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Anyone try the Atkins Diet?

Miramonti

Miramonti

Lifer
It consists of eating foods low in carbohydrates, high in protein, even high in saturated fats. The goal is to change the metabolism so that your body becomes accostomed to burning fats instead of carbohydrates.

A friend of mine who's worked out relentlessly in the weight room for years and already is in great shape has been doing this diet recently and has cut his body fat, which was already relatively low, and claims he has more energy - fewer ups and downs during the day. The diet seems pretty risky regarding the cholesterol levels etc. but there seem to be alot of people talking highly about their experiences with it.

Anyone try it or know someone who has? (and is alive to tell about it 😉)
 
I have not done it directly.
Yes it does work quite well.
No the weight won't stay off. Find me somebody who can maintain this diet long-term and I'll give you $10. Even if they could it's definitely not a health long term activity.

In my opinion unless you're trying to cut weight to make a weight class in boxing or ripping up for a bodybuilding competition the only way you should lose weight is by doing something you know you can maintain, otherwise it will simply come back on. At the very least prove to yourself you can lose weight normally (cutting back food increasing exercise) and then once you KNOW you can do that then you could allow yourself to jump start the process with something more extreme like this but if you think you can go back to bigmacs afterwards you can't 🙂
 
I've tried it for about 4 days. It works, but I couldnt stand not eating any carbs.

No soda, no bread, no rice, etc. etc.
 


<< fewer ups and downs during the day. >>



That is because of the imbalance of blood sugar levels in your body, which of course we get from carbs



<< The diet seems pretty risky regarding the cholesterol levels etc. but there seem to be alot of people talking highly about their experiences with it. >>



Actually, for most people their cholesterol goes down, atleast the bad cholesterol levels (LDL)

To many people never get past chapter 2 of his book, and to many people try and use his diet as a quick weightloss for 2 weeks so they can fit into that bikini for their upcoming vacaction. That is not what it is about. It is about changing the way we look at foods, learning to excercise. It isn't a life change for everyone though. If you are gonna do, read the book in its entirety. You'll be much better off for it.
 
I don't really need to lose weight at all, sort of the opposite, and I'm going to start working out more to gain some weight and muscle but having energy to do so is always a problem. Even when I workout more I never gain energy. I eat a ton of carbs tho, rice and breads mainly.

All of these new diets seem like a crock but I understand the philosophy, that we have gone so carbo and sugar crazy that it messes up our ability to digest fats as easily but practically cutting out carbos is pretty extreme. How can someone not eat carbo's when their in a 10k race or even playing hoops for a long time. What's going to happen next, someone can't digest carbo's easily anymore and someone comes up with an Atkins Recovery Diet based on candy bars??? 😉

 


<< How can someone not eat carbo's when their in a 10k race or even playing hoops for a long time. >>

They can't. I don't think you'll find a world class cyclist on this program.
 


<< It consists of eating foods low in carbohydrates, high in protein, even high in saturated fats. The goal is to change the metabolism so that your body becomes accostomed to burning fats instead of carbohydrates.

A friend of mine who's worked out relentlessly in the weight room for years and already is in great shape has been doing this diet recently and has cut his body fat, which was already relatively low, and claims he has more energy - fewer ups and downs during the day. The diet seems pretty risky regarding the cholesterol levels etc. but there seem to be alot of people talking highly about their experiences with it.

Anyone try it or know someone who has? (and is alive to tell about it 😉) >>



It does work, but you should stay away from it if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or are at risk for a stroke. You tend to really raise up your chlorestorol levels, so I would think that there are better ways to loose weight. I just eat whatever I want, but HALF of what I normally would eat, then I do weight training and run three times a week. Lost 15 lbs. that way 🙂
 
Again, more misconceptions about the Atkins plan for people who have failed to read past Chapter 2. The two week induction diet is just that, 2 weeks. Carbs are addictive, they cause the body to release chemicals that cause us to crave. Think of the two week induction diet as your carbo rehabilitation period. After 2 weeks you will slowly start introducing carbs back into your diet. The FDA recommends 300g of carbs a day. That is excessive. You do not need that many a day. Sugar is bad all around. I can eat around 100-150 carbs a day. The plan does work, you just gotta be persistent, and make excercise a part of it. You will have energy, trust me. I can hit my excersice bike 7 days a week for an hour and a half if I so choosed. Energy has never been a problem for me.

jjsole: the reason you have no energy is because of the carbs. It all boils down to your blood sugar levels. It is like a roller coaster. Like after eating a huge italian dinner with tons of breads, pastas, etc. all you wanna do afterwards is lay down and nap.




<< You tend to really raise up your chlorestorol levels >>



You're right. Your LDL cholsterol goes down, HDL goes up. That is a good thing
 
My Dad's on it, he's pretty happy with it I guess. I don't condone it at all (My dad's dad died of a heart attack, and my dad's only brother had a massive heart attack that nearly killed him), so I'm always worried about the extra fatty diet he seems to eat. The stuff he eats for breakfast makes me sick sometimes just looking at it. I'm all for the bacon/eggs thing in the morning, but when it's all in a huge grease omlett, yuck. He's lost weight though, and his doctor tells him he's doing just fine with it (in fact, his doctor has gone on the diet himself).

I personally have found that just skipping soda in favor of water, in addition to eating less often works for me. I get some exercise each day, and I've continued to lose weight over the past few weeks.
 
