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What if It's All Been a Big Fat Lie?
The New York Times Magazine ^ | 07/07/2002 | GARY TAUBES

Posted on 07/05/2002 5:34:43 PM PDT by Pokey78

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To: Arioch7
I wonder if that person is aware of the physiological term "Ketosis". It is not good and that is the condition your body is in when you deplet yourself of carbs.

As the article says, ketosis is not a bad metabolic state for most people (there are a few exceptions, like when you're taking certain medications that can cause kidney stones). Ketoacidosis is a bad metabolic state, but that is something altogether different.

61 posted on 07/05/2002 7:20:39 PM PDT by DallasMike
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To: Dana113
That is exactly what this diet achieves. On the other hand, junk food diets [sugar and bread] are directly linked to obesity, cancer and heart disease. I am willing to bet you have had more junk food in the past 24 hours that I have had in the past 3.5 years.

Yes, but eating a pound of bacon every morning is linked to those diseases, too. Why is everyone here assuming I'm for a high-carb diet? This is hilarious!

62 posted on 07/05/2002 7:21:07 PM PDT by Senator Pardek
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To: Arioch7
Lighten up Frances, I clipped my response and acknowledged it.

I've lost fat doing nothing but intense weight training, so from my experience, weight training will indeed burn fat in the short run.

63 posted on 07/05/2002 7:21:08 PM PDT by Skip Ripley
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To: Senator Pardek
The only dietary advice I gave was to lower fat intake (not eliminate it - make it 20% of one's caloric intake). That's a far cry from Atkins.

Your body needs a lot more than 20% of it's caloric intake of fat to function effectively. That would make most people sick, not to mention create a deficiency in the fat soluable vitamins, A,D, E, and K, essential fatty acids, B12 and carnitine. Talk about bringing your health - and metabolism - to a screeching halt! Not even the American Heart Association recommends a diet that dangerously low in fat. Your body NEEDS fat, it does not need that bread and pie that you so love.

64 posted on 07/05/2002 7:22:33 PM PDT by Dana113
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To: Dana113
Ok, I drink juice a half and hour before I work out and then I go for a little under an hour.

If I was training for a longer period of time, I would have a different route. I used to be a supplement monger but I have eased up on thier use because sometimes it gets a bit much.

What is the primary nutrient that is converted into Glycogen by the liver? CARBOHYDRATES!!!

I never said I was a carb freak and hated protein, I know my posts are long but did you READ them?

65 posted on 07/05/2002 7:24:23 PM PDT by Arioch7
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To: Senator Pardek
"People lost weight on low-carb diets in concentration camps, too."

Actually, in concentration camps (at least Western ones), prisoners typically lost weight on LOW PROTEIN diets; they were continually fed bread as nearly their only food in most such situations. In Asian concentration camps, victims were fed steady diets of rice and very little else, which is quite similar to the bread in Western concentration camps.

66 posted on 07/05/2002 7:25:42 PM PDT by Irene Adler
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To: Senator Pardek
LOL - I'm not getting hostile. Every person I've known who's done the Atkins thing has lost weight. Fine. But the healthful key to losing weight is to build muscle and engage in aerobic activity. Atkins is a quick fix - few who do it also exercise.

You sound very hostile. Even so, not that you have any proof, but I would venture to guess that MORE Atkins people exercise than do your average American.

The problem with YOUR quick fix solution [exercise] is that it doesn't work for most folks who are over a certain age. Exercise contributes very little - if any - to weight loss after a certain age. And it is only LOW FAT [the one *YOU* are suggesting], LOW CALORIE, LOW PROTEIN diets that cause muscle loss. Atkins is none of those.

67 posted on 07/05/2002 7:28:42 PM PDT by Dana113
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To: Skip Ripley
If you know of a way to add muscle without lifting weights, please share....

Yes, I'd like to know as well. I've noticed that as one grows older, the ability to do physical "stuff" becomes a bit more painful. That stuff, of course, includes lifting weights. Hasn't stopped me, though. Just slowed down a bit. :^)

BTW, those were some very good numbers you presented earlier.

68 posted on 07/05/2002 7:28:50 PM PDT by meyer
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To: evolved_rage
THE USDA FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID: A RECIPE FOR DIABETES?

James Krieger

We've all seen it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Guide Pyramid. The pyramid that tells us that we should have a certain number of servings from each food group each day. The pyramid that is our guide to healthy eating. But is it?

