NationStates Jolt Archive

just kinda curious how you guys feel. My association thus far with it has been positive. I used to weigh close to 280 ( I was young and weak yah) Found atkins diet at lost about 100 pounds. Atm, i have perfect cholesterol and blood pressure, but im starting to question wether or not its healthy for a long period of time. Been on it for about two years now. You think its a good life style? Unsafe?

I read an article in National Geographic about it.

Most experts agree that the Atkins diet is bad.

Here's the deal: Diabetics aren't supposed to eat many carbs, particularly sugars. Because of this lack of carbs, many go into ketosis, a toxic state.

The GOAL of the atkins diet is to go into ketosis, which is bad for you.

Also, I've heard that Atkins doesn't keep the pounds off.

It's terrible for your body, and as soon as you get off of it, you'll balloon back up.

this is what i know about atkins

it works

it works ONLY if you are utterly faithful to it. you cant go half-assed sorta atkins. you cant eat low carb icecream and expect it to work.

i know several people who have lost lots of weight on it. those who didnt werent utterly faithful to it

i know one man who had uncontrollable high cholesterol before going on atkins. now he has excellent levels without any drug therapy.

its hard to stay on but what diet isnt? if it fits with your personal eating style, give it a try.

"ketosis, a toxic state."

Actually ketone is a chemical present in the urine as the body burns fat, its not toxic. The book actually tells you if you have been in ketone a certain amount of time ( if your very heavy and losing a lot) to easy up and get out of it for a bit then go back in it. This is to help the body adjust.

this is what i know about atkins

it works

it works ONLY if you are utterly faithful to it. you cant go half-assed sorta atkins. you cant eat low carb icecream and expect it to work.

i know several people who have lost lots of weight on it. those who didnt werent utterly faithful to it

i know one man who had uncontrollable high cholesterol before going on atkins. now he has excellent levels without any drug therapy.

its hard to stay on but what diet isnt? if it fits with your personal eating style, give it a try.


Yah, i cheat quite a bit but i still lose although very very slowly. When I first got on it i was very strict and I lost like 5 pounds a week. I also had TERRRRIBLE heartburn but now I have none. My doctor actually said its a decent diet to be on.

If Dr. Atkins was a true scientist, he would have let people examine his organs and see what condition they were in when he died.

It's terrible for your body, and as soon as you get off of it, you'll balloon back up.

Well that depends I think, if you get off of it mind numbingly slow and go onto another healthy diet than you should be fine, least i hope because I was considering switching my diets here soon....

If Dr. Atkins was a true scientist, he would have let people examine his organs and see what condition they were in when he died.

That was uncalled for.

Well that depends I think, if you get off of it mind numbingly slow and go onto another healthy diet than you should be fine, least i hope because I was considering switching my diets here soon....
what are you thinking of switching to?

That was uncalled for.

Not really. It's true, if he really wanted to prove that the Atkins Diet was healthy (with all the criticism going toward it) he should have done that. I'm not knocking him or anything.

I don't know much about this Atkins diet, but from what I understand, it's some kind of a guide to heart-disease.

what are you thinking of switching to?

Well now that meat sickens me almost. Id like to switch over to one where i primarily eat veggies/nuts. Um...I want to limit processec carbs and stick mainly to whole wheats and such. I needa do a little more research before I look.

I don't know much about this Atkins diet, but from what I understand, it's some kind of a guide to heart-disease.

Yah, I keep hearing that from random people which is one reason im heavily considering getting off it soon but.....all signs as of now say its actually improved my circulatory system, which is weird 0_o

It'll play havoc with your liver for one thing. Your body is not meant to avoid carbs like that. I would really only stick to it short term and move on to a healthier diet and exercise regualarly if you actually want to be healthy and not just skinny.

Well now that meat sickens me almost. Id like to switch over to one where i primarily eat veggies/nuts. Um...I want to limit processec carbs and stick mainly to whole wheats and such. I needa do a little more research before I look.
have you looked at the south beach diet? not that ive even opened the book but i think it is kinda what you just described.

have you looked at the south beach diet? not that ive even opened the book but i think it is kinda what you just described.

Ill look into it, think its healthy?

"ketosis, a toxic state."

