Question about Atkins

[Manna]

I have a quick question for those of you that are familiar with the ins and outs of this diet. I don't know much about it and would really love a simple run-down of the program. Would anyone mind helping me out? My husband and I have come up with a few questions that we are looking for simple answers to. If any of you wouldn't mind inputting your knowledge, it would be much appreciated!

What is the rational behind the diet?
What specifically can you have on this diet?
What specifically must you avoid on this diet?
How old is this diet?
What happened to Dr. Atkins?

Thanks in advance for any input!

Anna

 

[zibbler]

What is the rational behind the diet?
What specifically can you have on this diet?
What specifically must you avoid on this diet?
How old is this diet?
What happened to Dr. Atkins?

Thanks in advance for any input!

Anna

The rational behind the diet is that people consume more carbs than their body needs, which will turn to fat. There are a lot of biological things that take place which cause this to happen. I highly recommend getting the book. Better yet, get Protein Power Plan. It goes into much detail about what goes on in your body.

Generally the premise is to keep the carbs very low for the first 2 weeks (no more than 30 gms.), then after 2 weeks you gradually add carbs back in. At first you will be eating mostly meat, eggs, salad and low carb vegetables.

Things to avoid are starchy high carb foods, and processed carbs. Things like bread, potatoes, pasta etc...

This is actually a very old diet, but Atkins populorized it, starting back in the 70's.

Dr. Atkins slipped on some ice outside his office a few months ago and suffered severe head trauma, which killed him.

 

[King Element]

Good work Zibbler.

Manna, please read the book before attempting the diet. You want to be sure and know exactly what you're going to do before you do it. Doing any other diet without planning beforehand is like going on a vacation without knowing how to get there and just hoping that the car finds the correct way and that you have everything you need for the trip.

 

[catalyst]

I have a quick question for those of you that are familiar with the ins and outs of this diet. I don't know much about it and would really love a simple run-down of the program. Would anyone mind helping me out? My husband and I have come up with a few questions that we are looking for simple answers to. If any of you wouldn't mind inputting your knowledge, it would be much appreciated!

What is the rational behind the diet?

The actual rational is that the body can diet efficiently with greater hunger suppression and possible slightly less loss of LBM while the body is in what is known as dietary ketosis. Certain uninformed individuals confuse this with diabetic ketosis and ketoacidosis, both of which are harmful, whereas dietary ketosis is the process of burning ketone bodies (lipids/fats) for fuel as the bodies primary source of energy. To achieve this, the bodies gluycogen stores must be somewhat depleted, and then carbhydrate intake must be limited.

What specifically can you have on this diet?

Depends on what phase you are in. During induction, try to avoid carbs like the plague, as this makes it easier to achieve ketosis. Afterwords, you can increase your carb intake slightly based on activity level, but carbs should come mainly from fibrous vegetables.

What specifically must you avoid on this diet?

Carbohydrates.

How old is this diet?

The first recorded publication of a ketogenic diet was in 1868.

 

[desi]

The atkins diet in a nutshell for most people.

You eat mostly eggs, meat, and cheese for awhile. Your breath gets hideous but you lose lots of weight fast. Eventually you revert back to chips and soda at which point you gain back all the weight you lost in spades.

Exercise and eating less calories is the only way to lost weight permanently aside from unhealthy ways...

 

[catalyst]

The atkins diet in a nutshell for most people.

You eat mostly eggs, meat, and cheese for awhile. Your breath gets hideous but you lose lots of weight fast. Eventually you revert back to chips and soda at which point you gain back all the weight you lost in spades.

Exercise and eating less calories is the only way to lost weight permanently aside from unhealthy ways...

<sigh>

Please support your assertions.

Furthermore, show why a ketogenic diet has a higher failure rate than any other diet (hint: it does not. The washout rate on dieting is over 90%, regardless of type of diet), and show why a ketogenic diet is unhealthy.

 

[Key Of David]

The atkins diet in a nutshell for most people.

You eat mostly eggs, meat, and cheese for awhile. Your breath gets hideous but you lose lots of weight fast. Eventually you revert back to chips and soda at which point you gain back all the weight you lost in spades.

Exercise and eating less calories is the only way to lost weight permanently aside from unhealthy ways...

I knew a girl who had to be over 300 lbs and was fairly short. We are talking major overweight. The doctor told her she wouldn't make it out of her 40s if she didn't lose it...so of course he recommends the atkins.....she pretty much eats as she did....accept she had to diss the veggies. This girl got so sick I thought she was going to die. Some doctor....and some diet...

 

[Dagna]

I think it that situation I probably would not have recommended the atkins, simply because in many cases, weight is lost very quickly and too much weight lost in a short period of time can make people sick. But, I think in many cases, based on numerous people that i have spoken with, they have done great on the diet, and have suffered no ill effects. In the girl's situation that you are describing, a nutritionist might have been the best way to go when so much weight was needing to be lost. I don't think Atkins is for everyone, but it does work for many people, and I think most Dr's need to learn more about it so that they can counsel their patients better.

