Ok. Is It A Really Good Idea To Follow The Atkins Diet. He Is Dead Now

[DEM FAN]

:shrug:

[toddzilla]

1. he fell

eom.

[XanaDUer]

2. I think he fell and hit his head, tho

I would not follow it because meat is sort of gross.

[DrWeird]

3. Actually the Atkins diet is a lot better now.

It's hard to eat somebody when he's still alive.

[Deja Q]

35. No... here's why

A high protein diet will start to eat away at your kidneys. Ketosis is the term. The bullshit diet plans say this is a good thing, this 'ketosis'. Bullplop. The stuff will damage your innards when you eat the innards of too many tasty animals.

Even if you avoid bacon and butter and all the other ludicrous food items that Dr. Quack had mentioned (check his stats, his cholesterol and trigylceride levels were off the charts!), and sticking to broiled and LEAN meats not saturated in fat or covered in sauces... Dr. Quack sold his diet saying you could eat lots of meat, no grains, and hinted at "avoid veggies" too (though newer ads say you can eat certain veggies).

Exercise and eating proper food is what counts.

[Dookus]

40. find me one

study that shows a "high protein diet will start to eat away at your kidneys"

[umkhonto]

46. clearly

you have not read the book, or even tried it.

[SarahB]

54. Nope

He promotes green veggies at the base of the diet. He says you should limit the starchy ones like corn though. I frequently eat a low carb flax and wheat cereal that is extremely high in fiber. I eat more fiber now on under 40 carbs a day than ever before.

There are healthy oils as well- olive and the Omega 3's in particular.

My cholesterol went from almost 300 to well under 200 and my triglycerides dropped even more. As for kidney risks, staying well hydrated is the key.

[Van Helsing]

Don't you just love fad diets?

:eyes:

[Dookus]

11. He wrote his book 32 years ago

that's one long fad.

[Van Helsing]

16. The diet itself hasn't taken off until last year.

So it's a fad.

[Dookus]

21. LOL

last year?

Sorry, you don't seem to know much about it.

[bratcatinok]

23. Excuse me but your statement is untrue.

The diet took off quite some time ago. I've had friends who have been on it since 1996.

What took off last year was the commercialization of the diet because companies realized so many people were on the diet the companies profits were falling. The companies decided to get on the bandwagon.

[Van Helsing]

32. That's what I meant about it.

So my statement isn't untrue.

[bratcatinok]

38. Definition of fad:

A fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of time; a craze.

The Atkins diet has been around for over 30 years so it's not as if it has been here for a brief period of time. His diet can't be regarded as a fad as it doesn't meet the definition of the word.

You didn't say anything about the commercialization of the diet, you stated the diet was a fad.

[MSgt213]

4. I don't know of any diet that will allow people to survive life

[Dookus]

5. huh?

what kind of nonsense is that? Should we stop washing our hands because Louis Pasteur is dead?

Dr. Atkins died from a fall on the ice. So far, nobody has shown his head injury was diet-related.

[bratcatinok]

6. Yes, if you want to lose weight

and if you read one of his books about the diet to understand it's not just about eating meat, cheese and eggs.

He slipped on ice, fell and hit his head. Had nothing to do with his diet.

[jpgray]

7. If you can't eat normally and lose weight, go for it

It's less healthy than a normal, healthy diet. So I would only use Atkins if I were obese and simply could not lose weight on a normal diet. I personally think that is impossible (EAT LESS), but many others feel differently, apparently.

The physics is simply burn more than you take in, but emotional attachment to food in this country is so out of control that no one it seems can exercise that level of control anymore. :(

In any case, getting rid of sugar and fast food will make just about any American lose some weight, since we eat far too much of each. I would say find your daily equilibrium intake, cut 500 cals off, and stay as active as you normally are. Eating fresh and healthy foods will help as well.

You will lose about 1-4 pounds a week, and in the healthiest possible way.

