Hi, A J
Upon reading through this thread, I've noticed that a few of the posts give the impression that Atkins is supposed to be a mainly meat, eggs, and cheese diet... nothing could be further from the truth.
Sure, you may be able to lose faster by eliminating veggies, but that is only if you aren't looking further than the tip of your nose. What I mean by that, is, that it is more important to look at the bigger picture. Vegetables are a mandatory part of Atkins, and of good health, in general.
So many people attack the Atkins WOE as unhealthy, and that notion springs from the experience of those who shun veggies and get sick, constipated, and can't maintain their weight loss for a lifetime. The Atkins eating plan emphasizes the benefits of protein and natural fats - AND nutrient-rich carbohydrates. There is a difference in the quality of carbs. The crux of the matter is in limiting carbohydrates and in selecting the right carbohydrates, those most full of nutrients and fiber and those with the lowest impact on your blood sugar. So, not only is it important to choose foods with low carb counts, it is also crucial to select the most nutrient-dense carbohydrate foods.
The goal is to eat as many "good" carbohydrates as your body can tolerate without interfering with weight loss or getting your blood sugar out of whack. And you will choose healthy, satisfying whole foods, ones that provide nutrients and fiber.
Vegetables, in general, contain "good" carbohydrates, although some are very high in carbs and not as high in nutrient value, and some are the reverse. Most vegetables provide fiber and many healthy phytonutrients (phyto means "plant"), those magical substances found in plants that help us ward off disease. Fortunately, the vegetables that are most dense in nutrients happen also to be those lowest in carbs.
About veggies
- Before Atkins, I wouldn't touch a veggie with a 10 foot pole.
And on that 1st attempt at Atkins, I did not put forth the effort to break out of my box and make myself try new veggies. I got to where I was eating a lot of nuts and dairy, but not eating many veggies. I think that is the #1 reason why I fizzled out on that attempt. Atkins really is a change of lifestyle... it's not trying to eat as closely as you can to how you used to eat. So on this attempt, I tried tons of new veggies. I can't believe how much better the plan works when you eat veggies! Unbelievable!!
OK, I'll step off of my soapbox now.
I just had to get that off my chest. People PM me all of the time, asking for my best advice on losing the weight and keeping it off. VEGGIES is my answer.
Soooo, if any of you are up for a challenge, I challenge you to click on the link in my siggie to the 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge. The first time I entered the challenge, I wasn't eating any veggies besides lettuce. I put on my big girl panties, and tackled the challenge with an open mind. It was such a turning point in my Atkins journey, that I now head up the challenge myself.
Thanks for listening, everyone. I hope to see many of you join the challenge.