Dr. Atkins Protein Diet (Does It Work?)

[kLezViruS]

Hey there my friend has been on the protein diet on and off for a few months now. He said it works for him.

Can the people at AT give me details the good & bad on this diet?

Also if you are / was on it, has it worked for you?

Thanks in Advance.

 

[sheselectric]

I think it works b/c it's pretty restricting. You have to practically cut out carbs. I don't know about anyone else, but I'd definitely get sick of only eating eggs/bacon/hamburgers/cheese after a while.

 

[bmacd]

is this the meat diet? i have an Ex-GFs dad who did the steak thing and lost lots of weight.
You know what kapusta (sp?) is??? that's a sure fire quick diet.
-=bmacd=-

 

[XZeroII]

Yes, it works. Unfortunatly, you will feel like you have the plague. This info comes from my old HS Chemistry teacher. He said that it works excellent and the pounds will melt off very quickly, but you will feel bad. I also can't vouch for how healthy it is for you.

 

[abc]

i think it can. the premise of a diet being it should be a temporary thing, such as you do it with the presumption that you terminate it once you got to your desired weight more or less. with that objective i think this diet can work. but i don't know a great deal about this diet, and i sure do not think one should eat in such a fashion loong term.

 

[Michael1897]

the diet, although it doesn't point it out, is mainly designed for ppl that are obscenely over weight, hence cutting out so much you eat up your fat stores and lose weight. I'd say that you are better off with working out 2-3 times a week, stay away from fried foods, caffiene, and instead of eating whole eggs substitute 2-3 hard boiled egg whites.

exercise is the key here.

 

[BDawg]

My father, and all other doctors I know say that the diet is unhealthy and can lead to health problems down the line.

Everything in moderation is the key!

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

My English teacher lost 80 pounds about a year ago and she's kept it off, using that diet.

nik

 

[BDawg]

My English teacher lost 80 pounds about a year ago and she's kept it off, using that diet.

I don't think that there's any argument on its effectiveness. The argument is about whether it can cause serious health problems.

You could probably lose weight by smoking, but I wouldn't try it.

 

[Jeraden]

I've been doing it for 2 years and it works great. I'm down to my ideal weight and its fairly easy to keep it so I can eat a lot but not put any back on. At first it seems really restrictive, and I guess it is, but you get used to it after a while. While I still miss eating pizza, I don't miss the lack of breads/pastas at all.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: BDawg

My English teacher lost 80 pounds about a year ago and she's kept it off, using that diet.

I don't think that there's any argument on its effectiveness. The argument is about whether it can cause serious health problems. You could probably lose weight by smoking, but I wouldn't try it.

Yes, you can. But I wouldn't because the loss of weight would be directly proportional to the loss of lovin' from my girl.

nik

 

[NetworkDad]

It lasted less than a week for me. It sucked ordering a big fat tillamook cheeseburger @ burgerville with no bread.

 

[Tsaico]

 

[kLezViruS]

Originally posted by: NccOps
It lasted less than a week for me. It sucked ordering a big fat tillamook cheeseburger @ burgerville with no bread.

My friend did a similar thing. He ordered three breakfast jacks. Ate the egg and cheeze but threw away the bread.

Waste of food if you ask me..

 

[kLezViruS]

Originally posted by: Tsaico

 

[Sephy]

There is a lot of misinformation here...
It is NOT just eggs/bacon/cheese etc, it is also lots of vegetables, and as you DO the diet if you read the book, you realize once you get past the first 2 weeks you find the max amount of carbs you can have and still lose weight. It does cut out sugar and promotes whole grains. It puts your body into ketosis, and can make you feel sluggish at first, but that should go away. It works on the fact that your body releases less insulin, and does not need more fat stores as you eat less sugar(read: carbs). It is NOT a temporary thing, it is a way of life, and the maintenance part of the program slowly adds back carbs to the max until you start to gain weight, and moves it back to where you stay put. Yes, exercise IS key, but you can lose weight without it. Doctors who say the diet can lead to problems down the road are frauds as nutritionists. It does NOT in any way lead to kidney problems or heart disease or anything like that. For example, when Dr. Atkins was in the hospital, the doctors remarked on how plaque-free his arteries were. Remember, there were no vegans in the caveman days. Do your research, and realize it is completely safe, but is a LIFESTYLE change, and if you break the change, the weight will come back.

