has anyone doing the Atkins diet experienced constipation? I've heard of that happening because the protein foods such as meat eggs etc. don't have any fiber. People haven't been able to release the poisons in their bodies for days, weeks and sometimes months! :-/
Atkins is not solely a "meat eggs etc." diet plan. Yes, you may experience constipation in the two week induction phase which limits the carb intake to 20 grams per day. You can eliminate (pun intended) this problem by taking either a tablspoon of psyllium husks, coarse wheat bran or flaxseed. Also drinking the required minimum of eight glasses of water per day should minimize any problem.
Its not due so much to lack of fiber, but rather because it takes more water to digest protein than carbs. Also, if you just lower your carb/protein ratio rather than going to the extremes of the induction phase, you'll have fewer problems (see my previous posts). Personally, I was able to adjust with only modest changes to my water consumption (drink after peeing, always drink something when eating, etc.), but others may have to do more to increase their water consumption.
Re: constipation A diet of fat and protien produces very little waste....so what you think is constipation is normal. If you are concerned about it, 6 Metamucil Tablets once a day should do it for you. When you are on Atkins, having a small BM every other day is normal.
update. although I only lost about the amount I lost in the first two weeks. I also started lifting everywhere day again and some of the muscle I once had came back. So I did lose more fat. I pretty much plateued and gave into pizza. I now drink one coke a day again and because we are moving I would say I stopped doing atkins after about 3 weeks. Hard to eat right without the food in teh fridge and the utensils to make it. Right now I am not gaining and working out frequently and feeling better but not losing. I am going to read more of the zone in an attempt to lose more. If not I will go back to more atkins. I look and feel better, you might think I should lose more weight but I do not look like a lazy slug anymore. I could probably even look fine with a new wardrobe but I want to get to athletic again. Plus everything tastes too sweet. So I eat and drink less sugar.