Low Carb fad
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I have a slightly differing take on the Atkins diet - I have to follow something similar as I'm hypoglycaemic and sugar
A) Makes me go bonkers for about 20 minutes
B) Then I pass out
Pure entertainment for everyone else, a little tiresome for me
There are a lot of myths about the types of food we eat, why and the associated health benefits. For example some of my friends look at my diet with horror and assume that I have a cholesterol level as high as Beckham's penalty, however I don't - I have quite a low & healthy reading.
Also, someone mentioned low carb diets affecting your excercise ability. Complete rubbish. I excercise a lot - prob'ly in excess of 15 hours a week. I also have a 100K bike ride to do this weekend. It's all relative to what your body is good at processing for energy
In terms of affect on weight - well I see its affect quite dramatically. Usually if I have a crash I get very tight on my food (cos having a crash isn't very pleseant) and avoid nearly all carbs (or rather high GI foods, which tend to be mostly carbs) and I lose weight.
Carbs do affect you in strange ways. I know within about 15 minutes whether I've eaten something that has a lot of carb based material in it - I can feel it quite dramatically. Now I know I have a condition with the processing of sugar but then again I also see the carb affect in other people.
Look around your office and see how many people get tired & tardy after lunch. I never get that when I'm eating properly. My energy levels are constant pretty much, unless I eat correctly.
Now, in terms of a diet to lose weight, there are two sides to a low carb diet that help you lose fat.
1. You do generally consume less calories because you do tend to feel fuller and eat less. I very rarely snack when I'm eating properly because I just don't feel the need to.
2. You do tend to get a metabolic advantage in excercise/general energy due to the differing energy that you burn. My doc tried to explain this to me once but I didn't really pay that much attention - I think they call it lipolysis or the like?
In affect I find that you do lose weight faster, and more importantly a far higher proportion of the weight lost is fat rather than muscle mass (especially if you're NOT working out).
The 'typical' calorific view on losing weight is that you have to burn 7000 calories to lose 2lbs of fat right - so drop say 500/day from your diet and excercise 500/day and you're at the magic 7000 cals/week for a 2lb loss. I'm sure this works, and I'm sure it's affective.
The difference I've found for a low carb alternative is that I really don't feel deprived of food and I certainly don't have to worry about counting calories - it almost seems to make the excercise to be more affective at weight loss.
I don't see a low carb diet as a 'fad' - although I do appreciate not everyone has a requirement to follow that kind of diet as I do!! I actually think it's more in line with the way we're designed to eat. Carbs are too easy to consume and also the proportion of our diets that consist of carbs is increasing - this is very modern. In fact in one of the books I have on the subject (Not atkins, a medical book) it describes obesity as being a reletively modern problem and a lot of obesity being put down to the VAST increase in processed food and sugar in our (modern) diets.
At the end of the day this type of lifestyle eating program (I don't really think of it as a diet) is healthy FOR ME. I also know my blood make-up quite regularly etc. as I get myself checked out and I certainly don't have any issues with cholesterol or in fact any blood pressure issues now (a side affect of HG I'm lead to believe is low bloodpressure - somthing I've had for a while).
I'm also convinced it doesn't affect my fitness - I've a VO2 index of about 55 and a resting heart rate in the mid 40s. Not bad for someone who's 32 and HG!!
A) Makes me go bonkers for about 20 minutes
B) Then I pass out
Pure entertainment for everyone else, a little tiresome for me
There are a lot of myths about the types of food we eat, why and the associated health benefits. For example some of my friends look at my diet with horror and assume that I have a cholesterol level as high as Beckham's penalty, however I don't - I have quite a low & healthy reading.
Also, someone mentioned low carb diets affecting your excercise ability. Complete rubbish. I excercise a lot - prob'ly in excess of 15 hours a week. I also have a 100K bike ride to do this weekend. It's all relative to what your body is good at processing for energy
In terms of affect on weight - well I see its affect quite dramatically. Usually if I have a crash I get very tight on my food (cos having a crash isn't very pleseant) and avoid nearly all carbs (or rather high GI foods, which tend to be mostly carbs) and I lose weight.
