Low Carb Diet Seems Too Good To Be True

[UnatcoAgent]

According to my outline I can eat all the meat cheese and eggs (though I dislike them), I had bacon twice this morning (heh I know I know). Does anyone know how well these diets work ? So far my meals have consisted of yurkey and beef, diet pop and a lot of water.

 

[kracmunkie]

Low carb/high protein diets (like Atkins) do help you drop the weight quickly, but not without repercussions. Carbs are essential for keeping your serotonin levels normal. Serotonin is the chemical that your body needs to feel happy. So basically, low carb diets = chronically depressed but skinny. A healthy balanced diet with moderate exercise is always the best to go for your body and your brain (and exercise boosts your endorphins which also help in feeling happy).

People love to see the pounds drop so quickly but it's really not good for your system, losing about 2 lbs a week is about the max people should shoot for. But also, the heavier you are, the easier it is to drop weight at first, and the closer you are to your ideal weight, the harder it is to lose weight (for good reason, otherwise I could be a size 0 by the end of next week, which would not look that great)

HTH

 

[Aceshigh]

Ive been on Atkins low carb diet for over a month now and have lost over 20 pounds. I have had no cravings and my energy level has been terrific. I have been able to start exercising regularly and feel healthier than I have in a long time.

Low carb is the way to go in my opinion.

 

[Nocturnal]

Can you guys give me a description of your low carb dinners?

Is it like eat all the steak you want with no rice or potatoes?

Explain!

 

[Aceshigh]

Here is some of the foods I eat:

Steak
Chicken
Tuna Fish
Cheese
Salad
Bacon
Eggs

I eat as much as I want until I am satisfied.

I drink plenty of water and eat cheese sticks and pork rinds for snacks.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: kracmunkie
So basically, low carb diets = chronically depressed but skinny.

I've been doing the Atkins thing for just over two weeks now. And I have not been depressed in the least.

And no... it's not "too good to be true." It's actually more difficult than it looks. Eggs get old pretty quick (never been a big fan), and I very much miss potatos, cereal, pasta, rice, etc... I think I miss the coffee, iced tea, and soda the most, though.

That being said, this nutritional approach beats the hell out of the low fat methods. I've never been able to stick with those, because the plateau's are so bad that I figure "why bother".

So far... To say that I am pleased with the results would be a huge understatement. I have more energy than ever, and each day it is much easier to avoid the bad foods.


My chart


Today, my menu consisted of:
Breakfast: 2 hard-boiled eggs w/bacon
Lunch: Sirloin steak with grilled mushrooms
Dinner: Grilled salmon (lemon pepper/garlic) and broccoli
Desert: Low carb chocolate ice cream

I have little doubt that I'll be sticking with some varient of this approach for the rest of my life. Of course as I get closer to my target fitness, I'll add more carbs to my menu. I just can't say how happy I am with how good I feel, and the results I'm getting.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

I suppose bacon is fine then as well ?

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Aceshigh
Ive been on Atkins low carb diet for over a month now and have lost over 20 pounds. I have had no cravings and my energy level has been terrific. I have been able to start exercising regularly and feel healthier than I have in a long time.

Low carb is the way to go in my opinion.

I am looking into the Atkins diet too.
Do I need to get the book?

 

Atkins provides way too much protein.

 

[Wingznut]

Bacon = 0 carbs

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Aceshigh
Ive been on Atkins low carb diet for over a month now and have lost over 20 pounds. I have had no cravings and my energy level has been terrific. I have been able to start exercising regularly and feel healthier than I have in a long time.

Low carb is the way to go in my opinion.

I am looking into the Atkins diet too.
Do I need to get the book?

YES! Get the latest book. There is a lot to learn. And the more you learn, the easier it is (imho).

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: SammySon
Atkins provides way too much protein.

I'd love to see the cholesterol levels of a person who's been on the "eat all the steak you want" diet for 6 months or more.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: SammySon
Atkins provides way too much protein.

That's an odd criticism. How much protein you intake is totally up to you.

 

[yobarman]

Just because you're supposed to eat a lot of protien doesnt mean you should be chugging lard with that. You're much better off eating leaner meats.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Beast1284

Originally posted by: SammySon
Atkins provides way too much protein.

