# Fighting Obesity?? Suuuuurree you are **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 7, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214 "2004-01-07T15:02:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/21 "2004-01-07T17:43:36Z")
Don’t mind me, I was expecting a thread about Anna Nicole Smith hawking TrimSpa diet pills. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/22 "2004-01-07T17:51:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nutty Bunny \* > \*\*And when they go off the diet, everyone I’ve seen has gained back the weight–whether they have slowly added in small amounts of carbs or gone whole hog with carbs. \*\* Can you name any diet that prevents you from gaining weight once you go back to your old habits? Julie ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/23 "2004-01-07T17:53:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by One And Only Wanderers \* > **Bricker** > > Explain to me how that burger thing described above fights obesity > > Isn’t an healthy Atkins meal something like a chicken breast (or a n other meat) accompanied by a salad? Or am i missing the point? The Atkins diet begins with the “induction phase.” The rules for this phase are as follows: > [@](#): > > [list] > [li]Eat either three regular-size meals a day or four or five smaller meals. Do not skip meals or go more than six waking hours without eating. [/li][li]Eat liberally of combinations of fat and protein in the form of poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs and red meat, as well as pure, natural fat in the form of butter, mayonnaise, olive oil, safflower, sunflower and other vegetable oils (preferably expeller-pressed or cold-pressed). [/li][li]Eat no more than 20 grams a day of carbohydrate, most of which must come in the form of salad greens and other vegetables. You can eat approximately three loosely packed cups of salad, or two cups of salad plus one cup of other vegetables (see Acceptable Foods). [/li][li]Eat absolutely no fruit, bread, pasta, grains, starchy vegetables or dairy products other than cheese, cream or butter. Do not eat nuts or seeds in the first two weeks. Foods that combine protein and carbohydrates, such as chickpeas, kidney beans and other legumes, are not permitted at this time. [/li][li]Eat nothing that isn’t on the Acceptable Foods list. And that means absolutely nothing. Your “just this one taste won’t hurt” rationalization is the kiss of failure during this phase of Atkins. [/li][li]_Adjust the quantity you eat to suit your appetite, especially as it decreases. When you’re hungry, eat the amount that makes you feel satisfied, but not stuffed._ When you’re not hungry, eat a small controlled carbohydrate snack to accompany your nutritional supplements. [/li][li]Don’t assume any food is low in carbohydrate—instead, read labels. Check the carb count (it’s on every package) or use a carbohydrate gram counter. [/li][li]Eat out as often as you wish but be on guard for hidden carbs in gravies, sauces and dressings. Gravy is often made with flour or cornstarch, and sugar is sometimes an ingredient in salad dressing. [/li][li]Avoid foods or drinks sweetened with aspartame. Instead, use sucralose or saccharin. Be sure to count each packet of any of these as 1 gram of carbs. [/li][li]Avoid coffee, tea and soft drinks that contain caffeine. Excessive caffeine has been shown to cause low blood sugar, which can make you crave sugar. [/li][li]Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day to hydrate your body, avoid constipation and flush out the by-products of burning fat. [/li][li]If you are constipated, mix a tablespoon or more of psyllium husks in a cup or more of water and drink daily. Or mix ground flaxseed into a shake or sprinkle wheat bran on a salad or vegetables. [/li][li]At a minimum, take a good daily multivitamin with minerals, including potassium, magnesium and calcium, but without iron. [/li] (Emphasis mine). A “chargrilled chicken breast covered in melted cheese, sandwiched between two 6oz beef burgers instead of a bread roll” can be perfectly Atkins-friendly. While it may seem excessive, the fact of the matter is that Dr. Atkins encourages you to eat as much as you want to feel full. That is, in my opinion, the reason for the stellar success of this plan – you crave food less and and less as time goes on, but never have to deny yourself actual EATING… just carbs. See [this page](http://atkins.com/Archive/2001/12/15-325810.html) for details. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/24 "2004-01-07T18:10:21Z")
**Nutty Bunny** - you do get carbs on Atkins, but they come from vegetables, not Ding Dongs and Ho Hos. Atkins IS NOT a no carb diet! I’ve been doing it since June, where is any proof that a low carb diet is not safe? I eat between 20 and 30 carbs a day - almost all come from veggies. I’ve never felt better in my life. Any diet you stop will allow the weight you lose to come back, not just Atkins. That is precisely why I think of it as a life long eating plan, not a diet. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/25 "2004-01-07T18:38:38Z")
What is Blob? As for the Yates burger, I want one, like I’ve never wanted another sandwich, I’m sitting here salivating at the thought of that sandwich. Granted, if I eat that sandwich, I won’t be eating anything but salad for the rest of the day. Does anyone know how many calories are in the sandwich? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/26 "2004-01-07T19:03:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brujo \* > \*\*Does anyone know how many calories are in the sandwich? \*\* This is just an estimate, based on the little I know of the sandwich. I’m guessing completely on the amount of cheese. I used 4 ounces, and that’s a LOT of cheese. Fat: 98g Carbs: 4 Protein: 80 Calories: 1521 Julie ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/27 "2004-01-07T19:32:03Z")
