All we hear about is Atkins, Atkins, Atkins…and all the controversy over if it safe, yatta, yatta, yatta. My wife and I have found a similar diet known as “Protein Power” which excludes carbs in the first few weeks as a “break-in” period, and then slowly brings some back as rewards. (vs. Atkins, a zero carb plan, IIRC.)
{FYI: The book by the same title gives a strong argument to a re-thinking to how cells break down sugars, and how excess insulin actually hinders metabolic processes. Basically, the thinking is that, counterintuitive to convention thinking, insulin dumped into the blood hinders the sugar from entering the cells as the cells become insulin-immune, I believe was the term. But, the sugars remain abundant in the blood stream pushing the pancreas to keep releasing insulin.
OTOH, eating more protein and less carbs enhances cell response allowing the pancreas to relax, as it were.}
To my knowledge, so little is said about compromises and alternatives to the Atkins’ extremely rigid diet plan. How/when did Atkins start, why is he a household name, and why isn’t more light shed on alternates of Atkins? And, can it proven in a lab who is right? And if not, why is it so hard to prove? Granted, I understand not all diets will work for everyone, but Protein Power has amazing results. (This is not a plug, just stated IMHO s part of the overall question.)
Your thoughts and/or experiences with such low-carb diets? As educated consumers, for example, you’d think we’d want as much info as possible. I mean, would you just shop where one size fits all, or wouldn’t you ask what else is out there for me? - Jinx
Well, I finally went on the South Beach diet about two weeks ago, and IMHO it is awesome! This is a “modified carb” diet where the first two weeks are extremely low carb, phase two allows some carbs, and then there is a final “lifestyle” phase where you learn how to eat to maintain your weight for the rest of your life. I had never tried a diet before, but my dad lost so much on it that he nows weighs less than he has in THIRTY YEARS! My stepmom also has had great results.
I feel good, although the “crash” off of carbs caused me to feel sluggish at first. I can eat at restaurants and still follow the diet. I’ve lost at least five pounds so far!
I also know a family friend who has lost over 100 pounds on Atkins. I think the reason these diets are so famous is because they REALLY WORK. I think it’s possible that these low-carbs diets (and low-carb foods that are increasingly available) really could make for a healthier average american. Seeing the results on someone you know is motivation enough for anyone who wants to lose weight.
This is a huge misconception about Atkins. It is not a zero-carb diet at all. It’s pretty much like the South Beach diet, or I should say, the SB diet is like Atkins (since Atkins was around first).
The first two weeks limit carbs to 20 grams per day. The next phase of the diet is called On-Going Weight Loss, and during that phase you slowly increase the number of carb grams you eat each day, as long as you are losing weight.
Even in the first phase, called Induction, you don’t eat just meat and cheese and eggs. It includes plenty of fresh veggies, 3 cups a day, IIRC, and plenty of water.
IMHO, it’s popular because it’s fairly easy. You cut out the junk, you eat fresh, whole foods, and you can eat (within reason) as much as you want of the allowed foods. It says in the book to eat till you’re satisfied. This doesn’t mean gorging yourself on fried eggs and bacon, of course, but on some calorie-limiting diets, people say they’re hungry. Well, obviously, if you’re limiting your calorie intake, you will get hungry. On Atkins, if you want a snack, you can have one. Most of the foods are very filling and slow to digest anyway, so hunger isn’t really a factor.
Also, there aren’t expensive foods to buy, like Jenny Craig or Nutri-System, it’s not boring, like Slim-Fast and their shakes.
It’s also popular, I think, because it has immediate effects for most people. My husband is a diabetic and within three weeks of going on Atkins, his average blood glucose has gone from over 200 to under 150. He has had to drop Glynase from his list of meds because it was making his blood sugars go too low. And he’s lost 7 or 8 pounds and three percent body fat. All doing a plan that’s fairly easy to stick to and doesn’t leave him hungry. I consider that a minor miracle.
What BiblioCat said. I don’t find it rigid at all. The first two weeks is a little tough (induction), but not too bad. The plan is very flexible, I can usually find something on plan at any restaurant. I love how easy it is. Another reason I think it is so successful and popular is you can see results fast - I lost 12 lbs. on induction. 4 months after I started it I had dropped 5 sizes. My loss has slowed down since then, but I am still losing .5-1 lb. a week. I could push it up to 2 lbs. a week, but since I started school I’ve been slacking off at the gym (although walking a couple miles a day with 30 lbs. of books strapped on my back doesn’t hurt).
I read the book before I decided on Atkins, WW cost a lot more ($3.95 for the Atkins book vs. whatever WW charges for their meetings), and I hadn’t heard of South Beach at the time. I wasn’t only looking for a weight loss plan, I knew I needed to change my eating habits to eat healthier, whole foods, and quit sugar and junk foods. Atkins fit my needs perfectly. I don’t consider Atkins a diet, I think of it as a lifelong healthy eating plan.
I’ve been on the Atkins’ diet twice and have had nothing but success. Two years ago, I went on it for 3 months and lost 30 pounds. I maintained that weight for about a year then went on it again last september and have lost another 32. I went from 242 to 180 over the course of 2 years.
I think, and I preach this to everyone who tells me that the diet is bad for me, that the big misconseption is that all you can eat on this diet is bacon, steak, cheese, and sausage.
My normal rotation of foods includes, among others…
chicken, turkey, baked fish, steamed shrimp, hot wings, low card breakfast bars, salads, any veggies besides corn and potatoes, sandwiches with that high fiber bread, eggs, low card shakes (EAS Advantedge are my favoite), whole grain rice in small amounts, sugar free chocoalte (russel stover rules), nuts. Diet soda and plenty of water.
I cheat occasionally, but I don’t go overboard. I may have a bowl of cream of crab soup or the occasional piece of birthday cake. Maybe even a (gasp) slice if pizza.
So, you see, there alot of foods that are low in cards but aren’t on everyone’s “that’s gonna kill you” list.
Just because you can eat bacon doesn’t mean you have to.
(bolding mine)
Good God Almighty, I have to second this. People think it’s the “No-carb, high-fat” diet and it really isn’t. Yes, it’s higher in fat than most typical diets because of the meat, but it isn’t just all the bacon and eggs you can shovel down. You have to read the book. You are supposed to eat plenty of fresh veggies on the diet, and drink plenty of water.
I lost 60 pounds on this diet last year, and I’ve sort of hit a plateau, but even if I eat bread or potatoes occassionally, I’m not gaining weight back.
I eat lots of chicken and fish, a big salad every day, and lots of vegetables. I ate a lot of eggs, but I’ve had all the bloodwork done and my cholesterol’s fine.
I also have the EAS shakes (which are better-tasting and cheaper than the Atkins-brand shakes), but the no-sugar chocolate does a number on my stomach, so I just don’t eat them.
There have been numerous threads on this topic; do a search on “Atkins” and you’ll find lots to read.
Back to the OP, Atkins first published his diet plan in 1972. it could be said that all the other protein-oriented plans (including protein power, sugarbusters, and South Beach) are merely his imitators.
If you had read Atkins’ book you would have found the same information about insulin’s role in fat gain.
As already mentioned, Atkins is not the all bacon diet, not a carb-free diet and not any more rigid than its competitors. For some reason the media enjoys spreading misinformation about it though. You’ll find that many of his most vocal detractors have very similar plans they are trying to sell (::coughSouthBeachcough::).