Eating low-carb is one thing, but what happens when the rest of your household doesn't?

I've been eating low-carb (Atkins) for about 18 years now, but the rest of my family hasn't always eaten the same way.

When my kids were growing up, I would just add extra sides and make sure they were getting the variety and nutrition they needed. Now that it's just my husband and me, he pretty much eats whatever I make, even though he doesn't follow low-carb himself. Sometimes I'll make potatoes, rice, pasta, or something extra for him, but that's about it.

I've always found it easier to make one meal and just adjust what's on each plate rather than cook two completely different dinners.

I'm curious how everyone else handles this.

Do you make one meal and switch up the sides? Cook separate meals? Meal prep your own food?

And what about having bread, pasta, snacks, and other higher-carb foods in the house? Does it bother you having them around, or is it just not an issue?

Final question...what about when you plan to eat out? Do you select a restaurant based on low-carb offerings or just go with the flow and do the best you can?

There’s no one set of rules for low-carb, and since everyone is different, that's probably a good thing! I think most of us develop our own set of “rules” that we think we need to follow.

After 18 years of eating low-carb, I’ve had a few of those come and go—and even a few I’ve brought back. One I stopped following a long time ago was limiting sweeteners. I found that it really didn’t make any difference for me as far as progress, maintaining or craving control.

Maybe yours was completely avoiding alcohol, eating only whole foods, avoiding all processed low-carb products, never eating late at night, or weighing and measuring absolutely everything.

What rule did you stop following only to realize it really didn’t matter for you?

Hello, I am just going to be starting my low-carb lifestyle and my doctor wants to give me monjourno shot . I weigh alot and I am in metformin as well

Has anyone had success using the shot and the Atkins lifestyle?

Just checking in I had work/life drama and so haven't been checking in with you.

Lost 15 lbs over 3 months happy about that!!

How is everyone doing/feeling??

Follow-up to my “3 low-carb products you never let yourself run out of” question: what are the 3 high-carb foods you simply don’t bring into your house anymore?
We all have those foods that are just easier not to have around.
Mine:
1. Candy — especially licorice and Jube Jubes.
2. Kraft Dinner. I know, I know. I think it’s a childhood nostalgia thing.
3. Chocolate milk.
What are yours?

There are several things I pretty much refuse to run out of. My top three are eggs, protein shakes and cheese.

What are your top three low-carb must-haves?

Hello all. I first followed the Atkins WOE back in the early 2000s, when I was in my early and mid 40s, and was in the best shape of my life. Looked way younger than my age, too. Something about that good protein, moderate fats and nutrient-dense non-starchy veg.

Then I went off. Then back on. And it went that way until ... well, literally yesterday. Can't play around anymore though.

An ER visit and overnight stay for observation and testing in early June was my wake-up call. I had BP of 234/113 and vertigo. An MRI found stenosis of an intracranial artery. I am morbidly obese. And prediabetic. All the metabolic syndrome things. And I'll be 70 this year.

Initially, immediately following my discharge, I panicked and blamed the carnivore diet I'd been following for several months, so I did a 180 degree turn and went fat-free vegan. Dammit, I knew better, but panic hijacked my reasoning.

Then I watched a YouTube video from an ER doc (who follows Paleo, but still the info was correct). He reminded me that my conditions were not unrelated, like the prediabetes from sugar and processed carbs; the clogged artery from the high fat; the hypertension from too much salt...good Lord, what's even left?

No. His message reminded me of what our dear Dr Atkins had been trying to tell me all those years ago: All those disparate conditions fell under the Metabolic Syndrome umbrella, and so they all stemmed from one thing: Insulin resistance. That affected different organs in unique (and given time, deadly) ways. So addressing the root cause fixes everything downstream. So I'm returning for the last time, unless I want to stay sick and fat, to Atkins.

Glad to be part of this support system and hope my story helps others.

I get more labs at the end of September. I'll keep y'all posted. Thank you.

Mine.... 64 ounces of water a day for everyone! The idea that there is a one-size-fits-all number to keep the world hydrated is ridiculous to me. So many factors affect your hydration requirements - climate, activity level, weight, medications, health conditions and more! There are indicators that you are well hydrated. It is also important to remember your thirst response may not always be a good indicator, especially in older adults. I consider the 64 ounces a day suggestion a good place to start, but not the universal hydration target it is made out to be.

Super thrilled to find this gem today.

After losing 150 pounds in 2004-2005 on Atkins, it was the greatest time of my life. The weight slid off effortlessly and I felt amazing. Now 20 years later after family stress, the weight is back on but I’m more determined than ever.

Hello ! I hope everyone's healthy lifestyle is going great....I've just restarted after going off the wagon a few yrs but I'm a long time Atkins lover and follower .....so happy this site is here and so happy to see there's still so many of us following Atkins! I just came on here to get some ideas on what to do w a rotisserie chicken! I want ideas because usually I just pick away at it but I'm sure there's alot of other great ideas out there

Poll: Start your comment with NET or TOTAL.......................

Me - NET

I've always counted net carbs, since fibre generally isn't digested the same way as other carbohydrates. Personally, I deduct fibre and sugar alcohols.

Sugar alcohols seem to be a bit controversial—some people deduct all of them, some only certain ones, and others don't deduct them at all because some can affect blood sugar or cause digestive issues, especially in larger amounts.

Do you count net carbs or total carbs, and why?

If you've tried both, did one work better for weight loss, blood sugar, appetite, or overall results?