Actually ketone is a chemical present in the urine as the body burns fat, its not toxic. The book actually tells you if you have been in ketone a certain amount of time ( if your very heavy and losing a lot) to easy up and get out of it for a bit then go back in it. This is to help the body adjust.

Yes, ketones are a set of chemicals present in the body. However, the state of ketosis causes you to have an excess of them, and they begin to build up in your body, which is toxic.

As for my opinion, any diet which requires you to go into a pathological condition (which ketosis is) is unhealthy. You may want to lose weight fast, but if you are doing it in an unhealthy way, there is no point to it. It is much healthier to lose it slowly on a balanced diet than to intentionally put your system into a pathological condition.

I work for a clinician who is absolutely opposed to this and any other fad diet.

Yes, ketones are a chemical present in the body. However, the state of ketosis causes you to have an excess of them, and they begin to build up in your body, which is toxic.

As for my opinion, any diet which requires you to go into a pathological condition (which ketosis is) is unhealthy. You may want to lose weight fast, but if you are doing it in an unhealthy way, there is no point to it. It is much healthier to lose it slowly on a balanced diet than to intentionally put your system into a pathological condition.

I work for a clinician who is absolutely opposed to this and any other fad diet.

I actually got on it before it was a fad heh. And the book does tell you to take breaks as your in ketone. And ketone is used when you burn fat on any weight losing program, just burn a lot more on this, but in all fairness it does tell you to break during stages of ketone. I may be starting to think it may be unhealthy for me now, but i will always appreciate what the diet did for me. I had next to no will power and i probably would have ended up dead...280 and going up fast.

Ill look into it, think its healthy?
only if its what i think it is

i think that adding more vegetables but still leaving out the "carbs" (stupid term in my opinon) to ease the monotony of meat meat meat is a good plan.

diets work because they lower your caloric intake. so whatever you DO decide to go with, dont make it too extreme and monitor your calories for a while to make sure you arent doing anything foolish.

are you exercising?

only if its what i think it is

i think that adding more vegetables but still leaving out the "carbs" (stupid term in my opinon) to ease the monotony of meat meat meat is a good plan.

diets work because they lower your caloric intake. so whatever you DO decide to go with, dont make it too extreme and monitor your calories for a while to make sure you arent doing anything foolish.

are you exercising?

Yes, quite a bit, I usually exercise at least 3-4 times a week for about 1-2 hours, in addition to belly and leg exercises I do and such. Yah, thats what my plan was going to be. Stay on a diet that still has a fairly low amount of carbs but allows for much more carbs in the forms of vegtables and fruit.

Its just plain common sense. A diet that aims to deprive your body of its primary source of energy and replace it with foods that are in high fat is dangerous and stupid. But if you want more scientific proof than just common sense check out this website.

http://www.atkinsexposed.org/

Its just plain common sense. A diet that aims to deprive your body of its primary source of energy and replace it with foods that are in high fat is dangerous and stupid. But if you want more scientific proof than just common sense check out this website.

http://www.atkinsexposed.org/


One that site is biased and two its not common sense. You obviously don't know about how the body uses Carbohydrates and fats if you think that your body needs carbs to the exclusion of fats.

Yah, I keep hearing that from random people which is one reason im heavily considering getting off it soon but.....all signs as of now say its actually improved my circulatory system, which is weird 0_o

But wouldn't it be easier to get off this Atkins diet then? I had a friend who was a bit overweight, he said the thing that worked for him was to follow the health-counsils advice, which is the typical healthy and balanced diet without any gimmicks and such. Wouldn't it be easier than having to think about all those ingredients and carbohydrates and whatchacallits?

My fiancee's parents both started the Atkins more than a year ago, and they have had fantastic results adapting it not only to their lifestyle but their kids, including my girl. So, if it works for you, then, that's all that matters.

One that site is biased and two its not common sense. You obviously don't know about how the body uses Carbohydrates and fats if you think that your body needs carbs to the exclusion of fats.

That site provides accurate information and a bibliography of sources. the National Academy of Sciences, the AMA, the ADA, the American Cancer Society,the American Heart Association, the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, the American Kidney Fund, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the National Institutes of Health all agree that the Atkins diet is dangerous and unhealthy. Regardless of how biased the site might be, the sources are all there, you can look up the research, nothing there is said without citing a source. Ad hominem based attacks will get you nowhere on this or any other topic.

