Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

[CoSteve]

I got this lecture from a friend today.

I ordered 3 eggs and sausage with tomatoes substituted for the hash browns and forget about the toast. When my friend asked why, I explained to her that I was returning to Atkins because I'd gained so much weight with all the bad eating I'd done recently.

First she chuckled, because she thought Atkins was a fad diet that was long since forgotten.

Then she got very concerned. She told me that a person such as myself (male with a big gut) is at a higher risk for heart trouble than other overweight people. She said high carb/low fat and portion control is the only way to go, and eating like "that" will keep me from losing weight, actually make me fatter, and give me a heart condition.

I should mention that her heart was in the right place, however misinformed.

This makes me laugh personally, but I wonder how many others have gotten this lecture. How do you respond.

I'll give my response at the end of the thread.

[boonie stomper]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

"Don't believe everything you hear!"

The Atkins diet today is not at all the same as it was 10 years ago, but most people are not up to date on the subject.

You can find information for and against just about everything in the world today, and a huge amount of the information is either of misinformed origins or intentionally false in order to promote a certain interest.

[TammyJo348]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

I get it all the time at work. People are like "that diet is so crazy" when I opt for a salad instead of pizza or peel the bread off of sandwiches!

I just tell them...well, I am 34 pounds lighter, feel better, have lower blood pressure and no more heart pain or edema in my legs and I have more energy than ever!!!!!

[tachielyn]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

I hate that lecture!!! Or how about this one...yeah you'll lose weight but don't you're gonna gain it all back!!! Yeah...thanks for the encouragment

[ValidRouge]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

Or, how you can't eat like that for the long term.

Frankly, I start barraging them with all of the vegetables I eat. Then I ask them if they or anyone they know that is "healthy" eats as many vegetables as I do.

After about 7 months, I had my cholesterol done and it was fantastic. I still get alot of people telling me how they know people who had kidney failure, etc. BUT when I ask them who, because I'd like to talk to them....they can't give me a name. Nice.

[ttdriver]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

Nearly 5 years at goal and *still* waiting for it to kill me.

Betty

[dreamof145]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

People are jealous of others when they are trying to improve themselves. People make negative remarks regardless of the subject matter.

If you'd eaten the same thing and just told your friend you were cutting out sugar and bread from your meals, they would probably have been fine with your choice of food. I've been doing this WOE for over 2 years and will do it for the rest of my life. My doctor was so impressed that she is now recommending it to her other patients that are overweight.

You've read the book, you know all the people here that are changing their lives and improving their health, you've seen the results that you've already experienced, you don't need your friends approval to succeed.

There will always be negative people in our lives, but there won't always be an overweight you. Congratulations on the healthy choices you made. You are doing the right thing and you will make it happen.

[Kate113]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

"Where did you get THAT information? I can loan you my Atkins book so you can read up on it and be more informed. It sure is funny to me how eating as healthy as I do could KILL me when all my tests are better than they ever were, I feel good, I look good AND my DOCTOR is praising my efforts AND Atkins."

What gets me the most is that it's usually overweight friends who tell me things such as you were told. These are people who have tried other diets and failed and won't even consider Atkins because of things they've "heard." Now I always try to inform them of the truth of the matter. I even got a couple to join me!

[Momtofour]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

If it is a close friend that made this comment, I tell them they need to read the "entire" book and then get back to me. I now have 4 friends who follow Atkins.

My family doctor and gynecologist follow Atkins. That usually shuts people right up.

I am down 63 pounds, with awesome blood pressure, more energy than I can ever remember and good choloesterol levels. What more could I ask for?

[CoSteve]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

My response ...

I've seen attitudes like this for years. I've likewise read the book and spent a couple of years on this site watching people change their lives; i.e. going from walking with a walker and being treated for diabetes to walking almost normally. From being a round, lethargic couch potato to relatively slim and a gym fanatic. In my case I went from being a couch potato to jogging a mile a day (and then I lost it -- but I'll get back there).

Amazing stories, all.

