Atkins Diet: Your questions answered
The Atkins Diet is one of your favourite diets - probably because it really works. You've emailed us with loads of questions about the diet, so here we try to answer them
Question:
I'm starting the Atkins Diet tomorrow and I don't have a clue which foods I can or cannot eat.
Jacci
gtk says:
The Atkins Diet is a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. Have a look at our guide to the Atkins Diet and we also recommend getting the book.
The Atkins diet is broken up into four phases. The first phase, which you follow for just a few weeks, you cut out almost all carbohydrates, so that's bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, cakes, biscuits, sweets and chocolate. You'll fill up on protein such as, chicken, turkey, beef, ham, eggs, shellfish - and you can eat lots of vegetables but no fruit. You can still have tea and coffee but you can't have milk, although you can have cream. Unlike many diets you can have cheese, butter, avocados and nuts too. See our Atkins Diet recipes for meal ideas.
You have to drink lots of water and it's a good idea to take a vitamin supplement and do some exercise.
Question:
I have just started the Atkins Diet and I am on day 10. I have only lost 3lb so far and I'm not constipated. I have checked with the Ketostix and I am in ketosis, but why am I not losing as much as others on the diet?
If I only have a stone to lose, does this affect my weight loss? Will it take me longer even though I have less to lose?
Thanks
mum2boysarrggghhh
gtk says:
Everybody is different and if you have less to lose, and a stone really isn't much, then you will lose weight a bit slower than others. You also need to exercise - you don't have to do loads but anything that gets your heart beating faster and works up a bit of a sweat is good. You might also find that even though you've 'only' lost 3lbs (which is, after all, three bags of sugar!) that you may have gone down a dress size - so, it's not all about the pounds and ounces.
Keep up the good work, drink more water and check that you are not overdoing the cheese, cream and fat on the diet. Good luck.
By Louise O'Connell
Average rating:
Please leave a comment, tip or story in the box below
Tris, 5 months
Hi. Can you tell me which foods high in carbs I'm to avoid? I gather you're supposed to cut out potatoes. Should I have pasta or rice at dinner?
Report this commentdavid zed, 9 months
hi im 25 5foot8 and 107kg ive recently started the atkins regime and initially felt i looked slimmer but havnt lost much weight i run for 30mins every other day with bin bags on and sweat loads i only eat meat and eggs with some veg only broccoli cauliflower and cucumber overall i expected better results and was wondering if im doin anything wrong or being impatient ive been doin it for 3weeks i am a little tubby around belly pecs and hips but generally solid muscle else-ware is that anythin to do with it
Report this commentkez cross, 12 months
hi is it ok for me to go on the atkins diet as i'm just 14? i'm not over weight but i'm fat for my age. what are the side affects of the diet? kez :S
Report this commentCaliforniagirl, about 1 year
I am wondering if doing the Atkins diet means hair loss? My hair is already thin, and I don't want to lose any, and I'm wondering how to prevent that from happening.
Report this commentsaleena ahmed, about 1 year
hi, im starting the atkins diet tomorrow, i ust wanted to ask is semi skimmed milk also permitted?
Report this comment
fruity, 22 days
hi im trying out the atkins but im unsure of the amount of food im aloud in a day could u give me some examples of amounts please? if i were 2 have bacon am i aloud 2 fry it ?
Report this comment