[Dookus]

8. on what grounds

do you assert it's less healthy than a "normal, healthy" diet?

Some very recent research is very positive toward a low-carb diet. People lose more weight on the same number of calories, and they have better blood cholesterol and triglyceride numbers.

[jpgray]

13. Those studies are true because Americans eat loads of crap

Atkins concentrates on vegetables and meats over carbohydrates. This virtually eliminates sugar intake and minimizes the effects of a voracious appetite--both are big parts of the reason Americans are fat and unhealthy. You're forgetting that Atkins is becoming a big business, so people will find research to justify the exponential encroachment of Atkins menus and products. Set against unhealthy Joe Blow, a strict follower of Atkins is probably healthier. That doesn't mean Atkins is healthier than a balanced diet.

In Italy, for example, the obesity rate is about 6.5%. In this country, it is upwards of 40%. Now refresh my memory, do they eat a few carbs in Italy? :D

It's not the carbs, it's the crappy food and lazy habits.

[Dookus]

20. Not sure I get your point

Yes, Atkins gets rid of sugar and other carbs. That's the point of the diet.

The results that most people find odd, though, is how one's bad cholesterol and triglycerides can be greatly reduced while still eating a lot of fats.

I had phenomenal changes in my numbers after being on Atkins for only a month. My cardiologist was amazed when he saw the numbers.

[Sandpiper]

27. They also eat lots of Carbs in Japan

And Japan has the lowest rates of heart disease and longest life expectancy of all the first world nations.

What Japanese don't eat a lot of is refined sugar and fatty meats, the two staples of the American diet.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

44. "They eat a lot of carbs in Japan"--not really

They don't follow the official food pyramid (getting most of their calories from carbs). They eat rice and noodles, but in small portions--like maybe an ice cream scoop of rice or a few noodles floating in broth.

If you eat at a minshuku (bed&breakfast) or ryokan (traditional inn), your meal will consist of a small bowl of rice, miso soup, and six to ten small servings of a variety of seafood, vegetable, and meat dishes. You can get seconds on rice, but I've only ever seen young men and boys do so.

All in all, their servings seem small to an American.

They also get a LOT more exercise than Americans do, just in the course of the day, since they don't drive as much as we do.

[Selwynn]

62. Bingo

[salvorhardin]

14. Not that simple

Obesity is a complex issue with genetic, biological, psychological, environmental and cultural factors all playing a role.

If the Atkins type diets can help someone lose some weight whereby they naturally become more active, thus burning calories then let them go for it. It's no something I'd encourage anyone to stay on for life but a few months isn't going to hurt anybody (usually).

[jpgray]

17. Nonsense, it is that simple

This is why you don't see many obese North Koreans, unless they happen to be running the country--if you eat less than you burn, you will NOT be obese. It's physically impossible.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

25. I agree that we are out of control but the food has changed also.

"The physics is simply burn more than you take in, but emotional attachment to food in this country is so out of control that no one it seems can exercise that level of control anymore."

What you quote (burn more than you put in) is old science. The simple fact is some people's bodies are naturally more efficient at burning calories. I agree about eliminating sugar and fast food (that is actually what Atkins does). White sugar, white flour, and refined carbs are eliminated. American food is full of cheaply-produced refined carbs and preservatives. Unfortunately, for many poor Americans, it is much cheaper to eat Ramen Noodles and Mac n Cheese than asparagus and chicken breast. Hence the large number of obese poor people.

[jpgray]

31. Sorry, but the laws of physics do not cease to exist in your stomach

It is physcially impossible to burn more than you take in and to still gain weight. Point me to a single credible scientist who makes the claim that taking in less than you burn will not cause you to lose weight.

