Any negatives to Adkins Diet?

[shawv]

Can any Freepers give me info as to the good/bad aspects of the Adkins Diet?

[bluedevil]

You wouldn't be related to the infamous FITS (Fly In The Stall) who buzzes around Chapel Hill to keep us loyal Dukies informed, would you?

Cordially,

Tom

[gunnut]

I would like to see where it is document that a lot of people have died on this diet.

[glm]

There are so many people that do not understand low carb diets. Instead of asking us - do research. If you want alot of positive info on low carb diets check out www.lowcarbluxury.com - negative info is everywhere.

I eat fish, chicken, beef, some cheese, salads, vegetables. I also eat Breads, Bagels, PASTA, CANDY, CHIPs that I order online.

[hispanarepublicana]

I have a history of diabetes in my family (what hispanic doesn't--my heritage is beautiful eyes and diabetes), so a couple of years ago, I started eating the Sugar Busters way. You still eat starches and carbs, just not certain ones (white rice, white potatoes, sugar, refined, bleached flour). You can still eat pinto beans, sweet potatoes (we eat TONS of sweet potatoes). Get the book--it's worth the read. Since I started eating this way, I don't get hunger pangs just before meal time, my meals stay with me providing sustained energy longer, and I never get the hypoglycemic shakes/weakness anymore. I also no longer crave sugar, bread, or potatoes.

[rebelskid]

I did it a few years ago and ripped off 75 lbs. did great.....however....I should have been taking my vitamins. I started to have some problems after several months..Take the recommended suppliments !!!! Also awhile back I stumbled onto http:\\www.watercure2.com and started their plan.. that did more good for my overall health than the low carbing..freepmail if you want to pick my brain ... Goodluck

[oldsalt]

It has been 15 years since I retired from the Navy. I was 6'2" and 202 lbs when I retired. Since then I've probably lost 350 lbs! I gain, I lose, I gain back more, I lose more....it's a vicious cycle.

I've tried every known diet and they all work. The trouble is that not many of them are sustainable for any long period of time. I used Redux for 6 months when I was trying to come down from 275 lbs and it worked great, 'til they pulled it off the market and I had to quit it cold turkey.....and I was back down to 210 at the time.

My last upward spiral took me to 298!!! That's when I went back to good ol' Weight Watchers. I've tried Atkins a number of times, and it works for a while, but it isn't healthy and I start to get cravings you wouldn't believe....for bread, pasta,anything with carbs. That and my cholesterol went to 290.

I'm now under a cardiologists care for two blockages in the same blood vessel that he doesn't want to do surgically yet. I'm on Weight Watchers' regimen and have lost 25 lbs in 2 months without any cravings, my cholesterol is down to 230, with the help of Pravachol, and I'm starting to feel good about being able to keep the weight off if I stick to Weight Watchers.

I don't know if I'll ever get6 back to 200 again, but I think I MIGHT by sticking with this.

[FITZ]

No that's not me.

[takenoprisoner]

The down side -- no pasta and no beer.

Well you can have beer once you have met your goal. Miller lite has about 3 grams of carbs...the lowest on the market to my knowledge. Once on maintenance, you can have up to 60 carbs per day...hey, that's twenty beers if you go carbless the rest of the day. But yes,in the beginning, to get into ketosis to burn away that fat, no alcohol period. But once on maintenance some wine and miller lite are fine...in moderation of course. And when in ketosis and burning fat, you'll feel so great and have so much energy you won't care about the alcohol anyway.

[FITZ]

That one sounds similar to the God's diet, with that one you don't have to measure anything or count calories and I've heard of people losing over 100 pounds on it and they say it's easy because they can have completely balanced meals and lose weight. On this diet you can have anything found in nature, meat, butter, fish, vegetables, fruits but nothing man-made. The simple rule is if God didn't make it, then don't eat it so no breads, pastas, gravies, soda pops. But at least you can have butter and certain salad dressings and you don't end up craving anything because it's balanced.

[PianoMan]

I agree with you. I've been on the Atkins diet for about two years. It's one of the best things I've ever done for myself. I have never had a weight problem. I do it for energy and health. Most people equate the Atkins diet with its first two weeks. It's not nearly as strict after that. Basically you just keep your _refined_ carbohydrates very low and eat according to your appetite.

The Atkins diet cuts against conventional wisdom. But if you read carefully and judiciously you will see that science is on the side of the low-card diets. Most general-practitioner doctors, who will advise you against Atkins, are about ten years behind the research on cholesterol science. The data is there and if you read the studies on both sides of the argument you will see the low-carbers are right. If you want to see the science for the low-carb diet I would look not only at the Atkins books but also Diana Schwarzbein's "The Schwarzbein Principle".