 

[Key Of David]

I think it that situation I probably would not have recommended the atkins, simply because in many cases, weight is lost very quickly and too much weight lost in a short period of time can make people sick. But, I think in many cases, based on numerous people that i have spoken with, they have done great on the diet, and have suffered no ill effects. In the girl's situation that you are describing, a nutritionist might have been the best way to go when so much weight was needing to be lost. I don't think Atkins is for everyone, but it does work for many people, and I think most Dr's need to learn more about it so that they can counsel their patients better.

Well you do have a point. I think there are a lot of doctors who need to stop pretending they know everything about the human body and its functions...and admit they CAN be pretty ignorant when it comes to prescribing nutrition.

Another example;

When I was 17 my doctor told me the most cost effective and best way I could gain muscle while on a bodybuilding routine was to eat lots of steak.....case closed. LOL

 

[Dagna]

Exactly my point. People who exert more energy, through work-outs or sports shouldn't even consider atkins, they have to have carbs. My brother-in-law plays hockey and if he was on the atkins diet, he'd probably fall over 10 minutes into a game. Not a good idea. But there are some people that this diet can work for, people just need to better educate themselves on the different diets out there. For someone just starting to diet, I would start with the typical low-fat low-calorie diet. It does work for many people. But always always educate yourself before starting any sort of diet and if there is a large amount of weight involved, then Dr's and nutritionists need to also be involved, to help set you up on a plan that will work and be safe for you.

I also have to admit, I have cheated on the atkin's diet. I'm still in the induction phase and felt like I was getting a little too light-headed for comfort. That's another important thing. If you feel a little too weak on the diet, you need to reevaluate your plan.

 

[catalyst]

I knew a girl who had to be over 300 lbs and was fairly short. We are talking major overweight. The doctor told her she wouldn't make it out of her 40s if she didn't lose it...so of course he recommends the atkins.....she pretty much eats as she did....accept she had to diss the veggies. This girl got so sick I thought she was going to die. Some doctor....and some diet...

Please support your assertions.

Anectodal evidence is not support of your assertions. I am still waiting for you to do so.

 

[catalyst]

Well you do have a point. I think there are a lot of doctors who need to stop pretending they know everything about the human body and its functions...and admit they CAN be pretty ignorant when it comes to prescribing nutrition.

Another example;

When I was 17 my doctor told me the most cost effective and best way I could gain muscle while on a bodybuilding routine was to eat lots of steak.....case closed. LOL

What does this prove? You need protein to gain muscle mass. This is not exactly news. When dieting, you need protein to avoid muscle catabolism, or at least to minimize it. Once again you can not separate context.

Furthermore, you talk about how ignorant doctors are in one paragraph, and in the next you give a statement by a doctor as a definitive answer. This does not exactly make sense.

Oh, and by the way, please support your assertions.

 

[Key Of David]

What does this prove? You need protein to gain muscle mass. This is not exactly news. When dieting, you need protein to avoid muscle catabolism, or at least to minimize it. Once again you can not separate context.

Furthermore, you talk about how ignorant doctors are in one paragraph, and in the next you give a statement by a doctor as a definitive answer. This does not exactly make sense.

Oh, and by the way, please support your assertions.

What are you talking about? The steak comment was about as off about food as you can get....

Support my assertions with what? You really need to lighten up....this is the health forum not the politics (thank GOD).

 

[Key Of David]

Exactly my point. People who exert more energy, through work-outs or sports shouldn't even consider atkins, they have to have carbs. My brother-in-law plays hockey and if he was on the atkins diet, he'd probably fall over 10 minutes into a game. Not a good idea. But there are some people that this diet can work for, people just need to better educate themselves on the different diets out there. For someone just starting to diet, I would start with the typical low-fat low-calorie diet. It does work for many people. But always always educate yourself before starting any sort of diet and if there is a large amount of weight involved, then Dr's and nutritionists need to also be involved, to help set you up on a plan that will work and be safe for you.

I also have to admit, I have cheated on the atkin's diet. I'm still in the induction phase and felt like I was getting a little too light-headed for comfort. That's another important thing. If you feel a little too weak on the diet, you need to reevaluate your plan.

Your post made perfect sense to me. I couldn't have said it better.

 

[boughtwithaprice]

I have a quick question for those of you that are familiar with the ins and outs of this diet. I don't know much about it and would really love a simple run-down of the program. Would anyone mind helping me out? My husband and I have come up with a few questions that we are looking for simple answers to. If any of you wouldn't mind inputting your knowledge, it would be much appreciated!