What you describe is generally crap food, and it is not the only choice for people. However to maintain a reasonable weight, all that is required is to eat LESS of these crap foods. You could lose weight on a diet comprised solely of pasta or pizza--hell, my brother has proved the latter. He went from 185 pounds to 145 just eating pizza. How? Controlling his portions! Something almost no American is capable of doing. For those people who can't or won't exercise this control, Atkins is a good solution, because you can feel more full having eaten fewer calories.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

42. Okay, Doctor, how do you explain some people eat crap and stay thin

and others eat healthily and can't lose weight?

Please explain.

[jpgray]

45. Some people exercise, or eat smaller portions

But there's no way you burn less than you take in and gain weight or stay at the same weight--it's totally impossible. You eat too much of the healthiest diet and sit on your ass, you're not going to be in great shape. You eat less than you burn in crap, and you'll lose weight. If you eat crap though, you'll have such an emotional attachment to the sugar and fat high that you'll have a real tough time of it. Abraham Lincoln used to have a single apple for lunch, and now people have a flippin' three course meal. :D

Most of the people who eat healthy and can't lose weight are either eating too much, or exercising too little. If you want that three-course meal for lunch, you better be burning it off in some way. You think of a subsistence farmer in Sub-Saharan Africa who does eight times the work of a lazy surburbanite with about 1/4 the food, and you see food is becoming more about pleasure and emotional comfort than it is about fuel and sustenance in this country.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

49. No, it's not impossible. Everyone's body is different.

You mustn't have exposure to people who have had weight gain due to food allergies, hormonal/thyroid issues, and genetics.

I agree people use food like drugs, but just as many people suffer from some sort of medical issue. I'm really sick of all the judgemental bullshit on this board with regard to eating, fat and any affliction (smoking and drinking included) that others view as 'self-control' issues. It's the same as any kind of bigotry, except that it's acceptable in some circles.

[supernova]

55. jpgray, see my posts #28 and #36

for reasons why the Atkins plan works for some of us. You are decidedly unclear on the concept.

[Sandpiper]

9. Notwithstanding the freak accident that took his life

Dr. Atkins was on death's doorstep before then. He'd already had a heart attack the previous year and had ballooned to about 260lbs. Not related to his diet though from what I've read.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Sandpiper]

12. I'm sorry, He went into Cardiac arrest

And I added an edit to say that it wasn't related to his diet.

Why are members of the Atkins cult so sensitive when it comes to their guru?

[Catch22Dem]

19. LOL...no shit!

Besides, if I hear another moron tell me carrots and corn aren't healthy, I'm gonna scream. What kind of bizzarro world are we living in when carrots and corn are bad for you. Whatever :eyes:

[Dookus]

26. I'm not in a cult

It's simply a way of eating that I found worked well for me. Why be so damned insulting about it? Why not just learn a few facts first?

But I get mad when people spout stupid lies, like that he died from a heart attack. It's stupid, it's thoughtless, it's kneejerk.

[Sandpiper]

33. You started the insults Dookus

I said that Atkins had a heart attack, and you called me a liar.

He had a fucking heart attack Dookus. What do you think cardiac arrest is?

I never said that it was because of his diet. You decided to put words in my mouth and then get insulted about what you had imagined I said.

[Dookus]

39. because he did NOT have a heart attack

when you said he did. He had a viral heart infection.

Your post STILL says he had a heart attack a year before died. that is a lie.

I didn't call you a liar. But you are repeating a well-known lie.

[Sandpiper]

57. Ok Dookus, I'll leave you to your denial

But Dr. Atkins went into cardiac arrest, induced by cardiomyopathy. Just a shade more serious than a viral heart infection. I'm sorry if it hurts your feelings that he did, but facts are facts.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/diet.fitness/04/25/atkins.diet/

[Dookus]

58. sigh....

Cardiac arrest is NOT a heart attack. Cardiac arrest is simply the heart stopping - there can be many, many reasons.

A heart attack, or a Myocardial Infarction, is when a part of the heart itself is killed or damaged due to lack of bloodflow TO the heart.

It is a lie that Atkins had a heart attack. It is a lie that has been refuted many times. It is a lie that is spread by people who KNOW it's been refuted many times. Why, I have no idea. Perhaps you can tell us.

