Atkins Diet Revisited
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A strict Atkins diet keeps you in the fat-burning mode all the time. A lot of people do not realize that the ONLY way to lose weight is to be in the fat-burning mode while running a calorie deficit. Knowing how to get into the fat-burning mode- there are several ways- means that people can tailor their weight-loss approach to suit their needs.
If you are in a state of negative energy balance (calorie deficit) you are burning fat and do not have to stress over getting into a "fat burning mode"...
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I didn't say I have all the answers, but I don't get why you need to stroke your ego all the time? Which I'd be careful about because you are wrong on at least a couple of points above.0
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I don't think you read the post previous.
You can be in a negative calorie balance and still not burn fat- it depends on your glycogen stores. When you burn through your glycogen stores to a certain degree- about 50-70%- then you start to burn fat.
You HAVE to be in the fat-burning mode to burn fat- pure and simple.
Now, the heart is ALWAYS in the fat-burning mode, but on the aggregate the amount of fat burned is offset by the ingestion of carbohydrates and fats.
You burn through glycogen stores when you are performing glycogen demanding activity. The body switches to fat stores at rest and during low intensity activity. So if you are indeed in a state of negative energy balance you are indeed burning fat... even with fully stocked glycogen.
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Seriously? From someone who is using a profile picture of someone that isn't them trying to come off as an expert on MFP? Yeah, no.
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[quote=I'm curious to get solid first-hand information from people who've had experience with this particular diet. [/quote]
I tried the Atkins diet a number of years ago, stuck with it for about five months and yes, at first, I found it worked very well for me. I lost a fair bit of weight initially (about 20lbs) and I just loved being able to eat lots of cheese (a favourite of mine, and definitely missed now!) and nuts (another favourite) and ... and ... and ... but I really missed bread and fruit, and carbs in general.
Oh - and bacon & eggs for breakfast every day? A dream. Until I soooo missed the bread that's a mandatory part of a fried breakfast, in my humble opinion!
But, in the end, two things:
1. The weight stopped coming off, first so fast and then not at all and (more important to me!) --
2. I got so very (sorry, no nice way to say this!) constipated and just couldn't bear that any more.
So I stopped. Reverted to "normal" eating patterns and put back that 20lbs and probably another 10 or 15 on top.
It wasn't until I "found" My Fitness Pal (or it found me??!), and the benefits of proper portion control and exercise (even though I knew it to be sound and sensible advice!) that I have managed to take all that and more off, and it's literally changed both my life and my lifeSTYLE
. A switch was flicked. And, even though (dammit!) I've put back a few pounds on holiday, I've seriously altered the way I eat and, more importantly, live.
But you say in your original or early post(s) that your parents have been on it for years and it works for them ... it's perfectly true & acceptable that what works for one person will not work for another. So, despite me being a real failure at Atkins, I really hope it works for you. Good luck with it all
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I read what was said. I was more responding to comments like:lemurcat12 wrote: »It gets a bad rap because there's no need to stick to 30 grams of carbs or below or whatever it is to lose weight, or to give up fruit and potatoes and ice cream, if you happen to like those foods. But if someone prefers eating that way, I wouldn't criticize. I think it's a fine eating plan for some people, just not me.What you're describing isn't Atkins, and that you equate Atkins and keto as the same thing in your mind is m point. They aren't. That's a common misconception because all some people know about is Atkins induction, but that's not the actual plan if you read the book or even looked into it whatsoever. What you're describing is a ketogenic diet. Atkins is a diet that adjusts your macros over time based on your goals. They simply are not the same, beyond the optional induction phase of Atkins resembling a ketogenic diet for 2 weeks.
That's, I guess, interesting, or would be to someone considering doing Atkins, but my response was actually more relevant to OP's question. The idea that you are supposed to cut carbs low enough to go into ketosis (even if just for a period of time) IS why many people are negative about Atkins--although I don't think I'm really negative, just not interested personally--just as the idea that people eat lots of high fat foods that are traditionally considered unhealthy.
