Who has done Atkins?

Have any of you ever done the Atkins thing? I bought and read the book recently (I'm getting married on Valentine's Day and want to lose a few lbs) and just started the induction phase and I know Dr. Atkins said we're addicted to carbs, but I'm actually going through withdrawal symptoms. I'm so jittery my hands are actually shaking and it's only been one day. And it's not because I'm hungry. I had Prime Rib.

I've been a bit concerned about my blood sugar lately anyway. I've had 2 low blood sugar attacks. My family on both sides has diabetes including both grandmothers (one died of it), and both of my parents. I'm 34 and overweight, and think the subject of my bloodsugar has been avoided too long.

I need to find someone with Atkins experience to help me make it through induction. It's kicking my ass, but according to the book I should feel much better in a few days.

I haven't done the Atkins (I try to eat high-calorie foods that are otherwise healthful; because I burn through a lot of calories).

So that we (I) know that you know what you're doing: why and how does the Atkins diet work?

I read the book. I know how and why Atkins works. I even know why I'm so jittery now on my second day of induction. But even knowing it doesn't make that jittery feeling go away. I'm confident it will go away once I switch over to lyposis, but I had no idea the extent to which I was addicted to carbs.

According to the book this will also stabelize my blood sugars and prevent diabetes/hypoglycemia.


oops...sorry I just re-read your post.

Here's the how and why Atkins works...

People have two parallel power systems. Normally we survive on sugars in our blood as fuel. The primary source of these sugars is carbohydrates which are quickly changed into sugar in our bodies. When we have too many of these carbs (sugars) our bodies store the excess energy as fat.

Our backup power system is the stored fat. When you eat high protein/fat without carbs (meat, cheese, butter, etc), for a few days, your body switches to the backup power system and starts burning fat as the primary fuel source. Even processing the protein you're eating requires fuel.

This process is called lyposis and later results in ketosis. Ketosis is when your body starts burning your stored energy (fat).

In otherwords, you can eat more calories of satisfying foods like pork, beef, chicken, lobster, clams, etc. with butter, mayo, etc. and lose far more fat than someone on a low fat high carb diet who counts every calorie. Supposedly it also balances your bloodsugar and controls your appetite too.

I'm told after I make through the induction phase (the most strict part to get your body to make the switch to burning fat), I'll have more energy, and the fat will just drop off.

My friend did it and dropped 80 lbs of fat in about a year. He actually weighs less than me now.

Don't people with Diabetes have high blood sugar?

Diabetes and Hypoglycemia are closely related. They both are a result of your body not being able to maintain normal bloodsugar levels. One is too high blood sugar and one is too low.

Most obese people produce an excess amount of insulin (usually as a result of eating too much sugar) so they eat more starches/sugars to make up for it and the body makes more insulin to compensate and it's a vicious cycle.

According to the book, when you get on a low carb diet, your insulin levels return to normal and your blood sugar becomes stable.

My apologies. I thought you were implying that your low blood sugar might be a result of Diabetes.

I just started Atkins for New Years :D

It is much needed as my goal is to lose 60+ pounds.

I don't have the book because I gave my copy away years ago. I do however remember the rules. And really the one thing I disagree with Atkins on is the caffinee restriction, so I ignore it.


These days, it's much easier to do Atkins because there are so many low carb versions of stuff. - low carb 'milk', spaghetti, bread, even chocolate bars! The one problem with this stuff is it is EXPENSIVE! But if it keeps me sane, then I'm all for it.


Good luck Radar, you've picked a diet that definitely works if you just stick to it!

Radar, about those first day jitters.

I have to say I know a few people that have been through Atkins and I have never heard of something like that. I would say if you begin to feel faint or bad in any way, you should consider laying off the diet until you talk to a doctor. Better safe than sorry.

And I've learned that the induction part of the diet can be trimmed down to as little as three days as opposed to two weeks, if you are confident that you are in ketosis. Since this is the first time you are trying Atkins, I would recommend buying Ketosticks at your pharmacy so you can see what your metabolism is up to. The book describes how they work.

Good idea, I'll pick up ketosticks (assuming they know what I'm talking about at Sav-On) after the first week or so.

The book said some people get a bit jittery so I'm not going to be too worried about it. I'm just going to try to put up the good fight.

Last night I had prime rib with a cajun butter sauce (I checked to make sure it was butter and not margerine), creamed spinich, and a green salad with oil and vinegar with iced-tea with lemon.

The no caffine part is supposed to be a guideline anyway. They said caffine sometimes gives people cravings for sugars and this is why they suggest we avoid them. Also they think if they can get people to stop being addicted to caffine and carbs, it will help with other addictions people may have like cigs.

Atkins actually has their own line of low carb snacks, bars, etc.

I bought some, but I'm not sure if they are acceptable during the induction phase.

Watch out for some of those high protein bars. Most of them taste like crap. Before you order online a case of them, make sure you try one first.

I tried one yesterday and it didn't suck. But then today I started wondering if it was cool during the induction phase. They are Atkins bars, but that just means low carbs. That doesn't necessarily mean they're acceptable during the induction phase.

It should be easy to tell if you can have them or not. Your goal in induction is to restrict your carbs to less than about 20. Just look at the nutrition chart on the food.

Oh, you also have to subtract any carbs from fiber and such, but most nutrition charts will have a footnote explaining that.

I did the Atkins Diet and it worked well. Make sure you consume more fiber, even at the cost of a few grams of carbs. Avoid the protien bars; they taste like shit and will stop you up faster than a wheel of stinky cheeze.

Atkins was the second fastest way to lose weight for me.

The fastest I've ever lost weight was after taking neupougen (a painfully injected drug - doctor prescribed) so I could build up stem-cells and lymphocytes (and marrow) for donation to my sister. After the donation, I dropped from 190 to 170 over the span of 6 weeks. The donation bought my sister 3 more years before she passed away this last September.


My weight slowly got back up to 190 over the past 6 months, but It is mainly due to my new muscles... I spend 2 to 3 mornings at the gym. I still run 10-15 miles a week.
The new weight is a good thing as it looks a hell of a lot better than the old weight.

I feel like I don't get the full feeling without carbs. I'm afraid I'm eating too much. At least I'm feeling better and I've lost the jittery feeling.

That might have something to do with the supplements I've been taking also.

Even without going officially Atkins its probably a good idea to get off the carb-go-round. Since I figured out my problem with wheat I've had much better control of my weight and haven't gotten those urges to binge. I still eat some cabs in corn tortillas and such but the volume is way down. My buddy Claytoris dropped about thirty on Atkins you could pm him to get specifics. I'd be careful about the volume of meat though. Good luck and best wishes for the wedding. g

Originally posted by Radar
I feel like I don't get the full feeling without carbs. I'm afraid I'm eating too much. At least I'm feeling better and I've lost the jittery feeling.

Relax, you could eat a cow and still lose weight! Just count carbs, not calories.