[Sandpiper]

59. Ok, Dookus, you win

Since it's all about semantics.

It was cardiac arrest not a heart attack. Mince the words all you like, but the end result was the same. His heart stopped beating.

BTW, thanks for parroting propaganda lifted clean from the Atkins page. Always a good source of objective information regarding Dr. Atkins.

Forgive me for insulting your guru. Stick with the Atkins cult if it works for you.

And yes, you do belong to a cult.

Cult

5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dookus]

63. The problem is

that you do not know the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack. Look it up before you embarrass yourself even further.

Atkins did NOT have a heart attack, as you keep saying.

You say I'm in a cult for making that distinction. That's silly. It's a very important medical distinction, and one that you should learn before getting so adamant. You are wrong. Look it up.

[Sandpiper]

64. Dookus, are you an MD?

If not, pardon me for not just accepting what you have to say as the final world regarding cardiac arrest or heart attacks.

The only information you've used to bolster your claim was lifted straight from the Atkins web page. I'm also somewhat less than convinced by this.

How about something from a medical dictionary?

You say I'm in a cult for making that distinction.

No, I say you're in a cult because of your frenzied reactions to any real or perceived sleights to Atkins or his diet. I've found these reactions fairly common amongst Atkins Diet adherents.

[Dookus]

65. I have not been to the Atkins webpage in over a year

so I don't know where that claim comes from.

as to the medical question - I urged you to look it up.

I've already told you what the difference is. A heart attack is damage or death to a piece of the heart due to lack of bloodflow. Also called a Myocadial infarction or a coronary. It occurs when the blood vessels feeding the heart get blocked, either by a clot or plaque.

Cardiac arrest is simply the stopping the of the heart. It can occur for many reasons other than lack of bloodflow to the heart. If you drown, you will actually die of cardiac arrest. If you suffocate, you will go into cardiac arrest. If you suffer severe enough injury, you will go into cardiac arrest. If you freeze, you will go into cardiac arrest. NONE of which have anything to do with obstructed blood flow to the heart.

No, I'm not a doctor. I'm just a guy who can read.

[Van Helsing]

34. You're right...

some people act like it's a cult. It's a freakin' fad diet for christ's sakes.

[Sandpiper]

37. Definition 5 of "Cult" from Merriam Webster's

5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

[supernova]

41. If you say so,

:eyes:

Meantime, I'll just keep enjoying my skinny self. :*

[TexasMexican]

66. whats so "fad" about it?

You claim it to be a fad but you havent show much evidence of that?

The diet has been around for a while so I wouldnt classify it as a fad.

Your name on the other hand might be a fad.

[Dookus]

67. LOL...

good one... He said a few times it's a fad... then it was pointed out that the book is 32 years old. Then he said it only caught on in the last year. He knows NOTHING about the history of it, but feels compelled to comment, incorrectly, on it anyway.

[bratcatinok]

15. Exactly!

VIRAL heart INFECTION that had nothing to do with his diet. He did gain water weight due to the medications and the infection but that was due to edema and not true fat.

I don't know why people lie about Dr. Atkins. They've probably never read a paragraph in any of his books and only base their statements on the silly idea the diet is only about meat, eggs and cheese. Hmmm, I think that's called 'contempt prior to investigation'.

[Sandpiper]

22. I've done the Atkins diet

And it worked well for my short term weight loss needs.

I do find some Atkins enthusiasts to be a little cultish though.

[bratcatinok]

24. I've eaten meals prepared by Atkins enthusiasts

but I've never followed the diet since my problem has been I need to gain and not lose weight.