The bottom of the pyramid represents the foods that should make up the bulk of your diet: the Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta Group. 6-11 servings a day from this group and you are supposedly on your way to a healthier life. What the pyramid doesn't tell you, though, is that you are setting yourself up for insulin resistance, obesity, and adult onset diabetes if you consistently follow these recommendations.

Let's take a closer look at what happens in your body when you eat. After you eat a meal, your blood sugar levels start to climb. Your body likes to keep blood sugar within a narrow range; it doesn't like too much sugar floating around in the blood. As blood sugar levels climb out of your body's normal ranges, your body releases insulin to bring blood sugar levels back down; the higher and faster the rise in blood sugar, the greater the release of insulin. Insulin is an important hormone that helps shuttle glucose and amino acids into muscle cells. While this is good, insulin also has a bad side in that it shoves glucose and fat into fat cells as well as inhibits fat breakdown. Therefore, too much insulin is not desirable.

The glycemic index is an index that was originally created for diabetics that tells you how quickly blood sugar levels will rise after eating a certain type of food. White bread is scored as 100 on the index, and all other foods are scored against white bread. Foods with a lower glycemic index will create a slower rise in blood sugar, and foods with a higher glycemic index will create a faster rise in blood sugar. For example, whole milk comes in at a measly 39, while non-dairy Tofu frozen dessert rates at a whopping 164.

Let's look at the glycemic indices of some of the foods that the pyramid recommends that we eat the most of. A white bagel rates at 103. Cornflakes rate at a huge 119. Instant rice boiled for 6 minutes rates at an even higher 128. Cream of wheat rates at 100, while pretzels come in at an enormous 116. Rice cakes are not far behind at 110, waffles are 109, water crackers are 102, and Mikey's favorite Life cereal is a significant 94.

What does this mean? Regularly eating these foods throughout the day every day, as the pyramid tells you to, can create chronically elevated levels of insulin (chronic hyperinsulinemia) due to the rapid rises in blood sugar caused by eating these foods. Not only does this increase fat storage, but it can also result in a down-regulation of cells' insulin receptors over a long period of time, which is known as insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the cause of adult onset diabetes and is also a factor in obesity and other health problems.

So how do you avoid these problems? Engaging in regular, intense exercise helps increase insulin sensitivity, so your body doesn't need to produce as much insulin to get the job done. Intense exercise also ensures that blood glucose finds its way into muscle cells where it belongs and not into fat cells, since glycogen levels are lower in muscles after intense exercise.

Stick to eating foods that are lower on the glycemic index, and when you do eat high glycemic foods, make sure that you combine them with sources of protein, fat, and fiber because these will slow the rise in blood sugar. Eat 5-6 small meals a day rather than 2-3 large ones; this will help avoid the wild swings in insulin common with eating less frequently.

Those of you interested in seeing a complete glycemic index of foods should check out the Glycemic Index website maintained by Rick Mendosa (there is also a link to it in our Links section).

Eating to maintain a healthy, lean body requires insulin management. The USDA Food Guide Pyramid is the antithesis of a healthy diet that manages insulin levels. The USDA has some serious revisions to do. Washington State University Athletics

69 posted on 07/05/2002 7:29:11 PM PDT by Straight Vermonter
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To: xJones
"I won't die of obesity but this long article may do it.................."


literally laughed out loud when i read this. i identified. :)

70 posted on 07/05/2002 7:29:49 PM PDT by christine
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To: Pokey78
I noticed that Prevention magazine this month has a cover story proclaiming the Ice Cream Diet, eat it every day and you're certain to live long and healthfully. Recently there have been a number of "studies" showing that eggs, and plenty of them, are "heart healthy." Other new "studies" declare that whole milk, taken abundantly, cures everything from cancer to obesity. I wait for the sure thing to happen soon -- "studies" showing that, as 16th Century British knew, smoking at least 40 cigarettes a day is essential to good health from 8 to 80. It isn't the fad that's important. It's the buck.
71 posted on 07/05/2002 7:31:21 PM PDT by Whilom
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To: Senator Pardek
Yes, but eating a pound of bacon every morning is linked to those diseases, too. Why is everyone here assuming I'm for a high-carb diet? This is hilarious!

Actually I don't think that you're for a high-carb diet. But anyone who thinks that Atkins pushes a pound of bacon every morning isn't familiar with the program. It actually discourages processed meats for any length of time.

