donut it isn't going to ruin your whole diet. Whereas with Atkins, one donut COULD ruin your whole diet. I don't diet on any plan, but I do believe in eating anything you want in portions and being smart about it. If I want a smores tonight, I will have one, then I will exercise more to make up for it :) I don't believe in any diet that tells you to cut out anything b/c eventually you will crave those items that you cut out and the diet is bound to fail.
@nica269 (1395)
• United States
23 Apr 07
I have done both, and ww really didn't work for me. i don't know if it was the kind of foods I was eating or what, but I tried it for 2 months and I gained 15lbs. I know it's not common, but I don't recommend ww to anyone. On atkins I lost 50lbs in about 6 months and have kept it off, even after having a baby. I am back on that lifestyle and I feel wonderful. I do have to say that the first two weeks are deff. the hardest of the lifestyle. Whichever one your husbands chooses to do, support him and that will deffinetly help him reach his goal. Good luck.