Low Carb Diet Seems Too Good To Be True

UnatcoAgent

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 1999
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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

Member
May 1, 2002
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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

Platinum Member
Aug 22, 2002
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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

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
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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

Platinum Member
Aug 22, 2002
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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

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
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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.
 
Aug 16, 2001
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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?
 

Wingznut

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
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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

Diamond Member
Feb 9, 2000
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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.
 

yobarman

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
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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

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
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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

Diamond Member
Feb 9, 2000
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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

Diamond Member
Jul 21, 2000
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So many desperate people out there.

P.T. Barnum would be proud...
 

Pastore

Diamond Member
Feb 9, 2000
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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.
 

Wingznut

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
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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

Diamond Member
May 20, 2003
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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

Elite Member
Dec 28, 1999
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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

Lifer
Oct 1, 2001
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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

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
11,218
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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.