Atkins diet: do physicians/nutritionists support it?

[Entol]

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Everyone says to ignore fad diets, but this doesnt seem to be "The Cookie Diet" or something. Have any studies shown the long-term effects of this diet? Do people in the medical field support it?


(ps I'm not sure if my topic fits in this forum. Sorry!)

 

[skiz knot]

Duke recently completed a study that low carb diets are better than low fat diets for weight loss in the short term. However, they were clear to point out that they did not support the diet because its long term effects are unknown.

The diet sounds like a really bad idea to me.

 

[exmike]

There really arent any long term studies of high protein/low car diets since the fad is relatively new.

One fact that is almost universally accepted is that a high protein/low carb diet DOES lead to weight loss. The mechanism isn't totally understood, although some think its b/c of lipid hydrolosis/ketone body fuel use under hypoglycemic situations.

The main problem I see with the Atkins diet is that it isn't feasible to stay on it forever, so what are you going to do to keep the weight off once you lose it? Strict Atkins is PAINFULLY hard to adhere to.

We really dont know enough about the long term physiological implications of chronic mild ketosis to determine its effect.

 

[skiz knot]

The main problem I see with the Atkins diet is that it isn't feasible to stay on it forever, so what are you going to do to keep the weight off once you lose it? Strict Atkins is PAINFULLY hard to adhere to.

We really dont know enough about the long term physiological implications of chronic mild ketosis to determine its effect.

Atkins actually allows eating carbs.

You start out on an extremely low level (i.e. none, ideally) until you are at your desired weight. Then you slowly start adding carbs until you no longer maintain your desired weight (go up). That is the level of carbs you are supposed to eat (forever).

 

[exmike]

Atkins actually allows eating carbs.

You start out on an extremely low level (i.e. none, ideally) until you are at your desired weight. Then you slowly start adding carbs until you no longer maintain your desired weight (go up). That is the level of carbs you are supposed to eat (forever).

I didnt say you couldn't eat carbs at all. Thats obviously impossible. For these very overweight people, its really not a realistic way to keep weight off b/c they'll never be able to avoid those carbs forever and eat like a normal human. I agree its a good way to intially get those lbs off though.

 

[Gleevec]

I dunno, Ive seen a lot of people lose a LOT of weight due to atkins. But it could be really unhealthy in the long-run.

While eating meat 24-7 is probably not the best idea and might have some consequences in the long-term, cutting carbs as a general rule is probably good regardless of whether you're on atkins or on some other diet.

 

[IceKid]

Everyone says to ignore fad diets, but this doesnt seem to be "The Cookie Diet" or something. Have any studies shown the long-term effects of this diet? Do people in the medical field support it?


(ps I'm not sure if my topic fits in this forum. Sorry!)

well, as a future physican i do and will support it- at least in some form or another. clearly, it's not healthy for anyone to eat a ton of sugar or processed white flour.

my personal experience- i've been low carbing for 4 years now. my blood pressure is amazing, as are my cholesterol and TG. low carb is NOT no carb. even on atkins, vegetables are allowed- PUSHED even. i hate it when people equate low carb with meat ONLY. anyone who is only eating meat has no idea what they're doing, and i am sure this is not a healthy way to eat! it's important to get those vitamins and minerals!

for me, i don't eat a really high fat (but i don't avoid it either) or high protein (i eat as much protein as the avg american, i would say) or really low carb diet. i avoid sugar and processed white flour products. i DO eat protein, fruits, whole grain products, and lots of veggies. i don't see how anyone could say that is unhealthy. does anyone REALLY think i am going to die because i no longer consume soda? doubtful.

now, i was never really fat in the first place though i have lost some weight and gained some muscle. i eat this way because i feel good and healthy, and my family has a history of diabetes which i plan to avoid. for me, it has totally become the way that i eat everyday. i have no problem avoiding chips, cookies, or french fries. you're right in that it is unlikely that anyone can COMPLETELY avoid all of these foods for the rest of their lives, but i do think it's definitely beneficial to avoid them in general.

