No carbs for you! Companies are rushing to put out products

The Boston Globe ^ | January 11, 2004 | Naomi Aoki

[radiohead]

I guess Beranbaum missed the scientific study that proved that people on a low-carb diet with 300 calories per day MORE than a high-carb diet STILL lost weight.

Also probably missed the studies that show that diabetics who count carbs and use the glycemic index to choose complex carbs can decrease or eliminate their medication. I speak from experience.

[HolgerDansk]

The reason I don't buy Atkins has to do with the body's fatmaking process: your body has to work harder to convert carbs to fat than fats themselves. At least that was the advice I was given years ago, and it worked for me.

In any event, what you eat isn't nearly as important as how you burn it. If you don't have enough muscle mass, carbs will go to fat, plain and simple. And even if you have the muscle mass, if you're not active enough, you won't burn fat or carbs, and it'll go to fat. As my friends the Marines like to say:

[EVO X]

As for not having the time, I don't buy the excuse. I'm a busy guy too but I find time to walk at least 5 miles a day. By walking at a brisk 4 mph pace, it only takes me an hour and fifteen minutes to do five miles. Usually that translates to a 45-minute walk in the morning and a 30-minute walk during lunch (or after work). I never have a problem fitting that into my schedule. You can walk ANYWHERE!

I've been doing the getting in shape routine for about a year now. My body almost demands that I do my daily walks, situps, and pushups. It is kind of weird. Instead of sneaking out for a smoke, I sneak out for a walk at work. (I quit smoking a few years ago).

[I still care]

This was something I always noticed about myself - most people feel energized after a good breakfast. I always got sick and weak about an hour or so later. After that my eating tended to accelerate throughout the day -pick, pick, pick - by night, I was binging big time.

If I tried to willpower it out only eating the normal 3 meals my blood sugar took a big drop - often down in the low to mid 40's.

Only certain people are set up metabolically like this. One of the signs is that diabetes runs in your family.

In other words, it is not really a weight loss diet, although you will lose weight because you metabolize your food like normal folk. It is more a diet to normalize your metabolism. I suggest you do some research - if this sounds like you, then a low carb diet might be something you want to look into.

I personally like the Lifespan book, they sell really cheap on ebay or amazon. But there is also Atkins, the Zone, and many others.

[Myrddin]

I have a diet soda and twenty minutes later I'm looking for something to eat.

It's the carbonated water that is dumping your stomach. The carbonate triggers your stomach to empty. It is a favorite trick in restaurants to help make more room for dessert. When you want to clear the table for more customers, refill the coffee and plain water glasses to make your customers feel "full".

[Myrddin]

Try Jack-in-the-Box. Two large patties @ 75 cents each, 2 slices of American Cheese @ 20 cents each, 1 slice of swiss cheese @ 20 cents each. After tax it is $2.23 at my local store. You get 1/2 pound of fairly lean, well done hamburger with decent cheese for flavor.