 

[geekender]

Read the book and do it right and you will lose weight quickly. I did it for several months and talked to my doctor and he recommended "Sugarbusters" which is very similar but has more fruits and vegetables ( it is all in what you are considering "high" in carbs or sugars). Bottom line if you excercise and limit your caloric intake (by reducing total volume of food, number of carbs, amount of sugars, or number of calories) you will lose weight. Just do it on a balanced diet.

 

[BDawg]

Doctors who say the diet can lead to problems down the road are frauds as nutritionists.

Such as the quacks from the American Dietetic Association... (from WebMD)

The American Dietetic Association is equally dismissive of the Atkins diet. Gail Frank, PhD, spokeswoman for the organization and professor of nutrition at California State University, Long Beach, says, "The body needs a minimum of carbohydrates for efficient and healthy functioning -- about 150 grams daily." Below that, normal metabolic activity is disrupted, she says. "The brain needs glucose to function efficiently, and it takes a long time to break down fat and protein to get to the brain." Carbohydrates, especially in the form of vegetables, grains, and fruits, are more efficiently converted to glucose. And this more efficient use of glucose has developed over a long period of time, according to Frank. "Fruits and berries are much more indicative of early man's eating pattern than eating only protein, and we haven't changed all that much physiologically."

Atkins' theories remain unproven, and most experts are concerned that Atkins' high-protein, high-fat diet can cause a host of problems

Or how about from Barbara Levine, director of human nutrition for Rockefeller University? Is she a fraud?

I do work at the Rockefeller University, we do metabolic studies. I work with Dr. Jules Hirsch (ph) and his metabolic unit, and we have tested his diet, many other diets, and I have to say a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. One thing that we know with Dr. Atkins' diet -- don't want to argue with success -- but if it's fluid loss, and that's exactly what happens when you raise the protein and lower the carbohydrates too much, you are getting dehydrated. You lose fluid from your cells and you're worried about other problems, metabolic problems like ketosis, calcium loss, as I mentioned, when the protein goes up too high, and you are concerned about losing lean body mass.

Give 1,500 calories, or 1,200 calories of Haagen-Dazs, or 1,200 calories and a truckload full of lettuce, you can lose the same amount of weight; however, when you give such a high-protein diet, you are getting dehydrated, you're taxing the kidneys, you are losing bone mass and calcium, and you really are, particularly those who have a high propensity or genetic propensity toward heart disease with elevated cholesterol levels or triglyceride levels, you are going to elevate them. However, I must say that 55 percent of this nation is overweight, many of us to the extent that we are obese, meaning more than 30 pounds overweight. I agree entirely that we should all lose weight, but we have to do it responsibly and the other thing that I want to say is when you try to get rid of the carbohydrates, et cetera -- and I always say go back to the garden, you need fruits, and vegetables, and grains, you need those fido-chemicals, you need those antioxidants that may prove to be very important in heart disease, cancer prevention, et cetera.

Here's from another fraud. Dangers of the Atkins Diet

Saying that respected doctors with many years of experience are frauds because they don't believe the current fad you do is ignorant.

 

[BDawg]

My point is, if you want to lose weight, do it without the fad diets.

Cut down on sweets, carbs and fats, but don't cut anything out. Increase your activity level through exercise.

The only magical secret you need to know is that you must take in fewer calories than you burn to lose weight.

 

[Sephy]

It is not a FAD. It has been around for years. Of course no doctor making their money on the old techniques are going to change. You can find just as many or more reports supporting a low carb diet as you can refuting it. To say 150g of carbs is a necessary minimum is quite frankly ridiculous.
Educate yourself

 

[XZeroII]

Any nutritionist or doctor that tells you to eat more fruits to lose weight is a total quack. Fruits are made out of almost all sugar and will prevent you from losing weight. The sugar in fruits are much healthier than other kinds, but it has the same effect when it comes to weight gain. Vegetables are still good.