 

[FutureDocDO]

I don't support it. You need 55-60 percent carbohydrates in your diet for optimal function. I, however, support the zone diet which requires an increase in proteins. It is good for your immune system.

 

[ken37]

I don't support it. You need 65-70 percent carbohydrates in your diet for optimal function. I, however, support the zone diet which requires an increase in proteins. It is good for your immune system.

Any sources to back up your 65-70% claim? and 65-70% of what? calories, weight, something else?

 

[Asclepius]

You need 65-70 percent carbohydrates in your diet for optimal function.

what? no you don't!

 

[FutureDocDO]

Oh yah you do bud. Well, at least according to my biochem and advance biochem professor.

I might have remembered it incorrectly. I looked it up in my book it says 55-60 percent of caloric intake.

Reference:
Garrett and Grisham. Principle of Biochemistry with a Human Focus.Harcourt 2002. Page 452.

 

[G0S2]

what? no you don't!

I thought 30%.

 

[flighterdoc]

Atkins actually allows eating carbs.

You start out on an extremely low level (i.e. none, ideally) until you are at your desired weight. Then you slowly start adding carbs until you no longer maintain your desired weight (go up). That is the level of carbs you are supposed to eat (forever).

Not quite. In the Atkins program there are three distinct phases, the first is essentally no carbs, you monitor your urine for ketones. This phase lasts for about two weeks. Then, you gradually increase your carb intake (except for complex carbs like grains) while monitoring your ketones, when you're no longer producing ketones you back down from that level of carbs. You maintain this level of carbs for an extended period (until you have lost most of the weight you want).

Atkins actually advocated eating carbs like fresh nuts, some fruits, etc. in all phases (except perhaps the first). People interested should actually read his book, it is an easy (like 2 hour) read and makes some degree of sense.

In the final (maintenance) stage, you increase carbs to normal.

In all of the phases, you should be drinkng water, taking vitamins, and be monitored by a PCP. The Atkins type diet is very good at adjusting lipid ratios, especially (in my case) triglycerides (started at 824, two months of very strict low-fats diet they went to 854, four months after Atkins 122), all of this with my normal routine of running 3 miles x 7 days, weights 6 days a week, 6'3, 215#. There may be something to this "metabolic syndrome/diabetic precursor syndrome" thing.

 

[Gleevec]

Oh yah you do bud. Well, at least according to my biochem and advance biochem professor.

I might have remembered it incorrectly. I looked it up in my book it says 55-60 percent.

60% carbs? I dont know what you mean by optimal function. You need just enough carbs to keep your brain working normally, the rest of the body can use fats. The only side effect is lethargy but your body can adapt to that.

 

[spumoni620]

obviously i'm no doc yet, but i highly doubt i'd be recommending the atkins diet to anyone. i live in one of the so-called "best cities for low-carb" and i just can't help but 🙄 at all these stupid fad products that claim to have "0 'net' carbs" ('net' carb? hmph - another euphemism to deceive consumers) crowding all the store aisles. my beef (ha) is with any diet that takes things to excess. seriously, to lose weight, unless you have a genetic cause for obesity, you're just going to have to use good, old-fashioned will-power. 10 years ago it was the fad to think that fat was bad, and soon ppl took it as license to eat massive amounts of fat free, processed snacks/foods. result: obesity actually increased; americans got unhealthier. now, w/o knowing the long-term effects of a restricted-carb diet, ppl are potentially jumping on a dangerous bandwagon. don't forget the thalidomide babies three decades ago, a result of something that was "supposed" to be good - it's much to quick to herald this diet as a panacea for overweight people.

as all tests/studies show thus far, and i've done a lot of research on this, people lose weight on atkins not b/c of any metabolic magic but b/c the old-fashioned dictum of calorie input < calorie output is at work. the trick of the diet is that low-carb foods leave you fuller longer, get really monotonous so you eat less of it per day. the result being: fewer calories ==> weight loss. are there short term improvements in cholesterol, triglyceride levels, etc? sure. but more research has to be done to see if it's safe in the long run. (and i seriously doubt it. let's not forget mr. atkins himself had some coronary conditions...) and the side effects - ranging from bad breath, ketosis to extreme lethargy to inability to concentrate hardly seem like a worthwhile tradeoff for a few pounds of short-term weight loss.

