So today i was discusing the atkins diet with two people i knew, I've always thaught the diet was unhealthy, it just dosn't sound right, lowcarb, high fat, just sounds like a healthrisk. Anyways they were both saying how good it was and how much they've lost. One of them told me that she had lost 6 pounds in the first week of dieting, and that it wasn't fluid. I know that 6 pounds is a very unhealthy amound to loose in 7days, but she just cut carbs out of her diet completly for a week, she didn't skimp on anything elce and kept a good calorie intake. Could this realy be 6pound of fat or fat and muscle?.

I doubt that she lost 6 lbs of fat. That 6 lbs had to have been mostly water weight. On another note, I finally talked my brother into quiting Atkins. He did it for a few months, starting this past December. He lost about 40 lbs. He was an offensive lineman in college and figured he didn't need to weigh 280lbs anymore, but he lost a lot of strength on the diet. I would stay away from Atkins.

I'm staying well away, the whole thing just sounds incredably stupid. Up with the Moderate complexcarb and high proteen :tucool:. I've been trying to talk my mate out of the diet for a long time, it's not working at all. Good job he dosn't follow it religiously.

I'm staying well away, the whole thing just sounds incredably stupid. Up with the Moderate complexcarb and high proteen :tucool:. I've been trying to talk my mate out of the diet for a long time, it's not working at all. Good job he dosn't follow it religiously.

You lose a lot of strength on the atkins diet...

For very obese people who really really need to see something start working, see the scale really start moving to get their motivation going, it's great. I've seen two or three people you used to weigh 300 pounds really gain a lot of hope in themselves for this diet, and really start to exercise and work out, start to learn about nutrition, and eventually get off the diet and onto a better one that will allow them to look good. (No one on a permanent atkins diet actually looks that good.... sort of soft, weak looking usually) .

Other than a starting point for a very obese individual to gain some confidence in their power to reshape their body..... no.

You lose a lot of strength on the atkins diet...

For very obese people who really really need to see something start working, see the scale really start moving to get their motivation going, it's great. I've seen two or three people you used to weigh 300 pounds really gain a lot of hope in themselves for this diet, and really start to exercise and work out, start to learn about nutrition, and eventually get off the diet and onto a better one that will allow them to look good. (No one on a permanent atkins diet actually looks that good.... sort of soft, weak looking usually) .

Other than a starting point for a very obese individual to gain some confidence in their power to reshape their body..... no.

Heh, go say that on the Keto forums on bodybuilding.com. They DO have some good arguments thoush, so I don't know what to believe. :confused:

I would say that in my experience keto/extreme low carb diets like atkins are extremely successful in practice. I haven't been on this type of diet, but I have personally talked to hundreds of people that have been on it, and think its the greatest.

As for preserving muscle mass, I've seen many people who remain ripped off of atkins. People who look soft after being on atkins only look this way because they haven't changed their levels of physical activity, not because this diet has somehow eaten all of their muscle.

Then there are also people who say that they lost weight after stopping the atkins diet, forgetting its not the atkins diet, its the atkins lifestyle. These people are _stupid_.

Personally, I view eating right and exercising as the way to go. Atkins however, works for a majority of people, and works fast, with relatively little effort. While there hasn't really been a lot of time to study a ketogenic diet's long term effects, the short term results are pretty dramatic.

I completely agree with zamboni's post above.

Last year, I did a very strict keto thing for 2 weeks and lost 15 pounds. I'm not obese, but it did help my confidence by seeing the scale drop. I think it works very well in the early stage, because your body is so shocked by having less than 20 grams of carbohydrates a day.

People think that the Atkins diet is a diet, but it's actually a lifestyle. If you read the book, you'll understand what I mean. You don't stay in keto for too long. After that you slowly start adding more carbs until you've reached an amount to stay within your maintenance weight. You should combine this with exercise, etc. It is a lifestyle just like eating clean, weight lifting, and cardio is a lifestyle for many of us on this board. It's basically the same thing. Atkins just uses a different approach when it comes to eating.

Personally, I'm on ~40/~40/~20 macronutrient ratio and not on Atkins. This gives me more flexibility to eat what I want. For other people, they feel that Atkins is flexible as well and prefer to go at it that way. In my mind, either way is fine with me, and as long as you follow the plan, you'll succeed.

There are a lot of people that are on Atkins that don't follow the guidelines set for them in the book, so they are probably just half-heartedly following it and may see different results. This is the same for the people that denounce Atkins, because they don't do the research to find out what it is all about. All they see is the extemely low carb intake which is not true. Everyone will have their own opinions as to what works and doesn't work for them.

