Brenda Nolen

139 responses to “About 1972 Atkins”

1. 

   Jenna

   February 19, 2014 at 10:04 am

   I find the original atkins is the only one that works for me, great page thank you! I am a little over 7 months pregnant and will be jumping back on this afterwards.

   Reply
   1. 

      brendanolen

      July 30, 2015 at 2:22 pm

      You are most welcome. If you have any questions, please ask. I have the books right here! 🙂

      Reply
2. 

   thesustainablehome

   February 19, 2014 at 3:10 pm

   I’m glad this helps! If you have any requests/questions, let me know. I’ve tried to keep this in mind when I mark any recipes Level 1.

   Reply
3. 

   Martha Triunfel

   July 23, 2014 at 3:16 pm

   So I can’t have any broccoli or cauliflower or carrots or BBQ sauce

   Reply
4. 

   thesustainablehome

   July 24, 2014 at 4:24 am

   If you want to adhere to 1972 Atkins, pretty much. It was very limiting but I think that’s why so many people had success with the initial weight loss. I view it as an elimination diet (at least that’s the way my body treated it). You eliminate most carbs (except the needed fiber of the salad) during Level 1 and then slowly add them back in. The current modality of Atkins is pretty much the same but they allow much more during Induction. If this seems too restrictive, take a look at their website: http://www.atkins.com (then come back here for more recipes 🙂 ).

   Reply
5. 

   kerry

   January 8, 2015 at 5:12 pm

   I’ve been on this version of the diet for 5 days now, the sticks are purple, but I don’t feel I’m losing weight. Am I eating too much? Dr Atkins said you can eat any of the foods in any quantity but don’t eat if you’re not hungry. I have been eating sometimes when I’m not hungry 🙁

   Reply
   1. 

      brendanolen

      January 9, 2015 at 12:47 pm

      How purple are the sticks? When I get too deep into ketosis (darker purple) I’m dehydrated. I was not (and still am not) a big water drinker and had to bribe myself (I can have a drink of my coffee if I drink some water first) until I was drinking three large cups (32-ounces) per day. In regards to losing weight and how much you are eating, it takes a while for our bodies to realize they no longer need that many calories. In the beginning (even when I lowered my protein intake), I was eating like there was no tomorrow! Though I physically wasn’t hungry, mentally my body just kept screaming, “MORE!” I let it happen, and I gradually stopped eating so much (I can’t remember just how long it took … maybe a month). Now (well, when I’m on track … getting there), there are days when I’m lucky to get 800-900 calories in (so I have to eat a bit more). What I would suggest is weighing only once a week (obsessing about every ounce on the scale can be as addictive as a drug) and measure yourself. What I do is measure whatever area three times and write down the measurement I got two out of the three times. I know for a fact I’m not measuring my hips in the exact same spot using the same pressure as last time. That’s why I do it that way. I lost inches well before I lost any pounds. Remember, this is a marathon, not a race. We are in this for the long haul, to become the healthiest versions of ourselves. It took me 40+ years to screw up my body so I just need patience and determination to allow it the time to repair and heal itself.

      Reply
6. 

   kerry

   January 9, 2015 at 2:24 pm

   Thanks for your reply Brenda 🙂
   The sticks are in the middle, so not too purple. I’ve been drinking about 1 to 1.5 litres of water a day, and also drinking a litre of pepsi light, the no caffeine no carb one (it’s saving me I think, being such a sweet tooth) My whole problem with weight has been my sweet tooth, sugar cravings, and in this week I’ve had no caffeine and no sugar!!!
   After reading your post I’ve started following the plan also using my fitness pal. I weighed myself at the beginning but I haven’t weighed myself since. I haven’t measured myself at all. Really, I don’t care to do that either, I just want to feel more comfortable in my clothes. In the last 2 days I am feeling slightly thinner and the headaches are much better, and I feel more balanced, happier. I think I was the same as you, eating like there was no tomorrow, but I feel I’ve gotten over that a bit now. I have watched a good deal of the first video you posted of those 2 Dr’s and it’s helped me understand that it’s going to take my body time to adjust, so now I feel I’m on the right track at least. I started following the plan because a friend at work started it and she had lost 3kg in about 3-4 days, and in the first few days that didn’t happen to me. However in the last 2 days I am feeling a bit thinner, so It’s working, or starting to. One more concern I have, I feel quite weak physically in the afternoon, evening. Any suggestions for that? Thank you, Kerry

   Reply
   1. 

      brendanolen

      January 9, 2015 at 5:18 pm

      Kerry, I’m glad the headaches have subsided. From the beginning, I never gave up caffeine and use artificial sweeteners a lot! I have my diet sodas every day (including diet energy drinks). The way I look at it: I gave up sugar … if I give up caffeine, someone might get hurt. 🙂 When I got tired in the afternoons (used to hit between 2 and 3 pm) I either had a scoop of protein powder or a big spoon (or two) of cream cheese (I tried things like streaky bacon but it took too long to boost my energy). That got me through the energy slump. It also kept the sugar/carb cravings at bay (I used to literally get the shakes, like withdrawals, for sugar). Once my body adjusted to lower carbs/no sugar, my energy levels remained more stable throughout the day. The ONLY reason I ever measured myself is because everyone kept saying how they were losing inches but no weight. It felt good seeing some concrete progress somewhere. lol

      Reply
   2. 

