Atkins revolution goes commercial

Purdue Exponent ^ | January 13, 2004 | Evan Kelsay

[Rodney Dangerfield]

I really wish people would do some research on a subject before writing an article about it.

[Swordmaker]

Well, Evan has certainly turned out a sophomoric article.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

LOL

[tal hajus]

The Atkins diet works for me.

[T'wit]

What's wrong with this Evan Kelsay? I was just out in the kitchen putting Hollandaise on my bacon. It doesn't need a bun.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I was just out in the kitchen putting Hollandaise on my bacon. It doesn't need a bun.

Indeed!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The Atkins diet works for me.

It's working for millions. And their blood numbers are defying anti-Atkins criticism. If the diet is followed (not just made it up from what people have read in news accounts) gout will not happen - drink plenty of water.

[Ophiucus]

And their blood numbers are defying anti-Atkins criticism.

The lipid profile changes are simply from the short term weight change - not the specific diet. Any weight loss from almost any diet will show similar results in the short term. In the long term, the high fat intake on the Atkins diet is already giving indications of a lipid rebound, often to higher levels than before.

There are potential problems with the Atkins diet. There is too much research that shows diets continually high in fat, especially saturated, contribute to cardiac and cardiopulmonary disease. The continuous high protein intake raises concerns over ketoacidotic side-effects and renal complications, especially for those with existing renal compromise. The Atkins diet raises the probablity of kidney stones. Even glomerular permeability damage may occur. The high meat diets are linked with colon cancer and osteoporosis.

There haven't been sufficient studies. The few studies done have used too small groups and non-randomized selections. The drop-out rates were too high. No longitudinal studies have been done. The studies on high fat or high protein in diets alone (not combined like Atkins) have shown them to not work and even be dangerous. The articles supporting the Atkins diet have been criticized by Science, JAMA, JADA, and the AMA as misleading, grossly incorrect, biochemically incorrect, without scientific merit, and requiring a thermodynamic miracle to work.

There is only one way to safely and permanently lose weight and keep it off. Reduce caloric intake, with a balanced diet, below current weight maintenance requirements and increase exercise. That way the weight is lost slowly, allowing the leptin-hypothalamic system to reset to the lower weight levels and nutritional requirements are maintained.

Fad diets are notorious as failures and some for their dangers. Mostly because they are based on false premises and a gimmick for quick and easy weight loss.

[Mean Daddy]

Been to Blimpies and Subway since announcing their Atkins menu. Had both wraps at Subway and both are fantastic. Only had the Beef & Cheddar sandwich at Blimpies and it was out of this world. Was very impressed by both products as the Atkin's brand bread you buy is horrible in taste, but the Blimpie bread was great. Subway uses the Atkin's tortillas. The Blimpies brownie (0 net carbs) was pretty good, though expensive ($2.49), but it was a good size brownie.

[appeal2]

First thing, get his name right, Dr. Robert Atkins, not Richard. Second, what do you classify as a fad. The diet has been around over 30 years, it started shortly after the 60's drug craze. Next, it really works and if you follow the steps in the diet and stick to it about 95% in the beginning and 80% in the latter stages you will reach a body weight that you never believed possible.

The fact is that depending upon metabolism we are fat not because of the amounts we consume but rather what it is that we consume.
Sugar, bread, pasta, candy, junk food are laden with carbs. Add a hero sandwich, a nice big bowl of pasta and lack of excerise and you're on your way to having a large belly.

I have gone on Atkins several times and it has always worked. The last time (I'm still on it now) I made the committment to follow the diet to the end. Everyone thinks of Atkins as just steak, followed by chicken followed by a hamburger. When finished, repeat. This is really just phase one and it lasts just two weeks. In fact atkins consists of several phases and if you follow the diet religiously you will attain your ideal body weight range.

I've been on it 2.5 months now. I have lost 18 lbs and have just 5 more to go. Losing the weight slowly means it will be much harder to put back on. During this time my cholesterol and tri-glicerides have decreased substantially. In addition my stomach is in much better shape and less subject indigestion or such other vagaries.

[InvisibleChurch]

my, he's a clever writer ... i nearly fell for that 'it's in the Bible' sentence

[Core_Conservative]

There are potential problems with the Atkins diet. There is too much research that shows diets continually high in fat, especially saturated, contribute to cardiac and cardiopulmonary disease. The continuous high protein intake raises concerns over ketoacidotic side-effects and renal complications, especially for those with existing renal compromise. The Atkins diet raises the probablity of kidney stones. Even glomerular permeability damage may occur. The high meat diets are linked with colon cancer and osteoporosis.

