Can I do Atkins as a Vegetarian?

[Perry]

I asked Missy, our longest vegetartian member, to post what she found out about doing Atkins as a vegetarian. This was her post July 30, 2003. Thank you, Missy!
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I was asked to write what the Atkins Center discussed with me several times before I attempted the diet as a vegetarian. Basically it's really simple:

Instead of meat, replace the meat with soy "meat like" products. I prefer the Gardenburger brand. I eat the Gardenburger Sausage (which ends up having "0" carbs) due to the fiber content. With my omlette in the morning I put Harvarti cheese (or any good tasting cheese) green onions and sauteed mushrooms. I sprinkle 2 Tbls. of flaxmeal on top of my omlette (tastes surprisingly good) and have some Cholula hot sauce and sour cream on the side.
Lunch: I just eat some veggies or mock danish or flax seed muffin.
Dinner: is usually a salad with romaine lettuce, spinach, tomato, avacodo, olives, green onions and whatever cheese sounds good with sauteed mushrooms. I like an olive oil and vinegar dressing with garlic. With that I eat 2 Gardenburger Flame Grilled patties (as they are the lowest in carbs) and sometimes have cheese melted on top and have ranch made with heavy cream (diluted) and sour cream.
(I eat whatever veggie is in season, and only eat the recommended amounts in the book.)

The Atkins Center advised me and their vegetarian patients to eat some fish to make it more enjoyable.

Be sure and count the carbs in the soy "meat like" products in your total carbs for the day.

I have found this diet to be very enjoyable as I am NEVER hungry and I've lost the weight I needed to (along with the little pouch I was NEVER able to drop even with exercise, yoga and basically starving....) BUT THE BEST thing about all of this is my energy level. I'm sure it is because of all the extra protein I'm eating that I never did before, and I was told from the Atkins Center that vegetarians notice this initial "boost" in energy more than others.

I originally went on this diet to be a support to my husband as I have never really been that much overweight, just 10 lbs here and there. I was concerned about my health (as I have always eaten healthy, JUST WAY TOO MANY CARBS, and taken supplements) and the outcome of eating this way and that is what lead me to the kind people at the Atkins Center and to this wonderful message board. If you should EVER have ANY concerns or questions don't hesitate to call them, they have been a wonderful help to me.

I hope this has helped someone out there that is considering doing this as a vegetarian. I KNOW it works and it works WELL!!!!!
Missy