      Lindalove

      April 23, 2015 at 9:02 am

      Put more salt on your food or drink a cup of bullion. This is a recommendation in the book.

      Reply
      1. 

         Lindalove

         April 23, 2015 at 9:05 am

         It’s the low carb flu because you ARE losing body fat rapidly. It may not show on the scale or too much in your body, but you are definitely losing fat at a fast rate and you are also withdrawing from either caffeine and/or sugar. I also read that when the body releases fat from the cells and there is no difference on the scale, it’s because the cells have not begun to shrink yet and the body will eventually catch up and show it in scale weight.

7. 

   kerry

   January 9, 2015 at 10:24 pm

   Hi Brenda, I Read the original Atkins book from years ago, I thought it said no caffeine? Anyway I’ve hit the caffeine hard for years, so I’m glad to ditch it. I wonder if because I’ve always used it I just need to adjust to what my body feels like normally without stimulants? Anyway I’ll keep on keeping on and see how it pans out. I’ve watched those videos you put up and they were so helpful, thanks 😀

   Reply
8. 

   blessedse

   February 17, 2015 at 11:18 am

   Hi Brenda,
   I am so glad I found your blog. I was on the new Atkins for a little over 2 weeks now with a very little progress. I wasn’t seeing any results after the first week and I was becoming frustrated. Then I found out about Atkins 72 and can’t wait to start over tomorrow.
   I have fee questions to ask if you don’t mind.
   For the salads, can I use mixed greens that they sell in markets? Or does it have to be just lettuce?
   As for the cheese, would Mozzarella string cheese considered a hard cheese? If no, what are your choices of cheese for this phase,
   And one last thing. I know that this induction phase is for one week, but can I stay longer for more rests?
   Thank you so much in advance for helping me out!

   Reply
9. 

   brendanolen

   February 17, 2015 at 4:47 pm

   Welcome! I hope you find success. I did bagged salads but kept away from the ones with carrots and cabbage. I ate string cheese, cheddar (sharp), swiss, gouda (the harder aged one) and was known to eat a chunk of Parmesan or asiago when I REALLY needed something. For me, I needed less of the the stronger cheeses before I was satisfied. As for length of time, technically, I was eating at induction levels for a year. Of course, I also make sure to take my vitamins every day to compensate for my minimalist way of eating. Just listen to your body. When you think you are ready, then add to your eating. Just remember to do it slowly (I did one thing at a time).

   Reply
10. 

    Linda

    February 23, 2015 at 11:25 am

    Why did you keep away from cabbage or broccoli, it’s permitted in induction. it’s the starchy vegetables that are off limits. You can have mixed greens, too. You don’t have to limit yourself to iceburg lettuce. Mozzarella is string cheese and it’s permitted as well. How about making yourself a cauliflower pizza crust and top it with your favorite toppings like bacon, sausage, caramelized onions, salame, basil, burrata cheese and mixed olives? Very delish and you’ll lose weight, too.

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       February 23, 2015 at 4:32 pm

       I did because of my body. My blood sugars were so out of whack that broccoli would spike them. Even excessive onion use would do it. I had to pare everything down to bare basics for a few months, then reintroduce slowly.

       Reply
11. 

    Linda

    February 23, 2015 at 11:26 am

    I love Atkins 72. I think the Atkins Nutritional is run by a corporation and their about the money; not health and weight loss.

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       February 23, 2015 at 4:32 pm

       Agreed.

       Reply
12. 

    brendanolen

    February 23, 2015 at 4:32 pm

    I did because of my body. My blood sugars were so out of whack that broccoli would spike them. Even excessive onion use would do it. I had to pare everything down to bare basics for a few months, then reintroduce slowly.

    Reply
13. 

    Linda

    February 23, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    I’m glad you caught that. How much weight have you lost? Mine is slow because at first I was on the low carb high fat plan for 20 days and I gained 6 lbs. OMG! But, the other culprit was I was still drinking my wine at night. I have since discovered that alcohol and a weight loss do not a good match make, so I put the wine on the back burner until I lose a significant amount of weight. My goal is 130 lbs. I’m 5’6″, and 59 years old. What are your numbers. My starting weight was 192.7 lbs. and switching to Atkins 72, I’m now 187.3. However, it still didn’t dawn on me to put the wine down and losing and gaining the same pound over and over; insanity.
    Once I stopped having my 2 glasses of red wine at night, I started losing weight more consistently. I haven’t lost as much as I’d like, but I also resumed my resistance training and perhaps that’ll speed things up. I’m 100% on plan now and it can only get better.
    One last thing, like you with the broccoli and cabbage, I stay clear of all Frankenfoods and desserts. I’ve had too many stalls to start them up again.
    Tell me about your journey.

