HOLD THE LARD!: The Atkins Diet still doesn't work

Reason.com ^ | Dec. 5 2002 | Michael Fumento

[Maelstrom]

Stress causes heart attacks, not cholesterol.

So...let the fatwah continue.

[uncbob]

Let's examine real diets that are not Atkins but healthy

Eliminate fats that are in pies, cakes, pastries of any kind cookies etc. Atkins also eliminates them because of the carbs
Potato Chips Nachos Corn Curls French Fries also gone in the low fat diet Atkins eliminates them because of the carbs
Ice cream gone in both diets

Low fat diets also eliminate sodas and candy ( as does Atkins) and concentrate on carbos from grains beans vegetables etc

Low fat diets emphasis good fats like nuts -fish- olives - and non hydrogenated vegetable oils etc and allow lean meat

Low fat diets or the recommended ones are in reality 20-30% fat but the good fats

[xrp]

Oh and I worked on muscle mass, which helps to burn more calories.

And yes Ladies, I am still single.

[patton]

I've never tried to loose weight, and, frankly, could care less.

But I can still taste the Black Angus T-bones we grilled out for my fourtieth (two days ago), and who the heck needs carbs? STEAK....salad.....

[A.J.Armitage]

Why would you hold the lard? That's the best stuff for frying potatoes.

[Your Nightmare]

On thing most people don't get is that we are all dieting. A diet is just "the usual food and drink of a person or animal." We don't just eat to lose or gain weight, we need food to be healthy. This was an extremely small scale study over a very short time. Most of the people who stayed on Atkins lost weight. And if your only concern in regards to what you eat is if you lose weight, then you could probably consider Atkins "effective," at least in the short term. But what are the long term health risks? Are you going to lose weight now and die of cancer in a decade? Most people who start smoking lose weight. Is smoking a healthy part of a "diet". Obviously not.

The long term effects on overall health is just one of the unknowns about Atkins. As the docs say, "more study is needed." (and hopefully the studies won't be funded by someone who has such a financial interest in positive results)

[Doc Savage]

Is this the Helen Thomas thread???????????????????????

[AppyPappy]

If anyone bothers to actually read Dr. Atkins book they might find that he basically recommends people to eat smaller portions and exercise. What's wrong with that?

I read the book. He recommends a very low carb diet. That's what separates him from every other diet. Carbs make you fat. Fats make your arteries fat. You will lose weight eating lots of red meat and bacon and your casket will be lighter.

[Mark]

I eat whatever I feel like eating, and have no weight problems at all.

Damn you! Not fair!(LOL)

[martin_fierro]

Since F.R.A.C. (FR Atkins Cult) has already issued a fatwah

Shirley you jest. <|:)~

[chilepepper]

Michael Fumento is pushing his book

The Fat of the Land

THAT is what this article is really about...

As someone who has fought my weight for about 40 years, I must disagree with Fumento and those who say it is strictly a disguised "lo-cal" diet... it is not such thing but those who didn't believe in it are waging a guerilla action against it... they STILL don't believe it...

I DO! Just lost 22# on it in the past 8 weeks after going on a carbo binge on a cruise ship...

unfortunately, CARBS for me are like booze to a drunkard...

[patton]

Steak & beer are God's way of telling us that He loves us...

[RightWhale]

eating meat all the time gets boring

It does, so for breakfast blend up a dozen raw eggs with a little orangejuice. Once in a while eat a carb meal if you must, but don't have any animal flesh with that meal, none at all.

[Mark]

The long term effects on overall health is just one of the unknowns about Atkins.

My brother has been on it for over 30 years and is in great shape. He has no cholestral problems- no problems of any kind.

[RaceBannon]

I am not even going to read this. I lost 60 pounds since January 2002.

[LouD]

Atkins is a glycemic response manipulation diet on training wheels. If you eat moderate amounts of complex carbs, and avoid the processed crap that passes for food for so many people (eg skip the twinkies and McFries), and get off your ass and exercise, you will lose weight.

[meyer]

"Often just losing weight alone will cause improvement in triglyceride and cholesterol levels," the president of the American Heart Association Dr. Robert Bonow told me.

I beleive that they have said otherwise in the past.

[GoMonster]

i am doing atkins diet approach now. been on it for about two weeks. went from 190 to 180 pounds and fat went from 23% to 18% If done correctly it reduces you hunger. Cravings for carbs is what makes a person gauge calories. Best advice is to minimize sugars and carbs if you want to lose fat weight.

[meyer]

Awright now I'm totally confused. Which is it, y'all-- is the Atkins diet or is not the Atkins diet effective???

Despite the silly wording, it appears that it is effective for people that follow it. This is also true of many diets. The real question for one that needs to lose weight is 'which one will I follow?'

[meyer]

SSSHHHH!!! Claiming that exercise is the only healthful, long-term way to lose weight is forbidden at this site.

Heh heh! No its NOT Forbidden!!! And, your secret is out! :^)