I don't know that cultish is the right word for it though. I think the problem is people who've had great success with Atkins have been made fun of or put down so they've learned to be vocal about their support for the diet.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

50. Atkins had cardiomyopathy, or enlarged heart, due to a viral infection

and not a poor diet. Atkins’ weight gain was attributed to fluid retention in the eight days he spent in a coma before he died last April. When the coroner weighed him, he weighed over 200 lbs.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/02/10/atkins.widow/

<snip>
"During his coma, as he deteriorated and his major organs failed, fluid retention and bloating dramatically distorted his body and left him at 258 pounds at the time of his death, a documented weight gain of over 60 pounds," the doctor said in a written statement. "How and why the Journal reported that he was obese remains the only unanswered question in this pathetic situation."

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. The guy that discovered vitamin C is dead too..should we stop taking that?

[JVS]

29. No more Polio vaccines, Dr. Salk bit the dirt long ago

And don't get me started on pasteurization

[supernova]

28. Oy! Dr Atkins had CARDIOMYOPATHY, which was NOT diet related!

Dr. Atkins had Cardiomyopathy as a lasting complication of the viral heart infection he had several years ago. Cardiomyopathy is a general, progressive weakening of the heart muscle. Apparently he was controlling it very well with medication. He was playing tennis last fall while CBS followed him around for one of their 48 hrs (60 minutes?) stories. This was just before his fall. He did not look overweight either.

The weight gain upon his death was due to steriods, administered because of the fall. Steroids also cause hellacious water weight gain. And I'm sure the cardiomyopathy didn't help there either.

Look, he cracked his head on the sidewalk. This is not diet-related.

The Atkins diet is terrific for people who hav problems processing carbohydrates. I am one of those. I generally stay away from the white foods: rices, potatoes, breads. This translates to flours and starches. If I eat that stuff, I balloon out like a tent.

I eat protein, fruits and veggies and nuts. I make liberal use of olive and canola oils. No I don't eat steak and bacon at every meal.

[Taverner]

30. Atkins works - however it is not the only road

And many people find the diet overly restrictive. It's main strength is that you fill up on fat and protein rather than carbs. Your body can digest as many carbs as you condition it to, however there is a limit as to how much fat your body can use.

Most people have the best results when they combine nutritious meals at slightly lower caloric levels than their body needs to maintain weight, and cardiovascular excersize at least 3x per week.

Then after you get at the ideal weight, eat moderate servings, with an weekly cheat day.

[supernova]

36. I find it very satisfying

I can eat regular servings and be satisfied.

I never noticed this until I cut the "white" stuff out. But if I eat it, I'm still hungry. My hunger mechanism doesn't shut off, telling me I'm full. I just keep eating bread, rice, potatoes, or whatever it is. These foods also make me feel sluggish and sleepy. So I've learned to stay away from them and only have them as an occasional treat. They will not be the mainstay of my diet anymore.

Atkins is really about solving the problem of Syndrome X, or Metabolic Syndrome. Its a state where, in the proccessing of carbs, the body will maintain higher than normal insulin levels, for longer than normal. This is what causes the weight gain. You eat Atkins-style and you bring down your insulin levels with your food choices. Your body is then able to use up the fat stores it has built up. That's why people lose weight on the Atkins program.

Dr Atkins was working on a way to help people never develop diabetes in the first place. And you can think of Metabolic Syndrome as a kind of pre-diabetes.

But if you don't have this problem, then the Atkins program really isn't for you. For me, it works and that's what matters.

[Taverner]

47. Atkins is great for ALOT of people

It all depends on where you find your 'comfort food'. If meat and fat do it for you, Atkins is your diet.

However, if you're like me and love starch and don't mind spending a lot of time at the gym, its better to zap it all with cardio.

[supernova]

51. It's not about "comfort food"

far from it.

It's about how people's bodies process different types of foods differently.

If you think you can spend more hours in the gym to make up for the carbs you eat, more power to you.

I cannot. I have congenital heart defects. I'm good for maybe a little over an hour a day and no weight lifting allowed.

I guarantee you if I ate a pasta dinner every night, even while going to the gym every day, I'd gain weight like nobody's business.