I will never eat the Atkins Diet because it's digusting and hard on your digestive system. I love veggies and starches...to eat a roll-less hamburgers loaded with cheese and bacon, but no veggie toppings, sounds repulsive if that's your instructed diet. "Bagel with your butter?" "No, I'm on the Atkins Diet...just 4 tubs of butter would be fine, thank you." :disgust:
 


<< ...to eat a roll-less hamburgers loaded with cheese and bacon, but no veggie toppings, sounds repulsive if that's your instructed diet >>



strange, I make myself hamburgers smothered in onions and mushrooms, with a nice big green salad. I eat squash, zucchini. Where did you hear you cannot eat vegetables? It certainly didn't come from the Atkins book, because the recipes they use themselves in the book contain vegetables. I suggest you read the book before you post "I heard this, and this, from so-and-so. Obviously so-and-so didn't have a clue what they were talking about
 

If you find Atkins diet is too extreme then you might want to try yet another diet: circadian diet.
The idea is based on the rythmicity of bodily process, day and night, and seasons. Do some google search.

1. Daily food regimen:
- Breakfast/lunch: eat high protein diet (40-60% protein), little amount of carb.
- Dinner: eat normal portion of carb, other starchy or sweet food, but less protein.

Most vegetables (corn and potatoes are starchy) are considered circadian neutral, so you can eat them for every meal.

2. Seasonal food regien:
- eat fruits (sugary) / carbs during summer
- eat more protein in winter
The basic premise is that the body has been in sync with what/how nature provides (harvest during summer, famine during winter).

3. Cut down on processed food, especially the low-fat ones.


 
If people actually exercised, then they wouldn't have to cut back on carb intakes.

It seems that people anymore think exercise is only a means of cutting weight. It is far more beneficial than that. Exercise increases metabolism, increases cardiovascular efficiency, fights off osteoperosis, and actually is good for the mind as well.
 
I tried the diet a few years ago and it most definetly works. I flat out got tired of not eating the kinds of foods I was used to. If you are more dedicated in that way you will be successful.

Your body will only use the amount of fats and all else that it needs without the carbs to start storing it.

And yes it is a long term solution if you are willing to make the neccesary changes to your diet.
 
The diet isn't supposed to keep weight off you. No diet in the entire world will ever keep weight off you permanently. It's up to you to get proper excersise (err however ya spell it) and maintain a healthy appetite. As long as you're burning calories, you'll lose weight. Simple as that.

Yes, one of my favorite teachers through junior high and highschool is on the diet and she's lost something like 80lbs and has another 50 or so to go. She's never looked better!!

nik
 


<<

<< ...to eat a roll-less hamburgers loaded with cheese and bacon, but no veggie toppings, sounds repulsive if that's your instructed diet >>



strange, I make myself hamburgers smothered in onions and mushrooms, with a nice big green salad. I eat squash, zucchini. Where did you hear you cannot eat vegetables? It certainly didn't come from the Atkins book, because the recipes they use themselves in the book contain vegetables. I suggest you read the book before you post "I heard this, and this, from so-and-so. Obviously so-and-so didn't have a clue what they were talking about >>


I know people who were on the Atkins Diet and they would not eat green salads or squash, zucchini, tomatoes, etc. It was all meats, oils and fats. Maybe they were following it wrong...I just know what I saw them eat.
 


<< If you find Atkins diet is too extreme then you might want to try yet another diet: circadian diet.
The idea is based on the rythmicity of bodily process, day and night, and seasons. Do some google search.

1. Daily food regimen:
- Breakfast/lunch: eat high protein diet (40-60% protein), little amount of carb.
- Dinner: eat normal portion of carb, other starchy or sweet food, but less protein.

Most vegetables (corn and potatoes are starchy) are considered circadian neutral, so you can eat them for every meal.

2. Seasonal food regien:
- eat fruits (sugary) / carbs during summer
- eat more protein in winter
The basic premise is that the body has been in sync with what/how nature provides (harvest during summer, famine during winter).

3. Cut down on processed food, especially the low-fat ones. >>



thats sounds really hippie
 


<< If people actually exercised, then they wouldn't have to cut back on carb intakes.

It seems that people anymore think exercise is only a means of cutting weight. It is far more beneficial than that. Exercise increases metabolism, increases cardiovascular efficiency, fights off osteoperosis, and actually is good for the mind as well. >>



this is not true. The more i exercise the more carbs i consume.

I'm also vegetarian and I've actually been able to use the induction stage of the Atkins diet to lose weight. i've lost 20+ lbs doing the induction phase.

for me, my diet consists of Steamed Vegetables (Brocalli, Cauliflower, Spinach etc etc), Nuts, Salads, Gluten products and Lots and lots of water.

 


<< If people actually exercised, then they wouldn't have to cut back on carb intakes. >>



In theory that would suffice, but that isn't the reality for many overweight people. When you are obese, you are lethargic and generally do not have the energy. A BIG part of cutting the carbs is to cut the cravings. It is scientifically proven that carbs/glucose are linked to insulin release, and when insulin levels drop we get cravings. So if you eat a lot of carbs, you are on this insulin roller coaster ride. So part of the premise behind cutting the carbs is to cut the cravings, and it works. You cannot successfully lose weight if you have no energy. You cannot successfully excercise if you have no energy. By reducing carbs you reduce the trigger mechanisms that give us cravings. As you become more physically active, sure you can increase your carbs. That is what his book tells you to do. We need to cut back sugars in our diet regardless of what diet plan. I think most nutritionists would agree with any plan that cuts out processed/refined sugars. They are not good for us, atleast not in the quantities a lot of ppl consume them in
 
You guys can just get on a weight lifting program to increase your metabolism and combine that w/ a few cardio workouts.
Runners World usually has pretty good tips on eating right and its like more veggies and low cal foods than just cutting out carbs.
 
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