Atkins...

Re: Re: Atkins...

I lost 20 more after quitting the diet due to the habits I formed while on the diet. Haven't put a pound back on.

 

Re: Re: Re: Atkins...

If so, you are the exception to the rule. Kidney enzymes still at a normal level?

 

ok, so that brings you up to 115. No big deal.


I hit 230 this week! I about had a stroke. But I'm still not gonna try Atkin's. I agree with Savio. Once summer is here, I will work it off in the yard.

 

if you've read the other threads then I'll spare you my history.

Recent research done by credible institutions have said that it is safe...which is what atkins said all along. turns out fat isn't nearly as bad as it was once thought to be, some types of fat are now considered essential, such as omega 3s. Anybody who says otherwise is using 1980's data and research....which unfortunatley includes professional dieticians and MDs.

The most recent school of thought isn't atkins per se but the "type" of carb. Researchers now beleive the real culprit to excess stored body fat is certain types of carbs, like sugar, white flour, white rice, etc (rule of thumb is any "white" carb source) -- these carbs are easily and willfully turned into fat. Carbs from wheat, grains, most vegatables, etc are the "slow" burning kind that the body doesn't as willfully store as fat. When you are reading the label of food, look at how many grams of carbs come from sugar...then scan the ingredients and basically look for anything that ends in "ose" -- that'll be some sort of sugar.

Personally, I've have been doing something called "carb cycling" which is more of a diet/fitness program vs just a diet. monday, tuesday, wednesday I'll go low carb with all carbs coming from the "slow" burning kind..maybe 50-80 per day. Thursday and Friday I'll increase to 150-175 carbs per day. Protein intake is relatively the same all days, at least 250 grams. I don't even pay attention to fat grams. Weekends are anything goes, but I still limit sugar. Monday - Wednesday are cardio days, thur, friday, and saturday are weight training days, and sundays are off/rest days. This program allows you to add muscle and reduce fat.

The reason all diets fail, not just atkins, is because a change of lifestyle is needed. People will change for a while but within 6 months 90% will have gone back to the way they were. For instance, the "resolutioners" (people who buy memberships in January) at the Y and Bally's I go to have pretty much all quit by now, they didn't even make it for 3 months.

 

The fact of the matter: You body was not meant to burn ketones for fuel. It goes against the natural process. It's a signal to your body that you are in 'starvation mode.' In about 20 years, there is gonna be an overwhelming amount of people on dialysis and I am sure the reason why will come out. But-- to each his own.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Atkins...

Yep got checked for that and for uraic(sp?) acid levels in the blood after I had been on the diet for about 2 months. Everything normal. As far as being the exception to the rule, study after study has shown Atkins to be the most successful diet as far as keeping the weight off. You cannot return to the habits that made you fat in the first place of course. Every diet would fail if everyone did that. Atkins is a spring board for modifying your lifestyle. Treat it as that. Give it 2 or 3 months then drop it. During those 3 months you will actually begin to crave exercise (or at least I did) and will develop eating habits (smaller portions, avoiding junk) that you can maintain even when you have quit the diet.

 

Let me see:

One one hand we have Dr. Atkins. A trained dietician and medical doctor. And he is backed up by studies which have recently become too numerous to cite.

On the other hand we have Fred. A nurse.

Any questions?

 

think about it, in any diet where the goal is to lose weight from stored body fat, at some point you are going to have to burn fat for energy, right? Atkins basically extends this time period to 24/7 whereas other diets do it for a few hours a day.

What most people who criticize atkins do is based on the "20 carbs per day" they've heard. That's only for 2 weeks. After the weight is off, the person experiments with different levels of carbs (sometime over 200 per day) that they can consume and their current weight.

anyways, if you read the book lady, it clearly says that the diet isn't for people who only need to lose 10 or 15 pounds.

 

The easiest diet I have done and still do from time to time is pretty simple.

1. Drop all softdrink consumption (Diet is the worst)
2. Drink plenty of water (6-10 bottles a day)
3. Black Coffee (no cream or sugar)
4. Eat what you normally eat (meal wise) only reduce portions / no seconds. If you must get fast food, cut out the fries or get grilled chickin. (The idea is to eat stuff you like, but make sacrafices along the way)
5. At least 3 nights a week, skip the evening meal and substitute with a "meal replacement" bar of some kind.
6. 4 days a week of 45 minutes excersice.
7. For me cut back to 6 beers a week, no more than 3 in a day.

The biggest success I had with this diet was 2 years ago when I went from like 218 to 189 in about 4 months. Usually when I start it up I drop 10 lbs in 3 weeks.

 

Sly, I said if your kidney enzynes are normal that you are the exception to the rule. But please allow me to say "I told you so" when, in 20 years, all the people that went on Atkin's begin to have renal failure.