Carbs do affect you in strange ways. I know within about 15 minutes whether I've eaten something that has a lot of carb based material in it - I can feel it quite dramatically. Now I know I have a condition with the processing of sugar but then again I also see the carb affect in other people.
Look around your office and see how many people get tired & tardy after lunch. I never get that when I'm eating properly. My energy levels are constant pretty much, unless I eat correctly.
Now, in terms of a diet to lose weight, there are two sides to a low carb diet that help you lose fat.
1. You do generally consume less calories because you do tend to feel fuller and eat less. I very rarely snack when I'm eating properly because I just don't feel the need to.
2. You do tend to get a metabolic advantage in excercise/general energy due to the differing energy that you burn. My doc tried to explain this to me once but I didn't really pay that much attention - I think they call it lipolysis or the like?
In affect I find that you do lose weight faster, and more importantly a far higher proportion of the weight lost is fat rather than muscle mass (especially if you're NOT working out).
The 'typical' calorific view on losing weight is that you have to burn 7000 calories to lose 2lbs of fat right - so drop say 500/day from your diet and excercise 500/day and you're at the magic 7000 cals/week for a 2lb loss. I'm sure this works, and I'm sure it's affective.
The difference I've found for a low carb alternative is that I really don't feel deprived of food and I certainly don't have to worry about counting calories - it almost seems to make the excercise to be more affective at weight loss.
I don't see a low carb diet as a 'fad' - although I do appreciate not everyone has a requirement to follow that kind of diet as I do!! I actually think it's more in line with the way we're designed to eat. Carbs are too easy to consume and also the proportion of our diets that consist of carbs is increasing - this is very modern. In fact in one of the books I have on the subject (Not atkins, a medical book) it describes obesity as being a reletively modern problem and a lot of obesity being put down to the VAST increase in processed food and sugar in our (modern) diets.
At the end of the day this type of lifestyle eating program (I don't really think of it as a diet) is healthy FOR ME. I also know my blood make-up quite regularly etc. as I get myself checked out and I certainly don't have any issues with cholesterol or in fact any blood pressure issues now (a side affect of HG I'm lead to believe is low bloodpressure - somthing I've had for a while).
I'm also convinced it doesn't affect my fitness - I've a VO2 index of about 55 and a resting heart rate in the mid 40s. Not bad for someone who's 32 and HG!!
jewey4
Guest
Just wanted to mention something I saw on the evening news last night. They had a report saying that since this whole low-carb obsession, people that are actually still on the diet has now dropped to 50%. That's pretty dramatic considering how obsessed people are about it (in restaurants and markets too) and seems to be proving that it is indeed, just another fad. It's all about calorie control and exercise. Deprivation is almost always a shoe-in for failure. I love my pasta!...occasionally :11ztongue
lamont
Contributor
jewey4:
Diets which I would call 'carb-focused' like South Beach really aren't about deprivation or much of a fad. If you look at them they're a collection of recommendations which come down to:
1. reduce sugar
2. eat whole wheat breads or brown rice
3. reduce fats (more chicken and fish, less red meat)
4. reduce/eliminate junk foods
5. more veggies
How are those recommendations 'fads'? How is that 'deprivation'?
