The Bull About the Beef - Has the Atkins diet really transformed the American economy?

Slate ^ | September 15, 2003 | Charles Duhigg

[Amelia]

I have difficulty with taking lunch cause it's such a pain to pack a lunch. I like something hot,

Make a little extra at suppertime, and pack it for the next day's lunch?

Most of the fast-food places have salads that work well, but they aren't hot.

[CajunConservative]

Exactly! At one time I was eating Lean Cuisine and lost weight, but was so hungry all the time I was ready to eat my desk

I really don't see how hard that would be. It could be done by using a 4-6 oz grilled meat portion teamed with a non starchy veggie in a butter sauce or something like that...

I know how to do it, just like most things need the $$$$$$ lol...

[Amelia]

In Viet Nam I walked 2 to over 10 miles every day in slide-on sandals.

Some days I think I walk several miles in high heels, but most people don't find that comfortable. ;-)

[joesbucks]

You're right. The lo carb diet is not inexpensive. And probably a reason you don't find many RTE type products.

[joesbucks]

For the most part, rewarmed meat just doesn't taste good. For example, most rewarmed chicken, excuse the word, sucks. I'm not sure how the food processors would be able to do much better, although in some cases they have made breakthroughs.

[Barn Owl]

The Doctor gave me a prescription for an appetite suppresant. When I took it to the pharmacy I found out that my health plan wouldn't cover it, but it bought it anyway. After 30 days on these pills, I got back on the scales and realized that I had lost $94.00.

Barn Owl.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I really with they would do this. And a low-carb grab and go soup. It would be so nice to have a pop and heat meal for lunch on occasion.

[Tailback]

I firmly believe that if a chain adopts 5 or six such items and markets themselves to low carbers, they will have lines to get in their doors.

There was an article in the local paper about that very phenomenon. A couple local restaurants have added "Atkins Friendly" options to their menus and are seeing a big upswing in business. Some of the restaurant owners talked about how it didn't cost any more for them to offer vegetable dishes instead of breads or larger salads instead of potato dishes.

[SupplySider]

Impressive pics. I think your diet is healthy and well-balanced by any standard, not just Atkins. I also like the idea of just staying on the perimeter of the grocery store. That is the ultimate in making the plan simple!

[SamAdams76]

I learned the hard way about walking shoes. At the beginning of the program, I bought a pair of size 12 sneakers and they were a little too tight. Yet they felt comfortable at the store so I bought them anyway. After a few miles, I started developing blisters which turned into very painful open sores. I had to get rid of those sneakers and buy another pair in a larger size. They are a little too big but I haven't had a problem since. SO I figure I'm size 12 1/2 but they don't seem to have 12 1/2 shoes available anywhere. But size 13 works.

Since I walk some 75 miles a week, I go through my shoes pretty quickly. I find myself replacing my shoes every two months. It's an expense that's well worth it though. I get the New Balance running shoes for about $80 a pair (cheaper ones just don't hold up). But when you consider the amount of money people throw at Weight Watchers and other weight loss clinics or programs, I'm getting off cheap.

Right now my music is keeping me occupied during these long walks. Especially the "marathon" weekend walks I take. During my 11 mile walk this morning, I listened to huge choral works by Monteverdi and Bach along with some Handel. Other days it might be hard rock or country. If I ever get tired of discovering new music however, I'll get some books on CD and rip them to my MP3 player. (I still find plenty of time to read anyhow.)

[SamAdams76]

In Viet Nam I walked 2 to over 10 miles every day in slide-on sandals.

Amazing. I know that most people from over there walk miles a day on flip-flops. Don't know how they do it, but I guess it's just something you get used to.

Anyway, here is a humorous story. At the beginning of the summer, when my walking/diet programme was in full swing, I decided to drive to the beach for a change of pace. So I kicked off my shoes and proceeded to walk down the beach. Three miles later, I start to realize that my feet are starting to hurt really bad. I then realized that the beach sand had not only rubbed the callouses right off my feet but were now starting to rub into my skin. So here I am in my bare feet at about 6:30 in the morning some three miles from my car and sneakers.

It was an excruciating walk back. I tried walking in the water to ease the pain but it didn't help much. When I did make it back, my feet were bleeding in several places and I was in agony. I could hardly stand up on them. I thought I would be sidelined for sure. But I bought some bandages and wrapped my feet up for my walk the next day. It was painful but I made it through and within a week, all was better again.

Now maybe I could condition my feet to do this, but walking six miles in my barefeet is something I'll never do again.

[sinkspur]

Congratulations, Sam. You look so much healthier in the recent picture!

As an Atkins advocate, I'm about to have chicken parmigiana with an extra helping of cheese, a lettuce wedge with tomato and blue cheese dressing, and a Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel.

Staying steady here at 188 lbs., size 34 waist, and feelin' good!

Anybody can do this eating plan. Anybody!

[SamAdams76]

Thanks. But I have now dropped over 10 pounds more since that picture was taken! The last two weeks have been incredible. It looks like I am going to lose another 4-5 pounds this week and my new weight will hit my tagline tomorrow (I weigh myself officially every Sunday morning). I cannot believe how good I feel these days. I just walked 11.5 miles this morning like it was nothing at all. I have been bursting with energy all day.

Had a dinner of grilled steak kabobs with jalapeno peppers and onions myself. Also finished off a bottle of Wyndham's Bin 444 cabernet (from Australia).

[Amelia]

Roadrunner Sports has size 12.5 in at least some brands.

[ThanhPhero]

but walking six miles in my barefeet is something I'll never do again.

Walking barefeet a little bit on the beach every day will toughen your feet to where you can walk all day on the sand comfortably, even pleasurably, but you will have to buy larger shoes to accomodate the callouses.

I was in Viet Nam for the month of August and walked everywhere. One needs soles there but any sort of uppers should be no more than enough to hold the soles to your feet. It is simply too hot for anything else. In 68-70 I wore GI boots in Nam and don't know how I did it.

[ThanhPhero]

I know that most people from over there walk miles a day on flip-flops

MOST people "over there" do not walk miles a dayon flip flops, not any more, Most people over there who go any distance at all rido on small motorbikes.