that said, i certainly wouldn't argue with icekid about advocating a lower carb diet which eliminated process foods to someone having difficulty losing weight. but please. restricting fruits, sweet potatoes, carrots, and high-fiber whole-wheat grains? that just seems wrong. better bet: eat foods having low glycemic indexes, lots of vegetables and fiber-containing foods, lots of water, exercise regularly, and eat frequent mini-meals throughout the day.

 

[bearpaw]

i understand that when people are fat, they tend to feel pretty ugly and bad, so its probably worth whatever small health risk to start on the atkins to shed some pounds. the boost in quality of life is worth any small risk. it is honestly just too much work to lose 100 pounds by "eating right". how someone can actually get that much over weight i have no idea. [licks stick of butter].

after you get near where you oughtta be, then make a transition to normal diet. there are tricks you can use, like if you want soda, just pour a sip for taste and then drink water. or, if you want fried chicken, hit a police officer (no fried chicken in jail).

normal = no soda or juice, bye bye white bread and pasta (except sometimes, of course)

sometimes = not every two or three days.

 

[Asclepius]

Oh yah you do bud. Well, at least according to my biochem and advance biochem professor.

I might have remembered it incorrectly. I looked it up in my book it says 55-60 percent of caloric intake.

Reference:
Garrett and Grisham. Principle of Biochemistry with a Human Focus.Harcourt 2002. Page 452.

So, Inuits don't function optimally? I'm still not sure what "optimal function" means. Someone who is metabolically efficient expends few calories and stores them easily, no? ...is this optimal? Is there a picture of the food pyramid next to this statement? It doesn't suprise me that such a categorical statement could be found in a textbooks, but not all people digest foods the same way.

 

[logos]

I tend to believe that the whole Adkins thing is the healthiest way to go...esp. no processed sugar....but alas, its hard to do...

Just about every surgeon in the hospital I work summers at is on it...some pretty hardcore...

 

[mikeyboy]

Everyone says to ignore fad diets, but this doesnt seem to be "The Cookie Diet" or something. Have any studies shown the long-term effects of this diet? Do people in the medical field support it?


(ps I'm not sure if my topic fits in this forum. Sorry!)

I don't know about long-term effects, but my father is a physician and he is doing a low-carb diet. I think the most important thing is to realize that low-carb doesn't really mean low-carb but high anything else. He basically started eating a lot less rice (almost none for a few weeks to go through the induction period, then just cutting back now) and now eats mainly vegetables, fish, and meat.

Then again I don't know if it's necessary unless you are already overweight. People who are obese didn't get that way because they couldn't stop eating pasta. It's even worse now that they think they are on a diet because they order double cheeseburgers with no bun and a diet Coke. Maybe it'll help lose some weight short-term, but it's gotta be killer on your cholesterol levels.

 

[Deuce 007 MD]

If you're on atkins wouldn't your TGs and cholesterol go up, and you'd be at risk for cardiovascular disease? But you'd be thinner and at least look good. 😀

 

[flighterdoc]

If you're on atkins wouldn't your TGs and cholesterol go up, and you'd be at risk for cardiovascular disease? But you'd be thinner and at least look good. 😀

Mine went down, drastically. My triglycerides started at 854 and went down to 122 after 4 months. My HDL went from 28 to 59, my LDL went from 129 to 81, all with no change in my activities/exercise program.

