Low Carb Diet (atkins)

aliasojo

Sorry to hear of your experience cloud9. I haven't been severely depressed but I have been depressed and I found the opposite to be true for me. Low carbing lifted my mood and also helped my PMT. It's always useful to bear in mind though.

HC_2

Oh dear, that sounds rather awful. Hope you feel a lot better now. I guess it affects different people in different ways, as low-carbing eases depression in some people, doesn't it? Saz, was it you who said you noticed that effect? I've also read somewhere that it can reduce panic attacks - something I'm looking forward to testing out as I suffer from claustrophobia and find flying hell (only in the airport, once through security, and on the plane when it's stationary - funnily enough I can keep it under control if the plane is moving on the ground, or in the air).

Didn't eat what I said I was going to eat yesterday. Instead:

B: none
L: bacon, eggs, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes x2 (two)
butter chicken (from Indian), 2 poppadoms, salad

Glad you're warm again, Shykins. Very frustrating when things like PCs go wrong though - you realise just how much you rely on them. :mad:

sweetserendipity

Good morning everyone, day 4 of my low-carb!!
Feeling quite pleased with myself because I have just managed to do 26 minutes walking on the treadmill!! Did 1.7 miles & burned off 207 calories!!:j
Today's menu is
B - A big curly cumberland sausage - just about to tuck in!!
L - Tuna salad if I'm hungry
D - Chilli with green beans
Hope everyone is doing well.
As regards the depression issue, certainly at the moment I am feeling more positive & I hope it continues, but it's good to be aware of it.

Ted_Hutchinson

cloud9 wrote: »

Can i just post a warning to people on this thread.
I have previously done the atkins diet a couple of times and it made me severely depressed and I ended up overdosing on one occasion.
I realise that not everyone will have the same effects i had but please proceed with caution especially those prone to depression.

Certainly some people who jump into a very low carb induction period may experience some disturbance while their brain gets accustomed to the new regime for the time it takes to adapt to lower levels of available glucose. Usually it only lasts a week or so.

The plan I use does not have an induction period even so some people feel withdrawal effects from reduced carbohydrate intake.

I have a history of severe depression but I didn't feel any adverse consequences. In fact I found that after a bit I felt it easier to concentrate and decision making came much easier. I seemed to be thinking clearer and sharper. I am convinced my brain works better without refined carbohydrates and there is plenty of research showing that for those with dodgy brains (Alzheimer's, Parkinsons, Epilepsy) a low carb diet reduces the symptoms of those conditions. Whether it acts as a preventative is debatable but the possibility is there similarly it is argued that low carbohydrate diets would delay the onset of these distressing conditons for many.

Depression is an inflammatory condition, so eating an anti inflammatory diet is generally helpful as is the effect of a low carb diet on reducing your adipose tissue.
Each fat cell gives off pro inflammatory cytokines adding to your inflammatory status.
Everything you can do to reduce the size and number of fat cells will reduce that burden and help you feel better.
That's also why I use Vit D3, Omega 3 and Magnesium, all natural anti inflammatory agents that help control depression. (and assist your metabolism)

Anyone who suspects that a low carb diet is worsening their mood needs to just go easy on the carb reduction for a bit perhaps increase carb intake to around 120g daily and then reduce gradually later back to 30 ~ 50g .

Your body has had years of dealing with a certain way of eating, it could take some months for it to completely readjust to doing without them. Remember also there is evidence that wheat and it's derivatives is addictive, if you have the genes that predispose you to addiction then it will be harder for you to go cold turkey. But providing you take it slowly and one day at a time you will feel the benefit.

I don't think there is any one in this forum who hasn't slipped a bit from the ideal from time to time. Providing you don't get too uptight about it and regard yourself as a total failure, you can always do better tomorrow.

Mercy

cloud9 wrote: »

Can i just post a warning to people on this thread.
I have previously done the atkins diet a couple of times and it made me severely depressed and I ended up overdosing on one occasion.
I realise that not everyone will have the same effects i had but please proceed with caution especially those prone to depression.

That sounds awful honey. I find I perk up on low carb. Maybe those that don't are more greatly affected by carb / wheat addiction than others? I've never done Atkins though, just lowered carbs like Dr D's method.

Made pigs in blankets yesterday so had one for supper

B - sausages
L - HM curry
D - piggies and salad

Finding drinking 2L of water a day a breeze now :j Just another habit to cultivate I suppose. Think having it warm with a squirt of lime juice has helped.

Didn't make the sesame crackers as no seeds but may try to later.

Hope we all do well today!

M

sweetserendipity

HC wrote: »

Thanks, sweetserendipity. When I read your post, I thought 'oops, that's a mistake - I can't have lost that amount of blubber!' I had to work it out again - but it's quite correct. Plus no hunger, more energy and almost no problem when going out for meals (Zizzi, please take note: your menu is crap for low-carbers...:mad:).

I've low-carbed before, but never as successfully as this, partly due to this lovely thread. I've now got to the stage where I look fine in normal (January) clothes, i.e. trousers and a top, but I'd like to lose another stone so that I can feel comfortable wearing shorts in the summer.

