It seems Atkins was on to something?

I honestly wouldn't do the Atkins Diet again. I dropped 20 pounds fast, which was a huge plus, but I actually started to get sick from it. I was constantly tired and it got to the point where I had no energy. My mother, who has been trying to help me lose weight for years actually told me to get off the diet because it was hurting me. It got to the point where I was having trouble staying awake in my classes (I was in high school at the time). Granted when I went back to eating carbs I gained a lot of the weight back, but just watching my intake of carbs and not cutting them out completely I've lose that weight again. I wouldn't suggest taking out all the carbs in your diet because the carbs help give you energy. I wouldn't say don't do it, it was probably just how my body reacted to it. I hope I gave you some insite.

I could never try Atkins b/c I like my carbs too much. I am highly leery of this diet. I really think you need some good carbs in your diet to be healthy. I know that it works for people but I have heard it's not good for your kidneys at all.

yes it is, i used it and lost 45 pounds, its a geat way and you have to have discipline . its great

I highly praise the Atkins way of eating. It's an awesome plan if people follow it the way Dr. Atkins intended it to be followed. I've been on and off the plan for awhile now but the reason I haven't lost all my weight isn't because of the plan but rather my own issues with dieting. I lost 14 pounds in two weeks when I first seriously started Atkins. The first two weeks are the hardest because it's like a detox for your body and you are very limited on what you can have. If you can stick those 2 weeks out through induction - then you are on a good path to sticking to the plan if you can stay focused. I noticed that after about 6 days of being on it - I lost all cravings for sweets or carbs in general. I had no desire to eat them and that's huge for me because I am a sweets eater, big time. The key is to find places online for support and for meal/snack ideas because if you don't - you will become bored with your own ideas. The other key is to keep a water chart on your refrigerator. I printed one out for my son and I .. and we made a competition out of it to see who could drink more glasses of water a day. We would often drink about 10 glasses a day which is what I recommend anyhow. If you keep a water bottle with you and just make a habit of refilling it whenever it's empty, it's easy to get your water in each day. Another hint is that you can buy KetoStix at the store and use them about once a week. They are little strips that when you go to the bathroom (you pee on them) they will turn colors and if it turns a certain color (the chart is on the bottle) it means you are burning fat. This is a nice weekly reminder that you are on track and doing well on Atkins. They are about $15 for a bottle of 100 sticks which is why I only do about 1 a week to save them. Another tip is to try and buy a very small notebook to carry with you in your purse or pocket. Write down everything you eat - everything. I am not good at this but I tried hard when I first started and it helped me to see when I was eating the wrong things. It kept me accountable. It's not for everyone but just an idea to help you along. I know ALOT of people who have lost a TON of weight on Atkins and kept it off. I belong to a site that is focused just on low carb and has so many resources for those who are interested. Recipes, snack ideas, success stories, pictures, message boards with alot of great people who will help you along.. everything. If anyone is interested go to www.lowcarbfriends.com and see what I mean. I was doing really well on Atkins when I first started but then our whole family went on vacation for my dad's 70th birthday and I tried to stay focused but it was really hard for me since my family are huge eaters of junk food and I was new to the LC program so I was weak and gave in eating things I shouldn't have. When I got back home it was hard for me to get the motivation to start over. I finally did and lost 30 pounds in about 6 weeks before falling off the wagon again for my own reasons. I know this plan works if I put my mind to doing it. I've tried every diet you can think of and none of them worked as well as Atkins did for me. Good luck to everyone but PLEASE do not believe the old rumors that Atkins is just about eating meat, eggs, and butter. That is completely untrue. The great thing is, you can eat meat eggs and butter along with a nice green salad and ranch dressing or green beans or cauliflower salad (my favorite) or bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos or shrimp stir fry or fish with grilled veggies or a million other really great dishes. And over time you are suppose to work other carbs back into your diet as well like berries and whole wheat bread. They just want you to stay away from processed foods and things made with flour or starchy food like potatoes or pasta (although Dreamfields makes an awesome LC pasta that tastes just like regular pasta). You can even eat chocolate if you are good about it. Russell Stover makes a delicious line of No Sugar chocolates that taste just as good as their regular chocolates but beware, they are addicting and can be the downfall if you get too use to eating them and can't stop. Too much of anything is a bad thing. Good luck to everyone trying to get healthy!

Several friends of mine lost tons of weight on the diet.

i did it last year and lost loads in a short space of time, i think it is the carbs that some people cannot use properly which can make it hard to lose weight the more conventional way.