The Atkins Diet

[Papa Lazarou]

But if you are not eating carbs, don't you feel out of energy and kanckered all the time ??

Oddly not - well at least after the 1st 3 or 4 days. the reason you don't is that after 3 or 4 days your body realises that it's not going to get the sugar it needs from your food, and switches to burning body fat. This actually provides a stable blood sugar level, removing the sugar rushes and shakes some people get on a high carb diet. This fat burning state is called Ketosis, and it is during this stage that the body gives of Ketones, which are 'quite aromatic' (they can give you bad breath).

Therefore, you should have a stable energy supply whilst on the diet, because you don't rely on eating sugars to get energy.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

if you've been on the atkins diet then as soon as you stop (or even go near a pasta shell) you put on tonnes. Anybody on it then enjoy it whilst it lasts. You'll be fatter than ever in 6 months time unless you (as Everest says he will) take some simple (but effort taking) measures.

Once again - apparently not. Of the few studies that have been performed, the Atkins diet has been shown to burn 'brown' or long term fats, which are normally difficult to shift, and also not so readily laid down. Atkin's dieters have been seen to keep the weight off more readily that people on low calories (starvation) diets, which so result in muscle wastage.

As Bozza has said the only real way to keep fit is to eat properly and exercise, but I'm using Atkins as a short cut...

 

[tedebear]

I'm not a huge believer in diet - however I can understand why mentally some people need a kick start to get themselves to a healthier lever of eating and exercise... what works for some doesn't for others...

I've put on a little weight lately - but my way of tackling it includes more running, walking, yoga and squash (have done hardly any for the last year) and cutting out the junk and excess treats like large blocks of brie and jarlsberg in my diet....

 

[tedebear]

oops so good I posted it twice

 

[CHAPPERS]

So good she said it twice......



Freaky, we said exactly the same thing, great minds....

 

[Rowdey]

The basic premise of the Atkins diet is simple.

To get energy, your body sources Carbohydrate first, then fat, then protein.

If you don't eat carbs, the body burns fat.

Personally I don't think it's any way to eat, particularly if you enjoy your food.

However, there is some sense in having a low fat, high protein, low carb diet.

Wise words indeed.

Been following those principles myself (What give up lager...?!) and just by cutting out Bread, Pasta, Rice, and Potatoes for 2 months has helped me lose a stone and a half..Kula-shaker!!

Any diet which lets me have a Steak with melted Gorgonzola on top of it, gets my vote all day long

 

[Bozza]

I hope all you low-carbers are clicking on the adverts that are now listed on this thread.

I'm torn between "Low Carb Megastore UK" and "Low Carb Foods UK"...

 

[Papa Lazarou]

True Rowdey.

In fact one of the books I bought before I started the diet was by a british doctor, who went for a less extreme version of the diet. Atkins goes for less than 20g of carb a day, which is equivalent of 1 slice of white bread.

However, this other chap went for 60g per day, and a slower loss of weight (about 2lbs per week) than Atkins. I would guest that he doesn're rely no you going into Ketosis, but simply keeps the carbs down to a lower level. It's also much more convenient is the real world, as you CAN eat out.

 

[Normal Rob]

Once again - apparently not. Of the few studies that have been performed, the Atkins diet has been shown to burn 'brown' or long term fats, which are normally difficult to shift, and also not so readily laid down. Atkin's dieters have been seen to keep the weight off more readily that people on low calories (starvation) diets, which so result in muscle wastage.

As Bozza has said the only real way to keep fit is to eat properly and exercise, but I'm using Atkins as a short cut...

Not knowing all the facts i can't disagree. It's only that the few people i know who have been on it and then reverted back to a normal diet have suffered badly.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Rob,

But it comes down to the diet they revert to... of course if they go back to the diet that got them overweight in the first place they'll put it back on.. that's why I'm going for a total change in my eating habits, and exercise regime to ensure that I don't f**k it up.

 

[Normal Rob]

good point - they were fat gluttons beforehand.

