I HAD BEEN DOING ATKINS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND DID PRETTY WELL. i WAS AT A STALL AND COULDN'T SEEM TO LOSE. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME 6 WEEKS AGO I WENT TO MY DOCTOR AND HE LECTURED ME ON THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF A LOW CARB DIET AND URGED ME TO GO LOW FAT IN STEAD. I DID, AND I AM 6 POUNDS HEAVIER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND WANT TO SCREAM I LOOK SO FAT.

DO I GO AGAINST THE DOCTOR AND START OVER ON INDUCTION,OR DO I STAY WITH LOW-FAT. MY BLOOD WROK AND BLOOD PRESSURE ARE FINE I HAVE NO HEALTH ISSUES AT ALL. I AM THINKING I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GIVE ATKINS A SHOT AGAIN ANDD SCREW WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID.

ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

Ladibug, first, please no caps. It's bad Internet etiquette and considered to be shouting.

Now, to your question: Go back on the plan you are comfortable with and don't tell the doctor. He clearly is one of the multitude of doctors who are unwilling to look beyond the bad science behind the low-fat propaganda. And I would find another doctor.

Personally, I think you should try "The Schwarzbein Principle" by Dr. Diane Schwarzbein (she's an endochrinologist). Her plan is very simple: Cut out most starches and sugars and toxins (i.e. alcohol, caffein, drugs, bad fats such as margarine, etc.).

I know you felt better and even though you were on a stall, at least you weren't gaining when you were low-carbing. It is healthier. There are lots of studies and science that prove it. Check out the Research/Media Watch forum for them.

Good luck low-carbing.

;-Deb

Hey, my doctor has NO idea that I'm low carbing!!!
He thinks I'm following his low fat diet. Nope, nope, nope! I just tell him I'm very carefully "watching what I eat." Well, I am... just not the way he thinks!

My Doc knows I am on low carb - the general practice where she works does not officially condone it, but she whispered to me - go for it! Funny thing is that my hubby's doc is in the same practice, and she told him the same thing.

Ladibug...

First of all....take a deep breath....then scream if you feel the need to. Then...consider what you've learned so far: low carb was working for you, just not as quick as you would have liked. Second...low fat seems to be NOT working for you, since you posted that you have gained 6 lbs. in 6 weeks eating that way. It's obvious from your post that you don't much like that current trend. You didn't mention this, but how do you feel eating low fat versus eating low carb? Your doctor is not God and does not have to live in your body. I would ignore what that doctor said and find a new one that is willing to work with you on a low carb lifestyle. No, you don't have to tell your doctor what you are doing, but it does make it more difficult for them work with you if they don't have the full picture of what's going on in your life. If you can't be honest with your doctor about your lifestyle, diet, etc...find one that you CAN be honest with and be comfortable doing it. Do you go back to induction again after being off low carb for 6 weeks? I'd suggest that you do, but please be aware that your results on induction may not be as good as they were the first time. Whatever you choose to do, make it a plan that you can live with for the rest of your life; there are a lot more low carb plans out there besides Atkins. Check out the "Which plan is right for me?" link. This is really not a diet, but a lifestyle change that should be permanent. Good luck and let us know how you're doing!

Hi ladibug! I understand your frustration. Doctors don't know everything though. If you are a bill of health and he told you to go on a low-fat diet, then he hasn't done the research that a lot of us has. If it was working for you, get back on the bandwagon! What he doesn't know won't hurt him. =)

Kirsten

Hi Ladibug

I have been following the Montignac plan which is based on eating foods with a low or moderate glycemic index, i.e less than 50 on the GI scale. Carbohydrates are splits into good and bad depending on the GI. Fat and protein are still part of the diet, but not as much as in the Atkins plan.

Carbs in most fruit and vegetables (not banana, corn or potatoes) have a low GI. The way something is cooked can increase it's GI (see carrots below), so the less processing or cooking the better. The plan is divided into 2 phases. In the first all bad carbs are given up for 3 months and in the 2nd (lifetime) phase some are allowed.

An example of good carbs:

Carbs GI

Lettuce, mushrooms, tomatoes, aubergines (egg plant), capsciums (bell peppers), courgette (zucchini), cabbage, broccoli, onions, etc 3-5g 10
Plums 10g 22
Apple 12g 30
Green lentils 17g 22
Peanuts 9g 20
Soya (cooked)15g 20
Rye wholemeal bread (organic and no wheat flour)
49g 40
Raw carrots 7g 35

Bad carbs
Corn on cob 22g 70
Honey 80g 90
Beer 5g 110
Potato fries 33g 95
Watermelon 7g 75
Rice cake 24g 85
Cooked carrots 6g 85

Carbs with a low GI don't get digested as quickly and do not raise the insulin level or blood sugar level as much or as fast as high GI carbs, so you feel more satisfied and eat less. Protein should be eaten, especially at your midday meal.

Perhaps you can introduce some carbs into your diet to satisfy your doctor, but choose only those with a low or moderate GI.

Good luck

I never go to the Doctor. The last thing that I would talk to a Dr. about is what I am eating.

If you do feel the urge to say what you are eating, you do not need to press his hot buttons by mentioning "low carb"
Just say you are cutting down on sugar and eating more fresh vegetables and salads and are sticking with "good "fats such as olive oil. Tell him that you have cut out french fries and chips and he will think that is good because of the low fat, you know its good because you are not eating the potato because it is so high in carbohydrate.

Keeping your carbohydrate intake under control is the most effective way of reducing weight by reducing body fat. Note I did not say the only way of losing weight.

In reality keeping fit and losing weight is not a medical matter. It is medical matters such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes that concern Doctors. They know that losing weight will be beneficial and normally have your best intentions at heart. The most well argued and thought through low carb diets are written by Doctors who have specialised in this subject. Your GP cannot be an expert in everything.

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Laurie, I would say that you absolutely need to pick your phone and leave a message for your doctor informing that you followed his orders and now you’re 6 pounds heavier. He needs to know that low-fat does not work. Hopefully, he’ll hear enough stories like that before he decides to read Atkins who, by the way, is a medical doctor and a cardiologist. Ask your doctor how much more he wants you to gain.

Hi ladibug!

I'm not sure if you should "ignore" your doctor's orders because doctors are generally looking out for your well-being. What I would suggest is to seek a second opinion. Perhaps if you found another doctor that is informed about low carb eating he/she would be better able to give you unbiased advice. Doctors are very knowledgeable, but they can not feel what you are feeling. If you were feeling better (weight loss aside) with the low-carb lifestyle, then I would suggest seeking a second opinion. The same would go for any medical condition. If you knew that there was something really wrong and you felt that you had been given an incorrect diagnosis and/or treatment, it is up to you to speak up. If your doctor does not provide you with a satisfactory solution, then you should seek help elsewhere. It's your health, and you need to take responsibility for it.

Good luck! Go with what feels right.
KC

thank you everyone for your input. it helps me no hear what others are thinking and also what they are doing.

I am starting back on low- carb as of today. I am going to give it a serious chance and after several weeks on it I am going to go to my doctor and have soe bloodwork done and see where I stand. I am hoping to lose weight too of course but that is not my only concern. So, thanks again and I will be on this board once again daily looking for encouragement and great low-carb tips.

Laurie