That site provides accurate information and a bibliography of sources. the National Academy of Sciences, the AMA, the ADA, the American Cancer Society,the American Heart Association, the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, the American Kidney Fund, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the National Institutes of Health all agree that the Atkins diet is dangerous and unhealthy. Regardless of how biased the site might be, the sources are all there, you can look up the research, nothing there is said without citing a source. Ad hominem based attacks will get you nowhere on this or any other topic.

Ok that site only lists links to those organizations who say that low carb dieting in the extreme is negative. Do you even know how atkins works or do you think that all you ever eat on it is meat and nothing else? For instance the link article information from the american cancer society talks about low carb diets where you eat practiaclly no vegtables. I hate to break it to you but vegtables are REQUIRED on the atkins diet. Only during induction are they somewhat low. And forgive me if I'm a little hesitant to take the unbiased and objective view of a site that periodically insults its opposition in cute little slurs.

Yes, quite a bit, I usually exercise at least 3-4 times a week for about 1-2 hours, in addition to belly and leg exercises I do and such. Yah, thats what my plan was going to be. Stay on a diet that still has a fairly low amount of carbs but allows for much more carbs in the forms of vegtables and fruit.

What type of exercise are you doing?

Get of the low-carb diet man. Just eat healthy and you'll not only look good but you'll feel better too.

What type of exercise are you doing?

Get of the low-carb diet man. Just eat healthy and you'll not only look good but you'll feel better too.

Yah, ive come to believe that although the atkins diet isnt nearly as unhealthy as some people make it out to be, its still too strict on carb intake. Im gonna try to take it slow and ease onto a different diet.

the atkins diet seems stupid and dangerous but when studies have been done those on atkins lose more weight and dont damage their health. i dont think that long term studies have been done to assess the health of people who are on it for years though.

the statistics on diets are grim. chances of success are less than 10% and the chances of keeping the weight off once you do get to your goal weight are less than 10%. so if you find something that works for you, you dont mess with it too much.

Ok that site only lists links to those organizations who say that low carb dieting in the extreme is negative. Do you even know how atkins works or do you think that all you ever eat on it is meat and nothing else? For instance the link article information from the american cancer society talks about low carb diets where you eat practiaclly no vegtables. I hate to break it to you but vegtables are REQUIRED on the atkins diet. Only during induction are they somewhat low. And forgive me if I'm a little hesitant to take the unbiased and objective view of a site that periodically insults its opposition in cute little slurs.

It basically boils down to this. Either you believe all of the professionals in every major public and private health organization. Or, you believe the one guy (Atkins) who thinks they are all wrong. Im going with the experts.

the atkins diet seems stupid and dangerous but when studies have been done those on atkins lose more weight and dont damage their health. i dont think that long term studies have been done to assess the health of people who are on it for years though.

the statistics on diets are grim. chances of success are less than 10% and the chances of keeping the weight off once you do get to your goal weight are less than 10%. so if you find something that works for you, you dont mess with it too much.

Thats why im scared, theres no long term studies. Mmm, and id sooner die, than gain that weight back.

It basically boils down to this. Either you believe all of the professionals in every major public and private health organization. Or, you believe the one guy (Atkins) who thinks they are all wrong. Im going with the experts.

No I choose to believe what I read. Those sites it lists only talks about low carbing to the EXTREME. If you READ the book and see that it actually REQUIRES you to eat fruit and vegtables than maybe you'll understand that only when people stay on THE FIRST PHASE is it blatantly dangerous.

the atkins diet seems stupid and dangerous but when studies have been done those on atkins lose more weight and dont damage their health. i dont think that long term studies have been done to assess the health of people who are on it for years though.

A recent long-term study showed that, while Atkins users lose weight faster at the start, they are usually no more successful by a year out than the users of any fad diet.

Yah, ive come to believe that although the atkins diet isnt nearly as unhealthy as some people make it out to be, its still too strict on carb intake. Im gonna try to take it slow and ease onto a different diet.
Yeah, I know that Atkins diet has it's short-term benefits but long term it's just safe to steer clear of it. Definitly ease back onto carbs though as you've been off them for awhile. You just can't really on everything Atkins said in his book as gospel.