    Reply
14. 

    Linda

    February 23, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    I’m glad you caught that. How much weight have you lost? Mine is slow because at first I was on the low carb high fat plan for 20 days and I gained 6 lbs. OMG! But, the other culprit was I was still drinking my wine at night. I have since discovered that alcohol and a weight loss do not a good match make, so I put the wine on the back burner until I lose a significant amount of weight. My goal is 130 lbs. I’m 5’6″, and 59 years old. What are your numbers. My starting weight was 192.7 lbs. and switching to Atkins 72, I’m now 187.3. However, it still didn’t dawn on me to put the wine down and losing and gaining the same pound over and over; insanity.
    Once I stopped having my 2 glasses of red wine at night, I started losing weight more consistently. I haven’t lost as much as I’d like, but I also resumed my resistance training and perhaps that’ll speed things up. I’m 100% on plan now and it can only get better.
    One last thing, like you with the broccoli and cabbage, I stay clear of all Frankenfoods and desserts. I’ve had too many stalls to start them up again.
    Tell me about your journey.

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       February 24, 2015 at 8:48 am

       I’m so happy you are doing well! That’s a great loss in weight! I originally started NANY in 2010, got off all my meds but lost so slowly that I was looking for any excuse to stop. I was 220 pounds at 5’6″ and managed to make it into onederland (199 pounds) for about a minute. Once I stopped, I gained back about 10 pounds and stayed there until August of 2013. When I restarted (blood sugars were out of whack again but refused to take meds), I was 211 pounds. It took me a year of Atkins 72 then Keto but I lost 49 pounds (162 pounds). In my head, that doesn’t seem like a lot but when I look at pictures and the clothing sizes I’m wearing now (size 14 jeans and medium tops) I am thrilled! I’ve gained a bit back (currently at 177) because through this process, I went from being allergic to all seafood (that’s when I found out I had type 2 diabetes) to 5 years later being able to eat it again, I’ve been scarfing everything in sight (from shrimp scampi to beer battered fish)! I was desperate to get every kind of seafood into my system before my body figured out it made a mistake and took back my glee. 🙂 I’m still thrilled, still fitting comfortably into my size 14 jeans and still have stable blood sugars. Now, I just have to get off my rear and cut back the carbs again. 🙂

       Reply
15. 

    Linda

    February 24, 2015 at 9:32 am

    Thanks for sharing. I love success stories. I find they motivate me to do even better. Last week, I’ve begun to incorporate resistance training into the mix 4x a week. It’s short and to the point. I spend 15 minutes on my upper body and 20 minutes working abs, glutes & thighs. These are very challenging workouts and I have to take frequent breaks, but if I stick with them, I’ll be in the best shape of my life, since the military over 30 years ago.
    Today, I weighed in at 186.7 from 1927. It wasn’t until February 16, when I stopped drinking wine, my weight loss began. Anyway, my size is a 10-12, thanks to my DNA and I believe years of working out, even when I diet wasn’t the best.
    My goal is 130 lbs. for my 5’6″ height and the key to my happiness, I’ve discovered, is that I had to educated myself on maintenance. I am a yo-yo dieter and I need to cut the strings to that “yo-yo” once and for all. I’ve lost and gained weight so many times, it’d become routine to me, until now.
    My main goal is to study maintenance thoroughly and plan my days and evenings. Know what works and what doesn’t, and weigh everyday, staying within a 5 lb. range. No more excuses.

    Reply
16. 

    Natalia

    March 11, 2015 at 7:36 am

    Hello!!!!!!!!! Do you know where I can get a sample of the diet

    Reply
17. 

    brendanolen

    March 12, 2015 at 7:36 am

    Well, your best bet is to either look on Amazon or Ebay for the original Atkins book (1972) or search in thrift stores (that’s where I got my copy and all subsequent copies of the other versions of the Atkins diet).

    Reply
18. 

    Naudia

    March 23, 2015 at 8:57 am

    Thanks so much for this post. I did ’72 last summer and lost 30lbs quickly. I gained some back due to no other reason but eating whatever I wanted to, no excuses. Now I want to get rid of the 12lbs I gained back and I want to know if I can use the Atkins Advantage shakes on this version for just breakfast. The shakes are 5g of carbs, this would be my only carb intake for the day. Thanks.

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       March 23, 2015 at 11:27 am

       It’s really up to you. If you are a “go by the book” person, then no. If you aren’t, then give it a shot and if you don’t see any results, cut them out and maybe replace it with some type of meat. I always had a problem in the mornings. If I ate anything that would digest quickly (heck, even straight-up whey protein powder), I’d be starving by mid-morning. So, I had to make sure I had some type of meat handy. Best of luck this time around!

       Reply
19. 