 

[Heal&Teach]

I'm surprised that no one mentioned the South Beach diet. In the long run, people are better able to stick the SB than Atkins b/c it's not as harsh. For example, the first phase of SB is similar to Atkins, except SB uses lower cholestrol foods (e.g., egg beaters instead of eggs) and allows you some sort of sanity through a sugar free jello snack. I know a few folks on SB who have lost weight and they've also been maintaining their weight loss. On the other hand, I tried Atkins, and it was rough. Ketosis is not pleasant, and although I lost some weight, the plan was hard to stick to because it's so rigid. Yes, I felt better, but having 20 grams of carbs a day for two or more weeks, when the RDA is near 300 - well, need I say more? I would advocate the SB diet only b/c it provides a little more balance than Atkins and overall, is healthier and more consistent with a balanced diet based on the food pyramid.

 

[orthoman5000]

I don't support it. You need 55-60 percent carbohydrates in your diet for optimal function. I, however, support the zone diet which requires an increase in proteins. It is good for your immune system.

You do realize that the Zone diet is an approximately 40% carbohydrate diet?

 

[Tiki]

I've spent the last four years working for registered dietitians at the hospital, and they absolutely despise Atkins and everything the diet stands for.

If anyone has read Atkins, in the beginning of the diet, he tells you to cut out all carbs, including fruits. The reason why people lose weight off it is because they are eating less calories. Think about it: if you consume a four ounce white bagel, that will run you roughly 320 calories (80 calories per 1 oz of starch). A 4 oz piece of white meat chicken is only 120-150 calories. Thus, if you are choosing wisely, you could easily take in less calories equating to weight loss. The problem is, like someone else mentioned, you don't know the long term effects. Plus, some people think following the diet means they can eat bacon and cheese and all of the high fat, high cholesterol and high salt foods. Not very conducive to a healthy life style.

Most registered dietitians follow the recommendations set forth by the ADA, which recommends a calorie-restricted diet that allows carbs in moderation. On a personal note, I do try to limit my white starches, and stick with whole grains and fruits.

 

[orthoman5000]

Are these the same dieticians that design the hospital menu's and give old men with hypertension high sodium meals the night before a surgery causing their blood pressure to rise and having to postpone the surgery?

I know an old school internal medicine doctor at my medical school who lost a lot of weight on the Atkins diet after being encouraged to try it by an Endocrinologist. He encouraged us to have an open mind about diet and nutrition and he was rather harsh on the ADA and the food pyramid, even in front of a dietician we had for an ICM Small group session on nutrition.

 

[Tiki]

Are these the same dieticians that design the hospital menu's and give old men with hypertension high sodium meals the night before a surgery causing their blood pressure to rise and having to postpone the surgery?

I know an old school internal medicine doctor at my medical school who lost a lot of weight on the Atkins diet after being encouraged to try it by an Endocrinologist. He encouraged us to have an open mind about diet and nutrition and he was rather harsh on the ADA and the food pyramid, even in front of a dietician we had for an ICM Small group session on nutrition.

Wow, so because you had a problem with one dietitian at your hospital, must mean the whole profession sucks, huh?

The ADA has revised the food pyramid, if you've read the recent literature you would see that they are going away from a diet with carbohydrates being the major constituency.

And I've worked with doctors and dietitians (I love the fact that no one can spell the word right) and I have to say, that I'd feel better 90% of the time getting my nutrition information from an R.D who has spent five years studying nutrition, versus an M.D. who get a week or two of it in med school.

 

[orthoman5000]

Wow, so because you had a problem with one dietitian at your hospital, must mean the whole profession sucks, huh?

The ADA has revised the food pyramid, if you've read the recent literature you would see that they are going away from a diet with carbohydrates being the major constituency.

And I've worked with doctors and dietitians (I love the fact that no one can spell the word right) and I have to say, that I'd feel better 90% of the time getting my nutrition information from an R.D who has spent five years studying nutrition, versus an M.D. who get a week or two of it in med school.

Actually, I'm thinking of incidents that happened at several different hospitals.

You are right the ADA has made changes and they are a step in the right direction.

You do realize that an M.D. can read about nutrition outside of what they get in medical school. Also, an endocrinologist would get a lot more training about nutrition as the full name of the fellowship is Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism . I'm also willing to bet that the education of most dietitians is sorely lacking in biochemistry, cell biology, and gastrointestinal, renal, and endorine physiology, all areas essential to truly understand the effects of nutrition on health status.