Thats why im scared, theres no long term studies. Mmm, and id sooner die, than gain that weight back.
yeah i know what you mean. you have a whole new life now.

since the atkins thing works for you, id take that as a basis and slowly start adding in more balance foods. you never need add in things like white bread, white rice or white pasta. at the same time, i see no need for anyone to ever eat things like butter or bacon. that you CAN eat certain foods on atkins doesnt mean they are actually good for you. go slowly and see what works and what doesnt.

Yeah, I know that Atkins diet has it's short-term benefits but long term it's just safe to steer clear of it. Definitly ease back onto carbs though as you've been off them for awhile. You just can't really on everything Atkins said in his book as gospel.

I used to when i was amazed at the fact I was loosing wieght, but not anymore. It just seems unhealthy long term to me now.

I used to when i was amazed at the fact I was loosing wieght, but not anymore. It just seems unhealthy long term to me now.
Yeah, you don't want to lose TOO much eh?

The diet is total bullshit, and the whole Carb craze last year just goes to show how gullible the general public is.

The diet is total bullshit, and the whole Carb craze last year just goes to show how gullible the general public is.

Really? saved my life, and i got on it close to a year before it became a craze.

Really? saved my life, and i got on it close to a year before it became a craze.

I guess it can work for some people. My uncle's on it, and he's even fatter than he was when he ate everything he wanted...

...Guess it really is different.

I guess it can work for some people. My uncle's on it, and he's even fatter than he was when he ate everything he wanted...

...Guess it really is different.

Maybe he's sneaking carbs in on the side.

Maybe he's sneaking carbs in on the side.

Probably so. However, it's a very flawed diet in the first place, so it really doesn't matter anyway.

Probably so. However, it's a very flawed diet in the first place, so it really doesn't matter anyway.
Yeah, I don't know how people think it's easy either. So many things have carbs in them, delicious things too!

Diets suck, it's not fair that I can't just eat tasty deep-fried, cheese covered and sugery snacks all day long, without ending up in an early grave. If there IS a heaven, it's an all you can eat buffet with good food, hot waitresses and a PPV feed on the big screen....all the while never gaining an ounce.

It all depends on your body type. No matter what I eat, if it's a large quantity, I'll lose weight three hours later. Growth mixed with a hell of a high metabolism makes for some good eating times!

I've been in the 152 - 158 pounds range for quite a long time now. It's great! I weigh myself one morning, and I'm 157, I eat four slices of pizza for lunch, I'm 159, I weigh myself later in the evening, and I'm 155!

I don't need no stinkin' diets, damnit!

It all depends on your body type. No matter what I eat, if it's a large quantity, I'll lose weight three hours later. Growth mixed with a hell of a high metabolism makes for some good eating times!

I've been in the 152 - 158 pounds range for quite a long time now. It's great! I weigh myself one morning, and I'm 157, I eat four slices of pizza for lunch, I'm 159, I weigh myself later in the evening, and I'm 155!

I don't need no stinkin' diets, damnit!

Lucky bastard. How old are you?

Lucky bastard. How old are you?

17. My metabolism is in full swing, and I have annoying growing pains in my ass.

17. My metabolism is in full swing, and I have annoying growing pains in my ass.

Cool [well not the ass pains], 21 here so it's healthy eating and exercise for me. Not that I mind all that much, I've just got genetics against me when it comes to fatness.

Cool [well not the ass pains], 21 here so it's healthy eating and exercise for me. Not that I mind all that much, I've just got genetics against me when it comes to fatness.

Yeah, it sucks when genetics hinder people.

Well its not as good as the Polish Diet where you are meant to eat 4 times more Fatty Goodness.Hmmmmmmmm
Thats right kiddies Suasages for everyone!!!
*Also Blood Soup hmmm.....

It all depends on your body type. No matter what I eat, if it's a large quantity, I'll lose weight three hours later. Growth mixed with a hell of a high metabolism makes for some good eating times!

I've been in the 152 - 158 pounds range for quite a long time now. It's great! I weigh myself one morning, and I'm 157, I eat four slices of pizza for lunch, I'm 159, I weigh myself later in the evening, and I'm 155!

I don't need no stinkin' diets, damnit!
Bulimia will do that to people! :p
21 and 84kg

Kilograms? Gyah, you're killing me with your foreign measurement systems!!