Also, OP's intro post focused on the same aspects of Atkins as my response did. My impression is that keto and low carb and Atkins get used pretty interchangeably on these boards and I'm not all that concerned with the differences between them and I guess I read the OP as more about low carb (or keto, like I said) in general than Atkins which, yes, is more involved than I realized. Perhaps if one is into low carb diets or the specific virtues of one vs. another the differences would seem more important, but that didn't seem to be the focus of the question.I would agree with people saying these diets probably aren't the best fit for many, maybe even most people. It's just the misinformation equating Atkins to a standard ketogenic diet, saying you will stink because someone knew someone on Atkins that stank (lol?), and the like that rubs me the wrong way (an acknowledged pet peeve of mine).
Again, I didn't say anything negative about Atkins or low carb. And keto is part of Atkins (the most well-known part), even if apparently one need not stay in ketosis to do it. I actually hadn't realized that Atkins seems less common among the low carb types these days than formerly in that most everyone I've met doing low carb is doing keto, whereas people used to talk more about Atkins and I'd not made a distinction, as I said. So thanks, I've learned something, even if I still think your response was a little off target given the substance of my post and the question.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »most everyone I've met doing low carb is doing keto, whereas people used to talk more about Atkins and I'd not made a distinction, as I said. So thanks, I've learned something, even if I still think your response was a little off target given the substance of my post and the question.
Just to clarify (not that anyone cares, but it bugs me that I can't edit), this is true if you don't consider paleo a low carb diet, although I think it generally is in practice.
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My impression is that keto and low carb and Atkins get used pretty interchangeably on these boards and I'm not all that concerned with the differences between them and I guess I read the OP as more about low carb (or keto, like I said) in general than Atkins which, yes, is more involved than I realized. Perhaps if one is into low carb diets or the specific virtues of one vs. another the differences would seem more important, but that didn't seem to be the focus of the question.
Oh, they do, but that's due to ignorance about the Atkins diet and misinformation, which is evidenced throughout this thread (more in other posts than yours). Equating Atkins and keto diets is akin to me going around equating a generic bro split with Wendler's 5/3/1 and saying oh they're the same thing. They aren't. One is a pretty strict training routine, while the other is a generic routine that may have some things in common with the first routine, and in other ways may be very different. But they aren't synonymous.
And in my mind, if you actually want to offer the pros and cons of an Atkins diet (like the diet tends to be more satiating, your results can be less reliable as it's dependent on how hungry you feel, it's more regimented with multiple phases and the like and thus requires more effort than basic calorie counting, there can be negative effects on athletic performance particularly at first, etc.) like the OP was asking about, I would think it helps to know more than the common misconception of the diet.
But it doesn't really matter. This isn't the first time people have confused this and it won't be the last. What I find sort of funny is I don't even think Atkins is a great fit for the OP - it's just the ignorant "it makes you smelly!" comments and the like, rather than your comments, that made me want to reply.0 -
AlanaTedmon wrote: »
Do you plan on sticking to a low carb diet for the rest of your life? Don't you think you'll eventually start to miss things like fruit, pizza, beer, ice cream, pie, cake, etc?
I personally think that all "restrictive" diets are a bad idea because people often get sick of them in the long run and then gain back the weight they lost.
And that's why people keep "revisiting" it and going back on Atkins. There were a couple of ladies where I used to work who went back on Atkins 2 or 3 times per year it seemed. After a few months of restricting, feeling great and letting everyone know about it, they went back to putting ice cream in their morning coffee.
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I've never done Atkins, but I've known some people who have. Like any diet, some have kept the weight off, some still do it, and some gained weight back.
To get back to your original question: I think part of the reason for the bad reputation is that after Robert Atkins died, it was noted that he was overweight and had a history of heart problems, which were some of the concerns that other health professionals already had about a high-fat, high-protein diet. Some reported that his heart problems were most likely caused by a virus and not his diet. This paired with the fact that at the time of his death low-carb diet popularity was fizzling out, I think made a lot of people turn against the Atkins diet in particular. People who were already against it had even more reason for their position--that's all.
