My personal trainer told me to eat more protein and less fat

[wannabethintoo]

I signed on with a personal trainer today and when I explained Atkins to him he just shook his head and told me to eat more protein and less fat. That's AFTER I explained that I had lost 27 lbs since May 19th doing it the Atkins way. I told him that if I ate more protein and less fat then it wouldn't be Atkins. He said: Yeah, I know.

First my doctor now my personal trainer. Does anyone out there support Atkins...besides you guys of course.

[not2late]

Re: My personal trainer told me to eat more protein and less

I signed on with a personal trainer today and when I explained Atkins to him he just shook his head and told me to eat more protein and less fat. That's AFTER I explained that I had lost 27 lbs since May 19th doing it the Atkins way. I told him that if I ate more protein and less fat then it wouldn't be Atkins. He said: Yeah, I know.

First my doctor now my personal trainer. Does anyone out there support Atkins...besides you guys of course.

How much more protein does your personal trainer want you to eat? With Atkins you get about 30% of your daily total calories from protein (and some people think the 30% is "too high" while others think it's "just right")

:confused

[wannabethintoo]

Re: My personal trainer told me to eat more protein and less

I signed on with a personal trainer today and when I explained Atkins to him he just shook his head and told me to eat more protein and less fat. That's AFTER I explained that I had lost 27 lbs since May 19th doing it the Atkins way. I told him that if I ate more protein and less fat then it wouldn't be Atkins. He said: Yeah, I know.

First my doctor now my personal trainer. Does anyone out there support Atkins...besides you guys of course.

How much more protein does your personal trainer want you to eat? With Atkins you get about 30% of your daily total calories from protein (and some people think the 30% is "too high" while others think it's "just right")

:confused

I know. I told him about the 65, 30, 5 breakdown. He really didn't like the fact that I was eating 65% fat.

[not2late]

Well, dietary fat is a controversial subject. I guess the best thing you can do is to educate yourself about dietary fat. That way you'll be better equiped to educate others.

One of the better books about dietary fat is "Know Your Fats" by Mary P. Enig, PhD.

[tickletussler]

Hey if this helps, I find that I don't really need to eat too much more "extra" fats to make up the 65% fats.

If you ate freshwater fish like salmon, had your half avocado with your salads, some hard-boiled eggs for snacks, eat your portion of red meats at least 3 times a week, cook your veggies or add to your salad a tablespoon of olive oil, and eat your 3-4oz of cheese - you'll find that your fat levels very easily come up to 65%. The egg is also considered the "perfect" food - if you enter it into Fitday, it has the perfect 65-30-5 proportions.
Like I said, your 65% fats doesn't really need to be "added" fats - they are often found naturally in wholesome foods that you eat everyday.

Now tell your personal trainer that!

[Finelly]

It's always helpful to remember that personal trainers are not dieticians or nutritionists. Nor do they have much training in, well, personal training! It is ridiculously easy to become one.....

On the other hand, Dr. Atkins was, well, a DOCTOR. It's hard to become one. It's even harder to become a successful one whose followers keep losing incredible amounts of weight, lowering their cholesterol, reducing or eliminating their need for medications.........

This is one of those times when you smile your charming smile and say "thank you for sharing. You're completely mistaken, but that's ok!"

[Iapetus999]

I never listened to the diet advice of my trainer.
There's been a movement in the fitness arena to move away from hi-carb diets. Lo-fat is ridiculously hard to stick to (slightly harder than lo-carb) and I don't think it's healthy.
I don't think 20g carbs/day is healthy either long term...but it's great to get your weight loss started.
The less carbs you eat the more fat you burn. If you compare cutting carb calories vs cutting fat calories, cutting carbs will promote more weight loss. (cutting fat will too)
You want to exercise (good job :nod ) in the "fat burn" zone because even tho you burn fewer calories in the same amount of time...you promote fat burning. The more you work out in that zone the better your body becomes at burning fat.

BTW good trainers rock...I used one 'til I had lost most of the weight. :joy

[wannabethintoo]

This personal trainer is highly educated with a Masters degree in some fitness-related field. He has been very successfull in helping people lose weight. He's a ****-type trainer which is what I need. I had my first work-out last night and it was brutal. I'll take his exercise advise and ignore his diet advise.

