Doctors' group urges Atkins diet ban

Washinton Times ^ | August 22, 2003 | UPI

[Cincinatus' Wife]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Nutritionists are urging the top 10 U.S. hospitals to ban the Atkins diet, reports said Friday.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine announced Friday in Washington it hopes the hospitals will emulate England's Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, which is eliminating the controversial diet from its menus, fearing a link to kidney damage.

[mugsy]

Here's the point...on the Adkins diet, can you sustain a vigorous exercise regime? Does the lack of carbs restrict your glygogen production/stores?

No, I don't think you can sustain a vigorous, long-distance aerobic exercise regime on an extremely low carbohydrate diet. Atkins is for nomrally sedentary people who don't care about the long-term effects on their kidneys and bones. However, you might want to experiment with increasing the percentage of protein and unsaturated fat in your diet. I lift heavy weights for three sessions per week (squats, bench, deadlifts, dips, etc.) and run about 10-15 miles per week (fast for my size; 7-8 minute miles for 3-4 miles). My eating habits approximate the "zone" diet. I have about 10 percent b.f. and weigh 195lbs. I'm 6 feet tall and will turn 37 in October. You might try the zone diet or somethin very similar.

[mugsy]

"on the Adkins diet, can you sustain a vigorous exercise regime? Does the lack of carbs restrict your glygogen production/stores?"

Well, I went on a 13 mile hike today (2500 feet ascent/descent) and I was fine on just a small bag (250 cals worth) of cashews, 2 protein bars and a handful of wild huckleberries I picked on the way. Normally I would of had a breakfast of bacon/eggs but I woke up late and needed to get on the road.

You were burning stored fat.

[mugsy]

"on the Adkins diet, can you sustain a vigorous exercise regime? Does the lack of carbs restrict your glygogen production/stores?"

Well, I went on a 13 mile hike today (2500 feet ascent/descent) and I was fine on just a small bag (250 cals worth) of cashews, 2 protein bars and a handful of wild huckleberries I picked on the way. Normally I would of had a breakfast of bacon/eggs but I woke up late and needed to get on the road.

You were burning stored fat.

PS -- hiking is not vigorous exercise unless you're carrying a very heavy pack and/or walking fast.

[carlo3b]

Ping me if you decide to take Rika's request and do an all low carb thread

Will do my dear girl, I should be starting a thread soon, after I get a few more recipes perfected.

[LJPenney]

Well, I did read the book... I guess I was thinking 20 a day was more of an average (15 one day, 25 another).

All of my cals and carbs come from meat and cheese. (Yeah, I know I should eat vegetables...) But, I haven't had any processed sugar in a long while.

[Aquinasfan]

Who needs nutritionists when you can get Atkins' book for $8 at Walgreen's?

Taking a page out of the NEA's book was a bad idea though. This only works when you have a government enforced monopoly. Oh wait, healthcare in England is a government enforced monopoly...

[ko_kyi]

We should do the recipe thing.

My wife, who is from Burma, makes some great curries, salads, and other low-carb things for me. They are SPICY, which I love. Trying to do Atkins on an American diet seems horribly drab to me.

I will get her to write down my personal favorite - Smashed Fish Curry, and I will post it sometime.

[okkev68]

Stouffers has a baked chicken frozen dinner that only has 20 grams of carbs with the potatoes. I love these for the maintenance phase but I only eat half of the potatoes and have a nice salad with it.

I bet Walmart is working hard at introducing more low carb things. Our Walmart has Lecarb ice cream and several varieties of shakes, candy bars, etc... I have also noticed an increase in pre-cooked, pre-packaged meats like chicken and roast. Hormel's precooked roast is awesome and not too expensive. It is only about a $1 more a pound but it saves a lot of time.

[tiamat]

Cool!

Been away from the computer....So i have just seen this

Tia

[okkev68]

My question to all of you low-carbers out there is has anyone run a marathon doing strictly low carb? I trained for a half marathon doing low carb without any problems. But when it came time for the actual race, I carb loaded. At about the 10 mile mark I started feeling like crap and barely finished. Of course it may have had something to do with the 25-30 mph wind we were running into since mile 7.

I will be doing a full marathon in April and I haven't decided wether or not to try it low carb.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[carlo3b]

We should do the recipe thing...My wife, who is from Burma, makes some great curries, salads, and other low-carb things for me. They are SPICY,..

Do it, and ping moi.. :o)

[ChewedGum]

Question for you: My wife is hypoglycemic and uses "Birch Sugar" which tastes great but is very expensive. Would that be an appropriate sweetener for Atkins? (just curious)

If you put the birch sugar on your tongue, it is sweet but it also feels very cold. (I'm assuming some type of endothermic reaction)

Gum

[Ignatz]

Please post your recipe for homemade alfredo sauce!

[Ignatz]

I've done the cheesecake with 5 (8oz) cream cheese, 1 cup sour cream, vanilla, 4 lg eggs (added one at a time)and 1 C Splenda - mix with blender and pour over a cup of crushed Fiber One cereal mixed with 6oz of melted butter (and some Splenda for sweetening) pressed into the bottom of the pan. Bake for an hour, cool and refrigerate about 6 hours or overnight. So good with fresh whipped cream (using Splenda) and berries.

Thanks for the recipe!
How much vanilla?
How much Fiber One? How much Splenda for sweetening?
Bake at what temp?

Thanks again!

[Ignatz]

Well, that's too bad. Sorry to hear about your ulcer (and your friend).
Certainly no diet is perfect for everyone, and for you and your friend Atkins is apparently not the right choice.

[ironman]

Your 60% carb, 25% protein and 15% fat is just about right for an endurance athlete. Personally I'm a little higher on the carbs but I'm doing big big miles swimming, biking, and running. Keep doing what you are doing. You need to replenish your glycogen asap before your next training session.

[Ignatz]

Tanqeray (sp?) and tonic with a lime twist. Yum!

[Crispy]

"PS -- hiking is not vigorous exercise unless you're carrying a very heavy pack and/or walking fast."

30 lb pack at an average rate of 3.3 mph when moving (according to my GPS). I agree it is not vigorous like say jogging but I guarantee I burn more energy on a 13 mile hike than someone who jogs an hour. This Thursday, Friday and Saturday, I am going on a 35 mile backpacking trip in the Mt. Hood National Forest. Should be fun.

[najida]

Yeppers, my brother the biker (as in bicycle) nees as high as 70% carbs most days. And he has a body fat of about 10% (wanna smack him most days).