It was Tinkerbell who set me off this time. I was very miserable and rather ashamed that I'd let myself get into that position. I knew I finally had to take action, and Tink's posts on another thread mentioned her fantastic weight loss and the IPD in her sig. I made the decision to begin the day after my birthday and, like you, I've been inspired by Shykins, Ted and all the others who've done so well. I feel so much happier and more confident, no longer self-conscious and thinking how people must be saying, 'Goodness, HC's put on a lot of weight over the last few years!' - which they must have been doing, as I really was overly plumptious (actually, I was just into the 'obese' category). I no longer dive for cover if someone gets out a camera, I can wear my wedding ring again after two years and I no longer feel like 'the fat one'. :j

So go for it!

Thanks for that post HC - it's a great incentive for me to keep going.
Like you, I have done low-carbing in the past & lost a good 3 stones in time for my 40th. Unfortunately, 3 years later I've put it all back on . I have had a pretty stressful time in those years with house moves, bereavements etc. Anyway, I'm feeling really positive now & this thread is definitely helping me, it's great to see how other people are doing & even what they are eating!!
I have 2 photos that I got out the other day - one is me 6 years ago (at my heaviest) and the other is 3 years ago on my 40th Birthday - I look years younger on the second one!! For me the heavier I am, the older I look so another good incentive to stick to this low-carb!!

pink68

suemagoo wrote: »

Hi all have had 2 good days now well into it , Spent today at work hearing my friend tell everyone how bad low carb diets are and how she saw rosemary connaly video and how low fat diet are so good for you ,Gritted teeth apparentley all low fat food are better for you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

say it ain't so sue! say it ain't so!

(sorry couldnt resist!)

was reading an article in the weightwatchers mag the other day about the Claire Sweeney thing (no it wasnt my mag..lol) and apparently the spec for the project was to see how much weight she could put on in six weeks. not just to eat whatever she liked. seems a bit of an unhealthy job to take on imho..but its ok now cos weightwatchers is helping her lose it again!:rotfl:

got sausage salad for lunch and then left over of yesterdays beef and veg for tea. it was yummy!

going to try and drop the coffee now so any tips to avoid caffeine withdrawal would be greatly received!

love you all......

Sazbo

We love you too pink:)

Hi guys :hello:

My turn for the wretched lurgie:rolleyes: which is why i've been a bit quiet for a couple of days. And it's thrown my (erratic at the best of times) eating patterns into further erratic-ness; if that's a word. Been eating lunch but kinda going through the motions with it iykwim, and similar with dinner, not feeling v hungry in the evening. Just hanging on for weekend and then I can regroup.

HC - yes, I think with me the low carb stabilising of my blood sugar in turn seemed to stabilise my mood - entirely anecdotal that is, of course. I do still have down phases but I'm hoping that the low carbing plus supplement regime a la Ted lol will all help. Ted's right - the body has been coping with eating in a particular way for years and it takes time to adapt to a new regime and maybe for some the best thing is to ease into low carbing gently. But as has been said also - everyone is different. Always good to be aware of others' experiences, so thanks to cloud9 x

LOL Ted @ people "with dodgy brains (Alzheimer's, Parkinsons, Epilepsy)" :rotfl: And can you believe it - I have finally finished reading The Diet Delusion!! :T

oh, err brain fogged with lurgie... nearly forgot today's menu:

B - one slice of compressed hamster bedding (i know it's not legal for induction, but i'm ill and didnt fancy my usual flax bread:o) with marmite and cheese
L - usual salad/meat/cheese combo
D - not sure yet, see how hungry i feel - got some leftover chicken needs using so maybe that and some veg of some description. Might do a shykins special and have a pick:D

Have a good day everyone :wave:

Much love,
Sazzy xxxxxxxxx

avstar

Aw dear cloud9. I suppose like anything in life, it won't suit everybody, just hope things are going OK for you now.
Personally I did feel abit down on day 3/4 of my first week but now I feel much more spritely:j

Saz hope you feel better soon - this winter has been really bad for colds/sore throats and general lurgy.

Sweetserendipity - well done on the treadmill - went on mine yesterday evening while watching Corrie again - managed to run for 15 mins and walk for 15 mins:A

Yesterday's menu was
B - fried egg & ham
L - salad with cheese and some coleslaw
D - chicken breast wrapped in cheese and bacon (yum) with cauli and green beans.

Plan on making the cauli pizza soon, I've got frozen cauli so just after a few hints and tips rom the experts. Should I grate the cauli before/after cooking and whats the best way to get all the water out?

Sazbo

Thanks avstar xx I'm lucky I usually only get one or two bouts of lurgie a year - so can't complain really. A hot whisky or two should sort me out:D

Oh - hun, I meant to ask you the other day about your treadmill. I'm very similar to you in that respect - I work full-time too and whereas I used to have a relatively short journey to work and went to the gym every morning, I now have a total commuting time of apprx 3 hours a day so free time is at a premium and the gym just cannot be accomodated into it. But I too realised the thing I enjoyed most was running (seems hard to believe I took part in a 5k and 10k run the year before last:rolleyes:) - I think it did ease the depression too. But I'm not happy running outside on my own in the dark and so am thinking of investing in a treadmill. Just wanted to ask which one did you get and are you happy with it?

thanks xx