 

[BDawg]

Educate yourself

That's a good one. It's like asking Sony what's better, the PS2 or the XBox.

I've been around doctors all of my life. They're constantly adapting to new techniques and new ideas. The doctors I know care about patients, not about money. If they really cared about money, there are a lot of easier ways to make it. Get your head out of the clouds, there is no free lunch.

You trust whomever you want. I'll place my hands in the opinion of educated, unbiased doctors.

 

[Sephy]

And yes, from your quotes, Barbara Levine is a CERTIFIED QUACK
Or how about from Barbara Levine, director of human nutrition for Rockefeller University? Is she a fraud?

I do work at the Rockefeller University, we do metabolic studies. I work with Dr. Jules Hirsch (ph) and his metabolic unit, and we have tested his diet, many other diets, and I have to say a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. One thing that we know with Dr. Atkins' diet -- don't want to argue with success -- but if it's fluid loss, and that's exactly what happens when you raise the protein and lower the carbohydrates too much, you are getting dehydrated. You lose fluid from your cells and you're worried about other problems, metabolic problems like ketosis, calcium loss, as I mentioned, when the protein goes up too high, and you are concerned about losing lean body mass.
This woman is a moron. IT IS NOT ALL WATER WEIGHT. Talk to the people losing hundreds of pounds on it. He also, like most diets says to drink LOT OF WATER as it is essential. Ketosis is NOT a metabolic problem! Ketoacidosis however is. This woman is a fool. Too much protein does not lead to lean body mass, she is a fraud. Talk to the world class body builders who eat 400-500+ grams of protein a day.

Give 1,500 calories, or 1,200 calories of Haagen-Dazs, or 1,200 calories and a truckload full of lettuce, you can lose the same amount of weight; however, when you give such a high-protein diet, you are getting dehydrated, you're taxing the kidneys, you are losing bone mass and calcium, and you really are, particularly those who have a high propensity or genetic propensity toward heart disease with elevated cholesterol levels or triglyceride levels, you are going to elevate them. However, I must say that 55 percent of this nation is overweight, many of us to the extent that we are obese, meaning more than 30 pounds overweight. I agree entirely that we should all lose weight, but we have to do it responsibly and the other thing that I want to say is when you try to get rid of the carbohydrates, et cetera -- and I always say go back to the garden, you need fruits, and vegetables, and grains, you need those fido-chemicals, you need those antioxidants that may prove to be very important in heart disease, cancer prevention, et cetera.
Hahahahaha. This does not tax the kidneys, that is a bunch of crap. THIS DOES NOT ELEVATE CHOLESTEROL!! In virtually EVERY SINGLE dieter, bad cholesterol goes down, and good cho. goes up. And you must have ignored what I said, as Atkins does not say don't eat vegetables, in fact he said most of your carbs should come from vegetables.

 

[Sephy]

Originally posted by: BDawg

Educate yourself

That's a good one. It's like asking Sony what's better, the PS2 or the XBox.

I've been around doctors all of my life. They're constantly adapting to new techniques and new ideas. The doctors I know care about patients, not about money. If they really cared about money, there are a lot of easier ways to make it. Get your head out of the clouds, there is no free lunch.

You trust whomever you want. I'll place my hands in the opinion of educated, unbiased doctors.

No, you'll place your hands in the opinion of doctors who follow your philosophy, not unbiased ones. You'll also place your hands with them, rather then newer medical studies. Please read the page before you go out and throw out your opinions just cause doctors you know believe in them.

 

[rickn]

Yes, it works. Atkins is not about no carbs, it is about low(er) carb intake and cutting out processed sugars. I love when ppl throw around "all my doctor friends say it isnt healthy for you" -- and yet these same doctors put their AMA seal of approval on a box of sugar filled Fruit Loops. I guess they gotta give kids rotten teeth so their dentist friends have patients. Atkins is about re-thinking how you approach foods, getting rid of cravings. It is not about just eating red meat all the time. If these ppl would actually read the fsking book all they way thru they may realize that.