    Naudia

    March 23, 2015 at 2:06 pm

    Thanks so much Brenda. I’m going to eliminate the shakes and go back to the breakfast I enjoyed last summer-a can of tuna with a tablespoon of mayo. It was filling and I remained satisfied until lunch time.

    Reply
20. 

    Rita

    April 23, 2015 at 4:42 am

    Your comments RE the “Akins Corporate Entity” rather than Dr. Atkins and his original intent are spot on. I’ve done a plan that closely mirrors ’72 Atkins for the past 15 months (Dr. Westman’s No Sugar No Starch) that only expands the above to 20 total carbs a day and have lost nearly 100 lbs with no hunger. I see so many other people gleefully counting their net carbs on fake commercial breads, bars, shakes and the like who complain they aren’t losing and then quit. I know if I was an uninformed desperate person who read the crap Atkins Corp is pushing (40 net carbs, eat our cookies and bars and shakes and candy and lose weight) I’d probably fall for it. and fail. And then quit even more depressed. Maybe there’s a reason you see only celebrities pushing their crap – where are their “real people” success stories….if they have any,
    Thank you for addressing this.

    Reply
21. 

    brendanolen

    April 23, 2015 at 7:06 am

    Congratulations on your amazing weight loss! I’m so happy this way of eating has helped you. I’m sure there will be people out there who will have some success on the new Atkins corporation’s plan but I’m not sure how long that success will last once people move back to real foods. Then again, isn’t that usually the case? If a person doesn’t fundamentally change their attitudes about food, they will end up in the same boat as before (funny, hubby and I were just talking about this. We personally know 5 people who have had gastric bypass surgery. 3 of those have gained back all their weight plus more).

    Reply
22. 

    Lindalove

    April 23, 2015 at 9:11 am

    If you can tolerate nut milks, what about unsweetened Almond milk (30 calories per 8 oz.) and 4 ice cubes, sweetened with DaVinci sugar free syrups. My favorites are the French & Madagascar Vanillas, Coconut, and Chocolate. I put them in a blender and it comes out a thick and creamy milkshake. I also use the fruit flavored DaVinci sf syrups to make Italian sodas. I use my Soda Stream to carbonate my water.
    The DaVinci sf syrups are 0 calories and 0g carbs. Total calories for a milkshake is 30. Total calories for an Italian soda: 0!

    Reply
23. 

    Sandy Amlong

    April 25, 2015 at 1:45 pm

    Thank you for this site. I was looking trying to find the original way of eating this way. nothing has worked for me except the original way.

    Reply
24. 

    Sandy Amlong

    April 25, 2015 at 1:45 pm

    Thank you for this site. I was looking trying to find the original way of eating this way. nothing has worked for me except the original way.

    Reply
25. 

    jami

    May 3, 2015 at 2:02 pm

    I have been on the “new” Atkins diet now for 6 full weeks with no weight loss. I have never had over 25 carbs and shoot for 20 a day. On the atkins site when I go for advice on what I am doing wrong they say too much artificial sweetener, diet pop and diet diet jello yet all these things say 0 carbs. Then, what about all of the atkins products and sugar alcohols? Are they not allowed in the original diet or were they not even available then? I really love the idea of no/low carbs for so many reasons in addition to losing weight, but i am NOT losing weight and I am following the book. The new book. Please help! J

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       May 7, 2015 at 10:05 am

       None of those Atkins products were available when the original book was published. Dr. Atkins pretty much stressed real food (except for his use of soy flour and support of Sugar Twin, which I can’t even find any more). Are you trying to lose a lot of weight? I’ve noticed it tends to go much slower, the less weight you have to lose. I used to see people losing enormous amounts of weight and get so frustrated. Come to find out, they lost so much because they initially had 200+ pounds to lose. Once they got within 100 pounds of their goal weight, the weight loss slowed dramatically. The less weight you have to lose, the slower you will lose it (in 2013, I’d say I had roughly 60 pounds to lose to be at goal and it took me a year to lose 49).
       When you say 25 carbs, is that total carbs or net carbs? There is an awful lot of wiggle room between total carbs and net carbs. I would (if you aren’t already) solely focus on total carbs. Also, are you eating a lot of dairy? Some people seem to have better initial success by limiting the amount of dairy they eat. I’m also not like many others. I support the usage of artificial sweeteners, if it will keep you from scarfing a whole box of cookies (or getting violent). I’ve never limited my usage (except when I switched from powdered Splenda to liquid for a while). My diet soda keeps me sane. I also support virtually no vegetables (or fruit) for the first week or two. I did it longer than that, then slowly added one item per week (due to my blood sugar issues). If you aren’t really grouchy the first few weeks, you haven’t limited your food choices enough. 🙂
       Also, be sure to drink your water AND measure yourself. I can’t tell you how many weeks I didn’t lose (or would gain) but lost inches. When measuring yourself, it doesn’t matter if you are measuring in the right place, as long as you measure the SAME place each time.

