Understanding the theories behind atkins is one thing. Low carb, high protein, fats…but how on earth could eating copious amounts of cheese-burgers with no buns, or eggs and bacon be good for ones cholesterol. I have high cholesterol, and I would like to get back to 200 pounds…I’m 220. Would atkins be an actual detriment to someone with high cholesterol…?
I’m currently on a diet called the Southbeach diet which has some of the same principles. But I don’t like all the high fatty things I’m allowed to eat, even though they taste wonderful!
According to what I’ve read in the ay of real-life examples, most of the people on Atkins experience a drastic lowering in cholesterol after six months. Atkins says in his book that your cholesterol may go up in the beginning but after 6 months it will go down. I got mine tested in month 2 and it was slightly high. My doctor wasn’t worried and adked to see me at 8 months (this october) for another test.
Also remember that a low-carb life plan (it’s not a diet just to lose 20 lbs, btw) changes the way your body burns fat, as described in the link above. If you were eating alot of carbs, your body would be burning those instead of fat, and mixing high carb with high fat is what got us to where we were in the first place
If you’re not convinced by that short blurb I linked to, I highly recommend getting Dr. Atkins book “Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution”. That doesn’t mean that you have to follow his plan. However, the book is PACKED with all the science and explanation you need to decide wether or not this is the lifestyle for you. Make sure you buy the most recent version (2002?) because the plan changes alot between printings.
Also, if you’re still nervous about the amount of fats you may be consuming, there are other Low-Carb plans like Protein Power and The Zone and even Sommersizing and SugarBusters. I believe Protein Power stresses low-fat cheeses and more calorie counting.
One other thing - with any of these plans, no one is consuming “copious amounts” of anything. Most of the folks I know eat under 2000 calories a day, including me. And I weigh alot more than you. Please do some research on which ever plan you choose.
Thank you very much. To be honest I am working on a plan that is suited for me. I need t lower my cholesterol, because I do not want to be the guy who has a heart attack at 35. I’m 34. I am fairly active and really like the way I eat, but something about it doesn’t jive with my Trigliserides. So no more cheeses and steaks
Phlosphr, my cholesterol didn’t improve (unlike most people on Atkins), but my triglycerides dropped to unheard-of low levels. I have heard that Atkins is even better for triglyceride levels than for cholesterol.
I did Weight Watchers and dropped 76 pounds and my cholesterol came down to 230 from 280. My Triglycerides were measurable for the very first time in my life! I have lots of other crap wrong with me so without medicine my cholesterol last measured at 480.
I think the bigger risk with Atkins is excessive protein consumption. I have to butt into all the atkins threads because this is something people tend not to think about. If you have any preexisting kidney issues Atkins is not for you. Get that checked before starting especially if you have high bloodpressure as well as high cholesterol!
I read an interesting article the other day that pointed up a new problem which is popping up — a sort of second-hand Atkins syndrome. Basically, it’s the situation where one person in the house is on the Atkins diet, but the others are not. So the person on Atkins starts preparing bacon and eggs for breakfast — and the other family members go along. They have fried pork chops and cheese for dinner, and the other goes along.
Anecdotal evidence has shown that those on the Atkins diets themselves do not have an increase in cholesterol. However, they are cutting back on carbs and losing weight. The others in the household, however, who are not cutting out the carbs elsewhere in their diet are now in the worst of dietary conditions.
Did you get the South Beach diet book or are you working from second-hand information? You are supposed to be eating lean meat and low/nonfat dairy. Saturated fat from meats and cheese is pretty strictly limited on South Beach and, although eggs are pushed in the first two weeks, you are supposed to be mixing in other things for breakfast after that. The diet does say that you are can use olive, canola, and nut oils pretty freely in cooking and salad dressings, but not the cream, butter, etc. that are permitted on Atkins.
My cholesterol dropped from 210 to 150, and my triglycerides went from 200 to 110.
I’ve also lost 75lbs , but the diet is definately a way of life, not a short term thing. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to eating potatos, pasta or anything with sugar or HFCS in it.
BTW I’m on Atkins, and I eat high fat foods daily.