[Taverner]

52. I dunno I knew a woman who did Body for Life

Worked great - lost a lot of fat in a short period of time. But Body For Life is very hard to keep up with, especially if you hate working out. Rigorous meals, rigorous workouts.

Then she went to Atkins and loved it, and still lost weight.

Both worked for her, but Atkins was better for her lifestyle.

We're kind of in agreement - I say whatever works go for it.

[SarahB]

56. Exactly!

Some of us just can't stop once we start, so it's better to avoid it. I eat so much healthier and food no longer controls me like it once did. I don't believe refined starches were not designed for human consumption and some of us are extremely sensitive to them- easily overdoing it and fighting like heck to control it and still gaining weight. I just have to cut them out of my diet to feel okay. My carbs come mainly now as fiber.

[carols]

43. Most diets are needlessly complicated - eat less, move more

Not saying Atkins doesn't work - it is probably a metabolic thing - but it's so limiting. When I want to lose weight I pretty much eat anything I want until about 6 or 7 at night. Then I just have a glass of juice or milk before I go to bed and that's it. I still more or less eat the same way and I have maintained 111 lbs for over 3 years. I think the variety of food is healthier and I don't like feeling that there is something I can't have if I really want it. So I exchange the "what I can have" for the "when I can have it" and it seems to work for me. Besides, I have DU to keep me busy at night - who needs to eat?
Carol

[Lydia Leftcoast]

48. Personal experience with Atkins diet

About five years ago, with my weight creeping up into scary numbers, despite taking lots of exercise classes, I went on the Carbohydrate Addict's Diet, which involves eating carbs only once a day. I lost 15 pounds in about four months.

About two years ago, I lost about ten more pounds on Atkins, and subsequently, I held steady by modifying my carb intake, basically following a Carbohydrate Addict's plan.

A couple of months ago, I read that the food pyramid was okay if you made sure that your carbs were whole grain, and since I like things like bread, cereal, and pasta and wouldn't mind having them at every meal, I decided to give it a try, cutting back on portion sizes, just in case. I'd have one bowl of cereal for breakfast, period, and go as vegetarian as possible. Stuff like that.

I didn't weigh myself (I don't weigh myself very often, since I don't want to become obsessive about it) for a while, but just this past week, I took out my spring clothes and found that they were tight. Even my rings were tight. When I weighed myself, I found that I'd gained seven pounds since adding all those whole grains and eating almost no meat.

Rather than throw out perfectly good clothes, I went back on Atkins on Monday. It's hard--I felt like drinking maple syrup on the first day--but I've been able to stick to it so far. Breakfast was a cheese omelet. Lunch was a turkey slices and a salad of spinach, cabbage, celery, broccoli, and cauliflower. Dinner was vegetables with pesto sauce. I know how to make all kinds of Indian and Thai curries and Chinese-style stir fries, so monotony isn't much of a problem. I drink lots of water. I've lost three pounds since Monday, and yes, I know that the first few pounds are water, but I can wear my rings again.

Oh, by the way, like many people my age, I have the beginnings of osteoarthritis, and I was waking up with stiff knees and hands. This morning I woke up and realized that my hands and knees were not stiff.

My point is that vegetarianism or whole grains might work for some people, but they don't work for me. People have different body chemistry.

By the way, somebody mentioned Italy. I've never been there, but I've noticed that if you go to a GOOD Italian restaurant (not the strip mall or chain kind), the pasta portions are small and form only one course of the meal.

[supernova]

53. I find it very interesting DEM FAN chose not to post anymore

in this thread.

I find it a shame that people want to slander Dr Atkins after his death, especially when his death had nothing to do with his eating habits. It's extremely tacky. :-(

edit: spelling

[IronLionZion]

61. try South Beach

I hear its better on many levels. healthier, tastier, etc.

[Hippo_Tron]

68. Yeah I'm told it's pretty good...

I think the theology is that if you give up junk food for a week, you won't want it anymore.