What is the rational behind the diet?
What specifically can you have on this diet?
What specifically must you avoid on this diet?
How old is this diet?
What happened to Dr. Atkins?

Thanks in advance for any input!

Anna

I didn't see anyone else mention the basic rational behind the diet, so I will tell you. The premise of the diet rests on control of the bodies hormones. These are chemicals that tell the body what to do. Build fat or burn fat?
Carbohydrate metabolism is controlled by the hormone insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that tells the body to lower blood sugar and build fat. It is released in response to carbohydrates in the diet. If there a low carbs in the diet, then insulin is not released and the body releases hormones that raise blood sugar and burn fat; these are glucagon, epinephrine, and cortisol among others. These are stress hormones and can make a person jittery, have a headache, and cause mood swings while on the diet.
The body can also change excess protien in the diet into sugar, but not enough to cause insulin release, but the breakdown products of protein are acidic. This means that you must drink lots of water to flush the kidneys while on a low carb diet, or risk kidney damage by acid breakdown products.

Studies have shown that excess insulin can shorten life span by causing heart disease, stroke and atherosclerosis. Reducing insulin levels may prolong one's life span.

That is the rational behind the diet. Reducing carbs is good for you in the long run, but it need not be as extreme as the Adkins diet. There are risks whatever you choose.

Any other questions?

 

[catalyst]

What are you talking about? The steak comment was about as off about food as you can get....

Support my assertions with what? You really need to lighten up....this is the health forum not the politics (thank GOD).

Well, the principles of sound dietary practice are based on science, which is based on observed evidence, from which we draw conclusions. One of the basic premises is critical review, and peer review generally does this pretty well.

In short, I have been asking you to provide references. The fact that you cannot speaks volumes.

 

[* kittie *]

instead of the atkins, read up on the south beach diet. it's pretty much the same, except you don't elimate carbs entirely. basically, you get rid of carbs for the first 2 weeks (detox), introduce low glycemic foods the next, and then you control yourself after that.

 

[Key Of David]

these are glucagon, epinephrine, and cortisol among others. These are stress hormones and can make a person jittery, have a headache, and cause mood swings while on the diet.

You forgot to mention the canabolistic effects of cortisol. It is released during this state so that you body not just feeds on fat, but on your muscle as well. It is partly why your whole body will waste away to nothing, not just the fat, if you starve. This is one more piece of evidence that should open your eyes about starvation diets. The chemicals released in your body as a result of starvation are NOT healthy and they are not interested in longevity. They are survival mechanisms put in place to help you do just that...in case you run out of food.

Studies have shown that excess insulin can shorten life span by causing heart disease, stroke and atherosclerosis. Reducing insulin levels may prolong one's life span.

That is the rational behind the diet. Reducing carbs is good for you in the long run, but it need not be as extreme as the Adkins diet. There are risks whatever you choose.

Any other questions?

A good post overall and I agree with you.

 

[boughtwithaprice]

You forgot to mention the canabolistic effects of cortisol. It is released during this state so that you body not just feeds on fat, but on your muscle as well. It is partly why your whole body will waste away to nothing, not just the fat, if you starve. This is one more piece of evidence that should open your eyes about starvation diets. The chemicals released in your body as a result of starvation are NOT healthy and they are not interested in longevity. They are survival mechanisms put in place to help you do just that...in case you run out of food.



A good post overall and I agree with you.

The effect of cortisol is Catabolism(break down) of protein; the opposite of anabolism(build up). If sufficient amino acids are consumed, in the form of protein, to produce sufficeint gluconeogenesis(new sugar production) during the Adkins diet, then the effect of cortisol on muscle breakdown should be minimal. The more important effect of insulin suppression will produce fat catabolism, which is the desired effect.
Ketones are produced by fat breakdown. This happens when the body uses fat instead of sugar for fuel. The major breakdown product of protein is ammonia. Ketones and ammonia need sufficient water to flush through the kidneys, or else severe metabolic stress can harm the kidney cells.
If someone does choose adkins, please drink enough water to make your urine clear. It can't hurt, water is good , otherwise, I think you take a chance with your kidneys, but its just IMHO.

 

[catalyst]

You forgot to mention the canabolistic effects of cortisol. It is released during this state so that you body not just feeds on fat, but on your muscle as well. It is partly why your whole body will waste away to nothing, not just the fat, if you starve. This is one more piece of evidence that should open your eyes about starvation diets. The chemicals released in your body as a result of starvation are NOT healthy and they are not interested in longevity. They are survival mechanisms put in place to help you do just that...in case you run out of food.

Canabolistic? Do you mean catabolic? Bit of a difference there.

Please show some evidence that a ketogenic diet is any more of a starvation diet than any other diet.

IOW, I am still asking you to support your assertions, and you still cannot do so.

Why?