So I was just posting to get resonses from y'all. I actually think I did a similar post a couple of years ago, but it's a mostly new crew now (the story, BTW, is absolutely true although I shortened the dialogue for brevity; I REALLY did get a lecture likethat for Atkins today).

Now ... unfortunately, I somewhat fit the negative stereotype; I lost a huge amount of weight and then gained better than 1/2 of it back. But it wasn't because I lost the weight on Atkins that I gained the weight back, it was OBVIOUSLY because I treated it as a diet, and NOT as a way of life. It takes a lifestyle to keep weight off, not a diet.

In any case ... even after gaining the weight back, if I don't lose it again it's still a pretty fine net weight loss. Better than most people accomplish.

What I tell people ... well, the studies are very, very clear. There are few controllable health conditions more unhealthy than being extremely overweight. Are vegetarians healthier than Atkinites? I don't know. But it doesn't matter, because I can't make it as a vegetarian anyway. And keeping my weight healthy with Atkins is healthier than overeating and not worrying about my weight with junk food.

Y'all are right, though -- people are catty. Thin people don't understand what the big deal is and fat people WANT you to fail.

Kind of like when I quit smoking 10 years ago. Can't tell you how many of my smoking friends pestered me to "just have one." I never did.

Now ... if I can just make that philosophy work for Taco Bell Chili Cheese burritos plus sour cream!

[bizzlekitty]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

I have a bunch of responses ready to go at any time (and have had to use them):

• I have lost over 100 lbs on Atkins
• Wanna compare cholesterol and BP numbers?
• My doctor says to just keep doing what I'm doing
• I eat 6-9 servings of veggies a day. How many do you eat?
• I eat lots of healthy veggies, lean meat and drink 120 oz of water a day
• I don't eat junk food, sweets, processed foods nor drink soda, nor do I care to or miss them
• I'm rarely starving, hungry after I eat nor craving any foods
• Ever wonder why obesity is increasing with all these low fat diets around?
• Ever read the Atkins book?
• I have read medical studies that prove that the last 30 years of medical advice on low fat diets is wrong.
• Even if you're skinny, doesnt' mean your healthy on the inside either
• I feel better now than I have in many years

My personal favorite is:
"Sorry for the baggy clothes, I need to go shopping again, everything is just getting so big on me."

[ladyinred]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

Sorry for the baggy clothes, I need to go shopping again, everything is just getting so big on me."

Love it!!!

[cathyjobob]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

She said high carb/low fat and portion control is the only way to go, and eating like "that" will keep me from losing weight, actually make me fatter, and give me a heart condition.

I would mention to her that the United States Department of Agriculture was forced to establish a new food guide pyramid in 2003 (as opposed to the lowfat, high carb previous one) which now focuses on whole grains, vegetables, lean meats, and a reduction of TRANS FATS; which is esentially what the Atkins diet does, in phases. It looks totally different from how we remember learning about it growing up. The recommended portions of different foods are more equal.

http://www.mypyramid.gov/index.html

Nearly 5 years at goal and *still* waiting for it to kill me.

Good point ttdriver!

[ttdriver]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

I have a bunch of responses ready to go at any time (and have had to use them):

• I have lost over 100 lbs on Atkins
• Wanna compare cholesterol and BP numbers?
• My doctor says to just keep doing what I'm doing
• I eat 6-9 servings of veggies a day. How many do you eat?
• I eat lots of healthy veggies, lean meat and drink 120 oz of water a day
• I don't eat junk food, sweets, processed foods nor drink soda, nor do I care to or miss them
• I'm rarely starving, hungry after I eat nor craving any foods
• Ever wonder why obesity is increasing with all these low fat diets around?
• Ever read the Atkins book?
• I have read medical studies that prove that the last 30 years of medical advice on low fat diets is wrong.
• Even if you're skinny, doesnt' mean your healthy on the inside either
• I feel better now than I have in many years

My personal favorite is:
"Sorry for the baggy clothes, I need to go shopping again, everything is just getting so big on me."

ROCK ON!

Betty

[Richt]

Re: Atkins? That diet will KILL you!

My response, should anyone be interested it -

Whats more unhealthy, being 70lbs over weight or eating the Atkins way?