What? Can you try writing it in layman's terms? - oh, yeah, here is the copy - eating red meat is bad for you - so don't do it! /sarcasm

[Salo]

I lost 40 lbs on Atkins and haven't felt better. I keep hearing about the potential for kidney damage, but have yet to see anything definative. I would imagine drinking a lot of water, as the diet says to do, would keep the uric acid that leads to gout in check.

In short: it worked for me.

[grania]

I finally read up on the Atkins diet. I'm wondering if the weight losses associated with it are because all of the excess sugar in just about everything, even the "health foods" that have gotten trashed down with high fructose corn syrup, etc, are the real cause of weight gain. As part of the package of low carbs, Atkins diets have very little sugar.

I checked the carbs in what I eat, and it's almost impossible to stay below that 100% on labels with added sugars or processed breads.

I distrust any diet initiative when corporations get involved. Just like "healthy" yogurts now contain up to 50 grams of sugar and "healthy" frozen dinners have pasta, corn, and sugars, they'll do the same things with the Atkins foods. Soon there will be so much grease and salt in them for taste that they'll cause more problems than they solve.

Then, we'll be seeing the lawsuits because some idiots croak from topping a plateful of hamburger with melted butter and heavy cream or whatever.

[TontoKowalski]

This is really just phase one and it lasts just two weeks. In fact atkins consists of several phases and if you follow the diet religiously you will attain your ideal body weight range.

I'm in week two of induction right now. I know I've lost some weight (the clothes fit better), but I don't really know how much. I just bought a scale this past weekend, and I was surprised that I weighed as much as I did, so I think I have to face up that I was getting to be a porker.

I'm kinda modifying induction now, eating more variety in the veggies, but still on the "safe" list. I had a good quanitity of a yellow squash, zuccini, and mushroom sautee last night with my pot roast, and it was heaven. I think I started out too strictly... the only veggies I had the first week were the salad lettuce.

It just seemed odd that I could eat all the pork rinds I wanted, but had to measure my salad out in a cup.

[GodBlessUSA]

That's what I thought ... Richard ???
I just started this yesterday. I had done Atkins for a week in the summer and felt a difference. This time I’m going to hang in there. I just have to figure meals ahead of time until I get the gist of this. I have been dieting my entire life without losing. I’m hoping this is the answer.
Congratulations on your weight loss!!

[ThirstyMan]

First thing, get his name right, Dr. Robert Atkins, not Richard. Second, what do you classify as a fad. The diet has been around over 30 years, it started shortly after the 60's drug craze.

Yes, how bizarre, getting his name wrong!!!
And as for the "fad" accusation, the low carb diet has been traced back even farther, to 1862 and a William Banting. Banting was an English insurance undertaker and carpenter, [what a combination?] who fought his own largess battle with success via a low carb diet. He then wrote a 22 page book called, _Letter on Corpulence_.
I wonder if Dr. Atkins had read anything from Wm. Banting? Anyway it proves that coming up with something entirely new in this area of nutrition is pretty much impossible.

And FWIW I have been using Atkins principles, limiting my carb intake for two years now and am able to maintain my goal weight. Low carb works well.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

I haven't been following the plan to the letter either, but simply reducing my carbohydrate intake has already produced some great results after only two months.

No breads, pasta, rice, potatos, junk food, etc. Plenty of water, plenty of proteins and fruits & veggies. Plenty of exercise.

It's really so simple when you look at it...it's amazing that more people aren't convinced that going low-carb really does work!

[TontoKowalski]

One thing the diet has done has made me very conscious of the carbs I eat, and I'm an addicted label-reader now. I can't believe how many carbs I was eating before. Really shocking... potatoes, rice, pasta... big servings were a staple of my diet.

I bought a low-carb BBQ sauce the other day (I use it more like ketchup or steak sauce), and it was pretty good, too. I told my wife it only saved 7 carbs a serving over what I had been using, but with that 7 carbs, I could have a low-carb muffin with supper, too, and still "turn a profit," So really, for me, it's all been about being aware of what I'm eating.

Knowing what I eat lets me find ways to maximize eating pleasure (I love to eat!)and still stay in the guidelines and lose.