opinion--no carb diet

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Hi everyone. I am a senior nursing student, getting ready to graduate in only a few short weeks----YEAH:roll As soon as my first day of nursing school people were coming out of the woodwork to ask me crazy health questions. I'm sure you have had experience with this. Anyway, lately the questions have been health related due to the popularity of fad diets. I just wanted to know everyone's opinion on the no carb diet. Personally I think it's bad news. I believe carbs are a very important part of the diet!!! I think it's smarter and healthier to cut down on carbs and make better carb choices than to completely remove them from your diet. Tell me what you think:)

Originally posted by sbic56

RNPD

I think SBE was referring to those folks who really put down the meats, fats and chesses.

Then those folks are not doing Atkins correctly!

Specializes in LTC, Post OP.
Originally posted by jadednurse

Well, if you had read any of the Atkins books, you'd understand that it is a WAY OF EATING and not meant to be a diet. "Eating like a pig on bacon, meat and such" is not what Atkins is at all. That's simply your erroneous perception of what that type of eating is all about. Fear not though, you're not alone in your misconception! :)

I agree most people who condem or bash this way of eating has not read any type of low carb book.

There Atkins's, Protein Power, South Beach(kinda low cal too), Sugar Busters, and Lean for life( higher than most but stil low carb and cal ) those are only the ones i know more about, i am sure there are more

Originally posted by JenNJFLCA

Ultra low carb diets put your body into starvation mode. That's why you lose weight. There are MUCh better ways to lose weight. (trust me, I have lost 30 lbs so far on Weight Watchers). I have NOT cut back on carbs, but I have stopped drinking soda and eating huge portions. THAT'S how you lose weight and keep it off. These fad diets make me so mad! :(

It's hardly a fad diet. It's been around for over 30 years. Go check out lowcarbfriends.com where there are THOUSANDS of people having success with this way of eating (and not just Atkins, but other lower carb ways of eating like Body For Life, Protein Power, etc). Not just losing the weight, but changing their eating habits for good. No one there is retarded or has brain damage or kidney disease (another common misconception) from following a low carb diet!

Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

I just wanted to clarify that Body for Life is NOT low carb. It's a very balanced way of eating (40/40/20). We do pick carbs that are complex in nature and stay away from the processed items, things made with white flour, and sugar. But it's definitely not low carb because for every portion of protein you eat, you match it with a portion of carbs. :)

Originally posted by RNnTraining1973

I just wanted to clarify that Body for Life is NOT low carb. It's a very balanced way of eating (40/40/20). We do pick carbs that are complex in nature and stay away from the processed items, things made with white flour, and sugar. But it's definitely not low carb because for every portion of protein you eat, you match it with a portion of carbs. :)

You're right...I didn't mean to lump BFL into the low carb group! Nor is South Beach about low carb...it's all about "good carbs" and low fat.

Originally posted by Dplear

Good god when are peole finally going to learn that that Atkins diet is NOT a fad diet. It has been around 20 years. That alone qualifies it as a regular diet not counting the scientific info available on it.

Dave

AMEN Dave. People just grew up and are so used to the WW/low fat/Jenny Craig era. I've never thought the amount of pasta/rice/potatos/sugar that we consume is a healthy life either. But i just went with it cuz everybody said it was "healthy". This is HARDLY a fad diet. When you see places like Ruby Tuesday, TGI Friday's, Burger King, etc..promoting low carb menus.....that speaks for itself too!

Specializes in ER.

I never knew people could get so riled up about FOOD.

:rotfl:

By the way, I don't think the link I posted that brought up possible negative points to atkins was "hogwash". While I may not agree with everything on the site, I do agree with some of the basic concepts on why to avoid Atkins type diets, and I posted the link as food for thought.

Of COURSE they are biased...that's called an opinion, just as all of those who swear by low-carb diets are biased.

Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

This is getting as hot as politics and religion.:D

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Originally posted by LeesieBug

Of COURSE they are biased...that's called an opinion, just as all of those who swear by low-carb diets are biased.

Excuse me, dear.......but isn't that generalization a bit biased itself? I'm one of those who "swear by" low-carb diets, but I'm open to ANYTHING that makes sense, no matter what diet philosophy it comes from, and if it works for me I will likely incorporate it into my food plan.

That's why I hesitate to say now that I'm on any kind of "brand-name" diet; what I'm doing is playing it by ear, taking what is good and useful from all sorts of different eating programs and modifying my own plan as I go along. It's fluid, dynamic, not etched in granite like a typical diet, and I expect to have to changes things as the weight comes off and I continue my journey.

So please, don't pigeonhole people and accuse us en masse of being "biased". Everyone must do what is right for him/herself as an individual; all that matters is whether it works!

:chuckle :rotfl:

Specializes in ER.
Of COURSE they are biased...that's called an opinion, just as all of those who swear by low-carb diets are biased.

My point was that if a person is practicing a low-carb diet and happy with it.....they are not going to DISAGREE with the philosophy behind it.

I wasn't intending to say that people who prefer something ONLY think that is the right thing.

Sorry for the implication.

Specializes in LTC, Post OP.
Originally posted by LeesieBug

I never knew people could get so riled up about FOOD.

:rotfl:

By the way, I don't think the link I posted that brought up possible negative points to atkins was "hogwash". While I may not agree with everything on the site, I do agree with some of the basic concepts on why to avoid Atkins type diets, and I posted the link as food for thought.

Of COURSE they are biased...that's called an opinion, just as all of those who swear by low-carb diets are biased.

I still think its hog wash, because nothing they have to say on that site is accurate about how bad it is. Bottom line is if u do it correct it harmless and much healthier than all that process lowfat crap, that i see so many getting bigger on.

I for one don't think i am bias i do believe in doing what is good for, u but to say its unhealthy is crazy. i have never eaten more lean protein or veggies in my life. So if this is unhealthy eating so be.

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