       Reply
26. 

    Lindalove

    May 7, 2015 at 12:12 pm

    Couldn’t have said it better myself, Brenda. Excellent advise.

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       May 17, 2015 at 3:00 pm

       Thank you, Linda.

       Reply
27. 

    bohobabeover50

    May 26, 2015 at 9:20 am

    So happy to have found this blog . . . just started Atkins about five days ago. I have scale phobia so I am not getting on the scale but using LoseIt! to monitor my carb intake. I am over my 20 grams a day due to veggies so I need to lower the amount of veggies. I am doing this to lose weight, but after all the millions of diets I have tried, I feel more clear-headed and energetic. I have tried plant-based diets but I always felt lethargic – I have no idea why this works for me it does. After months of not wanting to even walk, I got up yesterday and without any effort had the energy to go walking down at the beach! I was going to order the book again, but your site has given me the information I was looking for. Thank you!

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       May 27, 2015 at 2:52 pm

       If you can find a copy of the original book, please buy it! I truly loved reading it and it gave me the realization that each of our bodies are different. I had been blaming myself (and my body) for the newer versions not working. I had tried very few diets in the past (a low to no fat one just about sent me to the hospital) and was so excited when I read the original book. It’s so much simpler. If you can’t order one, check out used book stores or thrift stores. That’s where I found all of mine.

       Reply
28. 

    Reta

    May 30, 2015 at 5:43 am

    I’m confused about the vegetables. No green bean or cauliflower? I don’t see any cooked veggies. No creamy salad dressings? For the other foods like meat should we measure it? How many ounces per serving are we allowed? I’ve been following the new atkins for almost 3 weeks. I lost 6 lbs and gained 3 back. Not cheating.

    Reply
29. 

    brendanolen

    May 30, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    I completely understand your confusion. In the original Atkins plan, the only vegetables allowed during Level One (“induction”) were roughly two cups of salad (and that was just to get some fiber to prevent constipation … look at Salads and Salad Materials above). As for the creamy dressings, most have some sort of carbohydrates or sugars in them. If you were to make your own, and wanted to substitute that for the heavy cream, that would be o.k. but he does not mention sour cream until after you complete Level One. Dr. Atkins did not advocate measuring/weighing meats. You basically eat those until you are full, supplementing your diet with any of the other foods listed. Now, this (Level One or Induction) is only for a week, unless you feel you need to go longer than that. One thing to note (and this is for everyone): watch bouillon! I just found out my husband has a gluten sensitivity (we won’t know for another week or so if it’s Celiac disease) and the Knorr powdered chicken bouillon has wheat in it (along with Kikkoman Soy Sauce). Others (like “Better Than Bouillon”) have corn syrup/sugars in them. Be very diligent when reading labels.

    Reply
30. 

    Phyllis

    June 20, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    Back in the early 80’s I lost 30 pounds in 3 months on the original Atkins – which was my goal – no diet has worked as well since then..but I swear I remember eating air popped popcorn as a snack..am I wrong??

    Reply
31. 

    brendanolen

    June 20, 2015 at 6:16 pm

    I don’t see any mention of popcorn, just the admonition to stay away from corn. It’s funny. I’ve read this book several times and did not remember there is a list of foods to never eat. I’ll change the page above, and include that list.

    Reply
32. 

    Mampalo

    June 24, 2015 at 5:02 am

    Hi ladies,
    this blog is awesome… i am so glad i ran into it. I started the Atkins diet (from one of the new books), a couple of days back, but for some reason, I feel absolutely no side effects from cutting down my carb intake. I haven’t jumped onto the scale since starting but fact that i feel pretty normal made me a little suspicious… hence how i found this blog. I did the original Atkins for the 1st time about 10 years back and i could swear the 1st 3/4 days were dreadful BUT i lost a very significant amount of weight in just those few days. This time around, i feel absolutely no different from how i felt before starting on the new version of the diet, so i’m starting to wonder if I’ve messed up my diet buy including veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, onion, spinach, avocado, capsicum, and tomato? please advice so that if its possible that the inclusion of the above foods isn’t doing me any favors, i can cut them off starting NOW!!!!!
    and again…. this blog is too awesome!

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       June 24, 2015 at 8:38 am

       Thank you! If you want to lose much slower (especially without the initial water loss) then keep eating the way you are. Otherwise, I would drop most of those vegetables. Take a look at how many total carbohydrates are in each of those. I think cauliflower is the lowest (hence why there are recipes for cauliflower pizza crust all over the place). I was mad when I actually looked at mushrooms. I had made mushroom pizzas (you know, a huge portobello mushroom with pizza toppings) and gained two pounds overnight (of course, I ate two of them). So, that’s when I started looking everything up (total carbs) and began ditching most vegetables for the first week or two. Then, add one back and see if you slow down too much (or gain). Then, you know what not to add back to your menu yet. I’ll tell you this. My husband was in the hospital. The first night, I was too tired to eat. The second night, I had insomnia and was depressed so I ate everything in site. I gained 5 pounds that one night! Since he came home (this past Saturday) I’ve been back on plan. I have dropped 6 pounds (in 4 days) and have been one crabby nurse! I’m feeling much more normal today (and thankfully did not get the low sodium headache this time).

