Bloomberg: I Don't believe 'Fat' Atkins

NewsMax ^ | 1/21/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

New York's Mayor Bloomberg, a dedicated foe of tobacco doesn't like fat either - and he thinks it was fat and not a head injury that killed diet guru Dr. Robert Atkins.

Chowing down at a New York firehouse, Bloomberg told firefighters "I don't believe that bull- s- - - - that [Atkins] dropped dead slipping on the sidewalk," Bloomberg said eating low fat bow-tie pasta, chicken and vegetables with FDNY Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and a group of Brooklyn firefighters according to the New York Post.

Atkins, whose high protein, low carb diet is the rage across America reportedly died after he suffered severe head injuries in a fall on an icy Manhattan sidewalk last April.

When a firefighter asked the mayor what Atkins looked like when he met him, the mayor replied that "He was fat," adding that he spat out the food he was served at Atkins' home into a napkin because "it was inedible."

Dr. Stuart Trager, a consultant for Atkins, told the Post "We're baffled and dismayed by the mayor's comments. Our hope is that this was just a joke gone bad."

The low-carb, high-protein Atkins diet sparked a revolution, the Post reported, with millions of followers shunning pasta and bread for steaks and sausages. Critics have claimed the high amounts of fat in many recommended foods can lead to high cholesterol and heart attacks.

[Centurion2000]

savage put what I have been saying into words the other day - the Atkins diet is a total and complete fraud - by overloading your liver with nitrogen from excess protein and eating no carbohydrates

And you appear to be a complete idiot on this subject. Maybe you beter go read an Atkins book. There are plenty of carbs that you can eat, green leafy vegetables, some beans and several types of nuts.

Atkins avoids starches and sugar. Go study.

And by the way ... it works perfectly when used with exercise. Protein readily converts to muscle.

[cupcakes]

So for the totality of humanity with all its variations and body types, it's a one diet fits all?______

Well this is what many on Atkins seems to think. My bet is when people REALLY and HONESTLY stick to a balanced diet and regular exercise they stay quite healthy. With some exceptions and those FEW exceptions do well with deprivation diets that meet the needs of their health problems.

[Belial]

Athletes are notoriously 'dumb', but even they know that carbs provide 'fast' energy, so they do 'carb loading'.

I guess it depends on the sport you're talking about. The average university's football squad may not be the sharpest tools in the shed, but you can bet the fencing team is pretty damn bright to the person.

Not all athletes practice carb loading. It's really of use only to long distance athletes, and doesn't consist solely of eating tons of carbs. The idea is first to starve yourself of them for a couple days, then overwhelm your system. Not too bright, from a nutritional perspective.

[Stallone]

Does anyone know the science behind Atkins?

I do, but was wondering why the rest of the critics haven't spent all of five minutes to find out before shooting off their mouths and revealing their total ignorance?

[NYC GOP Chick]

You should have tried to run him down - or at least take off the door from his truck!

[Centurion2000]

I wonder if it has anything to do with common INTJ traits

Odd you should say that. From an INTJ

[cupcakes]

Atkins has been around since the 70s, yet people have not been "dropping dead" from liver toxicity....odd, no?
_______

Please name for me the number of people who have been on this diet since the 70's and then we'll talk. Just like smoking, those of you on the diet for 6 months aren't going to feel it's effects until years down the road if you continue it.
_________

The basic premise of Atkins is to cut out the refined foods and sugar. How is that a bad thing?

_______
So cutting out oats, rice, potatoes, bread(sure it can be refined but a couple slices of good 12 grain bread every other day is not going to make you a porker or a diabetic) is not a premise of Atkins? That is news to me. The premise of Atkin's is to make people so scared of carbs(poison to your body---sure it is if you eat it in excess) they eat very few of them save in the leafy veggie form. I'll throw one right back at you. The premise of a BALANCED DIET(and that does not mean food pyramid) is to eat all things in moderation and to also limit refined and sugary foods AND also to exercise regularly. How is that a bad thing?

[BSunday]

Does anyone know the science behind Atkins? ... I do

Congratulations. Why did you ask me that again? I don't think the post you responded to had anything to do with science, bro. It had to do with Atkins' cult like following though, which you demonstrated the spirit of quite well. And no, you're not getting my potato salad recipe either.

[XBob]

103 - "but you can bet the fencing team is pretty damn bright to the person. "

Yeah, both of them.

[cyborg]

Bread is of the devil >:)

[cyborg]

For some reason Atkins draws a lot of fire. He's been espousing this way of eating for thirty years. There are other diets like Protein Power, South Beach,etc. People are zealous about Atkins because it works. I try to avoid carbs now because sugar puts on pounds too fast IMHO.

[XBob]

107 - "The basic premise of Atkins is to cut out the refined foods and sugar."

The basic premis of the Atkins diet is that carbs provide quick energy, and then you are hungry again. They are the first to be converted to fat when in excess.

Protein and fat are much harder to digest/convert, so do not make you so fat, so fast.

And when you are 'burning' fat, your body goes into 'ketosis' and you are no longer 'hungry'. On low fat/protein/carb diets you are perpetually hungry, so you always wish to eat more. (remember eat chinese food and an hour later you are hungry again? - mostly rice and vegies, and little protein/fat)

[Belial]

Yeah, but the majority is composed of the superstitious, shallow and irrational.

[Belial]

remember eat chinese food and an hour later you are hungry again? - mostly rice and vegies, and little protein/fat

I guess that explains the inordinate number of fat Asians.

Just like down South, they don't eat no fat or meat. And look how skinny folks are there.

[cyborg]

My sister lives in Japan. The lifestyle is very different. You can't avoid carbs in Japan but the walking,bike riding,etc. makes up for it.

[XBob]

73 - "as long as you're nice"
76 - "73 - OK, I'll be good."

Note, I am always 'good', but I can be 'nice'.

Which reminds me of an old playboy cartoon. This nude woman is laying on the bed with a satisfied look on her face, and is addressing the man, who is putting on his pants -

"You know, nice guys dooooo finish last."

[XBob]

113 - "Yeah, but the majority is composed of the superstitious, shallow and irrational."

ah, the fencing blue californians.

[Belial]

My sister lives in Japan. The lifestyle is very different. You can't avoid carbs in Japan but the walking,bike riding,etc. makes up for it.

What you are saying is that sloth, and not carbs, results in obesity. And I agree.

[HamiltonJay]

Hmm so I am not the only one who noticed Dr. Atkins was of larger than in shape girth.....seems to me guy who's diet is the be all end all would have been a few pant sizes smaller....

[XBob]

114 - "I guess that explains the inordinate number of fat Asians. "

Well, there are different body types and different metabolisms - as I referenced earlier. For some (as reported above) Adkins makes no sense. For others, it makes a lot of sense. Most Americans belong to the 'other' group.

"Just like down South, they don't eat no fat or meat. And look how skinny folks are there."

You got me on this one. I haven't got a clue to what you are inferring.