I took an undergraduate class in Nutrition taught by a RD and it was an absolute joke.

Here is a little assignment for you: go find a study linking high protein intake with renal impairment in a person without pre-existing kidney problems. The RD's love to talk about how high protein diets cause kidney problems so I want to see the evidence. That should keep you busy for a long time.

 

[beambright]

You should look into the "Lean for Life" Lindora Institute diet.....it is an
exceptionally successful diet that is lowfat and low carb. I followed it
a few years ago and dropped weight so fast but felt great. I keep that
weight off by periodically going back on the program but generally I avoid
white flour and white sugar.

 

[principessa]

I hate the way these low-carb diets have caught on. My grandpa refuses to eat potatoes, bread and rice, but he drinks all the time. I have a friend who refuses to eat rice with Indian food but eats steak nearly every night of the week. And what's with these bunless burgers? Is this healthy? What about the millions of people who live on rice or bread plus a few vegetables and maybe meat? Are they wrong?

 

[Odaroloc]

A lot of the reasons for the success of the diet has mostly been said here...fresh fruit, veg, and lean meat means healthy eating. Like anything else this can be distorted and abused but the idea is sound in priciple (it's just not as glamorous as all you can eat bacon, eggs, cheese and steaks with a side of cream and butter) ...also low carb diets help to eliminate easy snacking...

 

[Spartacus]

And I've worked with doctors and dietitians (I love the fact that no one can spell the word right) and I have to say, that I'd feel better 90% of the time getting my nutrition information from an R.D who has spent five years studying nutrition, versus an M.D. who get a week or two of it in med school.

If you look it up in the dictionary it is actually spelled BOTH ways, dietician and dietitian, they both mean someone who specializes in dietetics.

By the way, I think RD's are *****S

 

[jeremyh42]

Hey everyone, lay off the dietitians (did I spel it rite?) they fulfill some role in the "health care continuum" At least someone is making sure that people get fed.
In the job I have for 17 more days (managing a General Nutrition Store), I'm a salesman for lots of low-carb items, including Atkins.
Low-carb diets CAN work, the problem is that they are very difficult to follow in the high-fructose corn syrup, enriched white flour world we live in. Human beings did not evolve eating carbohydrate-rich foods, and whenever we would have a chance to get them in our hunter-gatherer tummies, we would! That's one reason they taste so good- those that liked sweet and starchy things lived, and those that only ate veggies didn't, so that's the legacy we have to live with.
That being said, in the current state of over-abundance and underactivity, it's quite easy to get overweight eating what we're told to by our culture and the ubiquitious advertisements for pizza, burgers, etc. When people really strictly follow an Atkins-type diet, as long as they are actually achieving mild ketosis and are consuming fewer calories than they are burning, then they WILL lose weight. Also with this diet, because they tend to consume high levels of protein, they have an easier time keeping lean muscle mass. This is important because more lean muscle will increase one's BMR (basal metabolic rate), which is one of the easiest ways to burn them calories all the time. The biggest problem, and I've had many a yo-yo dieter tell me this, is that once the dieter achieves his/her goal weight, and go off the diet, they quickly gain the weight back (and often even more). This just makes sense, because if you go back to what you were eating that got you overweight in the first place, chances are, you're going to end up overweight again!
There has been a great deal of backlash against low-carb as of late, and I think that some of it has to come from those who are heavily invested in the USDA's food pyramid (pyramid... hmm... illuminati freemason conspiracy anyone? 😉 ) including dietitians and all those school lunch programs in the elementary schools. Imagine how many dumb government posters will have to be replaced- it will cost millions!
What frustrates me the most is people who have jumped on the low-carb bandwagon, but still blithely order the Coke with their low-carb burrito. You can chalk that one up to ignorance, but c'mon!

 

[bearpaw]

can atkins make you cut? or is it just to lose enough flab that you're not fat, but definately still soft?