I think there were also a lot of people doing Atkins back in its hey-day when my parents did it (them included) that didn't really understand the diet or the nutritional theories (for lack of a better word) behing it, and they just sort of thought, "oh, just take the bun off this super greasy restaurant burger and that's Atkins". I remember asking my parents questions about it out of curiosity and they really couldn't tell me much. They didn't know what porportions of fat and protein to eat. There were some fruits and veggies they could eat, but they still refrained from eating them and getting some variety and some sort of balance within whatever nutritional framework they were following. But I don't think that's indictitive of Atkins itself. I think it's just indicitive of anyone looking for a quick fix and doesn't inform themselves about whatever program or non-program they're following.
I think people have to do what works for them. Since you grew up surrounded by it and you seem to like it so far, then it could very likely turn into a long term thing. And if not, at least you tried it and found out for yourself.0 -
I don't think you read the post previous.
You can be in a negative calorie balance and still not burn fat- it depends on your glycogen stores. When you burn through your glycogen stores to a certain degree- about 50-70%- then you start to burn fat.
You HAVE to be in the fat-burning mode to burn fat- pure and simple.
Now, the heart is ALWAYS in the fat-burning mode, but on the aggregate the amount of fat burned is offset by the ingestion of carbohydrates and fats.
That's pseudo-science.
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The trick is to only pseudo-eat breakfast.Wheelhouse15 wrote: »I don't think you read the post previous.
You can be in a negative calorie balance and still not burn fat- it depends on your glycogen stores. When you burn through your glycogen stores to a certain degree- about 50-70%- then you start to burn fat.
You HAVE to be in the fat-burning mode to burn fat- pure and simple.
Now, the heart is ALWAYS in the fat-burning mode, but on the aggregate the amount of fat burned is offset by the ingestion of carbohydrates and fats.
That's pseudo-science.
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I'd like to point out here that what Atkins does is cut out ALL sugar. There are plenty of medical studies out there (now) to suggest that sugar is what is causing the obesity epidemic in our country, and NOT fat. I am in week five of Atkins - and I'm still doing Phase 1. I haven't lost weight that quickly, but I do a lot of my own cooking, have been experimenting with a lot of recipes, and think I could do this for a long time.
Also it's important to note that Atkins doesn't support the idea that you can live on steak and bacon and mayo. These things are portion controlled within the diet - so you get 2 tablespoons of mayo as a serving, or two TABLESPOONS of heavy cream as you have to still be conscious of your calories.
Since giving up sugar I haven't felt this good in MONTHS. My asthma and my allergies have been 100% better, and I pay more attention to the food that goes into my body. I eat plenty of vegetables, and I spend money that I used to spend on junk on good quality meat - which tastes way better anyway. I believe everyone is different and what works for one person doesn't work for someone else - this works for me. If it works for you - then who cares.
Also I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that JAMA did a study on this that was published a few weeks ago - and while Atkins was the most successful at weight loss in the early stages (6 mos) it was nearly identical to low fat diets in the long run (1 year +). What's important is that doing anything is better than nothing.
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Do you mean you can't edit your post? If that's what you mean then just click on the post and a little settings wheel will appear, click it, click edit.lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »most everyone I've met doing low carb is doing keto, whereas people used to talk more about Atkins and I'd not made a distinction, as I said. So thanks, I've learned something, even if I still think your response was a little off target given the substance of my post and the question.
Just to clarify (not that anyone cares, but it bugs me that I can't edit), this is true if you don't consider paleo a low carb diet, although I think it generally is in practice.
That's exactly what I meant.
Thanks so much!
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Wheelhouse15 wrote: »I don't think you read the post previous.
