I apologize for giving that impression. I really do not have any animus against him... I got carried away bickering with those who came after me in this thread that I started.
I also agree with your assessment of what the typical American diet has devolved into. What most people stuff in their faces couldn't be much worse, so for many following the Atkins diet may even be a bit of an improvement. Unfortunately I have known quite a few older folks who have had health problems and some who have died after sticking with a high protein low carb diet plan. Would they have gotten sick and died anyway... maybe. But their spouses felt that their diet was at least partially responsible
Obesity was a problem for many people I worked with on the fire department as they got older. I know of virtually none who had long term success with Atkins style dieting. The ones who were successful got counseling on both their diet and their life style and stuck with programs set up for them.
My wife is a nurse and taught nutrition and exercise classes for many years. She was in charge of “fat boy” programs for both the Air Force and the Army. She also worked with civilians and ran a successful gym for several years as well. She also worked with the elderly. When we were out in public people used to come up to her all the time and thank her for helping and inspiring them to change their lives. And these people were looking good several years after she had helped them.
She has some pretty strong opinions about what works and what doesn't but she has no interest in contentious discussions in a forum like this.
If you are having success by following Dr. Atkin’s diet advice, congratulations and more power to you. If you are young your body can handle quite a bit. If someone is older they should consider consulting with a medical professional to avoid certain pitfalls especially if they are a man.
I don’t follow Atkins-as former college rower— still keep a much altered exercise routine to keep lean body mass high and a low (for age) 14 % body fat. It was, back then in college 8% body fat, and in Master’s competition, around 12%— so doing pretty good. Just do NOT take in too many non-complex carbs, and do eat lean meats, and high protein veggies (not Soy— don’t even want to start down that road to old guy man tits, and feminization).
- Not bragging— from my profession- have a complete understanding of the metabolic changes that this diet can effect in people, including shedding pounds by burning fat which is stored in the body from the conversion of excessive unburned carbohydrates (whole sugars, processed foods, the works coupled with inactivity) in the conversion of glucose (from all its sources) to triglycerides— which are then sequestered into fat cells. Someone should look at microscopic photo of a human (find a huge one) fat cell contained in fatty masses (around the belly line, the liver and most internal organs. One MUST, absolutely drink lots of water to clear protein metabolite nitrogenous waste in the kidneys— and thus, also have good kidney function (which Type II diabetics and others do not because of the syndrome X effects on end organ damage— the kidney filter cells for example).
The obesity/diabetes effect is happening to the unfortunate Type II diabetics (and btw there is NO SUCH THING, like the stupid radio ads say— as a “pre-diabetic”. The inherited genes and dosing of genes for a Type II diabetic exist- and usually become expressed later in life but can be forced to be expressed by.... sugar/carb overloads in the diet) with those who have the disease showing up before they are twenty!, still in high school and morbidly obese— drinking big Gulp sugar/fructose corn syrup laden sodas and drinks of all sorts. Morbidly obese little couch potatoes who spend their time online or on their mobile phones.... and get no exercise. Tubs with Type II diabetes in their Teens. Epidemic still in this country. Not preaching. And the conservative tells me— “ok, let people eat themselves to early coronary death”, and not to be buttinski, like the libs who want to manage everything in our lives. It is a real philosophical conundrum- if one knows something about it.
No diabetic should EVER be on an Atkins type or the “ketogenic” (paleo whatever) diet without professional guidance and monitoring, for both the effect on blood glucose and the generation of ketones.... so called ketogenisis. The ketone “spill” measured with dipsticks in the urine-— those are the ones able to be spilled— the ones that impaired function diabetic kidneys cannot— build up and diabetics may express this (in addition to toxic buildup in various organs) with “ketone breath- you can smell it- and it can also blow a FALSE positive of Police DUI breathilyzer (or at least it used to). So— this is not a diet to be played with. If done correctly, HA1C can come way down as well as finger stick blood glucose. And neuropathy possibly averted or abated.
OK, rant and tome over. This is from memory— and pretty sure your AF nurse wife (”fat boy” zoomie weight loss program— I love it— being Navy heh!). However you are succeeding, hope it is healthy for you.