You might have to experiment with what you are eating until you find something that makes you feel full. But give it some time.

Could the jitters have been caffeen withdrawl?

I'd be careful about the volume of meat though. Good luck and best wishes for the wedding.

I'll try to mix it up a bit. Poultry, Fish, Pork, Beef, etc. At my gym they were trying to convince me Atkins was unhealthy because it includes eating fat. I told them that's not much of an issue when you're body is burning fat.

Could the jitters have been caffeen withdrawl?

Not sure, but that reminds me, I need a triple espresso immediately.

Back in August I dropped sugar and limited my carb intake...sort of like what Atkins says to do, but I didn't read the book. I have a really tough time with my blood sugar, also. I have been going this way since then and have managed to lose about 35 lbs with a few lapses here and there. I still want to lose another 12 or so.

Last Friday, I had my lunch and decided to treat myself to a rice crispy treat for a change. Since I don't eat sugar like that anymore, about 3 or 4 hours later I started losing my vision around the edges of my eyes and felt like I was quite close to losing consciousness. I had to eat a few pieces of candy to get back to "normal." Now I remember why I decided not to eat sugary foods anymore.

I eat a lot of peanut butter sandwiches with whole wheat bread. And I highly recommend the Zone bars. I eat about 1 or 2 a day, because I actually like some of them. They have a few carbs, but a decent amount of protein.

I may be speaking from ignorance here, but doesn't that sound like Diabetes? I mean, I never lost my vision because of eating anything.

I have a simple diet plan:

* Eat a little of just about everything. Variety is good.

* Try not to focus too much on one food or class of foods at the expense of everything else. If you're eating tons of Food X because someone found something wrong with eating Food Y, give it a decade or so and a different set of studies will find that Food X is just as screwed up, Food Y isn't as bad as people thought, and Food Z is what you should've been eating all along. Lather rinse repeat.

* Try to stay away from "empty-calorie" foods that are way high in fat, sodium, sugar, cholesterol, etc. if there are lower-octane alternatives available that also taste good. A little now and then is fine, but don't go overboard.

* In general, when it comes to healthiness, homemade >> store-bought pre-prepared >> restaurant fare. The more control you have over exactly what goes into what you eat and how it's prepared, the better.

* As a general rule, eat less and exercise more.

The last rule is the one that thwarts most people, myself included.

Originally posted by juju
I may be speaking from ignorance here, but doesn't that sound like Diabetes? I mean, I never lost my vision because of eating anything.

I don't know, actually. That had never happened to me before. I use to just get really shakey and weak if my blood sugar dropped. But Friday was much worse. I wouldn't be surprised.

That's something you should look into -- blindness and loss of consiousness are not cool.

I personally have Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), but I've never had the vision side-effect. Adding baked potatos to my regular diet has put the problems fairly well in check, thankfully. It's a good thing I don't need Atkins, because I think I'd die if I couldn't have complex carbohydrates.

My grandmother went blind from diabetes shortly before it killed her. You need to drop whatever the hell else you're doing and get to a doctor immediately.

This morning's news brings us a Harvard long-term study of 125,000 people which showed that drinking 6 cups of coffee a day lowers men's chance of diabetes by 50%, women by 30%.

Drink up

Mmmmmm Coffee....

Man I'm doing great on this Atkins thing. I am on day 4 and I feel fine. I picked up some keto sticks (they are urine strips that allow you to test for ketones which are evidence that your body is burning fat instead of carbs/sugar)

I was very happy to find that my body had stopped burning sugar all together and was using my own body fat as an alternative fuel source. Now I'll throw a little exercise into the mix and I bet the weight will just fall off and my blood sugar has probably already become more stable.

The only side effect I've noticed thus far is instead of gradually becoming hungry as before, I suddenly become voraciously hungry without warning when it's time to eat. Perhaps this will subside.

Originally posted by Radar
The only side effect I've noticed thus far is instead of gradually becoming hungry as before, I suddenly become voraciously hungry without warning when it's time to eat. Perhaps this will subside.

Or perhaps you'll be at a shopping mall when the cravings strike. Meat. Must have meat. Wild... raging... cravings for MEAT. HUNGER! MEAT! MEEEEEEEEEAT! The cravings will overwhelm your rational mind. Hey, there's a nun doing some after-Christmas shopping -- SHE'S MADE OF MEAT! RAAAAAAAAAGH! Swiftly, you pounce, teeth bared and fingers ready to rend her unsuspecting flesh...

...then you stop, realizing that you yourself are also made of meat!!

Suddenly the dark secret of Atkins becomes clear: how they could absolutely guarantee weight loss. "A new, smaller you," they offered. The horror. The horror.

I've heard Drano is a very filling substitute for meat. If the craving ever really hits you hard :D

This being on the Internet, I really should add a disclaimer.


*Warning*

Drano is not to be taken internally. Don't be an ass and believe what you read on some website.

vsp and Undertoad should write Stephen King books....only with their own names. ;)

What's scary is that I wrote about nun-munching AND I'M THE SETUP GUY.

Those old zombie movies make sense now.

When some people die and are exposed to a weird chemical, it induces a state of modified atkins dieting only satisfied by...


[SIZE=3][COLOR=green][FONT=century gothic]BRRRRAAAIINNNSSSSS!!!!![/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE]

I thought about making a prank call to the Atkins center and asking if there a lot of carbs in boogers.

My husband is a Type I Diabetic, diagnosed a few years ago.

Type I Diabetes means the body no longer produces insulin, hence injections are needed to enable the body to metabolize blood glucose. Type Is who are at their proper weight levels can pretty much eat what they want, as long as they adjust their insulin.

Type II Diabetics still produce insulin, but their bodies have trouble using it properly. These are the folks who really need to watch their carbs.

There is a well-founded theory that Type II Diabetes is caused by too much carbs in the diet. Atkins might be overkill, an alternative is the Zone Diet.

i've been o nthe atkins diet since a week befor halloween, and it friggin works, radar.

i didn't weigh myself when i started, but iv'e tightened my belt 2 notches,( i THINK i've lost about 40lbs) and jinx says my circumference is noticably less when she hugs me. feels good, and it's really easy. I had not noticed the sudden voracity until you mentioned it, but now that you do...you're right. as i think about it, tho, it usually passes within 15 minutes if i'm too busy to eat. atkins reccomends that you not go more than 6 waking hrs before eating something. i carry those atkins bars in my brief case for these times, and usually eat one for breakfast in the car on the way to work......i stopped the caffeine too. that was a little tough, but worth it. caffeine fucks with your thyroid gland, i'm told, and when i quit caffeine, i got a sore throat for about 2 wks, but i'm all better now.

Kick ass. I'm on day number 6 of induction right now. I got those ketosticks from the pharmacy and I'm absolutely burning fat and no sugars. This is really good news. Atkins suggest you only weigh yourself once per week so I'm waiting until Saturday to see how much I've lost in a week. I wouldn't be surprised if I lost a pound a day.

