Low Carb fad

[relajada.com]

Atkins doesn't preach 'fruit is bad, fat is good' and you don't eat 5 pounds of red meat a day. The science behind why Atkins works is solid - low carb > ketosis > your body burns fat and muscle instead of glucose > you get thinner ; you also lose muscle mass unless you exercize to conteract this effect. The impact of long term ketosis on other things you might care about (like your heart and liver) are still under debate.

If you are like I was and carrying around 70 extra pounds, Atkins is probably better for you than doing nothing. I've been on Atkins since new years and have lost 40lb. The things I like about it is I don't feel hungary all the time and it is the easiest plan to stay with of everythnig I have tried.

The fact that this program has reached FAD proportions makes it all that much easier to be successful. You can find foods that fit your plan almost anywhere. If you are seriously considering Atkins, I suggest you skip the bookstore books that are nothing more than recipies and rah rah, and spend a few minutes on the web reading about how Atkins really works. You can be successful on Atkins without understanding how it works, but if you understand the underlying principles you can aviod mistakes like the woman who ate malted milk balls for her afternoon snack every day becasue they 'contained no flour' and therefore were 'Atkins friendly'.

 

[aerodiver]

Well its good to see all the views on Atkins and the low carb stuff. I lost about 20lbs over 1 year and a half ago and have kept it off. I weighed about 140lbs at the time and I am 5'4". Now granted I am not saying that I was fat, just that I felt uncomfortable and wanted to lose a few extra pounds. So what I did was excersize at least 2 days a week, and cut my portion sizes down. I lost the weight and am now 117lbs. I now eat small meals or snacks throughout the day instead of large meals. Now this has its downside. In the process of this I shrank my stomach and now do not eat much more at a meal than the size of a regular happy meal at McDonalds.

My advice to people is to become more consious of what you eat and cut down portions. Also the minute you feel full stop eating. It might sound wasteful, but when you go out to eat you know you are getting 2 meals in 1. Well that's just my 100psi. I know that there are other ways, but this is what has worked best.

 

[DiveMaven]

If you read Atkins' book he promotes eating whole foods with an emphasis on protein, fiber, and veggies as a way of eating for life. Once someone is at a healthy weight, he promotes adding healthy grains and fruits to the daily diet, but again through whole foods rather than highly processed ones. He is absolutely against sugar as part of any diet.

One of the biggest problems with the current hype surrounding low carbing is that it's being now pushed as a 'diet', which tells people you only have to do it until you lose weight, then you can go back to your unhealthy habits. In addition, alll the food manufacturers and trying to cash in and are now selling every possible processed low carb food they can manage. These processed foods may be low in carbs, but they are usually extremely high in calories and fat, neither of which is healthy.

I feel better when I limit the amount of starch in my diet, so a lower carb lifestyle works well for me. I basically eat whole, unprocessed foods (as much as humanly possible), that are lower in fat. This includes meats, some cheeses, veggies, and some fruits. I do not eat sugar, but use Splenda, which is a sugar substitute.

 

[Green_Manelishi]

If you read Atkins' book he promotes eating whole foods with an emphasis on protein, fiber, and veggies as a way of eating for life.

and fiber can be found in whole grain breads and cereals.
OH, but wait (weight?) they are loaded with EEEVVVIILLL carbs ....

And if you look at the "low fat" food they tended to replace the fat calories with sugar.

The fact is that many people want to stay fit and trim without
exercise or watching what and how much they eat. That's why there is the eternal such for the most efficient, delicious, self satisfying, easy to do diet and workout.

 

[dbulmer]

Personally, I think Camerons advice on www.divefitness.com would do people more good in the long run than diets alone.
It's not your weight that counts - it's the percentage of fat on your body which matters (body fat). If you increase your exercise and watch what you eat you will lose weight. A balanced diet with aerobic exercise (running, walking, biking) combined with anaerobic exercise (weights, stop-start running,tennis,badminton) will give you the best results in the long term.
At the end of the day, you didn't pile on the body fat because you were active or eating right but because you took it easy and didn't do what was needed.

