SBD or Atkins?

[carbsaway]

I recently started the Atkins Induction, however I have never seriously considered SBD. After viewing some of the information here I am looking into Phase I of the SBD and basically incorprating a Low carb lifestyle afterwards. Are there others here that either switched from Atkins or mix the two eating plans?? Anybody got any comparison studies? Thanks

[vessel of prayer]

Not sure ... but phase 1 is similar to atkins except for the v8 juice and the yogurt. I have done both and stalled out on Atkins for over six months. I just like SB best. Hope this helps. Read the stickies. They are full of info.

[carbsaway]

Originally Posted by vessel of prayer

Not sure ... but phase 1 is similar to atkins except for the v8 juice and the yogurt. I have done both and stalled out on Atkins for over six months. I just like SB best. Hope this helps. Read the stickies. They are full of info.

Thanks so much Sheila for answering...I'm torn between the two eating plans and will take your advice and research. I was hoping that there was someone else here that had this very same decision and could share what led them to SBD...I appreciate your response, Thanks!!

[vessel of prayer]

I was 238 pounds at one time a few yrs ago. It was a slow go. I got to 196 and started lower fat, then went to south beach, where I lost most of my weight. I did try atkins and lost six pounds and that was it. I am back on the Beach and loving it. I would rather lose more slowly, than to lose fast and get stuck a few months at a time. But each of us is different, so what is good for me, might not be good for you. You have to choose. Hope you find the right way to go for yourself. Keep posting.

[andrea915]

i did atkins for a long time and just read the SBD book and am giving it a try. it feels "easier', as much as that can be for an avowed carb-lover like myself.

[carbsaway]

Originally Posted by vessel of prayer

I was 238 pounds at one time a few yrs ago. It was a slow go. I got to 196 and started lower fat, then went to south beach, where I lost most of my weight. I did try atkins and lost six pounds and that was it. I am back on the Beach and loving it. I would rather lose more slowly, than to lose fast and get stuck a few months at a time. But each of us is different, so what is good for me, might not be good for you. You have to choose. Hope you find the right way to go for yourself. Keep posting.

Thanks Shelia, I feel the same way....

[carbsaway]

Originally Posted by andrea915

i did atkins for a long time and just read the SBD book and am giving it a try. it feels "easier', as much as that can be for an avowed carb-lover like myself.

I had the book at one time but never read it...I've really got to get it again and take it a little more seriously..I think I did Atkins because it was popular at the time. I did lose weight but in my small comparision it seems that it would be easier to maintain the eating plan with the SBD.

[veronicka]

I did Atkins about three years ago when i was 190 pounds. I lost 15 lbs in two weeks, but it was so hard to stick to that eating plan. If you want to lose quickly then you should probably stick to Atkins. I'm going to start trying SBD again, I like that it is more flexible than Atkins. I read the SBD book a long time ago and I can't remember how long phase 1 lasts. Can anyone tell me if it's 2 weeks or longer?
thanks

[tinatina]

veronicka - phase 1 is 2 weeks, although he does say that you can stay on a week longer if you have large amounts of weight to lose. Check in with us on the weekly check in thread. I think most of us on there for the most part stuck with the 2 weeks and then went into phase2. HTH

[veronicka]

thanks for the info Tina.

[PaganCub]

Low GL is somewhere in between Atikins and SB, and has a little more flexibility.

Keep GL per meal <10. GL = GI of food x Net Carbs / 100. Basically, keeping GL <10 has minimal impact on bloodsugar.

