Atkins

In the long run, the only benefit any diet has is how sustainable it is for the individual. When it comes to burning fat, they all work the same way: a caloric deficit. Some people find that a lower carb diet (e.g. Atkins) helps them adhere to their goals. If that's the case for you, then go for it.

Atkins works by restricting the amount of carbs the body receives by only eating proteins and green vegetables which are both low in carbs but high in protein which forces your body to burn fat to meet your caloric needs. It works but is not sustainable in the long run if you do any kind of exercise or training. You will feel sluggish and out of energy because your blood sugar will be low and the body will not have a ready source of energy. You will definitely lose muscle mass over time because of the lack of exercise and severe caloric deprivation. This alone makes it undesirable because for sustained weight loss, having muscle is the key. It will work for the short term but not for the long since most people gain a lot of weight once they add back in calories from carbs because they haven't trained themselves to eat a balanced nutritious diet to achieve the same results as Atkins. I did it, it worked but didn't last and could not support my energy output.

wilsoncl6 wrote: »

Atkins works by restricting the amount of carbs the body receives by only eating proteins and green vegetables which are both low in carbs but high in protein which forces your body to burn fat to meet your caloric needs. It works but is not sustainable in the long run if you do any kind of exercise or training. You will feel sluggish and out of energy because your blood sugar will be low and the body will not have a ready source of energy. You will definitely lose muscle mass over time because of the lack of exercise and severe caloric deprivation. This alone makes it undesirable because for sustained weight loss, having muscle is the key. It will work for the short term but not for the long since most people gain a lot of weight once they add back in calories from carbs because they haven't trained themselves to eat a balanced nutritious diet to achieve the same results as Atkins. I did it, it worked but didn't last and could not support my energy output.

Disagree. You've obviously never followed a low carb lifestyle because this is a lot of misinformation.

I've trained for and run half marathons while on Atkins. I did not feel sluggish or tired in any way. Neither did I lose muscle mass. Atkins would be a better choice for building muscle than a high carb diet because you're getting much more protein.

Atkins is sustainable for life if you want it to be. I know quite a few people who live that way every day by choice. Some are diabetics and some are not. Atkins is actually BETTER for diabetics because they need to limit their sugar and carb intake. Just because the average person can't see life without massive amounts of carbs each day doesn't mean it's not sustainable.

Atkins is a balanced and nutritious diet. You're eating lean meats and vegetables. I'm not sure why that wouldn't be considered nutritious. As the plan progresses, you add in more carbs via more starchy vegetables and whole grains.

There are specific groups in these forums for those following low carb plans. You'll find a supportive group of people there with lots of ideas, recipes and support if you decide to follow Atkins again. Just click on the Groups link and do a search.

Good luck!

SueInAz wrote: »

wilsoncl6 wrote: »

Atkins works by restricting the amount of carbs the body receives by only eating proteins and green vegetables which are both low in carbs but high in protein which forces your body to burn fat to meet your caloric needs. It works but is not sustainable in the long run if you do any kind of exercise or training. You will feel sluggish and out of energy because your blood sugar will be low and the body will not have a ready source of energy. You will definitely lose muscle mass over time because of the lack of exercise and severe caloric deprivation. This alone makes it undesirable because for sustained weight loss, having muscle is the key. It will work for the short term but not for the long since most people gain a lot of weight once they add back in calories from carbs because they haven't trained themselves to eat a balanced nutritious diet to achieve the same results as Atkins. I did it, it worked but didn't last and could not support my energy output.

Disagree. You've obviously never followed a low carb lifestyle because this is a lot of misinformation.

I've trained for and run half marathons while on Atkins. I did not feel sluggish or tired in any way. Neither did I lose muscle mass. Atkins would be a better choice for building muscle than a high carb diet because you're getting much more protein.

Atkins is sustainable for life if you want it to be. I know quite a few people who live that way every day by choice. Some are diabetics and some are not. Atkins is actually BETTER for diabetics because they need to limit their sugar and carb intake. Just because the average person can't see life without massive amounts of carbs each day doesn't mean it's not sustainable.

Atkins is a balanced and nutritious diet. You're eating lean meats and vegetables. I'm not sure why that wouldn't be considered nutritious. As the plan progresses, you add in more carbs via more starchy vegetables and whole grains.

There are specific groups in these forums for those following low carb plans. You'll find a supportive group of people there with lots of ideas, recipes and support if you decide to follow Atkins again. Just click on the Groups link and do a search.

Good luck!

To each their own, if you read Atkins informational it warns of low energy supply for exercise. I just might have had higher energy requirements than you. I am 6'1" 210lbs and was running 12 miles a day and lifting heavy. What you don't understand is that in most cases it takes more calories along with protein to synthesize muscle. You can train your body to accept and work with any type of diet plan but I can never agree with a plan that restricts you from eating a completely balanced diet from the start because where people fail using Atkins is when they start adding fruits, grains and starchy vegetables. Atkins is a good diet plan for diabetics and it is a good way to jumpstart the bodies weight loss, and yes I did do Atkins for a year. It just couldn't support my energy requirements and I could not get the muscle gains on it that I can with an all inclusive diet. But I can't speak for everyone and neither should you.