I tried telling him that I have been on every diet there is and that Atkins is the only one that I can do for longer than three months. I was so tired of eating boneless, skinless chicken that was dried up after cooking it and had no taste. And having to use the low fat italian dressing that tasted like water. A week on a low fat diet felt like a year. I woke up depressed that I wasn't going to be able to eat anything good. I love Atkins. I look forward to the foods I can have AND I'm losing weight. I can see myself sticking to this WOL for life. I can't say that about any other diet.

[wannabethintoo]

Well, dietary fat is a controversial subject. I guess the best thing you can do is to educate yourself about dietary fat. That way you'll be better equiped to educate others.

One of the better books about dietary fat is "Know Your Fats" by Mary P. Enig, PhD.

Contraversial to say the least. People freak out when you tell them that you eat 65% fat. FREAK OUT.

I think you mentioned that book to me when I posted about my doctor not liking Atkins as well. I haven't looked for it yet but I will. I check out chapters. Thanks for reminding me again.

[allierw26]

I know a lot of trainers/weight training enthusiasts advocate 40:40:20 macros...(protein/carbs/fats), or 30:50:20 for those trying to lose weight. I tried it, it obviously didn't work for me. Well, it did, but after starving myself all week long on 1200 cals/day, I would always binge on sugar on the weekends.

I think you're doing the right thing if you're just sticking with what words for you, wannabethintoo! After all, what is the point of going on a diet that you can't stick with, when you're already well on your way to success with another WOE?

[cajunthunder]

The trainers at my facility are all highly educated with degrees and training in a wide variety of fields.

They do promote a more moderate type of diet and aren't keen on Atkins or any other low carb diet. But we just don't discuss this much.

I will tell you this, and this applies to me and may not apply to you....
As our sessions increased in intensity, 20 or so grams of carbs a day just didn't get it for me. I was running out of steam before we got halfway thru our sessions. She told me I needed to up my carbs some. I was already doing a modified OWL, so I just increased my carbs gradually to the 30-40 gram range, and rarely I may eat 45 - just depends.

On the days I work out with her, I usually have a small bowl of oatmeal and some bacon. I eat half of a serving which is 11 grams of net carbs, but I cook it in a cream/water mixture, add some butter and a touch of cream when it's done (and splenda), and eat several slices of bacon. The fat and proteins eaten at the same time help control blood sugar spikes.

This works for me. On the days I do just cardio, I eat normally, and my carbs may range anywhere from 20-40 depending on what I'm in the mood to eat.

Good luck and have fun with your trainer! It will make a major difference in your body as you lose the fat! :icondance

[higgies]

I'm not an expert, but I have never eaten so healthy in my life. I think if you looked at most people's diets, you would see 65% or more fat in the diet and that being bad fats. At least we're eating natural unprocessed fats for the most part. I dunno...just my 2 cents. I eat more veggies and natural foods than ever before.

[Moochiecat]

What you could do, is strike a deal with your trainer and your doctor. Set up a time frame (say, six months) and have your blood work done at the beginning and at the end of that time, and review the results of that and your weighloss and fitness goals. This may placate them into being more supportive.
Just something to think about....

[Isabeau]

I really like Moochie's idea. I too have never been healthier or more fit, even at this weight. I exercise a lot and strenuously. I did move up to OWL when I started running 5k three times a week and I am still losing weight at the same rate that I did on induction. There are many high end athletes that follow the Atkins WOL. A good friend of mine just completed her first full marathon and she is in pre-maintenance. No carb loading required! Good for you for sticking to what is best for your health.

[america57]

I'm extremely lucky! My trainer is the one that first suggested I try Atkins! When I was having trouble getting through the workout, he told me to up my fat & water intake, not my carbs. He explained to me that it takes some time for the body to adjust to burning fat as it's main source of energy instead of carbs, he said that while you are going through that changeover, you can feel sore in your muscles and tired when you are are done working out. He encouraged me to stick with it and he was right, I didn't up my carbs and now I glide through my workouts! I lift weights with a personal trainer, walk 3-4 miles a day six days a week and I do Water Aerobics 4 times a week. I also have Multiple Schlorosis which is a constant battle by itself.