Atkins anyone?

[Mahonri]

I don't believe it to be a healthy diet.

I've known folks to yo-yo on it and when you go off of it, you usually gain all the pounds back plus more.

Since July I've lost 48lbs... eating less, exercising more... making a life commitment.

 

[Wifezilla]

It works great while you're on it just like any diet.

Lets see...you stop eating the stuff that makes you fat and sick. You lose weight. Then you go back to eating the stuff that made you sick and fat, and you are surprised you gain the weight back? That's not a problem with Atkins, that is a problem with your metabolism.

If you are over weight and respond really well to Atkins, there is a reason. Your bodies ability to regulate insulin and process sugars is MESSED UP. Going on a low carb diet allows you to work around that problem, but it does NOT change the underlying problem that your body can't handle carbs, starches and sugars.

As for Atkins being unhealthy, my only complaint with Atkins is their endorsement of soy products and canola oil. Other than that, you are following the way of eating the human body evolved to eat over millions of years. Processed flours, sugars, and frankenfoods like high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated fats have only been in the food supply for a short period of time.

There is nothing unhealthy about eating red meat, fresh greens, berries and healthy fat. There is no such thing as an ESSENTIAL CARBOHYDRATE, yet a majority of the food people eat come from carbohydrates.

Most of the reasons people believe low carb diets are unhealthy are based on myths and outright lies. The entire concept that saturated fat causes heart disease and obesity is based on one terribly flawed study done in the 50's. Recent research has proven that saturated fat isn't unhealthy, isn't the cause of obesity (it is carbs and carbs combined with fat), but if you asked a room full of nutritionists and doctors, they would blame fat instead of wheat, rice, corn, potatoes, and high fructose corn syrup.
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/lowcarbmyths.htm
http://wifezillasway.blogspot.com/2007/11/stupid-things.html

If you (or members of your family) struggle with obesity, one of the best things you can do is get yourself a copy of "Good Calories Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes (it should be in your local library by now). His book traces the history of diet recommendations, tracks the science behind current dietary advice, and shows you just how messed up everything is.

Here are some links to get you started if you are curious...
http://crossfitnega.com/2008/02/10/good-calories-bad-calories-gary-taubes/
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Natural-Health/2008-10-01/Dietary-Fat-Health-Weight.aspx
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04E2D61F3EF934A35754C0A9649C8B63
http://nymag.com/news/sports/38001/
Here is a lecture Gary Taubes gave at Berkeley (free)
http://webcast.berkeley.edu/event_details.php?webcastid=21216

The reason I am so passionate about low carb is that I believe it saved me from years of lingering illness. Sure, the weight loss is nice, but I was at the point that I was due for a stroke. My bp was 149/95, and I have a family history of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, alzheimers, stroke, obesity, etc...

I had put on weight every year even though I was working out 1 hour a day 6 days a week, ate low fat, cut calories, and I still gained weight. I was also miserable, hungry all the time, and my blood pressure kept going higher and higher. I had 3 friends and a parent all get the type 2 dx within a couple of months, and I had all the same symptoms THEY had! I tried low carb out of total desperation. I have been at it for less than 2 years and already I have gone from having a bp of 149/95 to 101/62. I am down 42 lbs, and even when I don't lose weight, I still lose inches. I have more energy, I sleep better, I have fewer arthritis symptoms and carpal tunnel issues. I love the food and will eat this way for the rest of my life. Low carb is the smartest thing I ever did.​

 

[jbowyer01]

My daughter had to go onto the Atkins diet when she was 15y/o for a siezure disorder. She was part of a study through the University of Pennsylvania. It's purpose was to reset her metabolisim and it worked after 1 full year of being on the keto diet she slowly fed carbs back into her diet. She hasnt had a siezure in almost 4 years and is totally off her meds. It is a hard diet to stick to but this being BYC I'm sure eggs are readily available

Good Luck with the diet!

 

[SterlingAcres]

Quote:
Lets see...you stop eating the stuff that makes you fat and sick. You lose weight. Then you go back to eating the stuff that made you sick and fat, and you are surprised you gain the weight back? That's not a problem with Atkins, that is a problem with your metabolism.

If you are over weight and respond really well to Atkins, there is a reason. Your bodies ability to regulate insulin and process sugars is MESSED UP. Going on a low carb diet allows you to work around that problem, but it does NOT change the underlying problem that your body can't handle carbs, starches and sugars.

There is nothing unhealthy about eating red meat, fresh greens, berries and healthy fat.

I couldn't agree more. Atkins is a lifestyle change. You cannot 'diet' for 4 weeks, lose weight, go back to eating all the junk you ate before and not expect to gain anything back. Starches need to be eaten in moderation.
I just got that bread machine, let me tell you. A week of eating fresh baked bread everyday weighed me down and made me tired. So, I've cut out the starches and I'll work from there. There's nothing wrong with meat and veggies. It's what we were made to eat.
When you come back off of Atkins, you're supposed to add ONE starch at a time before you regulate. Eat one sandwich a week, stuff like that. You can't overload yourself again or you'll get awful results.

 

[FLOWERPOT]

I am not obese by any means, I weigh 170 and Im 5ft6in. tall. but Im 44 yo, and cant run it off like I used to.
My father is a Doctor in Internal medicine, and he is the one that recommended the Adkins diet to me.
The way he explained it is that it basically tricks your brain into thinking it is diabetic, and it uses the bodys stored fats for energy,
Something like that..I love my Dad but I still only pay half attention most of the time, even at my age! LOL
But I did gather that if you excersise and drink lots of water, it is a perfectly healthy diet.

 

[Wifezilla]

Just wanted to throw out there that many people often assume low carb = Atkins. There are several different plans and each have their own pluses and minuses.

Atkins
Paleo Diet
Eat Fat Get Thin
Protein Power

My eating style is closer to Barry Groves' "Eat Fat Get Thin".
http://www.second-opinions.co.uk/