Doctors' group urges Atkins diet ban

Washinton Times ^ | August 22, 2003 | UPI

[Cincinatus' Wife]

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Nutritionists are urging the top 10 U.S. hospitals to ban the Atkins diet, reports said Friday.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine announced Friday in Washington it hopes the hospitals will emulate England's Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, which is eliminating the controversial diet from its menus, fearing a link to kidney damage.

[Squantos]

When I was active duty we did a little shuffle every morning of 6 miles in addition to our 2 hours of PT. I too used a bike for local transport pretty much. If you maintain an agressive endurance exercise regime and life style then your high carb diet is burned off . If you become sedate because of illness or injury then the carbs will go straight to yer ass. Back off to low carb intake as much as possible. Each individual will react differently to differing diets thus I recommend you have a close relationship with a flobotomist and doctor who'll keep track of yer chemistry for ya !

Just sharing what works for me after some very bad back injuries that put too many pounds on me when I had to quit running .

Stay Safe !

[T Wayne]

I drink a 12 cup pot of strong arabica every day. And it is NOT decaf!

[LurkerNoMore!]

They don't get it - do they?

I guess someone doesn't get it, my starch-eating-city-dwelling friend.

[StarFan]

Haven't read the entire thread yet but assume you're on Atkins. Have you had success even while drinking 12 cups which closely parallels what I drink daily? I have an old version of the Arkins diet in which he recommends 2 cups of salad per day on Level I. Now I'm told he's amended the diet and salad and coffee are no nos during the first fews weeks. Whatever I'm doing isn't working as the sticks remain beige.

[jexercise]

I am 51 and 5'9". I was on a low fat diet for about 3.5 years. I lost about 70 lbs. From 250 to 180. After I reached 180 lbs I started to increase my carbs. I ate what I thought was healthy. Most of the carbs were whole grain stuff. I don't think I have had a piece of white bread for 3 yrs. Anyway I was and still running 25 miles per week and doing about 4hrs per week of strength training. But over time I gained back to 205. I am now back to around 187 as of this morning. I started on the Atkins Diet about 6 to 7 weeks ago and lost almost 20 lbs. Now for your question. The first couple of days I was on the Diet I seemed to not have the endurance I had before I started the diet. But after that I guess my body adjusted and I was back to normal if not better. I am able to run faster longer now. But that could be because of the weight loss.
I have also notice I am able to lift heavier than I was before I started the Atkins Diet. Which means I haven't lost any muscle mass and have most likely gain muscle mass.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Sam, or anybody that wants to jump in, what I can have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the Atkins diet? I don't eat eggs or meat, but I DO eat fish. Also, is it no carbs at all, or just fewer carbs?

[Dianna]

Easiest to go to www.atkins.com and click on "How to do Atkins". At the very least that will give you enough information to know if you want to go get the books and get into it for real.

Ok, all! School starts Monday and I'll be back on Atkins! On the last thread someone mentioned an Atkins Friends chat or message board, maybe? Can anyone direct me there?

[Frances_Marion]

"Research has clearly shown that high-protein, meat-heavy diets increase the risk of osteoporosis and kidney disorders and that low-fat vegetarian diets help prevent heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, and other health problems."

The agenda is all laid out for you in this one sentence.

Which "research" is it exactly they are referring to? Conveniently they leave that part out...

[carlo3b]

One of the really identifiable initial side effects for some folks on Atkins is chronic constipation. For others it is diarrhea, in the early days of Induction, as their bodies get rid of excess carbohydrates, and ketone production begins.  ..so go figure...

For many, it can take a week or more for the "first" bowel movement, after switching to low carb. This is especially prevalent if you were previously on a  diet that was full of highly processed and refined sugary starch carbs, the mere changing to eating more meats and low-starch vegetables will take a bit of adjustment. Once you do "go", things will return to a regular pattern.

However, constipation is also a symptom of low or sluggish thyroid. A few sure ways to tell if you have a low thyroid, is if you have a sensitivity to cold, hard to lose weight, combined with unusual hair loss. Although I have played a doctor on TV, you should ask a real one for the facts if you suspect this may be a cause.. LOL

One of the most notorious causes of sluggish bowels are pain-killers, especially codeine and other opiates, as well as antidepressants, iron pills and diuretics. Some calcium carbonate supplements can be constipating as well.

Are you eating a lot of homemade low carb desserts and treats, like cheesecakes, chocolates and artificially sweetened whipped cream things?? The artificial sweeteners that you buy to use at home contain maltodextrin, which helps give it bulk, and makes it look and and measure just like regular sugar. While the sweetener itself doesn't cause any problem, this dextrin (made from corn usually) can. So go easy, and do not create additional problems, including the overuse of laxatives. Laxatives are not an ideal solution, perhaps for occasional use only. Try a few of these suggestions first..