I'd love to see the cholesterol levels of a person who's been on the "eat all the steak you want" diet for 6 months or more.

*sigh* Seriously... Do a little research, and throw in some common sense. I'll take anyone's bet that my cholesterol will be no worse in 6 months than it was last time I measured it (2/01), and it was low then (168, iirc.)

For what it's worth, I eat chicken and fish just as much as I do red meat.

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: yobarman
Just because you're supposed to eat a lot of protien doesnt mean you should be chugging lard with that. You're much better off eating leaner meats.

Of course that's true, but you know the only selling point of this diet is that you can eat a lot of stuff that is terrible for you. That's where the diet is all wrong. It just makes me sick when someone says they want to change the way they eat, or go on a diet, and then they seek out the diet that they can eat the most and go with that one.

 

[Wag]

So many desperate people out there.

P.T. Barnum would be proud...

 

[Pastore]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: Beast1284

Originally posted by: SammySon
Atkins provides way too much protein.

I'd love to see the cholesterol levels of a person who's been on the "eat all the steak you want" diet for 6 months or more.

*sigh* Seriously... Do a little research, and throw in some common sense. I'll take anyone's bet that my cholesterol will be no worse in 6 months than it was last time I measured it (2/01), and it was low then (168, iirc.)

For what it's worth, I eat chicken and fish just as much as I do red meat.

I'm not criticizing you or the foods you eat, but the diet. Every time I hear someone talking about it, it's always, wow I can eat a pound of bacon! Or, I can have a 24oz steak! Wow, healthy eating there.

 

[Zrom999]

To lose weight just eat mainly carbohydrates and very little protein.

 

Well, also the American diet in general is too high in protein.

 

[Wingznut]

Even more "food for thought" for the doubters....

Yesterday's menu:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs w/ham
Lunch: Salad w/tuna
Dinner: Grilled chicken w/marinara sauce and mozerella cheese, and a salad.

 

[TheChort]

Originally posted by: yobarman
Just because you're supposed to eat a lot of protien doesnt mean you should be chugging lard with that. You're much better off eating leaner meats.

True, but if you are not taking in any carbs, your fat intake will probably go up.
One of the major problems with this (aside from the seretonin stuff mentioned earlier) is a high fat diet causes increased blood pressure.
Fat molecules creates free radicals in your body. These free radicals interfere with the Nitric Oxide (NO) system which regulates blood pressure and such.

i knew i would learn something at school

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: chort

Originally posted by: yobarman
Just because you're supposed to eat a lot of protien doesnt mean you should be chugging lard with that. You're much better off eating leaner meats.

True, but if you are not taking in any carbs, your fat intake will probably go up.
One of the major problems with this (aside from the seretonin stuff mentioned earlier) is a high fat diet causes increased blood pressure.
Fat molecules creates free radicals in your body. These free radicals interfere with the Nitric Oxide (NO) system which regulates blood pressure and such.

i knew i would learn something at school

You make a very good point... But keep in mind that "high fat" can also be a relative term. In my case, my fat intake is probably ~70% of what it was four weeks ago.

So, add in that with the fact that I am less overweight now, and it's hard to argue that I am less healthy now.

I have a physical scheduled in four weeks, and I'll be comparing all of my results to my last phyiscal from two years ago. I'll be shocked if any catagory is worse.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: Wingznut
Even more "food for thought" for the doubters....

Yesterday's menu:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs w/ham
Lunch: Salad w/tuna
Dinner: Grilled chicken w/marinara sauce and mozerella cheese, and a salad.

Dammit now i'm hungry...

 

[Rudee]

Originally posted by: boyRacer

Originally posted by: Wingznut
Even more "food for thought" for the doubters....

Yesterday's menu:
Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs w/ham
Lunch: Salad w/tuna
Dinner: Grilled chicken w/marinara sauce and mozerella cheese, and a salad.

Dammit now i'm hungry...

Not enough calories. Your body will quickly go into starvation mode and lower it's metabolism if you dont ingest more calories, or more smaller frequent meals.