 

[Dave the OAP]

I have been following the Rosemary Connelly change your life style thing and it suits me 100%

I have lost 2st 8lbs to date and gone froma 40" wiast to a 36", and I feel so much better for it.

The main difference I have is that I feel 100 % better in myself. I dont necessarily feel fitter even though every sunday morning we now go swimming at the Triangle in B Hill but I just feel "better".

I seem to have stabalised at around 16.5 stone which according to the "experts" means I am still a fat bastard and obese, but I recon as I am doing this for life, i will eventually lose another stone ish.

I am not one of those diet facists as I think that you should take whatever exercise and food suits you. I find if I eat anything fatty ( bacon etc) I have this greasy taste in my mouth for ages and I am conditioned now that if I crave something I have an apple!!!!

 

[tedebear]

Papa - whats the long term idea for the atkins diet - since I know very little about it - do you slowly introduce the things you're not allowed to eat in the first few weeks?? After getting to som equilibrium or something?? AS I guess after a while you'll eat into all your fat stores??

 

[Hiney]

Spot on Papa.

Me and Mrs Hiney have been on the Atkins Diet and it does work. It can get a bit boring but the breakfasts are fantastic. We kept it interesting by following it closely from Monday to Friday then having treats at the weekend (curry, chinese etc.). The weight came off - I lost about a stone in a month.

The point is that is DOES work but you have got to be careful. It recommends a vitamin supplement and also a return to low levels of carbohydrate consumption after a while.

 

[Yorkie]

I have been fortunate that for most of my life I have been naturally slim and could eat anything I liked (naturally high metabolism I suppose)

I have had two kids, given up smoking and never visited a gym since leaving the forces.

I am now a size 14 instead of a 12 (which is what I was when I was 18)

My husband is overweight, he has always been overweight and does a very physically demanding job. He really has difficulty losing weight.

A lot of it is your genetic make up although I accept that some people do eat incorrectly.

What I want to know is, why does Gunter have such a problem with fat people?

Nearly every post I see him make is having a go at fat people and being insulting to them.

What is your problem?

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Papa - whats the long term idea for the atkins diet - since I know very little about it - do you slowly introduce the things you're not allowed to eat in the first few weeks?? After getting to som equilibrium or something?? AS I guess after a while you'll eat into all your fat stores??

The Atkins book recommends once you find your balance level (where you maintain the high metabolic rate that burn the fat, but don't start to put the weight on) you can work around that. However, I don't feel comfortable with that, as it locks you into a still low carb diet for ever, and that's more likely to cause health problems than say 1-2 months. The company that he set up produce a plethora of low carb alternatives for normal food, but that's expensive.

When you tak aobut using up all your fat reserves, you only havr to look how people such as Geri Halliwell took it to the extreme to see how it can go wrong that way - and I don't want to get caught up in that carb guilt thing which stops people from returning to a normal diet. Therefore I'm going to retain some of the ideas of it (keep the carbs relatively low), as well as exercise to keep myself fit. The weight watchers point diet seems to be a good halfway house as the points value of any particular food is based upon the relative quantities of carbs, fat and protien, and not just fat as they used to be. Therefore a very high carb food is almost as bad as a high fat food.

P.S. And by the way - I have been taking vitiamin supplements throughout and drinking loads of water... both essential with this diet.

 

[tedebear]

When you tak aobut using up all your fat reserves, you only havr to look how people such as Geri Halliwell took it to the extreme to see how it can go wrong that way

Yep that was my concern with the diet - I guess if you keep a sensible head with these things then it can all work out fine... Sounds like you've done your homework really well!! good stuff....

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Yep that was my concern with the diet - I guess if you keep a sensible head with these things then it can all work out fine... Sounds like you've done your homework really well!! good stuff....

you are too kind - If I keel over and die next week, you will send flowers won't you ?

 

[tedebear]

you are too kind - If I keel over and die next week, you will send flowers won't you ?

Don't talk daft man

I'll leave flowers on your seat on the train though...

 

[Papa Lazarou]