Fats are encouraged to feel full.

some low GL foods you can't have on atkins:

kidney, soy, and red beans.
Watermelon and honeydew
Carrots
Berries
Ezekiel Bread (freezer case).
crystalline fructose and agave nectar (kicks splenda's ass)
yogurt
whole milk
butternut squash


Today's menu:

B-2 poached eggs over slice of buttered ezekiel toast
S-1 cup whey drained yogurt with fructose and raspberries
L-Homemade meat/veggie chili (2 cups) with melted full-fat cheese
S-baby carrots with ranch dip
D-chicken breast w/ asparagus covered in butter
S-homemade frozen yogurt sweetened with agave (1 cup)

It satisfies me, sometimes I forget to eat I am so not hungry. I don't have to live with splenda anymore. I can go all natural. In my first 4 weeks I lost over 20lbs. There isn't that much information out there about it, but you can find the GI lists out on the internet, multiply by carbs, and move the decimal two places and you have it. I know it sounds complicated, but once you know what is in your range it is a piece of cake. Speaking of which, I am convertting a recipe for carrot cake. Sweet!

[Margy]

I did Atkins a number of years ago and lost about 10 pounds quickly - but, like others have said, it's a hard lifestyle to stick to. I found myself making "mock" this and "faux" that - and no way is a stick of butter with cocoa and splenda healthier for you than a small piece of dark chocolate, yanno? For me, the lower fat is the way to go. I know that I will have some "forbidden" carbs at some point - with South Beach, your fat intake is low enough that it's not going to be the absolute end but when I did that with Atkins it caused a spiral of cravings and crashing because of the much lower carb intake and the higher fat.

Let's put it this way...I'm on week 4 and haven't "cheated" at all - that's never happened to me on a diet before! Of course, it's easier this time because I have a supportive partner who's doing it with me, but still...we both love food and it would be easy to slip up if this were a hard way.

I prefer natural stuff so I make a couple of tiny tweaks - I'm using half and half in coffee instead of fat free half and half, and also butter instead of the "can't believe it's not butter" (just not much of it). And while I do have some splenda, I'm experimenting with xylitol and splenda.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

[Pedmom]

Hi guys. I lost some weight on Atkins a few years ago, and like others said, it was so hard to keep eating that way that I gained all 40 lbs back. Now I'm on week 2 of SB and frankly having a hard time seeing what the difference is. I think I "get" to eat more fruits, but is that it? I really feel like I'm "doing Atkins" right now again and worry that I won't be able to stick to it for life.

[rose1]

Originally Posted by Pedmom

Hi guys. I lost some weight on Atkins a few years ago, and like others said, it was so hard to keep eating that way that I gained all 40 lbs back. Now I'm on week 2 of SB and frankly having a hard time seeing what the difference is. I think I "get" to eat more fruits, but is that it? I really feel like I'm "doing Atkins" right now again and worry that I won't be able to stick to it for life.

Do you have your book? If you do SB by the book, you will see that it really isn't like atkins at all. Be sure to take advantage of all the wonderful foods that are allowed in phase 1 and try out many different recipes. Also, please join the check in thread for support and ideas. SB is FUN! And it is sustainable for life.

[Pedmom]

Hi Rose. Thanks for the invite. I probably should just buy the book; I had it from the library and had to return it. I do have a printout of the acceptable and not acceptable foods. I'm supposed to start phase 2 on Monday, but think I might extend phase 1 an extra week since I read that's okay. I'm enjoying the fast weight loss at the beginning here. I think my old Atkins habits are coming through and that's what's making me feel like it's not any different. I'll review the lists and see what I'm not eating that I could be!

[Annie64]

One big reason I love SB is that I can drink milk, eat cashews, etc... I do not feel as deprived on SB. I did lose 35lbs on Atkins at one time, and it does work, but I find SB SOOOO much easier with results equal to or better than Atkins.

[Reg]

If you want to lose quick, go with Atkins.

If you want to learn how to eat sensibly, for the rest of your life, then go with South Beach.

Good luck !!