One of the big "secrets" about Atkins relates to the claim that you can eat as much as you want and still lose weight. Calories are calories, eat too many, and you *will* gain weight. The secret is that all of the protein and fat makes you feel fuller more quickly and thus you eat less than you would of less-filling carbs. Go ahead and try eating 3000+ calories when you're getting < 20g carbs per day. Most likely you cannot without making yourself sick.

One of the big "secrets" about Atkins relates to the claim that you can eat as much as you want and still lose weight. Calories are calories, eat too many, and you *will* gain weight. The secret is that all of the protein and fat makes you feel fuller more quickly and thus you eat less than you would of less-filling carbs. Go ahead and try eating 3000+ calories when you're getting < 20g carbs per day. Most likely you cannot without making yourself sick.That's not a "secret" at all. And the claim that you can eat as much as you want and still lose weight doesn't relate to Atkins at all.

Just because there may be a claim that you can eat as much as you want and still lose weight doesn't mean people are going to try to eat 3000+ calories with < 20g carbs per day. They wouldn't be on Atkins if they were eating in excess like that. Everyone knows that moderation is the key.

A claim is exactly what it is, just a claim, an assertion that something is true or factual. A marketing claim, just like those Relacore commercials that claim to spot reduce bellyfat. We all know that you can't spod reduce.

I did a keto diet for over a month and it helped greatly. I gained muscle and lost some fat at the same time. I got from 25%BF to 20% BF in just over a month. It does work if you do it right. You just cant do the diet forever, you must cycle it.

That's not a "secret" at all. And the claim that you can eat as much as you want and still lose weight doesn't relate to Atkins at all.

Just because there may be a claim that you can eat as much as you want and still lose weight doesn't mean people are going to try to eat 3000+ calories with < 20g carbs per day. They wouldn't be on Atkins if they were eating in excess like that. Everyone knows that moderation is the key.

A claim is exactly what it is, just a claim, an assertion that something is true or factual. A marketing claim, just like those Relacore commercials that claim to spot reduce bellyfat. We all know that you can't spod reduce.

Well, I had read the Atkins book after arguing about it with my dad, who swears by it. It barely makes any mention of calories, and often suggests that you can, in fact, eat as much as you want on the diet. But given that most people could not possibly eat enough on a high fat, high protein, low carb diet to gain weight, and as you say, people on Atkins are likely to restrict their intake, high initial weight loss is not surprising.

I only used the word secret, in quotes no less, to indicate that many on the diet don't realize this aspect of the diet. Often people will think its something magical about ketosis that is causing the weight loss, rather than a simplie caloric defecit (combined with the initial water loss).

Often people will think its something magical about ketosis that is causing the weight loss, rather than a simplie caloric defecit (combined with the initial water loss).i agree.

not to mention, there are so many gullible, mindless, naive, simple-minded, unintelligent, witless, half-witted, ill-adivised, foolish, comatose individuals out there that believe it is some newly exposed secret due to amazing medical breakthroughs.

Atkins Diet

Food for thought:

1) Dr. Atkins is dead, so who are you gonna sue?
2) Meat is harder to digest than other foods.

A dog's intestines are about 4 feet long. You're are about 20-30 feet long. The dog is designed to eat mostly meat. You're not. You're designed to eat everything, so your digestive tract is longer - it tries to get everything out of what you eat.

So, if you cram a dog full of meat, he's got no problems - his digestive tract is designed to handle the load. Easy in, Easy out. The dog won't get much, however, out of vegetables.

If you cram yourself full of meat - there's a problem. You may be getting a lot of calories in your mouth, but you can't digest it fast enough. The inefficiency of your digestive track (so useful when eating vegetative matter) will not break it down quickly, and everything starts to get backed up. The meat will actually rot in you before it's passed through. Subsequently, a lot of weight comes off - because technically you're starving. And a lot of water weight will come off you too, because you're taxing the system - your body will try to purge.

Atkins seems like a miracle diet, but ask anyone who has ever been on it and quit "did the weight come back?", and every one of them will say "faster than you will ever believe".

:confused:

The Atkins Diet is different from other Keto diets. Most of the Keto diets you are reading on Bodybuilding pages are not laden with same amount of saturated fats as is the Atkins. Moreover, most of them have refeed (hi carb, low fat) days. The Atkins does not. Most Keto diets restrict calories severely, the Atkins does not have the same restrictions
The most important thing I ask people when they mention the Atkins Diet is do they know anybody that is on the diet that is skinny or remotely in shape? The answer is a resounding NO.