(Actually, our government is killing us with this screwy system of measurement)

Kilograms? Gyah, you're killing me with your foreign measurement systems!!

(Actually, our government is killing us with this screwy system of measurement)
What Imperial?
Why keep Imperial obviously it would indicate Empire which would have to be Britain*!
Imagine all the Nuts and Bolts and MAnufactured goods that would need to be converted though!
GM would have a fit+

2.2 Pounds or so(lb) in a Kg
1 Kg is .45* Pounds

*Back in the day anyway.
+Lozy bastards for profit! :mp5:
*Not to be confused with Colt!

Haha, yeah. So long as corporations are involved with our political system, there will never be any real change... Though, this is another topic for another thread.

I do like your Polish diet, though! Polska Kielbasa and Pierogies. Damn good food.

I guess India and Mexico need the Jobs more! :rolleyes:

As someone who wants to become a certified nutrionist I can tell you the Atkins diet is one of the healthiest diets out there.

There is no justification to eat starches such as rice and bread, these things lack any nutrional minerals or vitamins that could be found in vegitables or meats in much larger and better qauntities. (You may understand what I mean by better, but take for example beta carentene viatmin A versus pure vitamin A. Again, that may go over your head. But there's an import differance.)

As much as I love fruit, you really only need about two a day if that. One orange contains 90% of your vitamin C and has 90kilo calories, a lemon juiced and given a spoonful of splenda has even less at a measly 25kilocalories and 120% of your Vitamin C requirements!

This is only the beggeining, Salmon is a much richer source of pottassium and magnesim then potatoes or bannanas could ever hope to be. The goverment just uses the "you need carbohydrates for fuel/brain function" as a scape goat. You need FOOD for brain development, and carbs are a poor source of energy. Thier like coal to the body, fat is more like nuclear energy. And sure like nuclear energy if it meltsdown (Or becomes a trans-fatty acid.) it's bad, but otherwise it's much cleaner and more effeicent. (By the way, to immagine the severety of trans-fatty acids, immagine a boat shaped molecule transforming into a chair shaped molecule. That is about the just of a fatty acid transformation.)

The only reason the goverment tells you this is so you sicken yourself on useless crap and become a slave to capitalism by having to by uber expensive drugs which only mess you up even more and the cycle countinues. THIS IS HOW THEY CONTROL YOU!

Let me put it a simpler way. All carbohydrates turn into sugar we know this right? Well put a tooth in a bowl of soda and watch it dissolve. If that's what sugar can do to bone immagine what it is doing to your innards! How could we possibly need such a destructive force in such large qauntities?!

Now if you happen to like bagels and pasta hey i won't stop you. I'm all for human rights and even encourage smoking if that's really what they want to put in thier body. But don't give me that malarky that it's a healthy diet and that that's how mankind was meant to eat. Cause that's a damn lie.

Let's see... got a few things.

1) The no-carb diet was originally started as a short-term thing for people who were about to have certain types of surgery. It was never meant to be long term.

2) This isn't the first time the no-carb diet has been in style. There was a brief fad for it in the '70s, that resulted in a lot of people getting heart disease and such. People finally stopped using it and so it went into hibernation until it was forgotten and could come back for another generation.

3) It's already been mentioned, but no, you're not supposed to ever stop Atkins, or you immediately begin to regain weight. If you decide to switch to a different diet, expect a little ballooning for awhile, and probably digestive problems like heartburn and the trots until your body readjusts. For the long run, a more balanced diet is much better for you though, so it's worth it.

Conclusion: Unless you're trying to lose a lot of weight quickly for health reasons, you're a helluva lot better off cutting down a little on portions and exercising more. Also, if you want a really great way to cut out an absolutely enormous amont of your daily calorie/carb intake, cut out cokes/sodas/whatever you call carbonated beverages. You'd be amazed how much weight you'll lose just from switching over to water.

Edit: And...erm... Carbdown... It's actually the acids in cokes that dissolve a tooth. And by all means, cut down on your carb intake. I just don't see the need to remove them entirely. They're like alcoholic beverages.... they taste good, and are good for you in moderation.

I should smack you for being a tool of the goverment and not bothering to look into a diet before judging it.. The Atkins diet doesn't expect you long term to go carbless, just alot less. Like around no more then 200grams a day even if you exscersise alot like me.