Atkins seems like it will be very easy for me to stick with. I'm going to extend my induction all the way until my wedding day. It's going to be very difficult to not cheat on the diet while in Vietnam. Those guys can't just drink, they must drink excessively and peer pressure you to do it too. And it doesn't take much to pressure an Irishman like myself.

They've got great food, really cheap, and everyone will want to drink with me because I'll be the man of the hour.

I'm considering telling them if I drink I could die because I've got a serious diabetic condition. Heck, my wife and I will have to eat wedding cake!!! And while I'm concerned about the carbs, I'm even more concerned because wedding cake has been known to decrease sex drive in women. ;)

RUM = 0 CARBS
VODKA = 0 CARBS
TEQUILLA = 0 CARBS

MICHELOB ULTRA = 2.6 CARBS PER BOTTLE ( TASTES GOOD TOO)

DRINK UP!

Let us know if ba-moui-ba tastes as horrible as I've been told ... (I've seen cases discarded in the trash at my apt. complex, so it must be available for sale somewhere in the area, so I might find out myself).

Originally posted by wolf
Let us know if ba-moui-ba tastes as horrible as I've been told ... (I've seen cases discarded in the trash at my apt. complex, so it must be available for sale somewhere in the area, so I might find out myself).

~pictures wolf perusing the dumpster~

Do you scope out what the people in front of you at the grocery store are buying too?

Originally posted by lumberjim
Do you scope out what the people in front of you at the grocery store are buying too?

If you say you don't, you're lying. :)

Everyone does that.

When I was an immature highschooler, me and a couple of friends would go to the store several times around Halloween, buying apples and razor blades, just to see peoples reaction to it.

Hey now ...

It's a large, open dumpster. I don't move anything to get a better look into it, but when stuff is on the top ... also some items are more unusual than others.

Most of the time it's just big green plastic trashbags, but you never know when you're going to see an ankle poking out of one of those things ...

I do pay attention to what the person in front of me has at the supermarket. Sometimes the speculations as to the combos do get a little weird.

Shopping in the middle of the night at the all night grocery does cut down on this, by the way ... typically there isn't anybody in line ahead of you.

I've been reading Fat Land and have been amazed at what has changed in the past three decades concerning the food we eat, what is in it, and the politics involved. The book touches Adkins and quickly reviews the past four or five versions of it that seem to come and go every 15 years or so. It's certainly a good read.

the following is from Low Carb Diet Tips and Basics , a really cool web site



Will drinking alcohol affect ketosis?

No and yes. The liver can make ketones out of alcohol, so technically, when you drink you'll continue to produce ketones and so will remain in ketosis. The problem is ... alcohol converts more easily to ketones than fatty acids, so your liver will use the alchol first, in preference to fat. Thus, when you drink, basically your FAT burning is put on hold until all the alcohol is out of your system.

This rapid breakdown of alcohol into ketones and acetaldehyde (the intoxicating by-product) ... tends to put low carbers at risk for quicker intoxication ... especially if no other food is consumed to slow absorption.

Originally posted by Slartibartfast
the following is from Low Carb Diet Tips and Basics , a really cool web site



Will drinking alcohol affect ketosis?


This rapid breakdown of alcohol into ketones and acetaldehyde (the intoxicating by-product) ..[COLOR=BLUE]. tends to put low carbers at risk for quicker intoxication [/COLOR]... especially if no other food is consumed to slow absorption.

BETTER YET!

Well Said. Alcohol interrupts ketosis and alcohols other than clear ones are usually high in sugar content, especially if you are drinking something with fruit juice like a Screwdriver, Bloody Mary, Cape Cod, Fuzzy Naval, Melon Balls, Sex on the Beach.... What were we talking about again? j/k

Wolf, I've already had 333 beer and I assure you, it tastes worse than piss. I had it on the flight into Vietnam from Japan last time. It took all my will power not to spit it out on the stewardess.

When I'm in Vietnam I normally drink Tiger Beer (From Singapore) or San Miguel (From the Philippines)

American beer is very expensive over there (imports), and local drinks can strip the paint off your car. I had a Vietnamese rice Vodka the last time I was there and it was a serious creeper. Tastes sweet and goes down smooth than the hammer hits you right in the skull.

The only time I've been too squeamish to try a new food was the snake blood (they've got an alcoholic drink made with snake blood and actual snakes in the container they pour it from) which is supposed to put lead in your pencil (could come in handy on the honeymoon) but this time I'm going to drink it just to say I didn't wuss out.

It's strange. Everything in Vietnam that is hand made by really good craftsman is super cheap, but machine made things are very expensive. It's the opposite of America. I get hand carved wooden (or metal) statues, backpacks, hammocks, etc. all for about 1/100th the cost in America. I wish I had enough money to get involved in import/export. I know a lot of people who could make it very profitable.

[COLOR=indigo]Keep us posted on this diet, Radar, I really want to see if it works.... I wanna lose 50 pounds a year for the next 2 years.[/COLOR]

Curious: can anyone on Atkins post their cholesterol levels, too? I've heard from everyone that Atkins keeps it down, but I've heard no one with any test results to show that it helped them or kept it at normal levels.

I will keep you posted. Although I have a feeling I'll cheat while in Vietnam. I may need to start over in March. I have to eat wedding cake, etc.

You can find hundreds of people posting their before and after Atkins cholesterol numbers on the buletin board at...

http://www.low-carb-friends.com

[COLOR=indigo]OK, so my girlfriend and I started Atkins yesterday.

This sucks.

I mean, it's pretty straight-forward, and there are a couple of girls here already that have lost tonnes of weight, so I know it works. I know I don't have to be hungry.

But I have a serious headache and my sinuses are killing me. I'm wondering if this is a caffeine-withdrawl thing.

Being healthy blows.[/COLOR]

YEAH....it's the caffeine.....hang in there it stops in 3-4 days......you might get a sore throat too. tough it out, it gets a lot easier.....

Yea, what he said. You'll feel crappy and weak for a few days and then you'll spring back and have tons of energy. You may have trouble having the "full" feeling when you eat. But it returns in about the same amount of time.

Two Week Progress Report

After 2 weeks I've lost 10 lbs and I'm going to extend my induction so hopefully I'll keep up the 5 lb/week pace. :)

Apparently, folks on Atkins should watch their fat intake.

Actually the article is false. Here's a letter I just got from Atkins.

Dear Paul Ireland,


We want to assure you that when you follow the Atkins Nutritional Approach (ANA), the consumption of all forms of natural fat is perfectly safe. Let us also remind you that despite numerous studies that have supported the safety and efficacy of the ANA, the conventional nutrition community has no scientific research to back up its claims that consuming fat (including saturated fat) is bad for you in the context of a controlled carbohydrate lifestyle.