I haven't read the book in a while, but I thought that Atkins does not advocate the non-healthy fats nor does it say to eat as much as you want - I remember it specifically stating to use about 10 cal per lb bodyweight (hmmm....sounds familiar).

Induction (less than 20 g of carbs) is meant to be for 2 weeks . After that, you are to rasie your carb intake until you are losing 1-2 lbs per week. Atkins also stresses the use of exercise. After you have reached your goal weight, you increase your carbs until you are no longer losing weight. This is your maintenance level of carbs and it varies from person to person.

Alot of people on Atkins do not exercise becasue of the initial weight loss. They would rather stay on low levels of carbs instead of getting off their butts and exercising.

Atkins works but it is a lifestyle choice. Stop doing it, and you will gain weight back. This is true of all "diets" Most of us here are now eating clean foods. If we go back to our former way of eating, we will gain the weight back. Why is Atkins any different?

Atkins when applied to exercise is basically a TKD (Targetted Ketogenic Diet). I remember that the book mostly cites cardio as the exercise of choice so it doesn't say anything about taking carbs pre/post workout. However, in a TKD, you do. You keep carbs low and you take 20-30 g of dextrose pre/post workout. The remainder of your carb intake (whatever it is for you) is taken throughout the day.

I haven't read the book in a while, but I thought that Atkins does not advocate the non-healthy fats nor does it say to eat as much as you want - I remember it specifically stating to use about 10 cal per lb bodyweight (hmmm....sounds familiar).

IIRC, he basically says that sat fat is only bad in conjunction with carbs. I don't remember the exact biochem reason for this assertion. Anyone else shed some light on this?



Induction (less than 20 g of carbs) is meant to be for 2 weeks . After that, you are to rasie your carb intake until you are losing 1-2 lbs per week. Atkins also stresses the use of exercise. After you have reached your goal weight, you increase your carbs until you are no longer losing weight. This is your maintenance level of carbs and it varies from person to person.


But for most people the max carbs they'd reach is probably 50-60g per day. Enough for some veggies and a piece of fruit, but that's about it.



Alot of people on Atkins do not exercise becasue of the initial weight loss. They would rather stay on low levels of carbs instead of getting off their butts and exercising.

Atkins works but it is a lifestyle choice. Stop doing it, and you will gain weight back. This is true of all "diets" Most of us here are now eating clean foods. If we go back to our former way of eating, we will gain the weight back. Why is Atkins any different?

Restricting carbs (to the extent atkins requires) is a far cry from what those of us here do. You can't have cheat meals on atkins unless you want to go back to induction for a couple weeks every time. Its much easier to screw up on atkins than on a clean-eating lifestyle.

.

Atkins seems like a miracle diet, but ask anyone who has ever been on it and quit "did the weight come back?", and every one of them will say "faster than you will ever believe".

:confused:

Umm, here's the thing. Ask anyone who's ever starting eating right, and working out, and lifting, and then quit, "did the weight come back", and every one of them will say "faster than you will ever believe."

I'm not trying to rag on you, but if you start eating right, you lose weight. You start eating the crap that you used to eat when you were fat, you'll be fat again. Sounds pretty logical

The most important thing I ask people when they mention the Atkins Diet is do they know anybody that is on the diet that is skinny or remotely in shape? The answer is a resounding NO.

Atkins is popular because a majority of the time, exercise isn't neccesary for dramatic weight loss. It isn't a miracle diet that grows muscle for you and gives you a six pack. The _only_ way to get in shape is to work your ass off. If somone isn't in shape, don't blame the diet, blame the person on it.

Wow, I'm starting to sound really pro atkins now.

Few months.... Isnt it no carbs for the first week? Then introduce vegetables and fruit after that?

After arguing with my dad for a while about Atkins (he swears by it), I finally read the Atkins book (latest edition). At that point I understood what the diet was really about, what it advocates, and just how wrong the diet is. Get the book from a local library or used book store and read it. Doesn't take long, even though it looks a bit long.

The induction phase is the first two weeks, in which you take in less then 20 grams of carbs per day. This is the period in which the most dramatic weight loss occurs. If you need to lose more weight, you can extend this phase even longer. So its kind of up to you. After this, you slowly step your carbs up a little at a time.

Few months.... Isnt it no carbs for the first week? Then introduce vegetables and fruit after that?

Everyone should take the time to read Atkins' book, if you are for it or against it.

