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

Slate ^ | September 15, 2003 | Charles Duhigg

[drdemars]

Started Atkins in January and have gone from 243 pounds with 39 inch waist to 210 pounds and 36 inch waist. It has made a believer out of me besides I like the food. My wife also has done well with Atkins. My blood pressure down from 143/90 to 117/74. Have you tried pork rinds?

[Revolting cat!]

Great! (Memo to self: Sardines for lunch tomorrow!)

[Angry_White_Man_Syndrome]

read this

[SamAdams76]

Yes, I have had pork rinds from time to time during this diet. I like them but I don't keep them around the house because I find that it is difficult to not eat the entire bag. Weird, because I have no problem controlling my portions of other foods on this diet. I guess that pork rinds remind me of chips, and I used to be the classic example of a guy who couldn't eat a chip without finishing the whole bag. Why back in the day, I would think nothing of eating a huge bag of Doritos - as a snack!

I should mention that since starting this thing in April, I have not had a single chip, cookie, pastry, etc. Not a slice of cake nor a slice of pie. I vowed back in April that I would do what I had to do to lose the weight.

Last Sunday at a family party, I was surrounded by platters of desserts, snacks, etc., but I wasn't even tempted. I had my salad with olive oil, some cheese and a couple of pork chops. I have had no problem in this respect. Like you, I like the food in this "normal-carb" diet and it satisfies me.

[Tribune7]

Good job, Sam!

[Sloth]

Awesome pics. I started a low-carb effort just yesterday, along with my wife. I have more weight to lose than you did. I would probably be a candidate for bariatric surgery, & I know several who have lost a lot that way, but I intend to make a serious attempt to do it naturally... I tried a few years ago & lost about 25 lb, but got off the diet for whatever reason - I expect it'll be more convenient now, due to wider low-carb product availability. I have even found some no-carb BBQ sauce.

[annyokie]

Congratulations! I am amazed at your weight-loss! You look much younger in your after picture, as well! Keep up the good work!

[Mean Daddy]

Congratulations on your weight loss. I went from 190 to 160 in a couple of months following the Atkins diet. Below is a low carb cheesecake recipe that is pretty damn good.

Crust: 1 1/4 cups finally ground almonds or cashews
1 tablespoon Splenda
6 tablespoons melted butter.
Mix all together and form ito a 9 inch springform pan. Refrigerate 15-30 minutes for crust to set.

Filling: 3-8 oz. packages of softened cream cheese (regular, not low fat!!!!)
1 cup Splenda
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 cup of Splenda until fluffy. Add eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Pour into springform pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes (put a pan or cookie sheet under the cheesecake as springform pans tend to leak butter). Cheesecake will rise significantly during baking, but will settle after cooling. Keep chilled in refrigerator. Makes 16 servings at 5 grams of carbs per serving if made with almonds, 7 with cashews.

Let me know if you try it and like it. Also, I make Sugar Free Instant pudding with 1/2 and 1/2. The powder doesn't mix completly (flecks of chocolate), but it's pretty good all the same.

[Bella_Bru]

When Unilever PLC, the British food giant that owns Slim-Fast Foods, announced in July that U.S. profits had dropped 23 percent, it quickly pointed an accusing finger at the Atkins diet,

A nice way of saying: Unilever began whining, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaa...people have figured out that our sugar laden beverages will not help them lose weight, just make them fatter."

BTW, Sam, you're looking good!

[Loyalist]

Congratulations!

Lowering carbs works wonders. Just by reducing carbs and going to the gym three days a week, I've gone from 205 to 193 in three weeks. My goal is to reach 180, which is about normal for a man my height and build.

My oldest sister and her husband are both doctors, and they thought I was nuts for considering even a modified form of Atkins.

But it seems to be working so far.

[annyokie]

What is Splenda made from? I heard that artifical sweetners are verboten on most Adkins style diets.

Thanks for the information.

[Bella_Bru]

Splenda is sucralose. Here is a websirte about it: SPLENDA

[dix]

The pork skins are just about my favorite snack.

[annyokie]

Thanks, I'll go look.

[Rebelbase]

Good for you! I'm 5 weeks into this low carb diet and have dropped about 22 lbs so far.

[diotima]

Hi Bella! Good to see you!

(I love splenda. I hear there will be a liquid version coming out soon and it has no carbs, unlike the packets.)

[au eagle]

Congratulations and may you have continued success. I've been on a "modified" Atkins for a year after being diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Because of the diet, my glucose levels have returned to normal, so I do not have to take meds. Slowly lost 20 pounds but enjoyed my Mick Ultra during the whole time!

Economists at the National Bureau of Economic Research and University of Chicago persuasively argue that one of the biggest reasons for the nation's current obesity epidemic is that food is now so much cheaper and easier to prepare. "Forty percent of the recent growth in weight seems to be due to agricultural innovation that has lowered food prices," write Darius Lakdawalla of the RAND Corp. and Tomas Philipson of the University of Chicago.

That and government free food programs. Juvenile diabetes is an epidemic and we can blame the government for it.

[Bella_Bru]

Splenda is awesome. And I am looking foward to the liquid version myself, as I love to put Splenda in my iced tea. It'll be nice not to have to worry about the carbs in the filler.

How have you been? :-)

[Fred Mertz]

The food pyramid was killing me but I just didn't know it at the time.

It's good that you've seen the light about gooberment advice. Aren't you about 6'4"? Didn't we meet in DC about 5 years ago at the MFJ?

Keep up the good work and thanks for the enlightening story of your battle of the belt-line.

[diotima]

I have been good, we have to get together soon!