The fight goes on—and will no doubt continue. The latest attack comes in the form of an outrageous article in The New York Times, claiming that we at Atkins have changed our position on fat consumption. Loud and clear, with the notable exception of man-made trans fats (which Dr. Atkins long ago identified as dangerous), all fats are a healthy component of the Atkins lifestyle.

Atkins has not changed its basic tenets in more than 30 years. So what is new? Well, Atkins is changing the way people around the world eat and that should keep us in the headlines for years to come!

To learn more, click here

Here's the text from the link at the Atkins website...


Atkins Has Not Changed

"Make That Steak a Bit Smaller, Atkins Advises Today's Dieters," published in the January 18th edition of The New York Times--and the subsequent publicity--is yet another dramatically inappropriate example of the media reporting on the media and perpetuating a false report on Atkins. This is a great disservice to the millions upon millions of Atkins followers who have been benefiting from this nutritional approach for more than 30 years. The accusation in the media, which claims that Atkins is retreating from its long-held position on the consumption of fat is simply wrong. It is a false premise created by members of the media themselves, based on input from "experts" who apparently have neither read any of Dr. Atkins' books, nor even casually browsed this Web site.

Atkins has not changed. The basic tenets of the Atkins Nutritional Approach™ (ANA), consistent since 1972, are to control the intake of carbohydrates, avoid refined carbs (like sugar and white flour), eat a balance of fats (including saturated fat but not trans fats) and consume a variety of protein sources, such as red meat, fish, poultry and tofu. Saturated fat remains a valuable part of the ANA. There is absolutely no scientific research to support any claims that eating red meat and saturated fat as part of your Atkins program is anything other then beneficial. These protocols have been consistently reinforced as safe, effective and beneficial and have been further supported by 17 studies released over the last three years.

Equally as important, and terribly troubling to all of us at Atkins, is the attempt once again by critics of Atkins to ignore fact, science and the clear messages stated in Dr. Atkins' own words over the past 32 years, in order to sensationalize the ANA as the "all-the-steak-you-can-eat" approach to weight loss and good health. This has never been true and the millions of individuals doing Atkins, along with the health care professionals who have read Dr. Atkins' books, clearly understand this. We would urge anyone who is confused, including the media to simply read Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, Atkins For Life or The Atkins Essentials, or review this site, rather than interpret Atkins on the basis of sensational reports manufactured on hearsay and mischaracterization.

Even in the original 1972 edition of Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution, Dr. Atkins explained, "fat allows for enormous variety in your diet; that vital and best of all, it keeps you from feeling deprived. Of course, you aren't confined to steak, you can have almost any kind of meat, fish or fowl." He continued, "One of the biggest reasons this diet works so successfully is because you eat protein and fat…."

Dr. Atkins made no secret of the fact that his methodology evolved over time as scientific discoveries added new and useful information. He rewrote his original 1972 book three times, exactly because he felt it was his responsibility to keep people up to date when it came to the most recent and relevant information on controlled carbohydrate nutrition and health. In the 2002 edition of Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, he wrote, "Eat either three regular-size meals a day or four to five smaller meals. Eat liberally of combinations of fat and protein in the form of poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs and red meat, as well as of pure, natural fat in the form of butter, mayonnaise, olive oil, safflower, sunflower and other vegetable oils. Adjust the quantity you eat to suit your appetite, especially as it decreases. When hungry, eat the amount that makes your feel satisfied but not stuffed…."

By providing individuals doing Atkins with a life-long strategy, including exercise and meal plans (at various carb thresholds) incorporating a wide range of foods, as explained in Atkins for Life, Dr. Atkins believed he would finally put to rest the misconception that his approach was based on eating only red meat. His simple goal was that people would come to understand how to incorporate his controlled carbohydrate nutritional approach as the first step in gaining control of their nutritionally out-of-control lives.

Millions of individuals who benefit from doing Atkins understand that the ANA is a very effective four-phase approach to healthy eating. The ANA focuses on moving people away from diets loaded with refined carbohydrates like sugar and white flour to a lifestyle centered around eating whole foods and nutrient-dense carbohydrates like leafy greens, and finding a balance in the consumption of proteins and fat.

I'm back in Atkins. This time I bought the book and going to follow it more closely. Also I'm trying to get some exercise.

I'm going to take a lot of heat for this, but dammit, I have to rant. Its been a bad day already and The American Dream that sits across from me has been going on all day about the miracles of Atkins, but can't understand why his cardiologist visits are up due to chest pains.

I've reached my tolerance level -- Atkins is no longer a diet, its a freakin' cult. Every restaurant, even the fast foodieries, now has an Atkins menu. This form of diet comes and goes about every 15 years and the current revision isn't even what Atkins himself designed. And while the man himself died from a knock to the head, he was not just fat, but obese. But his heart problems were caused by a virus -- it had nothing to do with all the fat. Yeah.

How about this diet: stop eating so much and get some exercise. Why do so few people not consider that they should be eating portions equivalent to their activity levels? Sit at the office all day? Try not eating full portions. Everywhere you go, the poritions have increased in size and the activity level of the population has dropped. Remember the "complete breakfast" that was drilled into you as a kid that consisted a bowl of cereal, three pieces of toast, a glass of juice, and a glass of milk? That works only if you actually plan to do some physical activity during your day.

In the next year the billboards at McDonald's and Bennigan's will change their lettering, anyways, to read "South Beach Menu Here!" Atkins is a fad goes insane -- people now treat it as a permission to consume as much meat and chese and fat as they want.

I've been planning a thread about the Atkins bandwagon for a while...just haven't gotten to it yet. Based on what I've seen and read:

--There are real scientific short-term studies that show Atkins to be beneficial, when calories are limited to 1600-2000 a day.
--There are no long-term studies that show the effects of Atkins.
--When this was mentioned to Atkins, he said the government should pay for one.
--This diet has been around for 30 years...why is everyone trying to get in on it now?
--The issues surrounding Dr. Atkins's health before his death should most certainly be reviewed further.
--This is a fad that will eventually pass...b/c in the end, people love their carbs too much.

Why, in your opinion, is Atkins any more of a cult than the "lite" "low-Cal" diet it replaced? Why the hostility? Who gives a shit?

Originally posted by jinx
Who gives a shit?

People who are looking to lose weight and wonder if this diet is truly legitimate or not.

Legitimate? Like - you want a guarantee?

Originally posted by jinx
Legitimate? Like - you want a guarantee?

Legitimate as in...are there studies that show the benefits/effects of Atkins over a long-term period (20-50 years)?

Why, in your opinion, is Atkins any more of a cult than the "lite" "low-Cal" diet it replaced?

I guess it really isn't, but I didn't notice quite the massive explosion of people accepting a diet as "proven" in such a short amount of time as has the Atkins crowd.

Why the hostility?