 

[Spartacus]

Okay, okay maybe they're not *****s...that was a little harsh.
I just think they learn nutrition from a very superficial view because they don't study it on a cellular level.

 

[premedmadness]

Atkins actually allows eating carbs.

You start out on an extremely low level (i.e. none, ideally) until you are at your desired weight. Then you slowly start adding carbs until you no longer maintain your desired weight (go up). That is the level of carbs you are supposed to eat (forever).

I think your avatar is a chocolate chip cookie. That's what it looks like to me. I'm not on the atkins diet.

 

[leviathan]

If you're on atkins wouldn't your TGs and cholesterol go up, and you'd be at risk for cardiovascular disease? But you'd be thinner and at least look good. 😀

No, if you read other posters and also scientific studies, people on low-carb diet drop their LDL, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.

I personally think that any possible risk for mild ketosis is outweighed by the risk for CAD leading to MI's and strokes in obese people.

To answer what one person said, the "net carb" simply means the carbohydrates in food that affect your blood sugar levels, ie., anything except for fibres and sugar alcohols (polyols).

Also, I think one person mentioned that there is no magic secret to this diet, and the reason you lose weight is because Caloric Intake < Metabolic Rate, plain and simple. Dr. Atkins' book claims that high ketone levels in the body will reduce hunger and therefore reduce your need to eat. Also, he states that there is a complex psychological reaction to eating carbohydrate-rich food that causes a person to crave more food, possibly from the effects of insulin after metabolism of these saccharides. So there is probably truth to that claim of success due to CI < MR.

And that's my $0.02.

 

[Brickhouse]

How bout eat a balanced variety of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein and fat, exercise at least 3 times a week, drink plenty of water and take everything in moderation.

Don't worry about looking like a skeleton, worry about being healthy. Not like I practice what I preach but if you're serious about being healthy, I wouldn't ban anything from your diet. Atkins is a marketing scheme, duh.

 

[leviathan]

How bout eat a balanced variety of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein and fat, exercise at least 3 times a week, drink plenty of water and take everything in moderation.

Don't worry about looking like a skeleton, worry about being healthy. Not like I practice what I preach but if you're serious about being healthy, I wouldn't ban anything from your diet. Atkins is a marketing scheme, duh.

Like I said in my last post....it's a lot more dangerous to be obese and hypertensive than it is to have ketone bodies floatin' around in your blood. You have to weigh the risks and choose the best option. Also, I really don't see how the diet is unhealthy, given the studies and data discoveries up to this date. Furthermore, drinking plenty of water is unhealthy as it can lead to medullary washout and a counterproductive effect. Just drink 2-3 glasses of something in a day, combined with the water in food, and you meet an equilibrium with your water loss. Any more, and you're just going to pee it out, or like I said, put yourself at risk of losing your electrolyte balance in the renal medulla leading to dehydration.

 

[Brickhouse]

Like I said in my last post....it's a lot more dangerous to be obese and hypertensive than it is to have ketone bodies floatin' around in your blood. You have to weigh the risks and choose the best option. Also, I really don't see how the diet is unhealthy, given the studies and data discoveries up to this date. Furthermore, drinking plenty of water is unhealthy as it can lead to medullary washout and a counterproductive effect. Just drink 2-3 glasses of something in a day, combined with the water in food, and you meet an equilibrium with your water loss. Any more, and you're just going to pee it out, or like I said, put yourself at risk of losing your electrolyte balance in the renal medulla leading to dehydration.

Listen kid! haha just kidding - yeah fine if you're obese then sure do whatever it takes to get the weight off but I think most of the people in the world trying to be food nazis are not obese, they're vain. (myself included)
And 2-3 glasses of water a day = plenty of water. I stick by my prior statement!

 

[leviathan]

Listen kid! haha just kidding - yeah fine if you're obese then sure do whatever it takes to get the weight off but I think most of the people in the world trying to be food nazis are not obese, they're vain. (myself included)

Umm...well I also stick by my prior statement...what negative health effects have been proven to date by doing the Atkins diet? So far, all that has been shown is weight loss, drop in TG's, cholesterol, etc....and remember, once you're in the "maintenance" stage ( i think that's it), you are eating all those carbs that you said to eat...just in moderation.

