Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution: The No-hunger, Luxurious Weight Loss Plan That Really Works! [Collector's Edition] [Paperback]

Having seen a report about this diet on TV a few days before, I received my copy on 14 June 2003 and began the diet the next day - after having read the first 140 pages or so. It seemed strange at first, but all his arguments were clearly laid out and he covered almost all the worries I had about starting a diet which seemed to go against everything I had ever heard or read about nutrition.

I had a pretty balanced diet before - loads of fruit and vegetables and various good quality proteins, plenty of roughage and of course quite a lot of carbohydrates (which I had never really thought about before). I avoided high fat foods and always took the low-calorie/low-fat options.

Within one week I had lost 3.5kg (7.7lb) and had taken 2.5 inches off my waist. At present (about 10 weeks later) I have lost a total of 18kg (almost 40lb), and my waist is down about 9 inches (!!!) I have a further 15kg (33lb) to reach my target weight - the rate of loss has slowed considerably from the beginning, but I continue to lose steadily so I am perfectly content with this. I use the book as a kind of reference tool and consult it very regularly, to keep me on track and to re-assure me on anything I fret about; it is very helpful.

The most marvellous thing about this diet, apart from losing weight and feeling a lot beter than I have in years, is that for almost the first time ever I have control over my appetite - I eat only at mealtimes, never between meals, and have never been hungry from about day two. The first 10 days on the diet were quite difficult (headaches, lethargy, etc.), but since then I feel great with a much clearer mental attitude and much more energy. I wish I had heard about this diet years ago, but I am very grateful to Dr Atkins (RIP) for showing me a much better way to eat.

I started the Atkins' Diet in Feb 2001 and by July lost 4.5 stone. Over the next two odd years I kept that off and lost another half a stone. I'm within about 4 pounds of my ideal weight and remain a religious advocate of the diet. Some advice for those of you thinking of trying it. 1) Notwithstanding all the current discussion of the risks of Atkins, none of the downsides of the diet compare to the risks of obesity. It is a great way to get the weight off and allow you to get in the gym. Once the weight is off you have the luxory of deciding if its the right long term diet for you. 2) Most people opposed to the diet look at the 'induction period' and assume Atkins advocates that as a long term diet. He doesn't. Fairly quickly, after about 8 weeks, I was eating most veggies (except starchy ones) and most salads. 3) Having said this, I strongly recommend that before you start the diet you get a good physical and blood work. check out all your vitals and then do so regularly while on diet. If you're like me, you'll find that the your tests improve, but either way it helps to know where you stand. Also, it helps you answer the critics -- if you know your blood work is fine, you can tell them. If its not fine, stop the diet, it probably isn't for you. I go to a nutritionist regulary to check how i'm doing and definitely take supplements -- one a day vitamins, etc.. 4) Combine the diet with exercise, exercise, exercise. The greatest joy for me was to get enough weight off to feel okay going to the gym. The diet alone is not the road to fitness and you do need to get off your a** and exercise. 5) get the cookbooks -- it is true that the diet can get old, but there are great recipes. A couple great tricks -- eat the tops of pizzas, strawberries and whipped cream is a great desert, get an ice cream maker and make ice creams with diet sugar, etc... There are lots of ways to add varieties. 6) Finally, this isn't for everybody. For example, my wife tried and hated it. The main downsides are: a) its not great for your digestive track and you have to get used to a bit of turmoil, b) its a real ban on bread -- I didn't care, but some people die without a slice of bread or some pasta, c) you have to like meat and cheese -- no two ways around it. I tended to stop red meat pretty quickly and shifted to a whole variety of different cheeses because it does get old, and d) if you really love your wine and beer its not for you. Ironically, spirits are carb free, so you can have unlimited amounts of vodka and slim line tonic. Good luck to those who try -- as I said, lose the weight and then have the luxory to decide if its the right diet for maintenance. Until the weight is off, however, I find endless discussions about risk to be pretty pointless .. fat and no exercise are far bigger risks for you.

When i started this diet I was 24stone 5lbs. I did the diet for three months and lost 6stone. I am now determined to get to 16stone. DONT BELIEVE THE BAD PRESS. This diet works wonders it is written with a fat person in mind but can also be used by skinny people.
The irony of the book is that it goes against nearly all the 'so called rules of eating' governed by the Food Standards Agency.
People think you cut out the carbs completely, for the rest of your life, this is not true. You set a limit of 20g of carbs a day and gradually increase them untill you find the level where you put on weight and then stay under that new limit.
This diet has done amazing, miraculous things for me and i'm sure that it would do for you too, providing you follow it right. Only a couple of cons with the book and diet - a better author should have written it, you spend more on food because of all the meat you buy and when you go to Mcdonalds you can't have their chips with the burger!!!! Good Luck!