Well, besides being ranty, hyped up on coffee, the bad day, and having to listen to someone sing the praises of Atkins on the phone while at the office (the same man who suffered yet another minor heart attack two weeks prior) I just can't understand what it is with people who equate health to only what they consume. Plenty of people I've known on the Atkins diet, while eating out, will kindly use the same hand that is holding a fourth refill of soda to point out that the rice on my sushi roll is bad for me before going back to consuming an entire steak covered with melted butter. Three months later they're delighted to have lost some weight, but confused when six months into it the weight is back, again. The only thing most people adjust is what they eat, not how much they eat or what they do. I guess my hostility comes from so knowing so many people that are on it and refuse to listen to anything but Atkins. Portions? Not a problem! Exercise? Not needed! Liquid calorie intake? Soda's not bad! Just ignore the carbs and you'll be perfect.

So far, I've not known anyone who was overweight and gone on the Atkins diet to have visited the doctor and said, "Hey, doc, the pants are feeling a little tight and I'd like to remedy that. What should I do?" Somehow I don't think the answer would be, "Continue eating lots of red meat, cheeses, and greasy things while passing the bread the waiter leaves on the table."

I have been aware of Atkins for years before it became this monster craze.
My mom being a diabetic, I have always believed that sugar is the number one danger in food. Atkins was one of the first diet that acknowledged this. I am sick of seeing 'healthful' foods that declare themselves lowfat and yet contain gobs and gobs of sugar.

___
--This diet has been around for 30 years...why is everyone trying to get in on it now?
-----

word of mouth advertising finally hit critial mass I would think. Also, people have become frustrated with the nonfunctional 'low-fat' paradigm.

____
--This is a fad that will eventually pass...b/c in the end, people love their carbs too much.
-----

Sorry Syc, low-carb eating will [announcer voice] revolutionize American food habits forever[/announcer voice]

Originally posted by sycamore


Legitimate as in...are there studies that show the benefits/effects of Atkins over a long-term period (20-50 years)?

Because this is available for all the other diets you'd consider - or the one you're currently following? I'm sure Atkins could predermine a conclusion and throw some research together to support it, just like anyone else.

I'm not on Atkins, but I can't find any logical fault with it. Seems pretty straight forward to me, in promoting a whole foods diet. I really doubt it will soon be discovered that humans actually require refined sugars to survive.

Originally posted by Kitsune


So far, I've not known anyone who was overweight and gone on the Atkins diet to have visited the doctor and said, "Hey, doc, the pants are feeling a little tight and I'd like to remedy that. What should I do?" Somehow I don't think the answer would be, "Continue eating lots of red meat, cheeses, and greasy things while passing the bread the waiter leaves on the table."

My mothers doctor advised her to try Atkins to help control her diabetes, and reduce her need for diabetic medications. She's lost some weight, but more importantly, she has better control of her blood sugar (and hasn't been hospitalized in a quite a while).

It sounds like the people you eat with are idiots - regardless of what diet they're following. Soda indeed.... <snort>

Originally posted by jinx
Because this is available for all the other diets you'd consider - or the one you're currently following? I'm sure Atkins could predermine a conclusion and throw some research together to support it, just like anyone else.

I don't follow any particular diet per se at this time.

Atkins, along with other diets, are quite radical--not necessarily bad, just quite different. People see a little bit of success, tell others, than a mad stampede ensues. And yet, is anybody really looking at how it will effect you at age 40 or 50 or 60? There are some doctors out there that say it's great, and others who say it is dangerous. Of course, people will do what they want anyway, but I believe there is enough concern out there to merit independent scientific research (i.e. not paid for by these concerned folks nor by Atkins's folks).

Originally posted by sycamore


I don't follow any particular diet per se at this time.

By "diet" I'm talking about what you eat everyday, right now.

I'm not on Atkins, but I can't find any logical fault with it.

While I think Atkins has some good points, I don't think it is the correct path to health. To temporary weight loss, possibly, but not to an overall healthy body that has the ability to continue to be fit over the years.

[list]
[*]People have consumed carbs as a staple of the American diet for years, yet only now are they a problem.
[*]Sugars have been replaced by High Fructose Corn Syrup, yet no one is pointing that they might be an issue.
[*]Portion sizes have increased dramatically in the past twenty years, yet no one is claiming people should simply eat less.
[*]People aren't nearly as active as they used to be, but no one seems to think increasing activity would assist in weight loss.
[/list]

Fasting for a week is a good way to lose weight, too, but it ain't healthy. (Oh, wait, that diet has come and gone already.)

Originally posted by jinx
By "diet" I'm talking about what you eat everyday, right now.

The diet I currently follow is bad for me--it contains an excessive amount of sugar and fat, and I don't get enough exercise.

My mothers doctor advised her to try Atkins to help control her diabetes, and reduce her need for diabetic medications. She's lost some weight, but more importantly, she has better control of her blood sugar (and hasn't been hospitalized in a quite a while).

Atkins makes sense, here. Complex carbohydrates break down into sugars, so diabetics should avoid them. On the other hand, I've also read that cutting off your carbohydrate intake completely affects insulin production and that there has been a correlation between people who cut off carbs and having diabetes later in life. There are also indications that high protein, low carb diets stress out your kidneys which is not the best idea for someone who is a diabetic.

Not to mention the fun that begins when you've cut out all those foods that are high in fiber because you fear carbs.... (and consume so much delicious cheese!)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kitsune
[B]I'm not on Atkins, but I can't find any logical fault with it.

While I think Atkins has some good points, I don't think it is the correct path to health. To temporary weight loss, possibly, but not to an overall healthy body that has the ability to continue to be fit over the years.

[COLOR=blue]How would you adjust the diet then, to make it beneficial to long term health. What do you think is the problem with it currently?[/COLOR]




[list]
[*]People have consumed carbs as a staple of the American diet for years, yet only now are they a problem.
[COLOR=blue]Really? Americans have never been fat or unhealthy before now? By "only now" do you mean now that everything is made with white flour and refined sugars?[/COLOR]
[*]Sugars have been replaced by High Fructose Corn Syrup, yet no one is pointing that they might be an issue.
[/COLOR] [COLOR=blue]I've seen lots of pointing at HFCS because of high glycemic response - especially in pro Atkins information.[/COLOR]
[*]Portion sizes have increased dramatically in the past twenty years, yet no one is claiming people should simply eat less.
"[COLOR=blue]Adjust the quantity you eat to suit your appetite, especially as it decreases. When hungry, eat the amount that makes your feel satisfied but not stuffed…." Of course you could "simply eat less" - but eventually your metabolism will catch up with you.... and if the less you're eating is refined crap, you're still not going to be healthy. [/COLOR]
[*]People aren't nearly as active as they used to be, but no one seems to think increasing activity would assist in weight loss.
[COLOR=blue]No one? Come on.... Maybe it's just that when you're paid to sit on your ass all day instead of working the fields, it's easier to adjust your diet than it is to get more exercise. But really, I don't think that's a reflection on the diet.[/COLOR]
[/list]

Really? Americans have never been fat or unhealthy before now? By "only now" do you mean now that everything is made with white flour and refined sugars?

