atkins...safe?

btownshreds

ok so some of you have told me in the past NO to the atkins diet.....well ive been researching and i found a video on youtube of this doctor that states that all diets suck (as we all know its about a lifestyle anyway) basically and hot a higher fat protein diet and no carb is the best....he says that higher carb and higher fat is what causes heart disease and diabetes and what not..... im sure alot of you understand the whole fat and no carbs cuz the fat is used to be burned.... whats your opinion on it? i find it similar to the paleo/caveman diet which is claimed to be super healthy...

jillerin457

It's never safe to completely eliminate a food group. Fad diets, including Paleo and Atkins, are not healthy for any long term. Just stick to the conventional wisdom: a diet based in vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, with a moderate amount of healthy fats and just a little natural sugar. You can't go wrong.

littttlelaurra

I would think a lower carb or paleo type eating style would be best, thats not to say your never gonna have a day off of it.
We like what we like so a treat now and then isnt going to be the end of the world but most days I would aim to eat that way.

Ashalahn_LMT

I have a difficult time with anyone saying one diet is the "best". No single diet will work for every single person. Personally if I go below 100 carbs per day I lose energy, get headaches, become irritable, and can no longer finish workouts. I tried cycling carbs. I tried CKD. I tried straight low carb. And I tried them all for months at a time to see if my body would adapt. It didn't. The side effects never went away. High fat and high carbs is not a good combination. Usually you find diets recommend high carb and low fat, or higher fat low carb. I've had better success keeping my carbs between 150-250 per day. But I know many who will swear by low/no carbs. Ultimately the "best" diet is the one that works for you and you can maintain.

btownshreds

i agree.....but wouldnt you think its not TOO bad if atkins is implementing vegetables ? the only thing your eliminating really is whole wheats and grains for just a little amount of time....our bodys dont need bread if you ask me

Jade_Butterfly

Atkins is definitely not safe. It puts undue stress on your internal organs such as your liver and kidneys. I learned a lot about it in '04 when I was in college. I tried it. My kickboxing trainer broke it all down for us. It will cause you to lose weight fast, but at a high cost to your body. Besides your brain runs on carbs, so if you want to shrink your brain it is great. . . You would be much better off increasing fruits and veggies, eating raw. . . or I choose to incorporate lots of fruits and veggies, lean meats(ie poultry and fish) and some things from the flat belly diet. .. (including mufas) such at avocado, olives, olive oil, flax, raw nuts and seeds! Just a thought good luck to you whatever path you decide to take!:bigsmile:

btownshreds

hmm ok sounds good guys......what about south beach? its like a low carb but it ALLOWS carbs...im Endomorphic and its so hard to keep weight off...

jillerin457

I really think your best bet is not to follow a fad diet at all. Just stick to a healthy balance of the traditional food groups, drink lots of water, exercise, and get enough sleep. It's not exciting or magical, but it's really the best for you, long-term.

ETA: I'm endomorphic, too, so I feel your pain! Have you tried Pilates?

bluebird321

There are some aspects of Atkins I like, but I prefer a bit more variety. A book came out about the diet back in 1972 -- I would suspect it's been around 40 years for a reason, but do your own research.

Presentation at Stanford University by Chris Gardner PhD who has been a vegetarian for 25 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eREuZEdMAVo

He did a study comprised of four different diets, including Atkins. Atkins did come out on top.

Lots of different opinions on this topic.

HeyLisa

I did it for years and was very successful and healthy. Ultimately it wasn't a diet I could stick to as a way of life and when I gained back 30lbs (years later) .. I found myself back here to try something different.

That being said, I felt great on Atkins.. I worked out hard with a trainer.. ate way more calories then most diets allow as your body burns fat instead of carbs and I looked leaner at the same weight. Only checking occasionally as you are not supposed to watch calories on this diet. The key is that you need to eat your natural fiber daily (at least 2-3 cups of green veggies daily). Many people miss or ignore that part of Atkins. The natural fiber, vitamins and healthy carbs not only allowed but necessary for success. I also did a lot of low carb breads so I was able to subtract a lot of carbs to equal my NET goals (which was around 25-35 net carbs daily).

This is a personal choice and I don't judge. We are all so different and nothing will work for everyone. A diet where you feel healthy (first week excluded on Atkins) and will work within your lifestyle is the choice only you can make.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you cheat on Atkins, your weight WILL swing. I don't recommend it for anyone that plans to "cheat occasionally" unlike other diets. Also, shouldn't be done if you have kidney issues as there is some legitimate documentation showing issues.

Good luck to you!

MinnieInMaine

In my opinion, the problem with Atkins is that people don't fully read/understand the materials before hand. I did it the right way 5 or 6 years ago - it worked really well and I was pretty happy over all. The problem with the plan for me was that it came out of popularity so all those low carb products that I was living on were no longer on the shelves and I wasn't willing to change up my lifestyle THAT much to stick with it. And like any other "diet" it's only good if you think of it as a long term change and not something you use just to lose the weight.

I don't know much about South Beach but it does seem to be more of a realistic approach to eating more healthy.