And I cannot control my calories without controlling my sugar intake. If you want to recommend calorie control to me, I have to reduce my sugar intake. Only looking at the overal calorie consumptions and not at the quality of the calories consumed is a fundamentally flawed approach to weight loss which is actually what will always lead to failure. Its the glucose and insulin crashes and the feelings of deprivation and hunger which follow them that lead to overeating -- give that person a slice of whole wheat bread and some water instead of a coca-cola and they won't feel as hungry and deprived.
jewey4
Guest
I am referring to some of my friends who absolutely refuse to have that white rice or pasta dish because of the carb aspect - even though they really want it. I just think that if you really want that once in a blue moon cookie or spaghetti, and can learn how to control the amount, then why not? I am simply talking about the extremists who deprive themselves of occasional "unhealthy" treats are probably the ones more likely to quit. I know for myself I would rather have the coca-cola than a slice of "wheat bread and water." Sure not all the time but that's not what I'm saying here.lamont:
I'm not against the South Beach or Atkins diet if if promotes the 5 recommendations that you listed, its the people who take the low-carb thing to the extreme. I know people that do, so I see the correlation with the 50% drop that I heard on the news. Anything extreme is bad. Those recommendations have always been around, its not a fad, but people get out of control, whether its eating too much of anything- carbs,fat, or protein.
I haven't done the low carb thing because I can maintain a decent balance, even leaning a little more on the carb side than anything else, and still stay healthy. I have about 10 pounds of weight I personally would like to lose, but that's more because I've gotten lazy in the gym, not because I eat too many carbs.
jakubson
Contributor
I thought I'd weigh in (ha-ha) on the subject. I lost 95 lbs in a year on a diet first published in 1978 - the Scarsdale Medical diet.
http://lowcarblisa.tripod.com/thescarsdalemedicaldiet/
It seems to me to be a blend of atkins (low starch and refined sugars) and the american Heart Association (low fat, plenty of vegetables, reasonable amount of fruit).
I lost the weight from October 2001 to September 2002, and have kept it off. I still TYPICALLY do not eat starches, but I do eat a nice bowl of fresh fruit EVERY morning. I do eat pizza as a special treat, Pad thai in restaurants, etc. I also have one dessert a day since i am now at my ideal weight. The key is to set a "panic threshold" which for me is a four pound range. At the bottom of the range, I am less concerned with every item I eat. As i creep up, I get more vigilant. If I get to the top, it's back to the strict rules.
From what i can see, limited starches, lots of vegetables, reasonable amounts of fruit, and low fat (except for chocolate!) can be a long term lifestyle, so the change from diet mode to normal mode was one of relaxing my rules, not a total change.
I think the "low carb" specialty food (low carb ice cream?) is bad since it reinforces bad habits (and as others have said, it can be very high calorie). What is needed is a permanent change of lifestyle, but not one so rigid that it is abandoned.
Just my thoughts,
Joel
Common sense is an oxymoron!
http://lowcarblisa.tripod.com/thescarsdalemedicaldiet/
It seems to me to be a blend of atkins (low starch and refined sugars) and the american Heart Association (low fat, plenty of vegetables, reasonable amount of fruit).
I lost the weight from October 2001 to September 2002, and have kept it off. I still TYPICALLY do not eat starches, but I do eat a nice bowl of fresh fruit EVERY morning. I do eat pizza as a special treat, Pad thai in restaurants, etc. I also have one dessert a day since i am now at my ideal weight. The key is to set a "panic threshold" which for me is a four pound range. At the bottom of the range, I am less concerned with every item I eat. As i creep up, I get more vigilant. If I get to the top, it's back to the strict rules.
From what i can see, limited starches, lots of vegetables, reasonable amounts of fruit, and low fat (except for chocolate!) can be a long term lifestyle, so the change from diet mode to normal mode was one of relaxing my rules, not a total change.
I think the "low carb" specialty food (low carb ice cream?) is bad since it reinforces bad habits (and as others have said, it can be very high calorie). What is needed is a permanent change of lifestyle, but not one so rigid that it is abandoned.
Just my thoughts,
Joel
Common sense is an oxymoron!
LeFlaneur
Contributor
How about not eating so much?
Sorry, sometimes I think it all gets too complicated. Eat well and get some exercise and all will be fine.
Sorry, sometimes I think it all gets too complicated. Eat well and get some exercise and all will be fine.
mako25
New
My wife and I statred on Atkins 6 months ago, I've lost 60 lbs and she's los 53!
