Atkins diet - Weight gain and good carbs and bad carbs
Question:
I'm starting the Atkins Diet tomorrow. Will I put on pounds before I lose them? I'm a bit scared of getting on the scales and I've gained weight recently. Can someone assure me this isn't going to happen!
Zowie
gtk says:
Don't worry, it's highly unlikely that you'll put on weight while doing the Atkins Diet. And don't be scared about getting on the scales, it's just a number and without that number you won't know where you stand with your weight - plus it gives you a goal to aim for. Good luck and check out more of our weight loss tips.
Question:
I just wondered what are the best supplements to take with this diet? The book says to take a multivitamin and some fatty acids. Anyone got any tips?
Gav
gtk says:
A multivitamin is a good idea as well as an essential fatty acid supplement. Essential fatty acids (EFA) or omega 3 and omega 6 are what many people refer to as good fats. They are essential for overall health and especially good if you're on any sort of diet because research suggests that EFAs can help burn fat. Plus EFAs are great for the skin, hair, bones and brain. You can add EFAs to your food or have in supplement form.
Good food sources of EFAs are:
Oily fish, nuts and seeds, shellfish and some green vegetables. If you'd rather take a supplement try cod liver oil, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil or linseed oil tablets.
Question:
Hi, I'd like advice on low carbohydrate and high fibre foods because I don't know what they are. I've just joined a gym and want to build muscle. I'm just over 6ft and I weigh 13st 10lb, I'm 25. Can you help, please?
Thank you
Michael Ward
gtk says:
Carbohydrate (carbs) foods are usually the stodgy foods that we all love, such as bread, pasta, potatoes and sweet, sugary foods like sweets, chocolates, cakes and biscuits. These foods can be high in fibre and low in fibre - all very confusing! You can separate carbs into two groups: good carbs and bad carbs. Generally speaking the good carbs are high in fibre and the bad carbs are usually high in sugar and fat.
If you're on the Atkins Diet you can only have a few grams of carbs, find out more about the
Atkins Diet
and see our food list below.
Good carbohydrate foods - high in fibre
Beans and pulses
Sweet potato
Potatoes (you get more fibre with the skin left on)
Brown/wholewheat pasta
Brown and wild rice
Cereals, such as millet, quinoa, couscous, barley, rye
Fortified, wholewheat breakfast cereals
Brown/wholwheat bread
Bad carbohydrate foods
Cakes
Sweet and savory pastry
Chocolate
White bread
White pasta
White rice
Ready meals and junk foods
Sugar
Biscuits
Low carbohydrate foods are, generally speaking, green leafy vegetables, dairy products and high protein foods such as chicken, ham, fish, dairy products and soya based foods, like tofu.
If you want to build muscle while working out it's best to have a healthy balanced diet with lots of protein and carbohydrates but carbs that are high in fibre.
Good luck at the gym, make sure you build up slowly and take advice from your trainer. See our useful exercise tips.
Where to next
See our Atkins Diet recipes for inspiration - pictured, eggs Benedict with hollandaise
Has your weight loss stopped? Find the reasons why
Speed up your weight loss with some easy exercise
Chat to other goodtoknow users on the Atkins Diet
By Louise O'Connell
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