[gippersmom]

I lost 25 pounds on Atkins after having a baby, nine years ago. I re-committed to Atkins a few months ago, and joined this board....then I lost my mind and became a Kimkins fanatic, and didn't lose very much at all because my body got "plugged up" (scuse the expression), from not eating enough fiber. My friend lost over 40 pounds on South Beach and she has kept it off for two years, so I figure if she can do it, I can too. I have been lurking, and researching and I am hoping the beach will keep me from cheating. I feel so deprived when I am on Atkins that I usually go off it, and gain back twice as much as I lost, which puts me in a bad place, depression wise. Final straw for me, When I had to go buy new shorts....it wasn't fun because I had to buy bigger ones. My skinny shorts hadn't fit me for a long time, I had eased my way into the "loose" shorts, and now they were too tight, so I had to buy 2 to 3 sizes bigger than I used to. Not good. I guess that is my decision, I'm going to the beach!

[Radmom413]

Gippersmom - come check us out in the daily thread; lots of support and good advice!!!

I have found that SB is a great WOE for me; a compromise between my beloved WW and Atkins......it is a way I can eat.....for LIFE!

[veronicka]

Hi ya'll, I'm finally back on the boards. I said I was going to start SBD about a month ago and never got going....blah. Too much going on at school. But today I think I will try to give it a go. I'm gonna go check out the daily thread. I'm hoping I can stick to this starting NOW.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1st day at the gym tonight which means first weigh in

[*Pear*]

I'm so glad I found this thread, I've been tossing Atkins and South Beach around in my head and been going back and forth between the two. I'm going to dive deeper into my South Beach research.

[Radmom413]

Originally Posted by *Pear*

I'm so glad I found this thread, I've been tossing Atkins and South Beach around in my head and been going back and forth between the two. I'm going to dive deeper into my South Beach research.

Pear - I have been at this almost 7 months and it is so doable.......

[Wendalina]

From what I have found.....SB is about good carbs and lower fat. Where as Atkins is all about fat and lower carbs. Both are great, but I think I am going to do SB. Seems like for long term it would be easier. SB seems like a compromise between Atkins and Weight Watchers. Totally doable..... and I LOVE the recipes from the daily thread!

Good luck! Do your research and find whats best for YOU!

Wendy

Cindy - didnt realize you had already made the WW / Atkins comparison -

[bellaluna]

Am so happy to have found this thread...have been floundering around on Atkins since July and lurking sometimes on these boards...am down 19 pounds but I don't feel like it's the healthiest choice for the rest of my life! Have been toying with the idea of making a switch to SB and given what you've said here, I'm motivated! Thank you for sharing your experiences.

[rose1]

Originally Posted by bellaluna

Am so happy to have found this thread...have been floundering around on Atkins since July and lurking sometimes on these boards...am down 19 pounds but I don't feel like it's the healthiest choice for the rest of my life! Have been toying with the idea of making a switch to SB and given what you've said here, I'm motivated! Thank you for sharing your experiences.

Join us in the check in thread. We're a good bunch!

[Wendalina]

Hey gals, I am starting South Beach today, starting at Phase 1. I figure the best way to see if it is going to work is to actually do it. Besides, its two weeks.... enough to maybe see loss, but more than that to see about this way of eating vs what I have done before on Atkins.

Wish me luck!
Wendy

[Ericha2]

Wendy,

I would give it a month. Some people who switch from Atkins to SB have a slower response time to phase 1 than others. I'd hate for you to give up after 2 weeks if you're not seeing results. Check in on the daily thread and post your menu every day. That way we can see what you're eating and help guide you through P1 and your start on P2. If after doing P1 for 2 wks and P2 for 2 wks you haven't seen any changes or better yet, felt any changes, then it may not be the right plan for you. But give it some time.

I did Atkins years ago, before it was the "in" thing to do. I lost 40 lbs and kept it off for almost a year. Then I gained it back...plus a lot more. I've tried to do Atkins again since then and I just could never get going again. SB is sustainable for life. That's why I decided to do it. I've been on plan for almost 2 months (this is my 7th week) and I've lost 24.5 lbs. 9 of which I lost my first week.

I wish you success in this WOE and don't be afraid to ask questions...we all were the newbies at one point.

~Erica