Low Carb Diets – Catherine’s Experience

Unlike my mother and sister low carbohydrate diets work well for me. When we think about low carb diets, the more extreme versions come to mind. This is usually the first two weeks of the diet when you are restricted to meat and low starch vegetables. For many people this is just too severe.  Some people get headaches, feel light headed, or can’t concentrate.

When I started Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition, I noticed that small amounts of tomatoes and avocadoes were included. These are fruits although we think of them as vegetables.  Since they have the nutrients usually found in fruit, I made sure to include them every day. I did about a week and a half on the most restrictive form and moved to the next phase. I was able to continue losing weight during this time.

The first phase of the Atkins Diet permits about 20 grams of carbs per day. Many people can lose when they keep their total carbohydrates below 30 grams. Personally, when I did low carb diets, I preferred to simply stay under 30 grams and spread them out over the day. I ate more vegetables and lower carb fruits than the more restrictive diets recommend.

Carbohydrates are necessary for your brain to work properly.  If you decide upon a low carb diet, you do need to eat the recommended amounts of vegetables and later fruits. In the final stages of the diet you can eat some grains, and starchy vegetables like potatoes. Eating only meat is not advisable, unless you are Inuit, in which case your body has developed the ability to eat only meat for months at a time.

I spent a year following the Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition. I lost fifty pounds. Unfortunately, diagnoses of breast cancer put an end to my dieting.  I regained around 30 pounds, not surprising, as the therapies and medications associated with my type of cancer often do lead to weight gain.  While gaining the weight was a disappointment, I remained 20 pounds lighter than before the diet.

Would a low carb diet be a long term solution for me?  I don’t think I would have reached an ideal weight, but I likely could have kept my body under the 200 mark.  In my case keeping my weight below 300 pounds was an achievement. As I have written elsewhere I made the decision to get a laparoscopic band. This has led to significant weight loss. I am still careful about the amount of refined carbohydrates that I eat.