       Reply
    2. 

       brendanolen

       February 15, 2016 at 10:49 am

       I’m so glad you were able to find a copy of the book! The program is so much simpler than later editions.

       Reply
33. 

    MickiSue

    July 13, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    I’ve been doing the 40 net carbs version of the New Atkins since early June. I had lost 20 lbs, over the course of a year, just doing grain-free. Then…car accident, thyroid slowdown and I was getting less exercise and eating dried fruit (OMG, the carbs!). I regained 12 of the 20 (started at 184, goal 150, at 5’5″ and in my 60’s.)
    Got my thyroid better regulated, but no weight loss. So started watching carbs more, and lost 2 of the 12. Grrr.
    Since 6/6/15, I am down another 5, and only 5 away from my lowest weight pre-accident.
    I think that the reason that I am losing (I don’t mind slow, seriously) is that I am, and will remain, grain-free for the rest of my life, and because I make sure to do what the site says: make sure that the bulk of the carbs come from a list of low carb veggies.
    Also, I drink only rarely, if at all, since alcohol is neurotoxic, and I had a concussion.
    BTW: the rule of thumb for those who do drink, on the “new” Atkins is to limit to red wine, and then no more than a bottle/week (about 5 small wine glasses per week).
    I am very intrigued by this site, and the original Atkins diet; thanks for your hard work to run it.

    Reply
34. 

    Ariana

    July 30, 2015 at 1:41 pm

    OMG… I am so glad to have found this site. I have been following this “STUPID NEW ATKINS” for a bit over a month now and i have lost 3 lbs. I was starting to think my metabolism was dead, but now I know its not me..LOL.
    I did ORIGINAL ATKINS 10 years ago and lost 60 lbs in 6 months so i was confused as to why it was not working this time around. Also my teenage son started on this journey with me 2 days ago and i dont want him to be discouraged so i was really digging around to find out the truth,… thanks for the site its awesome..

    Reply
35. 

    Rebecca

    August 25, 2015 at 9:18 am

    I tried the net carb and it doesn’t work for me. Eleven net carbs and the Keto stix didn’t even turn pink, much less purple. Going back to the 1972 plan.
    Thank you for you blog.

    Reply
36. 

    Rebecca

    August 25, 2015 at 9:18 am

    I tried the net carb and it doesn’t work for me. Eleven net carbs and the Keto stix didn’t even turn pink, much less purple. Going back to the 1972 plan.
    Thank you for you blog.

    Reply
37. 

    Mary

    August 27, 2015 at 2:39 pm

    I still read this often to keep me on track. This article has helped me so much. Thank you and surely would love to hear more on journey.

    Reply
38. 

    Martha

    September 7, 2015 at 11:06 am

    I have a question–since original Atkins induction does not seem to allow anything on salads except oil and vinegar and some spices, why do the meal plans include recipes with salad dressings that have sour cream? If I can put sour cream on my salad, why can’t I put Worchestershire Sauce in my tuna salad?

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       September 10, 2015 at 12:49 pm

       You are right, Linda. There is so much more in the books than I can even begin to write about. Martha, I can only address your concern from my personal experiences. Not all carbohydrates are created equal. Each body reacts differently to foods. Too many out there say, basically, “A carb is a carb.” If that were true, then you should be able to eat as much refined sugar, honey, molasses, etc. as you want as long as it is within your carbohydrate limits for the day. My body does not agree with that way of thinking (or eating). I do my best to encourage everyone to read Dr. Atkins’ books. I would never copy everything he wrote and post it in my blog. This blog is for me to share the basics and how my body dealt with it.

       Reply
39. 

    brendanolen

    September 7, 2015 at 12:19 pm

    It’s probably because there are molasses and sugar in Lea and Perrin’s Worcestershire sauce. If there is another brand that does not contain sugar, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be allowed during induction.

    Reply
    1. 

       Martha

       September 8, 2015 at 5:35 pm

       I get that brendanolen, but the total carbs in Worcestershire is 1 gm/serving which isn’t more than sour cream. Why are certain foods forbidden rather than just saying “stay under 5 carbs per day” or something?

       Reply
       1. 

          Linda

          September 8, 2015 at 9:22 pm

          Dr. Atkins explains his reasoning in his book. Please purchase one on either Amazon.com, another online bookseller, your local library may have a copy, but don’t rely on someone else’s opinion and guessing may cause more harm than good.
          It’s always a good idea, if you’re going to embark on a lifestyle change, to get as many facts from the authority as possible.
          Good luck to you.

40. 

    Linda

    September 10, 2015 at 5:24 pm

    True that. I think some booksellers like Goodwill on Amazon for free. You just pay for shipping.

