Posted on 04/25/2002 5:50:29 AM PDT by MagnusMat
First, to respond to your post 273, yes, consuming more calories than you burn does indeed make you fat, and I agree, it is that simple. The problem is, it's all too easy to exceed your caloric limit (I don't count calories, as the saying goes, but calories DO count) if fats and proteins are the central part of your diet. Two thousand calories a day (or whatever) doesn't go far in the form of meat and butter. Reduce fat and protein, especially the former, and you can eat a LOT, never be hungry, and stay under your calorie limit. But more importantly, just consuming the right amount of calories isn't enough, as I'm sure you know -- vitamins, minerals, fiber, that sort of thing. I'm not one of these people who advocates eating nuts and berries and tree bark or whatever; a reasonable balance is far preferable.
Now, as to the ill effects of too much protein... while obviously not as bad as overconsumption of fat, too much protein can interfere with the absorption of minerals, can raise blood sugar levels, can raise uric acid levels (leading to gout), and is linked to higher incidences of cancer. The biggest problem to me, however, is that high protein foods are so often high in fat.
It used to be commonly believed that the more protein you ate, the stronger you'd be, period. The training tables of college and pro athletes used to permit/encourage literally unlimited meat comsumption. That's no longer the case. Far from somehow "burning" fat, excess protein is stored by the body as fat.
I'm no monk, believe me. I enjoy a nice rare New York strip as much as, if not more than, the next guy. But I make a conscious effort to limit those occasions.
Yeah, I know the plan wouldn't advocate quite that level of foolishness. But I've heard defendants of low-carb diets use exactly those words.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the "second time around" for the Atkins plan. The first one (in the 1970s? 80s?) was pretty much all fat and protein, if I'm recalling correctly. Now, he's come back and said eat some veggies too, so to that extent, it's not quite as bad as it was. But I still think he's picking the wrong villain in carbohydrates, as opposed to fats (especially saturated).
Interesting (but not surprising to me, since I've seen it before) how this subject incites passions. A war between the anti-carbs and the anti-fats would make the Civil War look like a picnic.
All our steaks are fresh cut from specially selected USDA Choice grain fed beef and aged to our specifications,which are rigorous.
TOP SIRLOIN
Aged center cut choice sirloin. Very respectable.
NEW YORK STRIP STEAK
The classic. One of New York City's finest contributions to civilized society.
FILET MIGNON
Tender. And lovely. Perfect
THE PORTERHOUSE STEAK
A cut that highlights the file and strip. Surely you've done something recently to deserve this.
All our steaks are fresh cut from specially selected USDA Choice grain fed beef and aged to our specifications,which are rigorous.
TOP SIRLOIN
Aged center cut choice sirloin. Very respectable.
NEW YORK STRIP STEAK
The classic. One of New York City's finest contributions to civilized society.
FILET MIGNON
Tender. And lovely. Perfect
THE PORTERHOUSE STEAK
A cut that highlights the file and strip. Surely you've done something recently to deserve this.
Maybe. See my post 285. But there will always be a market for diet plans appealing to what people want to believe.
Our capacity to deceive ourselves knows no bounds. For instance, put the word "salad" in the name of a dish, and people will convince themselves that it's good for them. Go to a salad bar... iceburg lettuce with diced ham, shredded cheese, bacon bits, and a half-cup of thousand island dressing... well, sure it's good for me, it's a salad, isn't it?
I don't doubt that -- I have been surprised at how good I feel too. :o)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the "second time around" for the Atkins plan. The first one (in the 1970s? 80s?) was pretty much all fat and protein, if I'm recalling correctly. Now, he's come back and said eat some veggies too, so to that extent, it's not quite as bad as it was.
I believe that is also true. I can't imagine being able to stick to that regimen. I have been doing it for going on 4 months. My prior eating habits were atrocious. I still go to McD's, but now its a 1/4 pounder (sans bun & ketchup) and a side salad. That is obviously better than the 1/4 pounder and super-size fries. No?
Interesting (but not surprising to me, since I've seen it before) how this subject incites passions. A war between the anti-carbs and the anti-fats would make the Civil War look like a picnic.
Funny, isn't it. Every Atkins related thread on FR usually reaches 300+ posts. I guess its one of those subjects on which everyone has an opinion.
There was a young lady at the bar eating a burger w/o the bun and a side of brocolli. I guess the diet really has had a resurgence. (She and myself out of 5 people.)
There are many things I don't know much about, and agriculture is right up there near the top of the list. But as a guess, I'd say that grain and molasses are the most cost-effective weight-adding foods they can find that the cows would eat. Being herbivores, cows aren't going to eat meat. And fettucini Alfredo and chocolate eclairs are too expensive. Compared to their standard diet of grass and hay, a grain and molasses diet is calorie rich. Anyway, I'm not so sure interspecies comparisons are valid. For one thing, we only have one stomach.
You ever notice how the fattest people eat lots of salad?
I stay away from that stuff and eat prime rib.
I doubt that he followed that diet himself. Wasn't "The Atkins Diet" intended to be temporary as an aid to weight loss?
Please elucidate.
That was Jim Fixx. He reportedly had a congenital heart defect that might well have killed him earlier had he not adopted his regimen.
One of the best workouts I have seen [and used] is a 5x5 method.
First two weeks do 5 sets of 10 reps. Next three weeks, do 5 sets of 5. Last three weeks, do 5 sets of 2.
This is an eight week program that helps build both size and strength. You get three weeks of using heavy weight without maxing out for a single, often damaging repetition.
You can also add sets of incline bar presses or fly's if you choose.
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