It is important to eat a variety of foods, including low carb high-fiber vegetables, leafy greens and salads, drink lots of water, and be sure to get regular exercise.

Are you consuming enough fats and oils? You do indeed need to ensure an adequate intake of fat ... olive and flax oil are good, add a Tbs. of either of these to the dressing you put on your salads. These will help prevent things from turning hard!

Add some variety to the vegetables you're eating. If the salads you eat are composed mainly of the pale iceberg lettuce, it's full of water, and not a lot else. Choose dark green lettuces, romaine, endive and raw spinach especially is amazing for it's ability to get things moving. Have a serving of lightly steamed, high fiber veg. such as broccoli, asparagus .... or spinach!

Cut out ALL salt for a couple days. So no ham, bacon, or bottled salad dressing, mayo, mustard, pickles or diet soda pop (soda = sodium). This will help get rid of fluid retention and bloat ... sometimes the abdominal bloat itself creates pressure which slows the bowel.

Try a cup of hot (but not boiling) water with the juice of half a lemon -- use fresh lemon juice, not the bottled type, which has sodium citrate in it. Drink this first thing in the morning, and again late afternoon, if no result. (The lemon juice does have a few carbs (2.5), but in this case, they're important)

Last but not at all least... if you eat a large piece of fresh Jalapeño, each and every day, you will hardly ever have a problem with constipation.. Strange but oh so true!!

[PurVirgo]

actually, your brain requires a lot of glucose.

In my A&P class last sem, the prof told us that when engaged in deep thought (working out cal problems), the brain needs more glucose than your muscles do rock climbing

[carlo3b]

This morning I ran 4 miles in 26:00...

Sheeeesh, stop that, you are setting the bar much too high for chefs...LOLOL
If I ran that fast or that far, I'd be 80 lbs wet, ...or dead! :o)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It's great to be free of body fat. I can't believe we've been so mislead about nutrition and how easy it is to burn off fat. People are eating too much sugar and processed foods. I imagine a lot of lobbying groups on Capital Hill don't want that to get much coverage.

Congratulations on finding Atkins and getting a new lease on life.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I just read that earlier on the thread. Thanks for the info!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

As a professional chef I'm quite capable of developing recipes for Atkins etc. Anyone with real money want to start a restaurant chain that caters to this diet program?

I know someone who had a pot-luck Atkins dinner party. It's nice to know so many people are trying Atkins they are able to hold dinner parties and share their recipes. Word of mouth will help a lot of people.

Great about your diet success.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Well, I think we all went through that stage, I sure did. But in his book, Atkins address that and with patience and some of his suggestions it will pass. Pun intended.

[EVO X]

Now maybe when I get to my target weight and remain physically active (I currently walk at least 7-10 miles a day), I can handle as many carbs as you.

I quit smoking a few years ago and my weight started to climb a bit. I've lost 25 lbs since spring. I started walking for a couple hours per day thinking it would help my golf game. It didn't, but I feel a heck of a lot better. I now do a couple hundred push ups and sit ups a day. I've changed my diet somewhat, but not drastically. I've also cut back on the portion sizes. No more super sizing for me..

I've got another 7 pounds to go before I hit my goal.

[freedom moose]

I just started Atkins 3 days ago. I'd watched a lot of friends drop pounds. I weighed 246 on Wednesday morning and today I weigh 233. The speed concerned me. In the book Dr Atkins suggests to slow it down a little if this happens although apparently people with a lot of extra pounds can lose this much this quick. I did however feel a little light headed and sluggish, but this morning I feel much better. I've been exercising for the last few months and now plan to do even more. It works!!
I am a pretty healthy eater and the atkins menu isn't much different from what I normally eat except I no longer munch all that carb junk between meals. Plus I haven't had any beer. I hope once i get down to around 210 with a good exercise program I'll be able to have a beer or so every day.
Atkins is for real!

[SauronOfMordor]

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Any groups with a name like that, must be considered a front group for Leftist loonyism. They're probably all vegans

[SauronOfMordor]

I've hit a plateau for the last two months and haven't lost weight, but I have lost dimensions and everyone remarks that I must be losing weight.

If you are losing dimension (eg waist-size) while maintaining weight, it may mean that you're converting fat into muscle thru whatever exercise you're doing (muscle is denser than fat)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

How about a tasty prune burger?*** Prunes in hamburgers? Yup. Cherries, blueberries and veggies, too. A growing number of schools nationwide are putting more fruits and vegetables into fat-laden meats like burgers and breakfast sausage to combat soaring childhood obesity rates.***