Atkins/Paleo/low carb - did it work for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It works temporarily, but it's very difficult to return to normal eating without gaining it back. This happens over and over to many of my friends.

but that's not the problem of the low carb etc diet, rather the "normal eating" diet? it's like saying running 3 miles a day worked but gained it all back when return to "normal exercise level" which is obviously not enough?

IMO it's not as sustainable as other weight-loss programs - if you do portion control then it's easy to continue that because you've been doing that all along. If you've been losing with ketosis, you need to switch to something new to maintain.

[Anonymous]

I did primal, which is a less strict take on paleo, and yes, it worked and it was the easiest weight loss program I've ever done. Honestly, any effort to loose weight risks that you'll gain the weight back - that's the nature of being overweight, your default practices result in extra weight.

The hard part with primal is the first 2-3 weeks when my blood sugar levels were adjusting. I was grumpy and lacked energy, and because it was new, I hadn't yet found recipes that worked for me & my preferences so I was just hungry - not because the menu of good options was too short, but because I didn't know how to build a satisfying menu within the parameters.

But once your body is used to having a vegetable based diet, instead of a starch based diet, I actually felt really good - I could eat until I was full without overindulging. Some nutritional dificiencies that always effected my health went away. My energy levels were great.

The only reason I fell over the bandwagon was pregnancy #2, in which I really only craved carbs. Aside from that, I didn't find the diet insufferable. Some days when I forgot my lunch, or when at a dinner party with friends, the meal would be starch based and I was able to have those one-off meals without derailing the whole program. I'd eat it, feel icky, and the next day be back on track. I actually found it much more sustainable than other diets I've used.

[Anonymous]

14:01 again here and just to give you an example of what I ate & enjoyed while cooking primal (and looking this stuff up really is inspiring me to go back to it) -

For a special anniversary dinner, I made masala filet mignon, carrot ginger soup, roasted brussel sprouts, and strawberry goat cheese mixed green salad with home-made balsamic vinegrette.

On a typical day though, I'd have eggs & bacon for breakfast. On weeks I was really organized, I'd cook a crust-less quiche ahead of time and on weekends, I made a paleo pumpkin pancake thing. For lunch, I'd do leftovers. For dinner, some favs were grilled chicken with roasted brussel sprouts + side cheese plate for dessert; taco salad; any tomato-based curry served over grilled eggplant; any coconut-milk based curry served over roasted squash; and cauliflower-based pizza. We were getting a farm share at the time and I'd build our menu around the vegetables of the week, since we're get such large shares of them.

It was actually really satisfying and delicious and healthy. I had never realized how redundant a normal diet is until you start having to substitute the starchy-bulk for vegetables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It works temporarily, but it's very difficult to return to normal eating without gaining it back. This happens over and over to many of my friends.

but that's not the problem of the low carb etc diet, rather the "normal eating" diet? it's like saying running 3 miles a day worked but gained it all back when return to "normal exercise level" which is obviously not enough?

IMO it's not as sustainable as other weight-loss programs - if you do portion control then it's easy to continue that because you've been doing that all along. If you've been losing with ketosis, you need to switch to something new to maintain.

but why is it necessary to switch to something else to maintain? what's wrong with continuing these diets to maintain (and staying in ketosis if that's the case)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It works temporarily, but it's very difficult to return to normal eating without gaining it back. This happens over and over to many of my friends.

but that's not the problem of the low carb etc diet, rather the "normal eating" diet? it's like saying running 3 miles a day worked but gained it all back when return to "normal exercise level" which is obviously not enough?

IMO it's not as sustainable as other weight-loss programs - if you do portion control then it's easy to continue that because you've been doing that all along. If you've been losing with ketosis, you need to switch to something new to maintain.

but why is it necessary to switch to something else to maintain? what's wrong with continuing these diets to maintain (and staying in ketosis if that's the case)?

Personally, I didn't find it necessary to switch to something else. It was a bit of a lifestyle change to cook from scratch every night but once you're used to it, why not?