You can be in a negative calorie balance and still not burn fat- it depends on your glycogen stores. When you burn through your glycogen stores to a certain degree- about 50-70%- then you start to burn fat.
You HAVE to be in the fat-burning mode to burn fat- pure and simple.
Now, the heart is ALWAYS in the fat-burning mode, but on the aggregate the amount of fat burned is offset by the ingestion of carbohydrates and fats.
That's pseudo-science.
Steve, who seems to think he's actually Sebastian Johnston, a professor of respiratory medicine, likes to spew out random crap that he believes are facts.
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/AP/faces/pages/read/Home.jsp?person=s.johnston&_adf.ctrl-state=39wt4x7mc_3
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No, the obesity epidemic is caused by too many calories and not enough activity. You can become obese on any diet if you eat too many calories.jmarton1977 wrote: »I'd like to point out here that what Atkins does is cut out ALL sugar. There are plenty of medical studies out there (now) to suggest that sugar is what is causing the obesity epidemic in our country, and NOT fat. I am in week five of Atkins - and I'm still doing Phase 1. I haven't lost weight that quickly, but I do a lot of my own cooking, have been experimenting with a lot of recipes, and think I could do this for a long time.
Also it's important to note that Atkins doesn't support the idea that you can live on steak and bacon and mayo. These things are portion controlled within the diet - so you get 2 tablespoons of mayo as a serving, or two TABLESPOONS of heavy cream as you have to still be conscious of your calories.
Since giving up sugar I haven't felt this good in MONTHS. My asthma and my allergies have been 100% better, and I pay more attention to the food that goes into my body. I eat plenty of vegetables, and I spend money that I used to spend on junk on good quality meat - which tastes way better anyway. I believe everyone is different and what works for one person doesn't work for someone else - this works for me. If it works for you - then who cares.
Also I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that JAMA did a study on this that was published a few weeks ago - and while Atkins was the most successful at weight loss in the early stages (6 mos) it was nearly identical to low fat diets in the long run (1 year +). What's important is that doing anything is better than nothing.
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jmarton1977 wrote: »Also it's important to note that Atkins doesn't support the idea that you can live on steak and bacon and mayo. These things are portion controlled within the diet - so you get 2 tablespoons of mayo as a serving, or two TABLESPOONS of heavy cream as you have to still be conscious of your calories.
It's this kind of thing that actually turns me off of the diet even more than the idea that I'd have to cut carbs heavily (although that too, as I like the level of carbs I'm at). I really don't understand why you'd want such a prescriptive diet. I also am always puzzled when people talk about how they are eating veggies or whatever on it, as if they couldn't be if not doing a prescriptive diet. I eat lots of veggies, and I just count calories and focus on the macro levels that works for me (which has changed over time due to changes in my activity level and so on).
I'm not being critical--and I agree with you that the rap on Atkins for being for people who eat nothing but bacon and cheese 24/7 is unfair (although part of this is that the diet itself changed from the early days, I believe, and some supporters still like to talk up this aspect that you say is no more)--but it's something that I never do understand, just as I don't get why people like diets that give you a specific daily meal plan.
But I certainly can see that cutting carbs would be for some people a relatively easy way to cut calories and feel fuller.0 -
ON HERE, Atkins and low carb eating plans are shunned because it's apparently bad to do anything other than IIFYM. I've been doing keto for over a year. I find eating this way easy and delicious. If I know I'm going to be going out to eat, I look up the menus online and pre-select a low carb meal. SOME people can't sustain this way of eating and that's fine. But for some to say that it can't be sustained in general, that is just not true.0
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independant2406 wrote: »I did Atkins for several years about 8-10 years ago. I lost lots of weight and kept it off fairly well. The problem was I did get very bored of the limited food options. I don't eat seafood because it grosses me out so that limited my options even more. It also felt like the minute I decided to splurge on something sweet It set me back by 2-3 weeks.
