Businesses hungry for slice of the low-carb pie (Atkins)

St. Petersburg Times ^ | October 24, 2003 | BENITA D. NEWTON

[jellybean]

Will someone please give me the first two weeks eating plan and then what to add after that?

Here are the Rules of induction. I do encourage you to get the book, however. It contains a wealth of information and is well worth the $15.00.

[jellybean]

Hi tia! Hope you enjoy the recipes!

[BamaDave]

What am I doing wrong? I've been on it for 2 1/2 weeks and I've maybe lost 5 pounds.

5 pounds in 2-1/2 weeks is a reasonable rate of weightloss, actually! I didn't follow Atkins, but have lost 50 pounds through watching my diet and exercising religiously. I never did a ketosis diet. Instead, I watched (and continue to watch) the type of carbs I eat -- mostly vegetables, fruit, whole grains --- stay away from the processed garbage as much as possible. I also eat plenty of protein since I weight train, and make sure I get solid doses of healthy fats from nuts, fish, olive oil, etc. I don't eat a lot of high saturated fat meats or dairy, which is different from Atkin's.

I probably eat more along the lines of the South Beach Diet, although I originally started following these eating guidelines after reading The Testosterone Advantage Plan,a bok published by Men's Health Magazine. I had borderline hypertension previously (in my 30's!), and that is now gone. My cholesterol levels are all stellar. My triglycerides and blood sugar levels are excellent, whereas my triglycerides used to be too high when I was still buying into the high carb/low fat idea. My body fat levels are lower than they have ever been, even when I was as much as 20 pounds lighter in the past. Now if the nutritionists would put away their stupid "food pyramid," and look at the results people are getting my stepping away from their rice-n-bread-n-pasta mantra, we could potentially be a much healthier nation. Still, the decision remains with individuals to turn away from the Blooming Onions and Doritos.

[CathyRyan]

bump

[tubebender]

Bump for later...

[Teacher317]

Everyone hits plateaus... maybe you hit yours early like I did. I lost 6 the first week, then 0 for the second week. I added in a 2-mile jog twice per week, and lost 8 in my third week. Each week after that I lost 3. (Then I started cheating regularly, and wouldn't you know it, I stopped losing. Imagine that!)

Stick with it, or make some small adjustment, and you'll break through.

I was 230# in August 2002 (I'm 5'10), and I started watching my food intake. I started Atkins at 215 on Aug 24, 2003, and hit 191 by Oct 8. 15 pounds in 12 months versus 24 pounds in 6 weeks.

(Yeah, Atkins sure doesn't work. I love laughing at those who say it is a fad and that it isn't scientific. ROFL!)

[grimalkin]

Someone explain the biology behind Atkins to me, if they could. Doesn't all food energy basically get broken down into saccharides anyway during digestion/metabolism? (cellular respiration)

Why would eating mostly protein cause one to lose weight which it apparently does ecause I have seen many people with fabulous results.

It just doesn't make sense to me, I tend to think it is because you are so limited in what you can eat that you are inclined to lose weight.

You're not really limited at all... the hardest part is the first two weeks. This is the detox crash session. After that, you progressively add back foods like extra vegetables, fruits, nuts and whole grains. The maintenance phase has something from every food group. The only big no-no forever is refined sugar in any form, foods that aggravate individual intolerances (grains, nuts, etc.) and partially hydrogenated fat. This plan is certainly tailored to the individual.

Concerning the science behind it, you can go to http://atkins.com and read all of the information there. There's quite a bit.

[GrandMoM]

BUMP

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Thankyou jellybean. I see two bloops I've been doing. I made a pot of bean soup and have been eating that...according to the link, that's a no-no. And I've not been eating enough fat, I think. They say I can have cheese? I thought that was verboten?

As soon as I can get a day off and hit the mall, I'll pick up the book. But I wanted to get a jump on it, so I've been reading these threads and reading online articles. Thanks.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Thanks, Hank. That's heartening. I simply expected to shed ten pounds the first two weeks, and it hasn't happened. From what I read online, dry beans were good. I made a huge pot of bean soup, and now I find that's a no-no. Ack.

[XBob]

you need to avoid ALL starches, wheats, and sugars initially.

Fats, oils, protein are good. ANY starch will screw up the process initially.

Beans are full of starch, though they have more protein than most other starchy foods, they are still full of starch. Potato chips are bad, even though they have a lot of oil.

If you must eat beans, eat green beans. Do not eat dried beans, lima beans, or peas.

[jellybean]

You are allowed 3 ozs. of cheese per day. Check the list of acceptable foods for the kinds of cheese you can have. I suggest printing this page so you have a hard copy to carry with you.

Don't get discouraged! Adjust your eating just a little (leave out the beans for now) and I think you'll see greater results.

Keep me updated on your progress.

[XBob]

in addition, most of the weight loss in the first two weeks is water, not fat. Your body is dehydrating back down to where it should be. (Carbs cause your body to collect and hold a lot of water).

Digesting protein and alcohol takes a lot more water than digesting carbs, so now you know why you are so thirsty the 'morning after' the 'night before' party.

[Axenolith]

Atkins has been around for years. Have you been living under a rock? The reason it's taking off is because the food pyramid morons can't shoot down the results...

[Hank Rearden]

You really need to read Atkins' book, which is inexpensive in paperback. The bean soup is a HUGE no-no; it seems the online articles you ran across were the wrong ones.

It's not all that difficult to learn, actually; you just need to understand which foods have a high glycemic index and trigger high blood sugar and insulin production.

[XBob]

75 - "it seems the online articles you ran across were the wrong ones."

Must have been reading doctors and nutritionists. They seem to know less about this subject than anyone, and in fact have it bass ackwards.

I have been fighting with them for 20 years. And their advice has lead to nothing but perpetual hunger, weight gain and un-abatable diabetes.

[Grit]

Everyone is getting into the act. :)

Russel Stover Low Carb