And 2-3 glasses of water a day = plenty of water. I stick by my prior statement!

Ahh, well good...just too many people going by that old "8 PLUS glasses per day" theory which is bollocks. 😉

 

[orthoman5000]

Like I said in my last post....it's a lot more dangerous to be obese and hypertensive than it is to have ketone bodies floatin' around in your blood. You have to weigh the risks and choose the best option. Also, I really don't see how the diet is unhealthy, given the studies and data discoveries up to this date. Furthermore, drinking plenty of water is unhealthy as it can lead to medullary washout and a counterproductive effect. Just drink 2-3 glasses of something in a day, combined with the water in food, and you meet an equilibrium with your water loss. Any more, and you're just going to pee it out, or like I said, put yourself at risk of losing your electrolyte balance in the renal medulla leading to dehydration.

I think the kidneys are a little bit more intricate of organs than you are giving them credit for.

 

[missbonnie]

maybe ppl should read the atkins book before saying what they think they know.

 

[English Chick]

can atkins make you cut? or is it just to lose enough flab that you're not fat, but definately still soft?

If you want to look cut, limit your calories, eat 40% carbs (mostly complex and fruit), 40% protein, and 20% fat, and eat small meals throughout the day (rather than three squares) ... that's what body builders and fitness models do.

Of course, you also have to exercise.

 

[mamaMD]

I have read Atkins books (both his orginal book and Atkins Essentials), I do agree with some of it, I do not think lower carb is a bad thing but of course the marketing for it is ridiculas (all the frankenfoods out there). I prefer the South Beach Diet only because it focuses more on low glycemic index rather than extremely low carbs all around.

With Atkins Induction period you only can have 20 carbs a day, and you can do Induction for months (and most of the obese people I know who are doing Atkins stay at 20 carbs for months), and like some have said before, if you are fat I don't think it's going to hurt you any. It's certainly better than eating the **** and junk food they were eating before and staying fat. But the thing with any diet is will you be able to maintain the loss? No long term studies yet.

I personally tried Atkins and found that it was not for me (but I'm not really that overweight to begin with either), 2 cups of salad and 1 cup of broccoli a day (because that is all you can have, it does restrict veggies *a lot* initially) plus 4 oz cheese and all the meat/eggs I wanted just didn't work for *me*. But my sister in law who is very obese has lost 50+ pounds on it and feels a lot better, she is no longer craving sugar which for her is freakin amazing since before she could easily eat a whole box of pastries, chocolate, 6 pack of Coke a day in single day. Will she be able to maintain that way of eating? Who knows, I hope she does though.

I personally follow Weight Watcher with a South Beach influence because I can eat whatever I want and it helps my blood sugar to remain stable.....and I prefer lean protein, lots and lots of veggies and berries and whole grain breads with some ice cream now and then 🙂 If I follow South Beach by itself I eat to much and don't loose so with keeping it within my WW points I loose, WW is basically just portion control.

Also, if you have not read the Atkins books you really can't comment much because the way the media represents his diet is messed up.....its is not NO carb, you start off with very very small amount of carbs, 20 g a day (2 cups salad plus 1 cup other veggie a day), (and you can stay that way for 2 weeks to months and months depending on how much you need to loose) and then slowely increase your carbs 5 g a week until you stop loosing weight...and that is where you know your limit. That is basically the diet in a nutshell...lol But like I said, it didn't work for me, but I think for some people it does work, especially really obese people who seriously need to loose weight.

MamaMD

 

[IceKid]

If you want to look cut, limit your calories, eat 40% carbs (mostly complex and fruit), 40% protein, and 20% fat, and eat small meals throughout the day (rather than three squares) ... that's what body builders and fitness models do.

Of course, you also have to exercise.

actually- if you do some research, MANY body builders follow low carb plans. some of them low carb during the week, and then eat more carbs on the weekends.. or some variation thereof. i know a low carb body builder myself, and he is definitely cut!