When people do their own research, many of them come to the same conclusions I did. This is one of the reasons low-carb diets are sweeping NYC. I hope this helps you.

[birbear]

USDA recommends a diet high in carbohyrdrates and low in fat and protein but the percentage of overweight Americans just keeps going up. Now our government wouldn't lie to us would they?

Actually, I recently chatted with a nutrionist, and she handed me a copy of the "food pyramid"...(you know, the one that says 5-11 servings of grains, 2-3 servings of meat/dairy, etc.)

I was actually surprised to read in the bottom of the page that it was produced in part by the U.S. Cattlemen's Association, and the Beef Farmers.
FWIW

[Dakotabound]

Works for me.

Started October of last year, lost 40 pounds, cut my cholesterol and triglycerides by a third, dropped my blood pressure, blood sugar level normal. I was/am hypoglycemic and was borderline diabetic. No longer. I held the weight loss for the past 4 months, and have now started on my second weight loss trek, on the way to an even better weight.

More than the weight, I am wearing clothes sizes I didn't fit into at this same weight on any other "diet." Body looks better all over.

I have found, through this Way of Eating/Way of Life (it isn't a diet, you don't go BACK to eating crap) that I have either a wheat allergy or a real carbohydrate addiction. I eat bread, I feel awful. I don't eat bread and other starches, I feel great.

Is it for everyone? No. Neither is Weight Watchers. All I know is, I eat three eggs and bacon every single day for breakfast, steak or chicken for dinner, and green veggies. Plus cream, no milk. I have a KILLER chocolate mousse recipe made with REAL CREAM I can eat every day of my life. I haven't touched a candy bar in a year.

And better yet, I don't crave one, either.

Can those anti-Atkins folks say that?

[nagdt]

If you're overweight, normal weight or just considering a change in the way you eat, a 2 week induction with Dr. Atkins is awesome. The weight comes off, the skin and hair are revitalized and you WILL feel younger. I've dropped 25 completely unwanted pounds, men are throwing themselves at me and last night a 27 year old woman said she prayed she looked as good as I do at 43. Lots of protien, eggs - meats - cheese - you know fun stuff. Very little or no pasta, rice or potatoes.

Whiskey, vodka and red wine will help you forget about the starchy foods

No white bread!!! A slice or two a week. I do croutons with my salad. (damn sinner that I am) I'll never eat pasta or white rice again. EVER. I feel 25 again after 8 months of LOW carb. Secret carbonated drink choice is Canada Dry flavored club sodas. NO MORE COKES!!

[nagdt]

I just finished a bowl of yummy Egg based chocolate mousse. 1/2 tsp of fruitcose sweetens enough for 5 servings. Cheers.

[Protagoras]

many people have died on this diet, as you might be aware already.

Please provide documentation for these kind of claims.

[Reagan is King]

I've been on it in some form since April. I think it's terrific. I lost 20 lbs. in the first 2 or 3 weeks and I've kept it off. The scare stories are just amazing on this diet though, so get ready. Everybody will tell you that you'll die shortly after beginning the diet, lol. Of course most of them have never read the book or researched the studies. My bad cholesterol went down, not up. My good cholesterol went up too. I haven't had any kidney problems with it and I never needed the fiber stuff either. I've actually never felt better than when I'm on the Adkins diet. I have LOTS more energy and I don't feel bloated like I do when I eat a lot of breads and other carbs.

You only do the strict "no carbs" part on the the first 2 weeks and then you slowly add back in carbs until you reach the level that you don't gain weight. You don't have to eat high fat foods, you can eat chicken, fish, lean meats if you want to, just very few carbs and no sugar. If you will read the book, and really DO the diet for 2 weeks I'll bet you'll want to stay on it for the long term.

Do a google search for Dr. Adkins diet and you'll run across some good forums so people who have been on the diet a long time can help you with more info. Good luck!

[goodnesswins]

Yes, there is a PEANUT BUTTER DIET....Prevention Magazine put one together, and it seems pretty healthy....NUTS are GOOD for you in moderation - provide GOOD OILS. Especially RAW nuts, not the roasted, salted, kind.

[McDuckles]

It's the only diet on which I can consistently lose weight, and my cholesterol is just fine, thank you very much.

[Lib-Lickers 2]

Try the Sugar Busters,,,,,, like Atkins but lets you eat whole grain breads and whole grain Cherrios and lots of vegetables,, lost weight big time,, and if you go off and gain a little bit just slide back on it,,, very healthy diet,, no sugar or white breads or pasta or potatoes,, but whole grain pasta is fine,,

[Protagoras]

Lost 25 pounds. Put it all back as soon as left diet.

That is true of any diet plan in the world. Can you name any other diets that work, and then continue to work after you don't follow them anymore?