[Dana113]

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.

[Senator Pardek]

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...)

[Arioch7]

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.

[HangThemHigh]

"Exercise contributes very little - if any - to weight loss after a certain age"

I don't want to get involved in the fat/protein/carbs "debate", but the key to weight loss is to eat fewer calories than you burn, regardless of age. True, older folks tend to be more sedentary and prone to injury, making exercise less likely, but no less effective.

Extreme examples:

Pro bicycle riders will lose 10 lbs or more during the two week Tour de France race on a diet of 10,000+ calories per day.

On the other hand I've seen anorexics starve themselves to death on a few hundred calories per day and zero exercise.