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       September 10, 2015 at 5:40 pm

       Yeah, I found all of mine at two thrift stores here (so shocked I found the recipe book, too). I always wondered what they were thinking when I walked out of there with a shopping cart full of Atkins books. lol

       Reply
41. 

    AmyLynn

    September 21, 2015 at 10:28 am

    Thank you so much for putting this information out there for frustrated folks like myself! I did the new version of Atkins for 3 weeks. The first week I was down 8 lbs- YAY! Then a coworker gave me an Atkins meal bar. Total destruction. About a day later(yes one single day) all 8 lbs were back and have not budged. I should have known better – they actually tasted good so I budgeted them in as a dessert. Now I’m ready to start over with the original Atkins ’72. I do have one question- if the salad is included merely to provide the fiber to prevent constipation, can I skip the salad and just take a fiber supplement such as metimucil? I have been eating salads everyday but this has still been an issue for me so I’m thinking that it still may not be enough fiber. Any thoughts?

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       September 23, 2015 at 4:09 pm

       You can (as long as it’s sugar-free) or the pills. I did for a while when I switched over but ultimately it was like my body just digested the food slower and I had fewer movements. And those bars … they are too good (doesn’t matter if it’s low carb if I eat the whole box).

       Reply
42. 

    Janet Ollman Blackmer

    October 6, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    I did the Atkins ORIGINAL plan after two babies – first in 1973 and then in 1978. Both times it worked magic. Within 3 weeks I was back down to 112 – from a 20 pound weight gain with each. I no longer have the book (big mistake I made getting rid of it!) but I recall my little paperback saying that “farmer cheese” was just about the only one allowed. I didn’t have any idea what farmer cheese was. I don’t find that in the 1972 book I now have. The list of foods acceptable seems different. There were also no salads on my plan. I went totally with protein foods and no greens for 3 weeks. Is my memory faulty? Do you know which edition of the book is actually the original? Mine says it’s published by David McKay Co, New York – publication date 1972. It’s a hardback edition. I actually like this plan in the book I now have so will follow it but I often think I’m losing my mind when I find the list of acceptable foods to be different from what I remember.

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       October 7, 2015 at 1:04 pm

       I have no idea! I know (now that you mentioned it) that my edition was published by Bantam in 1973. I also know (through other research) that the harder the cheese (the longer it cures), the less milk sugars (therefore, the less carbs).

       Reply
43. 

    Billy

    November 12, 2015 at 2:03 am

    When you say I can eat as much as I want on the list of foods and then I read Mr Atkins example of the first week food it appears in a toy contradicts itself and I just want to make sure that it’s not just me but when I read that menu is so it doesn’t look like all you can eat fish or I can eat chicken so maybe you could help clarify thank you

    Reply
44. 

    brendanolen

    November 18, 2015 at 7:08 am

    Fish and chicken are perfect! The way Dr. Atkins viewed his plan was during phase 1 (basically induction), except for the salad and anything else he put limits on, you can eat as much as you want and our body’s appetite will naturally adjust over time. I know when I first started, I was ravenous. I could not get enough food. Then, over time, I ended having to force myself to eat to keep my strength up.

    Reply
45. 

    Linda Love

    November 18, 2015 at 7:23 am

    Update from my last post, my weight is now 172.7. A total loss of 20 lbs. Here’s my mystery: I’ve gone from a size 12/14 to an 8, and I look slimmer than I did at 150 lbs. What’s the dealio with that? Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful everyday that I rediscovered Atkins ’72 and me and my husband’s health markers are excellent. As a matter of fact, he’s off the statins. Anyway, I read an article on dietdoctor.com, and it stated that we shouldn’t “force the fat” and I wondered what that entailed and read more that we don’t need to add more fat to our meals, because our meals should already have the necessary fats required. In short, when we add more fat like butter, oils, etc., we don’t give our bodies a chance to burn stored fat because it’s so busy burning the fat we just consumed.
    Okay, that was my 2cents worth.

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       November 25, 2015 at 12:35 pm

       Congratulations! Yes, most of the foods we eat should contain the fats our bodies need for fuel. The only time I had issues with fat amounts was when I was eating a lot of naturally low fat meats (you know, skinless chicken breast, pork loin, tuna in water, etc.). I also noticed the same thing. The last time I was this size (when I was 24) my face was much fuller and I had much more body fat.

       Reply
46. 

    Nellie

    November 30, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    The one and only time I ever found success with a diet & minimal to no exercise was this one. This was back in 1994 and I lost about 40 lbs of pregnancy weight. Back then the diet also consisted of taking pills. If I recall correctly, it was a muti vitamin, chromium picolinate & seems like something else… Anyway… I know the diet doesn’t include any of the pills any more. Is the diet still as effective as it was back then with taking the pills along with the diet?

