Atkins Diet

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Dec 4, 2002

I found Dr. Mercola's comments very enlightening regarding the Atkins Diet (see link below). I am really trying to implement a much healthier lifestyle--no sweets!!!, limiting high-glycemic carbs, lots of colorful veggies, no more caffeine or chocolate. I am also upping my supplement intake--antioxidants, co-enzyme Q-10, vitamin B, Omega 3 oil.

http://mercola.com/2002/dec/4/atkins_diet.htm

BioRN · Dec 4, 2002

I just wanted to lead support to the 3rd shift guy. I am a vegetarian for a variety of reasons but the reason I will never go back to meat is the antibiotics in the feed or shot into the animals are causing a lot antibiotic allergic reactions and resistance in humans. Unless you eat organic meat which is quite expensive the antibiotics are unavoidable. Another of my issues with meat is e-coli, salmonella and the mad-cow potential. These issues are very dangerous and I am not willing to take any chances with my life. Of course, before all the carnivores jump in to attack me, I have to say that I realize veggies and fruit can also harbor e-coli and salmonella as well, but I believe my risk is lessened by not eating meat. As far as weight loss is concerned, I choose high fiber and high quality foods as well as exercise. Beans and nuts have protein and they tend to be cheap.

Agnus · Dec 4, 2002

Originally posted by tshores
What did you eat, Agnus? Fried bacon and eggs? I mean, yeah, they're allowed but it might be too much too soon. I know my body wasn't ready for a lot of fat (I'd eaten low fat for years), so I ate baked meat and vegetables for a while, along with salads, poached eggs, etc.

Yea, when I woke this a.m. I did not want to see another piece of bacon. I layed in bed debating whether to go on. Then whe I got up I found moderate ketones!!! and the scale said less 3#. Yea, I know about the water loss but KETONES.

My hubby is diabetic and I checked my fasting (14 hours) Level yeterday and it was 129. Not real good. But not enought to dx either. But both my parents and grandparents have it along with my sister. It concerns me. It is an nice 115 this a.m. and I broke the rule and ate NO carb yeaterday.

smag16 · Dec 4, 2002

If you take a one a day with chromium in it, it will 'smooth out' your blood sugar for the day and you won't have the Ups and downs. We take it first thing in the AM...

If you are sick of bacon and eggs...come over and snag a few wonderful recipes for breakfast. :D

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2002

Originally posted by BioRN
I just wanted to lead support to the 3rd shift guy. I am a vegetarian for a variety of reasons but the reason I will never go back to meat is the antibiotics in the feed or shot into the animals are causing a lot antibiotic allergic reactions and resistance in humans. Unless you eat organic meat which is quite expensive the antibiotics are unavoidable. Another of my issues with meat is e-coli, salmonella and the mad-cow potential. These issues are very dangerous and I am not willing to take any chances with my life. Of course, before all the carnivores jump in to attack me, I have to say that I realize veggies and fruit can also harbor e-coli and salmonella as well, but I believe my risk is lessened by not eating meat. As far as weight loss is concerned, I choose high fiber and high quality foods as well as exercise. Beans and nuts have protein and they tend to be cheap.

Ahhh, I was trying to be very respectful about the hormones and antibiodics that is injected into meat. Not to mention the strain on the environment, and the cruelty. Not to mention other health issues like cancer.

Thanks for the support. Regardless of how one chooses to live and eat, EVERYONE SHOULD EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES!!!!!!! opps, did I shout?

kittyw · Dec 11, 2002

Ok ... where do you get the sugar free chocolate chips?? Hmmm..... hot chocolate.

Flo1216 · Dec 11, 2002

Also, I think a lot of people blame carbs for their weight problems. Most of them probably eat an EXCESS of carbs. If they just cut down their portions and exercise(which not very many people are willing to do) they would probably lose weight without giving up on carbs. I personally LOVE bread and pasta, being Italian and all. I don't think I could ever give them up. I just try to watch how much of them I eat. I could seriously eat an entire pizza, but thinking of the consequences keeps me in check.

MishlB · Dec 11, 2002

Aren't carbs necessary for survival?????????????????

kittyw · Dec 11, 2002

That's nice ... now where are my sugar free chocolate chips!?!?!

ScrappyED, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2002

Yes, carbs are necessary for life. The Atkins diet does not do away with all carbs as a lot of people (who have NOT read the book) think. You start with a two week period of extremely low carbs and then every week add more back in until you stop losing weight and hit a maintenance level for you particular body. As Dr. Atkins explains in the book and as I learned in basic physiology (and from watching the 2nd Survivor :-) the body does have an alternate fuel system that burns stored body fat in the event of low carb intake. (Why do you think the body was designed to store fat to begin with???---for survival!)

Many people (again who have not read the book) think that all you do on Atkins is sit back, eat lots of juicy red meat and dripping bacon and lose weight. This is far from the truth. In the book he specifically says "If you are not exercising then you are not doing Atkin's" He also says that he strongly recommends that you only have red meat a couple of times a week and concentrate on fish and other meats and nuts that have proven to have healthy benefits. His other big push is "take your vitamins and "eat your vegetables".

Where have I heard that before?

What a lot of people ignore (who are probably lean and fit) is that not everyone's body is as efficient as theirs is. My mother followed a low fat, high fruit, whole wheat, etc. etc. etc. diet for several years and lost next to nothing except her temper occaisionaly from being hungry.

I have NOT done Atkins yet--but I have read the book and several of the long list of his cited references at the end of the book to make sure that my Mom wasn't killing herself. After six months now She is Not! She has lost over 30 lbs and feels great (see my above posting). And, after reading the book and references I am convinced that he is on to something important. See the above post from the woman who did two years of independent research on this topic and saved her husband! It is incredible and hard to refute!!

One last thing...for those of you who think this is just a "willpower issue" I can tell you from watching my Mom refuse her favorite chocolate cake for years (except on her Birthday!!) that it is not that easy. I also found Dr. Mercola's studies very interesting (see the above post that mentions him) and do the research before slamming Dr. Atkins or anyone following his program.

Just my two cents...:)

mother/babyRN, RN · Dec 11, 2002

Nights just wreaks havoc with a person.....Isn't this kind of a ketoacidotic type sort of weight loss?

mother/babyRN, RN · Dec 11, 2002

High fruit and whole wheat? Sugar sugar sugar...Low fat usaually means people consume more and what ARE low fat foods full of? Sugar sugar sugar....The American Diabetic diet is the most inclusive and healthy, but now a days we want to lose weight FAST FAST FAST..(me included:) )