I think if I'd tried a little harder to stick with it as a lifestyle and learned how to cook more dishes with variety of flavors I would probably have been fine... but after several years of eating the exact same thing every day I just couldn't do it. Even now many years later I pretty much want to throw up at the site of bacon, pork rinds or heavy whipping cream.
(My fault for not creating other stuff or experimenting with new flavors)
With that said. I think Dr. Atkins was a genius and I will always give him props for proving there's another way to lose weight... (people around here will argue with you till their last breath that you cant possibly lose weight eating MORE calories and It makes me smile). Even now 30 years later a lot of studies trying to disprove the low carb lifestyle end up showing its just as good, if not better for you, than low calorie/low fat lifestyles.
These days I'm keeping my carbs low-ish (shooting for 75 and below) so I can still have a bit of fruit and the occasional bit of bread and it seems to be working. Its tricky balancing the numbers but I can have the variety I need this way. Plus, keeping the carbs low and protein up has definitely helped with appetite on a low calorie plan.
That's the key thing that I really enjoy about it, I'm not always craving carbs anymore the way I used to. I think there is still quite a bit to be said for the low-carb diet if you can come up with a variation of interesting dishes and create options whenever you eat out with friends. You don't have to always observe the induction phase stage of the diet, especially if you are already a really active person.
If you do any kind of circuit-training or high-intensity exercise getting some carbs in your diet is just a must.
75 and below is really good all things considered; I think it's generally smart to try and avoid really high-carb foods if you're conscientious of your weight.0 -
My whole family did the Atkins plan together after my first child. It worked really well for initial weight loss. I also had no problems maintaining a fairly rigorous work out program.
I learned alot about portion control, different types of carbs, different types of fats, and about different types of proteins and how they affected my body. I stayed on a relatively low carb lifestyle for about 10 years.
I didn't feel restricted most the time, I still had treats, made cookies, ate out, and even made bread on occasion. I monitored my weight and made adjustments when I started eating too many processed foods.
Ultimately my downfall was a second hard pregnancy with some absolutely awful cravings that I gave into every time. And beer. Beer is a luxury that I enjoyed way too much for a few years as well. And I didn't keep up my workouts for a few years.
I don't feel like going through the first 2 phases again as strictly as I did then, if I plateau in reaching my pre baby self, I might consider it again. I did give up beer, it was sad, but ultimately I don't need it. I am going with calorie counts for now.
I still monitor my processed foods pretty closely, and will typically choose full fat over low fat. I try to get enough fiber and protein as they make a huge impact on how I feel. I try to stay away from sugar treats, but an occasional brownie makes it in there.
Overall, I always thought if it as a lifestyle choice and not just a diet to lose weight. The maintenance part was stressed to me as well as getting rid of processed foods.
If it works, you feel good, and can maintain a healthy balance, then it might work for you.
An augmented version of the Atkins diet seems best; if you try to follow it to the letter for years at a time I think it'll be really hard to keep up because everybody has a beer and a brownie every now and then.
I've never been pregnant but I do see myself having children at some point in the future. Whenever I'm hormonal I tend to crave salty meats; I'll have to chuck the book then but hopefully it won't be difficult to return to this lifestyle choice of eating.
It's neat to hear from someone else who also came from a generation of Atkins users. I know it was very popular whenever I was in high school.0 -
Alana Tedmon Personally I think it is different strokes for different folks. You need to find what works for you. I am a diabetic and so far doing a low carb diet has helped me immensely. Can't say I am losing any faster but I do feel better. My son has been doing Atkins with his girlfriend and they both have lost considerably. You can use lower fat proteins to keep it healthier, and they do have cheat days, which may be what helps them losing pretty consistently. Atkins was known for being high fat protein but I do not believe they still push for example excessive amounts of bacon etc. like we used to hear about. I also don't believe anyone can stick to a food plan or diet whatever you want to call it, without on occasion indulging a little, keyword being a little. So who cares if others think Atkins isn't the best, if it works for you then do it, over time you will see if you can stick with it.0
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AlanaTedmon wrote: »I think it's generally smart to try and avoid really high-carb foods if you're conscientious of your weight.