I’d like to point out that the Atkins theory relegates calories to a second-place showing. > [@](#): > > Even the majority of people who do not lose weight on a 1,000-calorie-a-day low-fat diet will lose weight on an 1,800- to 2,000-calorie meal plan—if carbohydrates are limited to 20 grams per day. Dr. Atkins believed that insulin plays a huge part in weight loss. Not all 2000 calorie meals are identical, and not all will cause ketosis to occur. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/28 "2004-01-07T20:15:57Z")
Thanks, Brick. You got it right. As wacky as it sounds to people who aren’t familiar (and comfortable) with the Atkins plan, there are lots of Atkins eaters who can and would consume that meal and lose weight. Most of the Atkins followers i know of lose a lot of their appetite so they wouldn’t necessarily want that much food, but some would and do. Oh, and by the way, that amount of fat and calories is about the same as a Wendy’s Triple, Biggie Fries, and a medium coke. (1600) Just FYI. (I picked Wendys cuz I love Wendy’s. As a low-carb eater, most fast foods are inedible for me, because the deficiencies in the burger you can choke down when it’s stuffed in bread and smothered in topping become glaringly obvious when you are attempting to eat it without all that stuff. Wendy’s has one of the few patties that is still yummy when stripped down to its essence. Good quality meat. ) ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/29 "2004-01-07T20:59:46Z")
It’s not so much the composition of the…chicken-beef-cheeseapalooza that worries me, as the fact that it’s from Yates’ Wine Lodge. There was one in Oxford, and their food was _nasty_. The late Dr. Atkins preached natural food, but there’s absolutely nothing natural about Yates’ fare. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/30 "2004-01-07T22:08:02Z")
I have no dog in this fight but apparently there is some new research coming out that shows that for some the low carb diets [can be deadly](http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/stories/1596.asp), my response as always is to point out that for _some_ peanuts are deadly but that doesn’t mean peanuts are bad in themselves. Thought it may be interesting to add though. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/31 "2004-01-07T22:54:41Z")
Besides, wouldn’t that be awfully messy? Isn’t the whole point of a sandwich is that it’s something you can eat with your hands? I could never be an Atkins person. (Not that I need to lose weight-I just need to get in shape and exercise more). I love my pastas and my breads far too much. And what about french fries? No freaking WAY would I give up french fries! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/32 "2004-01-07T23:25:09Z")
> [@](#): > > **brujo** : What is Blob? From [here](http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/eat&drink/pubs/manc-pubs11.html): > [@](#): > > Yates’s famous own drink concoction “The Blob” [is] a mixture of fortified white wine, hot water, sugar and lemon - well worth trying. [More reliably](http://www.itchyglasgow.co.uk/venues/369.html), I suspect: > [@](#): > > An excellent selection of drink promos are always available and nice to see, but if you’ve always wanted to try what appears to be your gran’s pre-war cough medicine, then try their in-house drink ‘The Blob’. Hot lemonade and fortified wine, eh? Sounds like the sort of thing you might settle for when you can’t get proper methylated spirits. ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/33 "2004-01-08T17:14:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Fat: 98g > Carbs: 4 > Protein: 80 > Calories: 1521 Sweet Zombie Jesus, that doesn’t sound too healthy. I guess with a calorie content like that I would have to eat a light salad for dinner. As for the description of blob, that sounds like a watered down Mad Dog 20/20. May taste alright the first time youi try it, but you’ll never be able to drink it again. ---
**Author:** ![Krebnut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@Krebnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krebnut)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214/34 "2004-01-08T19:19:02Z")
What is a Diet? It should be what you eat daily that contributes to your lifelong health and wellness. A proper diet does not omit any food groups that are essential contributors to a your health and wellness. Any diet that neglects necessary fiber, vitamins, and minerals through its omission of any foods is putting a person at risk for potential disease and decline of health. A diet should be balanced enough to maintain a healthy body composition as well. If one adjusts one’s diet, either up or down in calories and/or nutrients, one will adjust in health and girth either up or down as well. So it’s all very simple, so why the hell is it so hard to eat properly and screw the weight loss diets … you wouldn’t need them. I’m not bashing the Atkins either, but I’d sure like to… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fighting-obesity-suuuuurree-you-are/223214.md?page=1)