What I mean is that people have always eaten complex carbohydrates and only now are people saying they're bad for you.

What I'm attempting to say (and doing it quite badly) is that it seems that the Atkins diet has discovered a correlation between the consumption of carbohydrates and obesity and in order to correct the problem, the Atkins diet reccommends cutting them out of your diet. I would say that there is a correlation between eating carbohydrates while remaining inactive and that the more natural way to resolve the issue is to not eat the full portions provided today and get out and be more active. I think it may be a potentially bad mistake to cut out a lot of the important fruits and veggies because of the fear of carbs and replace them in a diet that advocates eating a lot of fatty foods and red meats.

Of course, all of my information is based on the "good for you today, bad for you tomorrow" health-issue media. Coffee used to be bad for you, then for a short time it was good, now bad again. A correlation between the consumption of red meats and colon cancer was found, high protein to kidney damage, etc, etc.

Originally posted by Kitsune
I'm not on Atkins, but I can't find any logical fault with it.

While I think Atkins has some good points, I don't think it is the correct path to health. To temporary weight loss, possibly, but not to an overall healthy body that has the ability to continue to be fit over the years.

[list]
[*]People have consumed carbs as a staple of the American diet for years, yet only now are they a problem.
[*]Sugars have been replaced by High Fructose Corn Syrup, yet no one is pointing that they might be an issue.
[*]Portion sizes have increased dramatically in the past twenty years, yet no one is claiming people should simply eat less.
[*]People aren't nearly as active as they used to be, but no one seems to think increasing activity would assist in weight loss.
[/list]

Kitsune, you are right on all points - except maybe the one about the corn syrup, HF corn syrup to me always fell in the same crowd as refined sugars, though I don't know if it in particular is worse than the others.


People are fatter today more than ever because of a combination of things: eating too much, not enough exercise, and eating more processed foods which happen to have lots of simple sugars.

The solution then is to do the opposite of all the above: eat less, exercise more, and eat unprocessed foods with less sugar. Doing any one of the three may work, but I would think that for a long term solution, one has to do all three.

Now I have a point to make about the eating less. Other generations as far as I know never counted calories. They just ate their basic foods until they were full. I would argue that eating too much sugar encourages one to eat more! As long as I have been on Atkins, I have been much less hungry than before, and I get far fewer cravings for sweet things. The result is that, while I am not counting calories, I am sure that I am eating less calories than I did before I started this diet.

Now I have a point to make about the eating less. Other generations as far as I know never counted calories. They just ate their basic foods until they were full. I would argue that eating too much sugar encourages one to eat more!

It was once noted in a book I read that up until the age of five, a child's body understands that liquid intake=energy. (Imagine an infant that never felt full -- the horrors of a house with newborn child!) However, once you're beyond that age, you can consume all the liquid energy you want and never feel full, so you still eat solid foods. Now combine this with stopping at the 7-Eleven for a "Twenty-Gallon Truckers' Gulp" of soda and bad things start to happen.

Check this comic for a carbs vs. protein punchline:

http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=040215

They recommend about an hour of movement every other day and I'll be goddamned if I'm gonna do any more than that.

I cut calories and do not exercise more and I lose weight.

When they talk about how many miles you have to walk to burn off a bowl of ice cream, you know you only have to drop the ice cream, you don't have to walk as well.

Originally posted by Kitsune
[I] A correlation between the consumption of red meats and colon cancer was found, high protein to kidney damage, etc, etc.

Correlation does not prove causation, blah blah.... But anyway, a high protein diet raises blood pH - is that what causes kidney damage (would make sense)? If so, wouldn't that be neutralized by all the cheese and green vegetable (fat/calcium) consumption?

They recommend about an hour of movement every other day and I'll be goddamned if I'm gonna do any more than that.

They recommend one drink per day, but since I don't drink everyday I just make up for it on the weekend. :D

Originally posted by Kitsune
I'm not on Atkins, but I can't find any logical fault with it.

While I think Atkins has some good points, I don't think it is the correct path to health. To temporary weight loss, possibly, but not to an overall healthy body that has the ability to continue to be fit over the years.

Well, if you want to live a long life, calorie restriction is the proven method which works. But who wants to eat 1200 calories a day?

[*]People have consumed carbs as a staple of the American diet for years, yet only now are they a problem.

Naa, people have been getting fat for years too.

[*]Sugars have been replaced by High Fructose Corn Syrup, yet no one is pointing that they might be an issue.

HFCS and sucrose aren't much different. And in any case, ADM would have anyone who suggested they were a problem killed.

[*]Portion sizes have increased dramatically in the past twenty years, yet no one is claiming people should simply eat less.
[*]People aren't nearly as active as they used to be, but no one seems to think increasing activity would assist in weight loss.

Well, actually, people -- usually nutritionists with naturally low appetites -- suggest this all the time. But reducing portion size and increasing activity is quite difficult. You try it, and you're hungry all the time -- this is from personal experience. Which is the big allure of Atkins -- all those fats tend to satisfy your hunger.

I think part of the problem with Atkins is the extremist mentality that it seems to promote. Like "If I cut out this piece of bread I can have steak for lunch and dinner" kind of thing. How is a piece of bread really making much of an impact? And why would you want to eat meat constantly? What about a nice peanut butter sandwich, or some broccoli with cheese? Sure, if you replace that bread with a big piece of chocolate cake, then there's a problem, but it seems like people either go crazy with what they eat or restrict themselves to the point that they are miserable. Why not gradually work your way down from the portions you are use to to more reasonable sizes and more often during the day? Isn't there some study somewhere that says if you eat several small meals it helps metabolism?

Also, I have to disagree with Atkins on carbs in general. We have high glycemic carbs and low glycemic carbs. Lower ones, like green beans, brown rice, whole wheat bread are going to take longer to metabolize, so your body sort of has more time to burn them off. The higher ones, like mashed potatoes, chocolate cake, orange juice go fast, so unless you are exercising after you consume these, they have nowhere to go but to your fat cells. This was what I gathered from a nutritionist I talked to recently. I can't see why we would want to restrict the low glycemic carbs...they seem to be the things people always tell us are good for us, anyway. Wouldn't it be more sensible to stop trying to make ourselves eat steaks and cheese with no bread and just eat naturally, cutting back on refined sugar products, like soda and cookies? Sure, it would take longer to lose weight, but it does happen, even if you don't increase your activity.

Sorry to rant. All this Atkins stuff doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Originally posted by case
Why not gradually work your way down from the portions you are use to to more reasonable sizes and more often during the day?

Because IME it doesn't work. If you try to work your way down, your body will betray you by burning fewer calories (and of course complaining with hunger) and not losing any weight. I started cutting out snacks, desserts, etc in college and managed to lose absolutely nothing. Cutting portion sizes in half and skipping meals worked a lot better.