The induction phase is to keep below 20 gms of carbs for two weeks. You are allowed 2 cups of Salad and 1 cup of selected vegatables during that two week period a day. As you move on in the weight loss phase, you increase healthy carbs as long as you continue to lose. After weight loss, a regular exerciser can increase to 90 or more grams of healthy carbs. He looks at his diet as a lifetime plan, not a six week or even six year plan.

It is a viable diet for the obese and those that have insulin resistance. The young, which probally form a majority here, can "cut" or "build" on most any of the diets discussed here. The obese and older people have lost that ability and have to address their diet with even more intent.

RTE

it's a horrid diet for anyone trying to build muscle or attain a body building physique.

without carbs, you cant build muscle. without carbs, your brain cant function normally. and everyone i know on the atkins diet stinks, is groggy, and all they eat is saturated fats.

without carbs, you cant build muscle. without carbs, your brain cant function normally..

I am not even sure I agree you are correct on those statements, I know of no science to back you up.

But any way, at no point, does the Atkins diet do away with carbs. It never has suggested that. It only outlines a reduction in intake and recommends low-glycemic carbs. And it never was suggested by Atkins for building a bodybuilder's body.

RTE

I think the Atkins diet, for a prolonged amount of time, is a dangerous thing on your body. But to change things up every now and then and shock your body I think it can be good - but only if the right kind of protein is taken in. My friends that compete eat boiled chicken for weeks and then return to normal, there are good instances and bad, but I would never approve of the kind that was straight fatty foods and no exercise, that is a excuse to sit on your butt and not put forth some effort to improve your body.

I know people who have dropped a lot on the early stages of Atkins. It's practically foolproof if followed correctly.

But if you're worried about Ketosis, why not just start Atkins at the point in the plan AFTER the ketosis phase? Skip that crazy dramatic carb restriction and start at the point where the plan comes back down to earth. There's no indication that skipping the first couple of weeks makes the rest of the diet ineffective. In my opinion, the ketosis phase is there simply to satisfy everyone's desire to lose a lot quickly. It's like selling the toy with the batteries included.

Heh, go say that on the Keto forums on bodybuilding.com. They DO have some good arguments thoush, so I don't know what to believe. :confused:

Bodybuilders who go on Keto diets don't sustain it for long periods of time.

They do cycles of various types. They do not pursue a no-carbohydrate diet as a lifestyle and I'm pretty sure they'd be insulted if you went there and told them they were just doing the Atkins diet.

All of you blindly bashing Atkins are uninformed idiots.

Look at my transformation.. I'm living proof Atkins works for gaining muscle and losing fat.

Most people dont know shit about Atkins. They just assume you eat nothing but butter and hamburgers for the rest of your life. You only do induction for the first part of the diet to shock your metabolism. AFter that, you gradually get to a 40/40/20 split for the maintenance phase of the diet.

end rant

All of you blindly bashing Atkins are uninformed idiots.

Look at my transformation.. I'm living proof Atkins works for gaining muscle and losing fat.

Most people dont know shit about Atkins. They just assume you eat nothing but butter and hamburgers for the rest of your life. You only do induction for the first part of the diet to shock your metabolism. AFter that, you gradually get to a 40/40/20 split for the maintenance phase of the diet.

end rant


Well I don't know about the others here, but as I said, I did read the book and tried the diet...for 1 day. There is no way in HELL I could eat that way, even maintenance, without being sick and miserable. I don't think I could get the 3200 cals/day I need for my current bulking phase.

The biggest problem I have with Atkins is the ketosis. Perhaps it can be useful in the short term. That's a different argument. The problem as I see it is that it is forcing the body to constantly use (split infinitive, I know) its fallback mechanism for obtaining energy all the time. As soon as you get too many carbs (and it doesn't take many) the brakes slam on and your body goes back into glycolysis, forcing you back into induction for a couple of days (< 20g carbs) to allow your body to use up the remaining stored carbs so it can focus solely on burning fat (ketosis/lipolysis). Sure it can burn fat and lose weight, but its unhealthy.

there is a doco on aussie TV tonight on atkins, its the second part in the series (i missed the first one :( ) but i think this episode looks at the downfalls of the diet, if there is any

if your in australia, its on tonight (thurs aprl15) 8:00pm on ABC

well i just finished watching it, they reckon its successful because the higher amount of protein suppresses your appitite, therefor people eat less naturally

they did research comparing ketosis to regular low-fat diets, and the difference in minimal, and any ketones that were expelled in urine was about 1 calorie

now the bad? they said there has been no research into the long term effects of the atkins (high protein low carb) diet, it could be nothing, but it could be very bad, probly something to do wth your kidneys no doubt, and are you willing to risk it?