I'd say the average individual who is serenditary should eat probably below 90 to 100grams a day. I just go liberal on my intake cause I work out alot.

.... Oooh. Yeah. I'm a tool of the government. I'm so farking insulted. Especially since... y'know... I -work- for the government. The same government whose social security allowed my parents to retire even after their employers terminated them both less than 3 months before they'd get company retirement benefits. The same government whose laws allowed us to sue said company and get compensation. The government that gave me free money and no-interest loans so I could get an education to do a job I love... Mhmm... Incredibly insulted.

And as a matter of fact I did do research on the Atkins diet some time ago for a friend of mine. Who ignored my advice, and has recently developed heart disease. It may or may not be connected, but those are the facts, make of them what you will.

Finally, please stop being such a troll. I merely stated my opinions on the matter, and there was nothing in my post that I thought could be construed as impolite. There was no reason for you to respond in a rude manner unless you are so insecure that you can't bear to have your opinions contradicted.

-snip-

Don't let him get to you. He calls everyone a "tool" if they disagree with him in the slightest.

...And, I'm very sorry about your friend. However, that's what he/she gets for not listening to you, sad as it is.

Don't let him get to you. He calls everyone a "tool" if they disagree with him in the slightest.

On the contrary, I found it most amusing. I'm one of those people who are more or less uninsultable, and it's always funny when someone tries... especially when they use such a weak argument against me. ^_^

Ah, do what you want. The less of you the better.

Infact go drink some oil to celebrate. Your precious goverment is sure giving you enough what with all these wars and the high gas prices to keep it out of the common people's hands..

Atkins (and other fad diets) can never replace a well balanced diet and exercise. I was talking to my tutor (a GP) about this and we agreed that if you don't have a healthy weight eating a normal diet, you might lose weight on a fad diet, but it will come right back once you stop it... AND Atkins may help you lose weight, but it does NOTHING for your health, in terms of LDL/HDL cholesterol and types of fat, in fact, it probably makes that side of your health worse...

As someone who wants to become a certified nutrionist I can tell you the Atkins diet is one of the healthiest diets out there.

There is no justification to eat starches such as rice and bread, these things lack any nutrional minerals or vitamins that could be found in vegitables or meats in much larger and better qauntities. (You may understand what I mean by better, but take for example beta carentene viatmin A versus pure vitamin A. Again, that may go over your head. But there's an import differance.)

As much as I love fruit, you really only need about two a day if that. One orange contains 90% of your vitamin C and has 90kilo calories, a lemon juiced and given a spoonful of splenda has even less at a measly 25kilocalories and 120% of your Vitamin C requirements!

This is only the beggeining, Salmon is a much richer source of pottassium and magnesim then potatoes or bannanas could ever hope to be. The goverment just uses the "you need carbohydrates for fuel/brain function" as a scape goat. You need FOOD for brain development, and carbs are a poor source of energy. Thier like coal to the body, fat is more like nuclear energy. And sure like nuclear energy if it meltsdown (Or becomes a trans-fatty acid.) it's bad, but otherwise it's much cleaner and more effeicent. (By the way, to immagine the severety of trans-fatty acids, immagine a boat shaped molecule transforming into a chair shaped molecule. That is about the just of a fatty acid transformation.)

The only reason the goverment tells you this is so you sicken yourself on useless crap and become a slave to capitalism by having to by uber expensive drugs which only mess you up even more and the cycle countinues. THIS IS HOW THEY CONTROL YOU!

Let me put it a simpler way. All carbohydrates turn into sugar we know this right? Well put a tooth in a bowl of soda and watch it dissolve. If that's what sugar can do to bone immagine what it is doing to your innards! How could we possibly need such a destructive force in such large qauntities?!

Now if you happen to like bagels and pasta hey i won't stop you. I'm all for human rights and even encourage smoking if that's really what they want to put in thier body. But don't give me that malarky that it's a healthy diet and that that's how mankind was meant to eat. Cause that's a damn lie.

That has got to be one of the most ridiculous conspiracy theories I've ever heard. The government is using carbohydrates to control the populace through supplements? That must be one hell of a conspiracy for those proto-humans to have the foresight into 21st century medical science and decide then to get the populace to start eating grains.