Also, I have to disagree with Atkins on carbs in general. We have high glycemic carbs and low glycemic carbs. Lower ones, like green beans, brown rice, whole wheat bread are going to take longer to metabolize, so your body sort of has more time to burn them off.

The starches in brown rice and whole wheat are no different than those in white rice and white bread. And the metabolic path from starch to fat is nearly as efficient as that from sugar to fat, it just takes slightly longer. Calories in - Calories out = weight gain, regardless of the source.

Wouldn't it be more sensible to stop trying to make ourselves eat steaks and cheese with no bread and just eat naturally, cutting back on refined sugar products, like soda and cookies? Sure, it would take longer to lose weight, but it does happen, even if you don't increase your activity.

Again, Calories in - Calories out = weight gain, regardless of the source. Doesn't matter whether it's natural or not.

Generally its a matter of genetics and what works for you. I had great success with a low-carb plan because it stablized my blood sugar levels. When my blood sugar fluctuated, I would get the hungry horrors and overeat. I'm on my first week of induction and I feel much better.

Not every weight loss plan is ment for your body type. You have to research and experiment.

Originally posted by russotto


Again, Calories in - Calories out = weight gain, regardless of the source. Doesn't matter whether it's natural or not.

Yes, yes, I agree. I stated that incorrectly. I meant that eating all meats and cheeses feels unnatural (to me, at least). It feels more natural to eat mostly the same stuff I always did, but less of it. You are right, it doesn't matter what the calories are, they are still calories, whether they are from bread, soda, or steak. The difference between them would be how quickly those calories are processed in your body. In my personal experience, I found that if I cut out high sugar foods like soda and cake, it was easier to control my hunger with the things I did eat because my blood sugar didn't drop so drastically. It felt more natural for me. I didn't cut out carbs, but I cut back on sugar.

Because IME it doesn't work. If you try to work your way down, your body will betray you by burning fewer calories (and of course complaining with hunger) and not losing any weight. I started cutting out snacks, desserts, etc in college and managed to lose absolutely nothing. Cutting portion sizes in half and skipping meals worked a lot better.

Ah, this was not my experience. I suppose everyone's body works differently and I sort of overgeneralized based on my own experience. I apologize.

The starches in brown rice and whole wheat are no different than those in white rice and white bread. And the metabolic path from starch to fat is nearly as efficient as that from sugar to fat, it just takes slightly longer. Calories in - Calories out = weight gain, regardless of the source.

The differences between whole wheat and white aren't in calorie amounts. They are different in how fast they break down into sugars. I don't think it makes a HUGE difference whether you eat white or wheat bread, but it makes some difference because white bread is further processed, therefore will not take as long to break down into sugar. Now, the difference between wheat bread and chocolate cake would be more substancial, because the cake would have a higher concentration of pure sugar. The idea is, that the slower it takes to turn to fat, the better, because it is easier to burn off that energy before it is completely processed even if burning off just means existing.

Originally posted by Telefunken
When my blood sugar fluctuated, I would get the hungry horrors and overeat.

I can relate to that. I go through the same thing if I eat something sweet.

White and wheat breads contain the same starches, they break down at the same rate. Changing wheat into white is a physical process, not a chemical one. The extra fiber in wheat slows digestion, but by an insignificant amount -- wheat bread has a GI about 2-3 points (on an open-ended scale, but with glucose being 100 and not much above it) below white bread.

BTW, the glycemic indices of HFCS and sucrose (cane/beet sugar) are similar also.

Originally posted by case
How is a piece of bread really making much of an impact? And why would you want to eat meat constantly? What about a nice peanut butter sandwich, or some broccoli with cheese?

One piece of white bread isn't going to destroy your Atkins dieting. But it will if you cheat a little bit here, then a little bit there, pretty soon your diet is no diet anymore.

And you seem to think Atkins is a pure meat diet. That seems to be a common misconception. You are supposed to eat a great deal of veggies, particularly green ones. Romaine, string beans, peppers, cucumbers, and tomatos, celery, and more that I can't think of right now. Oh, and broccoli with cheese sounds like a great Atkins dish. I would add some tunafish to the side of that, and make it a meal!

The majority of the carbs you get in Atkins should come from veggies, (and maybe nuts and cheese)



Also, I have to disagree with Atkins on carbs in general. We have high glycemic carbs and low glycemic carbs. Lower ones, like green beans, brown rice, whole wheat bread are going to take longer to metabolize, so your body sort of has more time to burn them off. The higher ones, like mashed potatoes, chocolate cake, orange juice go fast, so unless you are exercising after you consume these, they have nowhere to go but to your fat cells. This was what I gathered from a nutritionist I talked to recently. I can't see why we would want to restrict the low glycemic carbs...they seem to be the things people always tell us are good for us, anyway.


Personally, I agree with you on this, and I think it is more of a Sugarbusters point of view than Atkins. I just stick with Atkins because I find that limiting all carbs makes me less hungry.



Wouldn't it be more sensible to stop trying to make ourselves eat steaks and cheese with no bread and just eat naturally, cutting back on refined sugar products, like soda and cookies? Sure, it would take longer to lose weight, but it does happen, even if you don't increase your activity.


That's the diet I see myself going to when I lose the weight I want. Right now, I'm too impatient and I like the results very low carb dieting produces.



Sorry to rant. All this Atkins stuff doesn't make a lot of sense to me. [/QUOTE]

That all right, Almost all Atkins cult members go through that before the indoctrination kicks in.

Originally posted by russotto
White and wheat breads contain the same starches, they break down at the same rate. Changing wheat into white is a physical process, not a chemical one. The extra fiber in wheat slows digestion, but by an insignificant amount -- wheat bread has a GI about 2-3 points (on an open-ended scale, but with glucose being 100 and not much above it) below white bread.

BTW, the glycemic indices of HFCS and sucrose (cane/beet sugar) are similar also.

Good to know. :)

Wouldn't it be more sensible to stop trying to make ourselves eat steaks and cheese with no bread and just eat naturally, cutting back on refined sugar products, like soda and cookies? Sure, it would take longer to lose weight, but it does happen, even if you don't increase your activity.

That's the diet I see myself going to when I lose the weight I want. Right now, I'm too impatient and I like the results very low carb dieting produces.

I guess it all boils down to what works best for the individual. for me, atkins is too much of a drastic change to really stick to it. But, my method of cutting back and dropping sugar has been really successful, albeit slow. I have known lots of people, though, who were successful with Atkins.

Whatever you do, it should be a change in your behavior that is lasting, or why bother at all? The goal should be maintainable, lasting, improved health not just weightloss. Live as well and long as possible.

For me, veggies and activity are the keys.

Women who lose weight with out changing levels of activity, or flux up and down a lot, lose not just fat, but bone mass. Youre lighter, and also working towards being shorter and more breakable. Bad.