For my husband though, he's more prone to binge-eating so if the paleo diet is his attempt to manage that, it will be of limited effectiveness because he's always one meal-out away from falling off the bandwagon. I don't see that as a short-coming of paleo specifically though. That's been true of every diet he's always had - it only takes one trigger to totally derail him. It's really a psychological and emotional issue, more so than one of dietary style.

[Anonymous]

Yup. I do low carb/high fat, moderate protein. I don't eat junk food or processed foods. I lift weights. I've always been skinny so I didn't do it for weight loss, but it is certainly working for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It works temporarily, but it's very difficult to return to normal eating without gaining it back. This happens over and over to many of my friends.

but that's not the problem of the low carb etc diet, rather the "normal eating" diet? it's like saying running 3 miles a day worked but gained it all back when return to "normal exercise level" which is obviously not enough?

IMO it's not as sustainable as other weight-loss programs - if you do portion control then it's easy to continue that because you've been doing that all along. If you've been losing with ketosis, you need to switch to something new to maintain.

but why is it necessary to switch to something else to maintain? what's wrong with continuing these diets to maintain (and staying in ketosis if that's the case)?

Yup seriously. If you eat a crappy diet high in processed foods and shit, diet to lose weight and then go back to said crappy diet - why would you be surprised if you gain the weight back??

As for ketosis - you're dead wrong. Staying in ketosis is the easiest way to maintain your weight, as nautral fat consumption (vs trans fats) is self regulating.

[Anonymous]

yes, Paleo worked, I did 85/15 with an occasional allowance of yogurt, sweet potato, mayo or a small piece of chocolate. Actually it was an easy diet to be on after the first week of adjusting to it. it is important to always have paleo friendly snacks handy, so you're not tempted to break the diet. Then to maintain it, you can do mostly paleo with one cheat day or treat every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i'm also down to my last 10 lbs (8 to be exact) but i feel my low carb diet (<50g) has done all it could as the weight loss has stalled. no suggestions but interested in this topic too.

are you lifting heavy weights 2X a week?

[Anonymous]

Y'all are fine living indefinitely without bread and pasta?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, it works. I hate it though. I start feeling really bad after a while.

I don't think I'll bother again. I'd rather do what I can with portion control than trying to drastically cut down on anything.

You feel bad because it is an incredibly unhealthy way to eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14:01 again here and just to give you an example of what I ate & enjoyed while cooking primal (and looking this stuff up really is inspiring me to go back to it) -

For a special anniversary dinner, I made masala filet mignon, carrot ginger soup, roasted brussel sprouts, and strawberry goat cheese mixed green salad with home-made balsamic vinegrette.

On a typical day though, I'd have eggs & bacon for breakfast. On weeks I was really organized, I'd cook a crust-less quiche ahead of time and on weekends, I made a paleo pumpkin pancake thing. For lunch, I'd do leftovers. For dinner, some favs were grilled chicken with roasted brussel sprouts + side cheese plate for dessert; taco salad; any tomato-based curry served over grilled eggplant; any coconut-milk based curry served over roasted squash; and cauliflower-based pizza. We were getting a farm share at the time and I'd build our menu around the vegetables of the week, since we're get such large shares of them.

It was actually really satisfying and delicious and healthy. I had never realized how redundant a normal diet is until you start having to substitute the starchy-bulk for vegetables.

Bagels. Homemade rye bread. Mmmmmmm.

[Anonymous]

Love low carb. But it has to become how you eat forever (can slightly increase but never go back to standard 300 carbs/day lebel). I feel awesome on it though and lose weight easily. Very healthy for me, specific to how my body reacts to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Y'all are fine living indefinitely without bread and pasta?

Well, small amounts of bread can fit in low carb. But generally, Yeah, just like I'm fine living without it. Just like I'm fine living without smoking (enjoyable in the moment), wine every night, soda, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Y'all are fine living indefinitely without bread and pasta?

Another semi-paleo person here: well, I miss it a bit, and indulge sometimes, but some people just can't handle it. I've never felt better then after I largely discarded bread/pasta/sugar except as an occasional treat. Other people can load up on that stuff without issue, but I can't. There is a lot of variability, I think.