I researched the plan quite a bit a few months ago and found that to be (kinda) true. The majority of the diets defenders were speaking from personal experience and the majority of detractors were using anecdotal evidence:
"My boss's brother's barber did that diet and in one month he grew hair on his palms and his heart exploded."
You know, "I eat Spam fried in butter and a cheese omelet for breakfast every day, and I never felt better."
You do realize this is not really what the plan dictates, don't you?
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.
I had to chime in with my two cents.
This Saturday will make four weeks for me being on the Atkins diet. Tonight I weighed myself and I have lost 26 pounds. The first 19 pounds came off pretty easily in the first two weeks, but the other seven have taken more time. I'm tracking my progress (weight and measurements) every two weeks.
In short, I'm so happy that I found the Atkins diet! It's amazing how going nearly four weeks without bread, sugar and potatoes will benefit your health so much. In addition to the weight I've lost, I've gained more energy (enough to start a 3 times a week exercise regimen, and I never used to exercise), elimated cravings for snacks in the afternoon and evening, and started eating healthier than I ever have.
Sure, at first, some folks think it's all about cheese and bacon, but it's really not. Those decadent foods are allowed, but this diet has encouraged me to eat very healthy things, like sliced turkey with a salad or broiled fish and some broccoli -- as opposed to fast food, pasta, bread, french fries. And after you get past the first two week induction period, the diet becomes a habit and you learn to enjoy the natural savoryness of vegetables and the sublime sweetness of berries instead of cake for desert.
Dr. Akins has done a lot of good for many people.