Surely which diet is most suitable depends on the individual and their lifestyle/metabolism. (Within reason).

I can't see that a one-size fits all approach to diet makes any sense. (Just like some people need to take a lot more exercise than others to stay trim).

Except for processed food. That stuff is evil.

Individual metabolism varies, but humans do need a regular balanced intake of all three energy sources; carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Add in a liberal daily amount of vitamins and some exercise, and your all set.

Atkins overemphasizes protein while deemphasizing carbohydrates...it does still allow for carbohydrates, but nowhere near what is generally accepted to be "balanced" in comparison to the massive amounts of protein and fat an Atkins dieter is taking in.

Besides, if your on Atkins, you essentially have to stop drinking beer. :eek:

Individual metabolism varies, but humans do need a regular balanced intake of all three energy sources; carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Add in a liberal daily amount of vitamins and some exercise, and your all set.

Atkins overemphasizes protein while deemphasizing carbohydrates...it does still allow for carbohydrates, but nowhere near what is generally accepted to be "balanced" in comparison to the massive amounts of protein and fat an Atkins dieter is taking in.

Besides, if your on Atkins, you essentially have to stop drinking beer. :eek:

Uhuh, I appreciate that.. But my point is: depending on the individual, the ratio between the three could, potentially, vary to a great degree. So person a, for exmple, could quite happily live on a strict atikins regime and be perfectly healthy, while person b could not. In other words, you have to go on an individual basis, there is no "best" diet of any kind, because everyone is different.

Except for processed foods. They offend me to a great extent.

On the contrary, I found it most amusing. I'm one of those people who are more or less uninsultable, and it's always funny when someone tries... especially when they use such a weak argument against me. ^_^

Heh, it is funny. Doubly so for this weirdo.

Atkins (and other fad diets) can never replace a well balanced diet and exercise. I was talking to my tutor (a GP) about this and we agreed that if you don't have a healthy weight eating a normal diet, you might lose weight on a fad diet, but it will come right back once you stop it... AND Atkins may help you lose weight, but it does NOTHING for your health, in terms of LDL/HDL cholesterol and types of fat, in fact, it probably makes that side of your health worse...

actually in terms of cholesterol it improved when i went on atkins

Japanese - Longest life span in world - Lots of carbohydrates.

But - No junk food, lots of fish, generally exercise.

Now more of them are eating a more western diet and getting fatter.

Invisuus- it sounds like following the diet helped you loose a significant amount of weight. In my opinion, I dont think this diet is one to remain on for life. I think its like liposuction-not something that should be continually done after you're close to your goal.
You must feel a thousand percent better having lost that much weight. Think of the stress you've taken off of your heart and joints.
If you want my opinion-I would take advantage of your new physique and start a daily exercise regimen-even if its just walking. Change your life style to include light, but regular cardio vascular workouts.
Make sure you drink plenty of water.
Balance your diet-I would limit the meat and carbohydrates to smaller sensible portions. (Most of us love a 24 oz steak and a huge baked potato) Try some substitutes for meat protein-there is a huge assortment of beans that are loaded with protein and fiber as well. They are also good for your digestive/eliminaton process. Try to get more fish into your diet.

Congratulations and best wishes.

Ah, do what you want. The less of you the better.

Infact go drink some oil to celebrate. Your precious goverment is sure giving you enough what with all these wars and the high gas prices to keep it out of the common people's hands..


This is a deliberately ignorant and un-called for remark. Go try to irritate someone else, maybe in person.

just kinda curious how you guys feel. My association thus far with it has been positive. I used to weigh close to 280 ( I was young and weak yah) Found atkins diet at lost about 100 pounds. Atm, i have perfect cholesterol and blood pressure, but im starting to question wether or not its healthy for a long period of time. Been on it for about two years now. You think its a good life style? Unsafe?

Depends on if you're doing the actual diet, or the fad thinking involved...

In the actual diet, you're supposed to put extreme limits on carbs, and drink alot of water in the beginning... Then slowly add carbs back into your diet as you approach your target weight. And maintain the ballance there-after.

It is not a long-term all-or-nothing diet... And you should not be going "low-carb" through the entire process (Dr. Atkins actually warns against this)...

If you are merely "Removing carbs" and going "low-carb" long-term, you are not actually one the "Atkins(tm) Diet"...