 

[flighterdoc]

I hate the way these low-carb diets have caught on. My grandpa refuses to eat potatoes, bread and rice, but he drinks all the time. I have a friend who refuses to eat rice with Indian food but eats steak nearly every night of the week. And what's with these bunless burgers? Is this healthy? What about the millions of people who live on rice or bread plus a few vegetables and maybe meat? Are they wrong?

There is some other metabolic deficiency or process going on that isn't well defined. Some people seem to be more sensitive to carbs affecting insulin levels than others. When I was attempting to correct my lipids via a strict low-fat diet I'd eat, my blood sugar would spike then crash (within an hour or two), I felt terrible, and my lipids got worse. I happened to read Atkins book about that time, one of his exemplars seemed to fit me so I tried it, and it worked. BTW, my UCLA-trained internist's advice after two months of being on a diet that made me feel terrible (as in nearly suicidally depressed) with a worsening of my lipids advice was to "keep at it". Time for a new physician.

The typical so-called metabolic syndrome being advocated now is an example of this, and Atkins (in his book, not the BS that is being used as examples of "atkins" diets) describes it as well. When tested my blood glucose is nominal, my thyroid is nominal, etc. A fasting blood glucose was nominal as well, but there was something going on causing my classical physical reactions indicative of massive spikes/crashes in blood sugar that didn't appear in my FBG. It also seems to be foods-specific, if I eat (for instance) bread it happens while if I eat a starchy vegetable (like a potato) it doesn't - but a carb is a carb, right?

Is the "Atkins" diet perfect? No. Is it reasonable? I think so. The fact that there are so many that were so against it and are now at least giving it grudging or limited acceptance is worth something. While there may not be a lot of EBM supporting this type of diet, thats more because the medical establishment has been against it based on dogma, not fact. They thought Semmelweiss was wrong, too, and the central dogma of dieting doesn't seem to be effective, if it's even true for everyone.

The main thing for people who want to control their weight need to do is find a program that works FOR THEM. There are lots of options out there, there are some that are effective (Atkins, Zone, South Beach, Weight Watchers, etc), they seem to be about as effective for those that can follow them. Not everyone is willing or able to follow a particular eating plan, food is a very important aspect of a persons life. What works, works.

 

[flighterdoc]

maybe ppl should read the atkins book before saying what they think they know.

LOL, that would be a freaking miracle!

 

[flighterdoc]

A lot of the reasons for the success of the diet has mostly been said here...fresh fruit, veg, and lean meat means healthy eating. Like anything else this can be distorted and abused but the idea is sound in priciple (it's just not as glamorous as all you can eat bacon, eggs, cheese and steaks with a side of cream and butter) ...also low carb diets help to eliminate easy snacking...

anything that can fight the krispy creme juggernaut is good.

 

[kinetic]

I laugh at the Atkins diet. Know why?

Because it is scientifically unsound? No.
Because it has major health ramifications? No.
Because it doesn't work? No.

Because it's another example of fat people who want to EAT their way to skinniness. Because this is another 'fad' diet -- yep, it sounds great now ...can you do this for the rest of your life? (Once you stop, you gain all your weight right back again.) What the hell is so hard about eating moderate portions, a balanced diet, and moderate exercise? Nooo ...I'd rather eat a grapefruit for breakfast and lunch and a milkshake for dinner. Or I'd rather ingest heavy cream and baconbits 24/7. Or I'd rather just wait until I had a humongous pannus hanging off the front of my body and then undergo bariatric surgery, leaving me with a disproportionately large head-to-body ratio (anyone seen Al Roker? that is the most funny look I've ever seen in my life.).

 

[bearpaw]

i think people just eat too much. why can't people just eat less? once you get cut, its not like you have to work out all the time to maintain it either.

i eat like normal food, but i do stay away from junk as much as reasonably possible, it works.

i don't understand how people get themselves so fat. and if they can let themselves get so big, why do they care to get skinny again?