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       December 1, 2015 at 4:46 pm

       I have taken a multivitamin (plus extras for my other health issues) every day since my type 2 diagnosis, so I can’t say if that makes a difference or not. The chromium picolinate was (if I recall correctly) to help curb the carbohydrate cravings (?). I think eating all the garbage before (and not getting the right nutrients) was one of the factors that lead to my health issues, so I will always take the vitamins.

       Reply
47. 

    Nellie

    November 30, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    The one and only time I ever found success with a diet & minimal to no exercise was this one. This was back in 1994 and I lost about 40 lbs of pregnancy weight. Back then the diet also consisted of taking pills. If I recall correctly, it was a muti vitamin, chromium picolinate & seems like something else… Anyway… I know the diet doesn’t include any of the pills any more. Is the diet still as effective as it was back then with taking the pills along with the diet?

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       December 1, 2015 at 4:46 pm

       I have taken a multivitamin (plus extras for my other health issues) every day since my type 2 diagnosis, so I can’t say if that makes a difference or not. The chromium picolinate was (if I recall correctly) to help curb the carbohydrate cravings (?). I think eating all the garbage before (and not getting the right nutrients) was one of the factors that lead to my health issues, so I will always take the vitamins.

       Reply
48. 

    Carrieanne Price

    December 2, 2015 at 2:51 am

    Hi Brenda, I started Atkins 72, 3 weeks ago 3rd week thus week and I have only lost 5lb which is not bad but my first week mother nature visited so not really taking that week into account. My ketone stix are dark purple and at the moment I am not hungry and I’m not having any breakfast will that make a difference to my weight loss because I don’t want to eat for the sake of it. Also I am obsessed with the weighing scales. Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks Carrieanne

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       December 3, 2015 at 9:31 am

       Congratulations. 5 pounds is great! The dark purple on your keto stix means you are dehydrated. I always liked to keep mine in the moderate range (I have always had moderate kidney issues and they immediately tell me when I’m not drinking enough water). As for breakfast, eat it or don’t. There are tons of people who have to have breakfast or they can’t make it through the day (thus end up eating garbage at lunch). Some days I MUST eat something, other days I don’t need anything until lunch. When I really started keeping track (like on MyFitnessPal) and noticed an extreme drop in calories, I would eat a little something. A bite of this or a piece of that (this is where quality lunch meat or pre-cooked bacon comes in handy). I used to (pre-any diet) go an entire day with only eating a small sandwich and that was about the time I weighed the most. I know now my body was in starvation mode and was hoarding every bit of calories it could. I still have to watch myself because I get so caught up in activities that I just forget to eat. As for the scale, pick a day and force yourself to weigh once a week. If that’s too much right now, drop it down to two or three times a week until you are ready to weigh once a week. I have gained (and lost) up to 3 pounds overnight on more than one occasion and it was driving me crazy. Who knows what the stress of that alone was doing to my body? 🙂 Also, be patient with yourself. It takes a while for our bodies to realize they aren’t going to starve to death without the carbs.

       Reply
49. 

    Carrieanne

    December 6, 2015 at 3:17 am

    Thanks Brenda, I thought the darker the purple was the better as I do try an drink alot of water. I have read some of the other comments and noticed that people are loosing inches but not showing on the scales. I have not measured myself just going by the scales. It’s a new day tomorrow so I will measure myself and weigh and see if I can go a week without weighing, I gets a bit obsessed with weighing 😂. Thanks

    Reply
50. 

    Sara aka Sally

    December 14, 2015 at 1:56 am

    Big thank you for taking the trouble to share your weight ‘life’ with us, I used the original Atkins book back in 1978 and had to go back to my company’s hq three times to get smaller uniforms, there was no doubt or hiding the fact that I literally shrank. And I kept the weight off for many, many years.
    Then my insides started to ‘play’ up and I gained weight, my digestive system suffered and I have to have colonoscopies every 6 months AND my knees are dodgy as I had polio aged 6.
    I dropped from 167.5 to todays’ weight of 141.5 and today, whilst searching for a copy of the original Atkins book, I found your blog.
    You write about Weight Watchers and your time following that system but I can’t seem to find a post on your blog when you changed over to the Atkins system.
    Healthwise I find this system amazing but confess to missing fruit desperately during the first few weeks, I remember that I used to lick the cut lemons for that jolt of citrus!
    But now at 65 and with dodgy knees and a silly digestive system, it is time to lose these 25 lbs.
    So thank you so much for writing this blog and to your readers who have posted their input as well.
    Stay happy and healthy everyone.
    Sara aka Sally.

    Reply
    1. 

       brendanolen

       January 24, 2016 at 2:51 pm

       My apologies for waiting so long to respond. I have never used Weight Watchers. I have thought about it now and again but that is as far as I have ever gotten with it. I hope you are doing well this time around. I was never a huge fruit eater so I did not miss that except when confronted with the fruit trees that grow in my neighbor’s yard (and hang over our fence). Thankfully, once you get into maintenance, apricots seem to be the lowest in carbohydrates. 🙂

       Reply

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