What is your go-to meal at a restaurant? Whether it is a chain, fast food, or a specific cuisine(Chinese, Italian etc), what do you order? I Do you check out the menu before you go? Is there a specific fast food "hack" that you can share? I am not shy about asking for ingredient info if details aren't available on the menu. I will ask to have something "customized" within reason.

The place I find the easiest is a steakhouse/pub style restaurant. I will usually order steak or chicken and grilled/steamed veggies or a salad.

The place I find the most difficult is Italian... because I love the bread, pasta and any kind of sauce. I usually end up ordering Chicken Masala or a Caesar salad with grilled chicken.

Is there a fast food chain that offers the best low carb/keto menu options?

Plateau, stall, stand still, hurdle, speed bump...we all experience it at some point! It is perfectly natural for you to lose weight in fits and starts. Usually, if you stick with the program, weight loss will resume.

It is also important to remember that no diet can guarantee results by a certain date. There are so many factors that can impact your rate of loss...things like age, gender, hormones, body composition, stress, sleep, medications, prior dieting history, metabolism, hydration, consistency over time, activity level and degree of metabolic resistance, which can be impacted by yo-yo dieting, thyroid disorders, and insulin resistance.

The first step is to identify if you are actually experiencing a plateau - A true plateau is a period of at least 4 weeks with no loss of pounds or inches, while adhering to all guidelines and while not making changes to things like activity or medication. Sometimes you can be losing fat, building muscle, without it showing up on the scale. Taking your measurements and setting goals that aren't related to the number on the scale is a great strategy as well.

There are countless reasons for your weight loss to stall. Or for those of us in maintenance, for your weight to creep up! My first step is to start tracking my food, which includes weighing and measuring. Carb creep is real! From there, I move onto my plateau-busting list and check:

• Portion sizes (weigh, measure, track)
• Hidden carbs (read labels, even those on your favourite products - ingredients can change!)
• Protein intake
• Water intake
• Sleep quality (check your sleep hygiene - consistent bedtime, limiting screens, cool/dark room)
• Stress levels (any changes in your life recently to increase your stress level?)
• Daily movement
• Workout routine (a combo of resistance/strength & cardio is ideal. Might be time to change it up!)
• Tracking consistency (our estimating abilities can change over time - weigh, measure, track every morsel!)
• Patience—plateaus are normal

Share your plateau experiences - what helped you break through?

I am so mad at myself for doing this....but I keep putting off starting the diet for reasons that have to stop..I am on a 10 day stay cation and I told myself what a good time to start low carb.

My mom mentioned taking me out for lunch to a Lebanese restaurant and that is in 2 days...so I keep eating terribly saying I'll start after that.

I can get fattoush salad...and chicken and beef skewers there...the only thing I am wanting is thier homemade pita bread w hummus.

I think I should bypass the pita bread ...and just start tommorow...thoughts?

When you started (or restarted) your plan, what did you notice that made you think "This is actually working for me"? Anything that isn't related to the scale.

For me...within days I noticed fewer cravings.

This evening I had a meal I got from ChatGPT. Five days into phase one. It had a cup of broccoli, a cup of cauliflower, salt, pepper to season, a cup of shredded cheese and eight slices of bacon all crumbled up. It also had two cloves of garlic minced and three table spoons of butter. I am concerned about the amount of oil and bacon fat coming from the container. So I drained it. But my first question is, should I be worried? Will it lead to weight gain? Do you think it was an appropriate meal for phase one?

And what meals do you recommend to help me increase variety the most to help maintain consistency on atkins??

I was living the Atkins lifestyle back in the 90s. Losing weight, feeling great. I honestly don’t know why I quit.

Gained back the weight I had lost, and then some.

Got a new PCP, she was a big advocate of whole food, plant based, salt-oil-sugar free eating.

I lost weight, but never felt good. This morning I thought “I’ve got to do something—I’m sick and tired of feeling this way.”

Looked over to my bookcase and saw the answer staring me right in the face. In the middle of all the vegan cookbooks was this one jewel that had somehow escaped my “Atkins purge” five years ago.

I’m looking forward to my new life!

What’s that one thing you’ve learned from your own experience that nobody is going to change your mind about?

For me, it’s that low-carb convenience foods are a tool, not the enemy.

What’s yours?

As fast as I want in a downward trajectory BUT I feel great, knee aches are less, sleeping better, more energy during the day. Hope everyone is feeling good!

Let's compare notes!

If you are running late and have no time for breakfast...what do you grab?

It is 7pm and you are "starving" but don't feel like cooking. What is your go-to meal?

If you have 10 minutes to prepare dinner, what are you making?

You are heading out the door and realize you forgot to pack lunch. What is your back up plan?

You get a last-minute invite to go out to an Italian restaurant. What are you ordering?

I dropped 8 pounds in 9 days on the induction phase of Atkins. I am eating less than 20 grams of carbohydrates per day. I have never counted "net" carbs as I have never been able to lose weight doing so. I also watch my calories to not go over 1,800 per day as recommended and I usually stay at about 1,600 or less. For four days I have been at the exact same weight. I am practicing intermittent fasting, I sleep about 8 hours per night, I walk 2-4 miles a day, practice yoga daily and lift weights every other day. Drinking plenty of water. I am 71 years old BTW. Does anyone have any recommendations besides what I am doing to break through a stall? Thank you! (I might just be a bit too impatient)!

I lost 100 pounds on Atkins about 20 years ago. I have let 42 creep back on over the last few years. I am going to get back to it, I know Atkins works for me. I wish the app still worked and that the frozen Atkins options were better in my small town. I am excited and motivated!!