Why?
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AlanaTedmon wrote: »I'm curious to know where the Atkins diet gets so much flack sometimes. I started it this week and I love it. You don't get cravings inbetween meals and you always feel full and happy! High-fat and high-protein is awesome! I'm burning off fat while eating cheese and mayo. What's not to love?
For me, it's talking to people who are on the Atkins diet/low-carb. And the cult like mentality a lot of people on the diet seems to adapt.
A coworker of mine and a friend use low-carb, and they talk about their diet constantly. From talking about what they can and can't eat and how it's helping them lose weight or maintain their weight. And it's great that they have found something that works for them,but I've never mentioned my diet to them, even after I changed it to lose weight.
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lemurcat12 wrote: »It's this kind of thing that actually turns me off of the diet even more than the idea that I'd have to cut carbs heavily (although that too, as I like the level of carbs I'm at). I really don't understand why you'd want such a prescriptive diet.
Dr Atkins ran a weight loss clinic, it was prescriptive as that is what is called for in those situations - many people need to be told precisely what to do. The sort of person that is nearing or just had some medical catastrophe and claiming they can't lose weight at 300 lbs for example.
Limits on things like mayo, cream or nuts are there to stop the patient from filling up on "free foods" that are calorie dense and preventing weight loss.0 -
As in my long post, the only way to lose weight is to spend time in the fat-burning mode while running a calorie deficit. You can get there through fasting, through exercise, or through a totally or predominantly fat-protein diet.
Very simple.
If it's "very simple", why do you keep getting it wrong?
Your body is ALWAYS in fat burning mode. The bigger your deficit, the more fat it'll burn. The bigger the surplus, the less fat it will burn.
There is no switch.0 -
AlanaTedmon wrote: »I've heard people complain that right after they did the Atkins they fell off of it afterwards. Maybe diets don't generally work for some people but if it's something you like doing I don't see it being a big issue. I could honestly see myself eating meats, veggies, eggs and cheese for years.
I have been on Atkins the past 2 weeks and am finally seeing some results. It all depends on your food preferences. Personally, I don't miss processed foods or starches at all. Ignore the haters and do what works for you. Good luck.
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I have been on Atkins the past 2 weeks and am finally seeing some results. It all depends on your food preferences. Personally, I don't miss processed foods or starches at all. Ignore the haters and do what works for you. Good luck.
That's awesome! So you must have already gotten past the induction phase, right? Did you do the ketosis sticks and such? I'm glad you're seeing results! The first 14 days are pretty rough.0 -
ladymiseryali wrote: »ON HERE, Atkins and low carb eating plans are shunned because it's apparently bad to do anything other than IIFYM. I've been doing keto for over a year. I find eating this way easy and delicious. If I know I'm going to be going out to eat, I look up the menus online and pre-select a low carb meal. SOME people can't sustain this way of eating and that's fine. But for some to say that it can't be sustained in general, that is just not true.
What does IIFYM stand for again? I'm sorry, I'm still a little new to the community and learning all the lingo.
That's pretty impressive that you've been doing the ketosis thing for over a whole year. I hear mixed things about how healthy it is to be doing it for very long because high levels of ketones are toxic to the body and ketosis itself has different interesting side effects that I'm still learning about. It hasn't prevented me from following the induction portion of the diet, however.
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Personally, I don't miss processed foods or starches at all. Ignore the haters and do what works for you. Good luck.
I love that I've been able to wean myself off of noodles and breads finally. I was pretty addicted to sweets and pastries. I had a hard time showing any kind of self restraint whenever coworkers brought brownies and cake to the break room.
Thanks a bunch, likewise!
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Because they're addictive if you have a sweet tooth like me, lol.AlanaTedmon wrote: »I think it's generally smart to try and avoid really high-carb foods if you're conscientious of your weight.
Why?
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