Replies

I'd appreciate any replies from everyone on this thread:

What do you think about Atkins (close to zero carbs) versus the Glycemic Index (avoid processed carbs) approaches?

I've been avoiding breads, white flour, white sugar, potatoes, etc. since last summer and have done reasonably well. Losing weight slowly, about 25 pounds so far, in about 7.5 months. But I seem to plateau for a month at a time, and wonder if I ought to go to a more radical zero-carbs approach?

Sometimes I eat steel-cut oats for breakfast, high-fiber Rye Crisp crackers for lunch, and beans and brown rice for dinner. These are relatively good on the Glycemic Index, but would be way too many carbs for Atkins.

Happy to hear anyone's feedback.

Also, I've been waiting for an Atkins thread to ask another question: Yogurt is listed as having the exact same carbs as milk. But isn't the whole point of yoghurt that the bacteria break down the lactose -- that's why it tastes sour? Anyone ever read anything on this point?

What do you think about Atkins (close to zero carbs) versus the Glycemic Index (avoid processed carbs) approaches?

The "Glycemic Index" approach is one advocated by Larry North, a Dallas bodybuilder-turned-gym-owner.

His diet guru, Dr. Cliff Sheets, advocates the low glycemic diet but only if you are on a weight-lifting, aerobic exercise regimen. The intense exercise requires some complex carbs and will burn them off. In addition, weight lifters tend to burn off fat anyway.

I know I did. But I don't lift as intensely as I did ten years ago, nor do I do aerobic exercise every day.

So, I went on Atkins, eliminating most carbs (still have a glass of wine with dinner), and have maintained my weight at 190. I cheat once a week, eating whatever I want.

Atkins is a tremendous eating program, and, with all the stuff available today with more coming into stores every day, we're gradually going to put the sugar growers into serious hurt. Sucra, a sugar substitute, tastes like sugar but has zero effect on insulin. It's truly a miracle product, and hopefully we'll see more sucra-based desserts and products.

For me, the low-glycemic carbs were OK as long as I was lifting weights and walking an hour a day.

I've never tried Atkins, but I am currently using the "Body For Life" program. Basically, you eat six small meals a day, balancing carbs and protien at each one. You can't eat any old carbs, though. Whole wheat bread, baked potato, fruit, etc.

This program also includes an exercise routine. Weightlifting 3 times per week, 45 min. per session; cardio 3 days per week, 20 (intense) minutes. You can take one free day every week - eat whatever you want, no exercise.

I just started a few weeks ago, but I am seeing dramatic results. I haven't lost weight this quickly and easily since I was on the track team in high school. Before I discovered this program I was cutting calories and working out 45-60 minutes every day, six days a week, with very dissapointing results. I think the reason for that was a high carb diet - I ate lots of white bread, crackers, bagels, not nearly enough protien, and overtraining.

Overall, I think balancing the carbs with protien and not using strictly a low carb, high protien diet seems to work (for me anyway.)

Check out http://www.bodyforlife.com or http://www.hussman.org/fitness/index.htm for more info.

There is a very interesting book called "Life without Bread" by Christian B. Allan, Wolfgang Lutz. It shows research and it is their opinion that we should not be eating more than 75 grams a day. If you want to lose weight then you would eat fewer. Their book states that serious health issues start to arise when we consume more than that 75.

I found it very interesting and though I have read many more books on the subject, I found this the most interesting.

re: Losing weight slowly, about 25 pounds so far, in about 7.5 months. But I seem to plateau for a month at a time, and wonder if I ought to go to a more radical zero-carbs approach?)))

Talk about slow, it took me a full year to lose my 25, but 25 was what I had to lose. The first plateau was discouraging, lasted a month like you said after I had lost 12 steadily over four months. But since I wasn't hungry, I continued on locarb. I was starting to like the other benefits--not feeling famished at ten in the morning and wanting a nap at three.

After a month of nothing, suddenly five were gone like, overnight. Lost steadily and very slowly (the best way to lose) after that. But I never stinted on snacks--lots of nuts and cheese.