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atkins diet facts Q&A

My Stomach Won't Get HARD!!!!!!!?

I'm 22 years old and 187lbs.....I pretty much am a fit dude, i go to the gym 4 days a week, with 30 minutes cardio before and after a weighted workout. my arms got very big muscles, and my chest is big in the muscular way........but my stomach will not go hard, i don't know what i'm doing wrong!!! I try to do a good amount of sit ups and a machine called the torso twist. My diet is strict, i eat a alot of chicken, vegetables, meat, eggs NO SWEETS WHATSOEVER.......although i will confess by saying i'll occasionally have a bowl of cereal at night (round 10ish)....but its completley healthy (e.g kashi). I did lose 60 pounds 3 years ago, but my stomach seems to be the last one to go down fighting. Now even though I have tried Atkins, and hated it (due to the fact that i was constipated) should i give up a month and just do it, but... If I DID do it..........will i lose muscle tissue in my arms and chest?....or do i need somethin wacky like a colonic? all help is appreceiated!!!!!

Can't help u out: at my age there is only one thing I worry about getting hard. (he he he ) and it aint my stomach.

Snack attacks and sugar free jello? Atkins-Low Carb help.?

I've always been a fan of atkins because its the only diet I can do that I lose t he weight, and keep it off, even if I stop and go back to bad eating.

My biggest problem is I don't eat meals, I'm more of a snacker. So its something small here or there. I bought some sugar free jellos mainly for when I'm craving something sweet, but I noticed, I'm eating like 2-3 of them a day. So according to the facts...thats like 30 cal and 0-3carbs. (the box says 0 carbs, but if your eating 2-3..u see my point hopefully)

Doesn't sound bad, but I'm wondering if eating that much is going to mess me up. I eat other stuff too, salads, I get veggie trays to snack on etc.

Thanks!

2-3 servings of jello is no problem, it may have half a carb per serving & still show 0 carbs on the box. You might consider making gelatin with Knox brand gelatin & liquid artificial sweeteners with flavorings to lower the carb count. My main concern is the protein content - excess protein is converted to glucose. Make sure your fat ratio is high enough to counter the extra protein.

Every day you should be eating these 2 items. Together they are 1000 calories 80% of calories from fat - 90g fat 10g net carbs. If you need additional fat or calories, you can add a tablespoon of virgin coconut oil to the ground flax seed cereal.

Half an avocado mashed with 2 ounces of mayo seasoned with cayenne & eaten with pork rinds or celery.

Ground flax seed (4 Tbsp) 1/4 cup water, artificial sweetener, mix in a raw egg - let sit 10 min. to absorb liquid, put some cream cheese in the middle & nuke 2 min for daily fiber needs.

There is no reason to ever go off a low carb way of eating, you slowly re introduce carbs to your way of eating & as long as you don't exceed 9grams of carbs an hour (144 carbs a day) you won't trigger insulin (the fat storage hormone) no matter the calories. Most of us do low carb most of the time & if we cheat & slip back into low carb the next day.

The rungs to reintroduction of carbs in 5 gram units - all available to very active people in as little as 11 weeks. Make sure you do them in order & you can skip a rung if you do not intend to include it in your permanent way of eating, such as the alcohol rung.:
* (minimum week 3 - maximum 25grams day) Acceptable vegetables, larger quantities
* (minimum week 4 - maximum 30grams day) Add 5grams Fresh cheese
* (minimum week 5 - maximum 35grams day) Add 5grams Nuts and seeds
* (minimum week 6 - maximum 40grams day) Add 5grams Berries
* (minimum week 7 - maximum 45grams day) Alcohol can be added if desired
* (minimum week 8 - maximum 50grams day) Add 5grams Legumes
* (minimum week 9 - maximum 55grams day) Add 5grams Other fruits
* (minimum week10 - maximum 60grams day) Add 5grams Starchy vegetables
* (minimum week11 - maximum 65grams day) Add 5grams Whole grains
If you are continuing to lose or maintain (whichever is goal) in week 12 & beyond, you continue to add 5grams a day per week til you reach your personal carb level.

The body won't release fat stores if you lower calories below what it needs. It will slow metabolism to compensate & store every spare ounce as fat. If you continue lowering calories, it will continue lowering the set point, til it can survive off nothing & store fat on anything. The body will only release it's fat stores if it knows there is plenty of nutritious food.

The core of Atkins program is converting the body from glycolysis (burning glucose as fuel) to ketosis (burning fat as fuel). Dietary fat levels need to be at >65% of total calories, if not, the body will still remain in glycolysis by converting 58% of excess protein into glucose (via gluconeogenesis).

Carbohydrates (sugar, flour, bread, cereal, pasta, potatoes, rice, beans) trigger insulin (the ONLY fat storage hormone). Protein triggers the fat burning hormone glucagon..

High insulin levels promote inflammation, weight gain, hunger & unbalance other hormones. Controlling insulin levels will balance out other hormones & allow human growth hormone (HGH) to be produced naturally so lean muscle will be gained even without exercise.

As long as you have <9grams carbs per hour, you will maintain insulin control & shouldn't gain weight, no matter the calories because insulin, the fat storage hormone is not activated. Many people gain weight on high carb, do low carb to lose weight & then are shocked when they return to high carb & gain weight. Many people can return to moderate carb levels but very few can really eat all they want of sugar & maintain weight or health.