Good Carbs Vs. Bad Carbs

[PeteinVA]

Has Dr. Atkins had any say on the good vs bad carbs theory? Just curious as I'm reading about South Beach and it sounds like it may be a better WOE for me. In the past I've lost weight, kept it off, had much more energy and just felt better when eating a high (good) carb diet.

Very curious what ya think!!

[mitzimarie]

Originally Posted by PeteinVA

Has Dr. Atkins had any say on the good vs bad carbs theory? Just curious as I'm reading about South Beach and it sounds like it may be a better WOE for me. In the past I've lost weight, kept it off, had much more energy and just felt better when eating a high (good) carb diet.

Very curious what ya think!!

And I've very curious about what you think!

What is it about South Beach that appeals to you more than Atkins? Personally, I don't care for the low-fat aspect of SB. I know many people who have lost weight on both plans, though.

About Atkins and the good carbs vs. bad carbs thing - of course he advocates good carbs! That's what OWL is all about; adding good carbs. There are many people (especially men), who can eat up to 100g net carbs on Atkins. That's a lot of carbs!

[PeteinVA]

Originally Posted by mitzimarie

And I've very curious about what you think!

What is it about South Beach that appeals to you more than Atkins? Personally, I don't care for the low-fat aspect of SB. I know many people who have lost weight on both plans, though.

This is a much more appealing menu for me for a typical day on SB WOE:

Breakfast:

1 cup nonfat plain yogurt (no other ingredients added)
1/4 cup blueberries, 1/4 raspberries

Snack:

2 Wasa or FlatBreads

Lunch:

Very large salad (3 1/2 cups) of a wide variety of unlimited veggies! 2 teaspoons olive oil, with a bit of balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar
Filet Mignon

Snack:

1/2 cup peanuts no salt

Snack:

Apple

Dinner:

Very large salad (same concept dressing as lunch) plus a cup or so of spinach sauteed with tomatoes with olive oil.

1/2 roasted chicken bones and all!

About Atkins and the good carbs vs. bad carbs thing - of course he advocates good carbs! That's what OWL is all about; adding good carbs. There are many people (especially men), who can eat up to 100g net carbs on Atkins. That's a lot of carbs!

100 for real? Wow I can't imagine that- I'm stuck very spastic about Atkins Rungs I find it confusing and tedious.


But 100 is GOOD to know- (I didn't know that!)

[PeteinVA]

Also this seems to be a better profile for me:


Total
Calories: 1,689
Fat: 84.0 45%
Carbs: 112.2 25%
Protein: 123.9 30%

[mitzimarie]

Originally Posted by PeteinVA

This is a much more appealing menu for me for a typical day on SB WOE:

Breakfast:

1 cup nonfat plain yogurt (no other ingredients added)
1/4 cup blueberries, 1/4 raspberries

Snack:

2 Wasa or FlatBreads

Lunch:

Very large salad (3 1/2 cups) of a wide variety of unlimited veggies! 2 teaspoons olive oil, with a bit of balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar
Filet Mignon

Snack:

1/2 cup peanuts no salt

Snack:

Apple

Dinner:

Very large salad (same concept dressing as lunch) plus a cup or so of spinach sauteed with tomatoes with olive oil.

1/2 roasted chicken bones and all!

Pete, sweetie! The only thing on that menu, that's not Atkins, is the nonfat yogurt. (And BTW, nonfat yogurt is gross! ) Full-fat yogurt is yummy!

Originally Posted by PeteinVA

Also this seems to be a better profile for me:


Total
Calories: 1,689
Fat: 84.0 45%
Carbs: 112.2 25%
Protein: 123.9 30%

Although I think it is recommended that fat remain at least 50%, these percentages are extremely close to what you can eat on Maintenance. The protein is exactly the same, and on Atkins, as your carb percentage goes up, your fat percentage goes down. So, depending upon how many carbs your body can handle, it is quite likely that this IS how you will be eating.

Originally Posted by PeteinVA

I'm stuck very spastic about Atkins Rungs I find it confusing and tedious.

LOL... well, I'll concede to you on this point. I, too, found that the process can be confusing and tedious. But as long as you are careful and patient, it can be done. Have you read the stickies at the top of the OWL forum? I find them to be more helpful than just reading the OWL chapter in the book.

[PeteinVA]

Thanks Mitzi this back and forth has really helped me think and put things in perspective. I think the SB Phase II and III are just presented in a way that's more understandable to me. Like you said, a lot of it is very similar to Atkins- at least as far as the foods I want to be eating moving forward.

I'm just going to continuing adding a food a week and try to stay within the rungs. When I think SB I think I'm doing it the way it's supposed to be done. When I think Atkins I often feel like I'm doing something wrong or something needs to be tweaked.

I appreciate you reading and your input it's helped a lot.

[chinadoll]

Pete, the one plus with the rungs that is not on South Beach is that since you add the foods back in slowly and in sequence you will know right away when a food is a trigger for bad eating behaviors and cravings. This would be much harder to figure out with South Beach because the variety is all there from the beginning.

I break the rungs down this way:
1) I add 5 gr carbs to make sure that I can go that high without plateauing. If I am still losing, then I start adding foods from that rung in one at a time. I eat it every other day for the better part of a week. If I am losing, i add another food I wan back on a regular basis from that rung. I only stay on the rung until I have added back the stuff I will use regularly. I don't hang around to try every single possibility on the rung. Example: With nuts I found that peanuts are a big trigger food for mw. I also found that I had portion control issues with cashews, macadamias. So my nut rung for the long haul will be almonds and peanut butter (when used in recipes-it is also a portion control problem) then I moved on to berries in the next rung.

My way is not Atkins by the book, it is simpler and works for me but it will get you there.

[PeteinVA]

Thanks China I'm doing well with the concept of adding a new food a week and it seems to be working out fine. I guess you could say I've "transitioned" to SB Phase II and lost a couple of pounds this week. Even though I'm not at goal yet I'm in no hurry. As long as I stay under 175 pounds and lose gradually and am incorporating healthy, whole foods into my diet I will get there.

I'm conscious of carbs but I've reprioritized them- they are no longer my main concern. Even though now I'm up to about 50 carbs a day I did it fast and it seems not to have at all had a negative effect- quite the opposite actually! I've cut out a lot of the fatty foods I was eating while I was Atkins induction while adding new foods that are low glycemic types. I've had a major energy boost so far and again the weight is stable.

So my "vitals" I guess you would say are fine and I'm going to continue on this path with a food or two a week.

As always I appreciate your input and open mindedness.

[chinadoll]

That's great. Sounds like you are still below your CCLL even on SBD. And you are pretty much at goal so SBD is close to a maintenance diet anyway. I understand some folks need to be regimented and strict for their own losses and so they advocate the same (and should when giving advice to newbies) but you gotta do what works for you!

[PeteinVA]

Thanks China I appreciate you. I did pretty well this week (better than I needed to). I'm challenged to make the right choices and am still going slow adding in foods. Even though I went from around 30 carbs to 50 right away I lost about 4 pounds this week. I did have some cravings but just got through it.

REALLY BIG STEAK tonight! (that's what I want anyway).

Have a great weekend and I hope you're well.