 

[DivePartner1]

Thanks for the Divefitness post. No program works without excersize.

 

[zboss]

Assuming that is true, obesity is increasing because activity is decreasing. Fast food is the meal-of-choice for most people and regardless of what contains the calories: fat, carbs or protein, the simple fact is that more calories than you need will be stored for later. Sugar water (soda) and candy is a compact and rich source of too many calories at one time.

a lot of women (ex-girlfriends) that ONLY eat candy bars and are as skinny as a rail.

I believe that ALL of the opinions listed here are correct... excess calories, extra carbs, not physically active, etc... contribute to extra weight (I'm overweight) HOWEVER - in all fairness to Atkins I have a story to relate:

A friend of mine was taking part in a diet study through Washington Univeristy in St. Louis. During this study she was assigned (and did quite good I might add) a calorie-restrictive but nutritionally balanced diet designed by the university (she works there). She was also told to work out.

Co-incidentally I started Atkins the same day, but I did not work out... I ate within 100 to 200 calories a day, the same nunber of calories as her (1700-1800). In the end - I creamed her... I lost 20 pounds in about two months while she only lost about 10. You could say that she grew muscle mass but I don't really see that.

I also had my blood taken at the end of the diet. I come from a family in which my GrandMother and my father both had heart attacks. My LDL level was 152, well within acceptable range. My HDL was marginal (although the doc said there wasn't anything presently that I could do about it). My Tri-Glycerides were acceptable but marginal.

In the end - I did gain the weight back but I believe that, as stated correctly by weight experts, this was because I did not change my overall lifestyle. It's rare to see someone who works out (really folks) everyday or at least a couple of times a week, not be able to keep the weight off for a long time.

I believe that the Atkins works well but you definately need to get into the workout habit and count those calories along with the diet.

 

[papps953]

For me the low-carb diet works very well. It does restrict my calories, but I don't believe that is the complete answer. When I've restricted my calories only I don't lose much weight. Eating low-carb keeps me away from Doritos, Costco muffins, cake, ice cream and other "junk food". When I eat these foods even though I'm full I still feel "empty" inside. Eating a low carb meal like a 1/3 pound cheese burger or a low-carb homemade taco fills me up for hours. My taco is about 1100 calories and 60 carbs, 30 of which are considered fiber and don't count.

Bill

 

[gt2003]

zboss, Its hard to compare 2 people with only calories eaten as a reference. If your friend required 2000 calories per day to maintain weight then she would lose gradually on about an 1800 calorie diet. However, If you need 2500 calories to maintain your weight then you would lose much more quickly if you reduced your intake to 1800 calories per day. I'm a dietitian and don't advocate Atkins in any way, shape or form. But, variety is the answer. It all comes down to eating fewer calories than you use and you'll lose weight. Plain and simple. I honestly believe that gradually decreasing your overall caloric intake while using overall healthy habits is the way to go. Decrease the fat, increase the fiber and exercise. And keep it up for LIFE. Now, if you are 100 #'s overweight and Atkins works to help you lose the weight in the short term then I say go for it. I would advise (from a nutrition professional standpoint) that you switch to moderation and variety once your goal is reached. Good luck to all. Take care, Greg

 

[Jack4545]

I lost 60lbs on the Atkins Diet, and I have to say I think it works great. I don't know about doing the lifetime atkins diet, but for losing wieght it is a god send. You may say being on the diet is harmful, but it can't be more harmful than being 60lbs overweight!

What I think works about the atkins diet is it eliminates food that you are prone to over eat on. Since I cut out all the bad food that I ate I have not had a problem with overeating. I just can't imagine eating green beans when I am full. Also if you follow the diet you can't go to the local Wendy's so you have to be hungry enough to get off your ass and make something. This actually cuts out a lot of calories.

The past 4months are the only time ever since I was about 9 that my BMI does not have me listed as overweight, and I have to say it feels great. Diving with without a wetsuit and not having to worry about carrying any weight is awesome.