I know being on the atkins diet doesnt' allow you to have carbs such as bread, pastas and potatoes..but what other foods are high in carbs? Also, how many Carb grams are you supposed to have a day on Atkins?

Sweet&Sour -- this is a pretty big question. Go check out www.atkins.com and it will answer all your questions. It tells you how it works, how to start, what foods to eat, and probably any other question you may have.

I tried Atkins and was not successful. I had a very difficult time eliminating fruit, bread, pasta, oatmeal, and other carbs from my diet. It got to the point after 30 days that if I ate one more grilled chicken breast with a vegetable side dish that I would barf! I was unable to create variety in my diet and it caused me to abandon this plan. Although, it seemed to be working -- I just couldn't take the monotony any longer.

If after reading the website, you still have questions, bring them back here. Many APers have tried Atkins and may be able to help you with your specific questions.

The Atkins Diet can be successful, but you must follow it completely. I believe that the maximum carb intake is something like 10% of what "they" establish in the "daily dietary values" charts.
Basically, you cut way back on carbs and eat whatever else you want. Great plan! I can't do it because, as OG said, there just isn't enough for me to eat, but it is wildly successful for some.
Definitely, do your research, and speak with your doctor before starting any diet.

WOW! NO FRUIT?? Hmmm...I don't think it would work for me either because I like my variety of foods..All I've been doing is eating a lot more fruits and veggies as much as I can instead of fatty foods, but i wish i had a set diet to follow so I know I would get results!

Talk with your doctor about this. S/he can recommend a book or a program that would help you achieve your desired goals.

Sweet&Sour -- I recommend you join Weight Watchers. It's great. You eat anything you want, you just have to eat appropriate portions.

Go checkout their website at www.weightwatchers.com. You'll find meetings near your home. Everyone is so supportive! You'll probably even make some new friends.

I just read up on the Atkin's diet (after he died) a friend had the book, let me borrow it.

It appears that this is a week by week course, you take all the carbs, fruits, some vegetables out of your diet at first. You are allowed meat, eggs, cheese (No milk), leafy greens.

You are allowed leafy vegetables, tomato (a little) avocado, mushrooms, olives, cucumber, peppers, asparagus, pumpkin, turnips, squashes, The latter are low carbs but still have carbs! Carefully count those carbs.

For the first 14 days you are not allowed any starchy vegetables (potatoes) no fruit, no breads, no coffee, no chocolate, no sugar, No bananas, no Pasta, no rice, no juices (due to the sugar) no grapefruits, no candy (sugar). No milk (cheese is ok)

20 grams of carbs is your limit.

After 14 days, you are allowed to start reintegrating these no no foods 5 grams every week.

You can add them in this order:

Cooked veges, broccoli, spinach, asparagus,

Nuts and seeds

Fruit (preferably berries)
Beans

Starchy vegetables, (yams and potatoes)

Whole grains, oats, barely, millet, wild rice, etc.

These have the smallest affect on your blood sugar levels. Ideally you are suppose to be able to reach a level where the number of carbs you eat are right for you. There was a list of things to look out for, such as fatigue, weakness, hunger which are suppose to be signs of having too much sugar.

The average person will bring their carbs up to 40-60 grams daily to maintain their weight once the weight is off (which is suppose to take place during the first 14 days which is the kick start, the slow addition of carbs at 5 grams a week will also see weight loss)

When you reach the 40-60 grams per day you should be able to maintain your weight around 3-5 pounds a week, if you start gaining more than 5 pounds, then you cut back on the carbs for a week or so.

Some of the meals for the first week would be:

Breakfast:

ham, cheese and mushroom omelet
Bacon with scrambled eggs
Smoked fish with cream cheese

Lunch

Bacon Cheese burger - no bun
half chicken with salad
Tuna Salad with bacon (no bread)
Cottage cheese with tuna

Dinner:

Rack of lamb (no mint sauce, contains sugar)
Beef
Steamed mussels

For dessert:

Sugar free jello with heavy whipped cream.
Assorted cheeses

All the fats like butter, oil, maynaise, are allowed.

David

When I first started Atkins, I thought these recommended meals sounded great! I loved cheese, bacon, and omelettes, etc. However, after 30 days, I couldn't stand the taste or consistency of eggs in my mouth. The thought of cheese made my stomach squeamish. I actually became repelled by the foods and menus they recommended.

I have been raised on a high carb diet. These eating patterns are too difficult for me to adjust to.

I'm back to my "eat whatever I like, but reduce my portion" strategy. I wish I could stick with Atkins, but it's too hard for me.

I once used a plan that was along the same lines as the Atkins plan, with one exception: It allowed for having one balanced meal a day with all the carbs you wanted. Fruit, breads, desserts, anything. And in any quantity you wanted, so long as it was eaten at that one meal and one meal only.

And I lost 100 pounds on it, so it must have worked!