I had to be on some medication several years back and porked on some pounds. After I got off of it I tried losing it the "sensible" way and it wouldn't come off. I tried the Atkins diet and lost it easily in about 10 weeks. The weight never came back either -- every time I see my self gaining an extra couple of pounds I back off the carbs for 3 or 4 days and concentrate on meat, cheese and eggs. That and I always drink 2 liters of water a day. I'm a convert.

Works for me and no one else has to try it. If you wanna' do the Twizzler and Mountain Dew diet (just playin' with you!) then go for it!

72 posted on 07/05/2002 7:31:55 PM PDT by DallasMike
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To: Dana113
20% is fine, because the person who weight trains and excercises takes in a lot of calories to begin with.

Since you are quoting the AHA, here's what they have to say about your gameplan.

BTW - I'm still waiting for you guys to find one pro athlete who follows your diet - LOL!

73 posted on 07/05/2002 7:33:55 PM PDT by Senator Pardek
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To: Pokey78
This article basically says that the reason low-fat diets don't work is because people don't feel full as fast on carbs, and eat more. That's a self-control issue, not a nutrition issue. There's nothing new here.
74 posted on 07/05/2002 7:34:55 PM PDT by pragmatic
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To: Skip Ripley
LOL! Well done. I apoligize, I sometimes come across on the internet more belligerant then I really am.

I agree with your point about the WBF as well... but most of the IFBB guys use my method.

To the others, I have never said I do not like protein or fat. Read my posts. Do you all HONESTLY think that the long-distance runners I mentioned would benefit from your diet?

I went on an extremely low-fat diet and I had problems. My joints were not good when I attempted heavy lifts like the squat or the dead-lift and my flexibility suffered.

Please, this is not an "All-or-nothing" debate. I did not say that fat and protein was bad.

To whoever asked what I do when I run out of zip during training. Believe it or not, after an hour or so of martial arts, my Korean partners would eat a salt-lick with water. This helps.

Also, I NEVER siad to eat high-glycemic foods, you can mix them and that effectively lowers the glycemic index for the food.

DallasMike, I stand corrected, but I have seen people on a no-carb diet exhibit bizarre symptoms such as awful breath, mental confusion, etc. Carbohydrates are the brains MAIN source of energy people.

75 posted on 07/05/2002 7:34:57 PM PDT by Arioch7
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To: Senator Pardek
LOL - I'm not getting hostile. Every person I've known who's done the Atkins thing has lost weight. Fine. But the healthful key to losing weight is to build muscle and engage in aerobic activity. Atkins is a quick fix - few who do it also exercise.

As odd as it sounds, I think that you'll find quite a few people that use it in the bodybuilding and powerlifting "community" (and I hate to say that word, community). Its not necessarily a permanent thing, but a very useful tool for overcoming a sticking point or when other approaches fail.

76 posted on 07/05/2002 7:35:06 PM PDT by meyer
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To: Pokey78
bump
77 posted on 07/05/2002 7:36:05 PM PDT by VOA
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To: Dana113
And it is only LOW FAT [the one *YOU* are suggesting], LOW CALORIE, LOW PROTEIN diets that cause muscle loss.

LOL - again, someone putting words in my mouth (hope they're low-fat...)

78 posted on 07/05/2002 7:36:45 PM PDT by Senator Pardek
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To: Dana113
He did not suggest a low protein or fat diet of any kind. Also, people of ALL ages can benefit from exercise.

The problem is that once someone is stuck in a groove they tend to stay there.

Research has shown that exercise can benefit Octegenarians(SP?) quite a bit.

79 posted on 07/05/2002 7:37:27 PM PDT by Arioch7
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To: Arioch7
I wonder if that person is aware of the physiological term "Ketosis". It is not good and that is the condition your body is in when you deplet yourself of carbs.

ummm, do you know what ketosis means? Ketosis is a benign by-product of FAT BURNING. In order to LOSE weight one must burn fat. Would you agree with that statement?

Now, whether one is on a high carb, low carb or booger diet, if they are burning fat, they are in ketosis. If one does not burn fat [a healthy happenstance in most circles, but i guess not this one] then where does all that fat go? hmmmm

Perhaps it just stays in the body and clogs the arteries and creates heart disease?

Many often confuse ketosis with KETOACIDOSIS, which is a very dangerous condition for disbetics. However, noone serious would claim that fat burning is harmful. [unless they don't know what they are talking about]

80 posted on 07/05/2002 7:39:09 PM PDT by Dana113
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