Good site for women's health: strongwomen.com

Dr. Miriam Nelson of Tufts weighs in (doh!) on Atkins. I tend to believe her.

Basically, the Atkins diet, and all the other very high protein diets (less than 20% of calories coming from carbohydrates), is not one that I would recommend. Yes, you do lose weight on these diets but you do so in an unhealthy way and it is very unclear whether you can keep the weight off. If you cut carbohydrates drastically and add a corresponding amount of protein, your body is forced to turn to an inferior fuel source: protein metabolites called ketones. Your kidneys go into overdrive to flush them and the excess nitrogen from the protein out of your system. In the process, you drain water from your body and you become dehydrated (and lose weight). There’s good news on the scales, perhaps, but bad news for your body. You’ve lost mainly water - along with calcium from your bones and protein from your muscle and not as much fat as you might think. Moreover, your kidneys and heart muscle are under stress. People often become light headed and weak when on very high protein diets, and they develop bad breath! In addition, you are missing out on all the health-promoting elements of fruits and vegetables, not to mention fiber from whole grains. Finally, all that saturated fat is not good for your heart or arteries!

The weight loss diet that I recommend (and outlined in Strong Women Stay Slim) is one that is comprised of about 55% of calories from carbohydrates, 15% from protein, and no more than 30% from fat. For the carbohydrates, focus on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables - with as few refined and processed grains as possible. Fat calories should ideally come mostly from unsaturated fats - from olive and canola oils, and especially cold-water fish, which contain health-promoting omega-3 fats. Foods such as poultry, fish, lean meat, and low-fat dairy should comprise the majority of calories from protein foods. This basic diet is safe, wholesome, and health promoting. If weight loss is necessary, the structure of the diet should stay essentially the same, with a decrease in the number of calories consumed from snack foods and refined grains, along with a focus on reducing portion sizes.

Show of hands who all is still on Atkin's diet and it's six months later. And not "kinda sorta." But on like you were the first two months of your diet.
And how much weight have you lost?

I've been on Atkins since Jan 1st, and I've lost at least 20 lbs, maybe a little more and am still losing weight. When I reach 240lbs which should be in less than two weeks, I'm celebrating with some pizza, then back to the diet. My goal is to get to under 200. In all this time, I have only cheated on one dinner at a resturaunt.

The only thing I miss on this diet is good pizza.


Anyone else out there? If you've left Atkins, what are you doing now, are you on another diet? Have you gained any weight back?

I'm on South Beach since late January (started after Chinese New Year) and have lost 32 pounds (as of yesterday).

I have experienced some mild backsliding involving some homemade chocolate dark & white-chocolate chip cookies, but the dial on the scale keeps creeping anti-clockwise.

Oh yeah. I did have some pizza last Friday night ... chicken cordon bleu flavor, didn't eat the edge crust.

Damn, but that tasted good ... and I don't even like pizza that much.

I've pretty much had it up to here (*holds hand three inches above head*) with All-Bran Cereal, but otherwise, I'm holding up okay.

Dr. Miriam Nelson of Tufts weighs in (doh!) on Atkins. I tend to believe her.

Me too.

Excess protein is converted into enzymes which tend to destroy nutrient stores in the body and do other undesireable things.

Also, on the subject of high-fructose corn syrup ("HFCS"), there is are two interesting studies about it. One traces the first instance of the spike in the percentage of obese Americans to 1971 - the first year HFCS was introduced into the food supply.

Secondly HFCS seems to have the ability to bypass (or suppress) that part of the brain that signals "I'm full." Basically, the study showed that one could eat a hell of a lot more food when also consuming a coke sweetened with HFCS than one can eat with a coke sweetened with sugar.

And I'll be damned if I understand how a diet that throws the warnings about saturated fat out the window makes any sense. How is having bacon grease globules slogging through one's arteries supposed to be not unhealthy?

To me, a healthy diet is complex carbs (the more complex the better), low-fat protien (fish (I eat a ton of canned tuna and salmon), chicken (skinless but not boneless), beans & rice, etc.) veggies and fruit. Basically, avoid simple carbs (turns to sugar immediately), avoid sat fat and avoid HFCS (switch to Gatorade or water and consider green tea over coffee+cream- tea has caffeine too - esp green.).

i started atkins right before haloween. I did not weigh myself because I didnt want to know how fat i was. I guess i was around 300 lbs. Im 6'2" I have taken a couple of days off of the diet for holidays, but for the most part, I'm faithful. I still don;t have a scale, but I figure that I'm somewhere around 240 or 250 at this point. I can see my willie when i pee now.

Did my own sort of diet thingy. I started back in August and made the following changes to my eating patterns:

- Stopped drinking pop with HFCS
- Stopped eating cakes, cookies, candy, etc. while at work, no matter what my coworkers brought in.
- Began eating breakfast every day, usually around 8:30
- Cut my portions by about half.
- Ate little snacks about every 2 hours
- Didn't eat after 7pm

The cool thing was, I didn't cut out pizza, fast food, spaghetti, etc. I didn't cut out carbs...I still ate bread and pasta and sometimes potatoes. But I have been reasonable about these things, so instead of having a burger, fries and a coke, I would have a burger some fruit and water. I still do it this way. I lost a total of 42 pounds so far (went from 182 to 140) the bulk of which came off from August to December. It was slow and is really slow right now, but since it was something manageable for me, it works and I can stick with it.

Oh yeah, I didn't increase my activity level on purpose, but I found that as I lost weight I had more energy and actually felt like getting up from my desk to walk around a little bit. It sort of naturally increased a little bit, which probably helped.

Originally posted by Beestie
Excess protein is converted into enzymes which tend to destroy nutrient stores in the body and do other undesireable things.

Destroying nutrient stores in the body is exactly the point.

Secondly HFCS seems to have the ability to bypass (or suppress) that part of the brain that signals "I'm full." Basically, the study showed that one could eat a hell of a lot more food when also consuming a coke sweetened with HFCS than one can eat with a coke sweetened with sugar.

The problem with this theory is that sucrose (ordinary sugar) gets broken down into glucose and fructose in the digestive system. So if HFCS doesn't make you feel full, how can sugar?

And I'll be damned if I understand how a diet that throws the warnings about saturated fat out the window makes any sense.

Well, if you're only going to pay attention to conventional wisdom, you're only going to get conventional answers.

I couldn't do Atkins while in Vietnam and when I got back it took me a few weeks to catch up on a months worth of bills. Atkins is slightly expensive due to the amount o fmeat.

Today I started back on Atkins Induction. I had forgotten how uncomfortable the first 3 or 4 days are. But that's alright, I feel even more uncomfortable being fat.

I've been wondering what the status of your success has been, do tell!!

I traded the book to library for a sealed boxed Adobe Illustrator 7.0. Yes I'm haveing as much luck learning that as the diet!