I tried working out right away, but couldn't. After 2 weeks on the diet, I could work out at about 50% my norm, after 4 weeks I was working out harder and more often than before.
I am now on an 1800 calorie diet at 60% protein, 20 % carbs and 20% fat. It's not easy getting all of that protein in a day and some days I don't. Some days I don't run, some days I don't lift. But Usually, I lift in the morning and run or swim in the evening and I keep track of everything I eat in a day.
I know there are people, doctors, whoever, who don't like Atkins for whatever reason, But my body fat has dropped, my cholesterol is down, my run times are improving, my swim distance is improving, my weights have gone up and my endurace (ie, pushups, bodysquats, etc.) has gone way up.
The main point with dropping carbs, for me, has been cutting out refined sugar and flour and NOT eating a butt-ton of food. In college I power-lifted and ran 5 and 10k's, I was also 20 and had a fast metabolism, I could eat 2500 to 3000+ cals a day and not feel bad or slow down. Now I'm 34 and I don't power-lift anymore or run races. Atkins has helped a lot and in a variety of ways.
I tried working out right away, but couldn't. After 2 weeks on the diet, I could work out at about 50% my norm, after 4 weeks I was working out harder and more often than before.
I am now on an 1800 calorie diet at 60% protein, 20 % carbs and 20% fat. It's not easy getting all of that protein in a day and some days I don't. Some days I don't run, some days I don't lift. But Usually, I lift in the morning and run or swim in the evening and I keep track of everything I eat in a day.
I know there are people, doctors, whoever, who don't like Atkins for whatever reason, But my body fat has dropped, my cholesterol is down, my run times are improving, my swim distance is improving, my weights have gone up and my endurace (ie, pushups, bodysquats, etc.) has gone way up.
The main point with dropping carbs, for me, has been cutting out refined sugar and flour and NOT eating a butt-ton of food. In college I power-lifted and ran 5 and 10k's, I was also 20 and had a fast metabolism, I could eat 2500 to 3000+ cals a day and not feel bad or slow down. Now I'm 34 and I don't power-lift anymore or run races. Atkins has helped a lot and in a variety of ways.
I have YET to hear any one who has actually READ the Atkins book and/or South Beach Diet book and still hate the "diet" or call it a fad.
I also think everyone agrees, fads are bad. It's a change of lifestlye, more exercise less food, that counts. Folks that read and follow the Atkins diet don't call it a diet. I read the book in 1999 and have tried my best to adhere to the healthy lifestyle habits as best I can. (exercise, portion control, etc!!) I've only gained 10 pounds back, of the 50 I lost. I find it difficult to find the time to exercise as much as I should, I've had knee injuries, busy at the office, etc.
Atkins had a viral infection that caused him heart damage. That in no way contributed to his death. And yes, as consumers of "news" we should be VERY suspicious about any one's medical records being released. That's such a big no-no in health care. Hasn't any one been to the doctors office recently and had to sign that paper that says you understand the new HIPPA laws? That's a whole other thread worth of discussion right there.
OK. Got to go work out now.
I also think everyone agrees, fads are bad. It's a change of lifestlye, more exercise less food, that counts. Folks that read and follow the Atkins diet don't call it a diet. I read the book in 1999 and have tried my best to adhere to the healthy lifestyle habits as best I can. (exercise, portion control, etc!!) I've only gained 10 pounds back, of the 50 I lost. I find it difficult to find the time to exercise as much as I should, I've had knee injuries, busy at the office, etc.
Atkins had a viral infection that caused him heart damage. That in no way contributed to his death. And yes, as consumers of "news" we should be VERY suspicious about any one's medical records being released. That's such a big no-no in health care. Hasn't any one been to the doctors office recently and had to sign that paper that says you understand the new HIPPA laws? That's a whole other thread worth of discussion right there.
OK. Got to go work out now.
