Straight Dope: How painful is Atkins?

[mitzimarie]

Re: Straight Dope: How painful is Atkins?

tcv, I'm glad to see you're reading the book. If you want even more SCIENTIFICAL support of what Dr. Atkins says, your next read should be "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes. It's a real eye opener regarding how the low fat/low calorie dogma came about (and is UNPROVEN "science") and how America, following that diet, has become obese, diabetic, and hypertensive.

You MUST read this book, if you have any doubts whatsoever about going against the conventional "wisdom" of the low fat/low calorie thinking. It's sickening, how it came about and is still believed by so many health professionals. Thankfully, I have a doctor is 100% pro-Atkins. It makes life much easier to have a forward thinking doctor who supports this WOE.

[tcv]

Re: Straight Dope: How painful is Atkins?

tcv, I'm glad to see you're reading the book. If you want even more SCIENTIFICAL support of what Dr. Atkins says, your next read should be "Good Calories, Bad Calories" by Gary Taubes.

I have read that book. Thanks. I do feel, however, that Taubes' book is more a critical look at the process of how we decided to become a nation of low-fat/high-carb dieters rather than an indictment of those diets. Yes, he lends a lot of creedence to diets such as Atkins, but he really doesn't prove or disprove anything. He states many times in there he's not a scientist. He's right. He's not.

In the end, I think the message is: "We've decided a certain way is right. Maybe it isn't. Maybe we should be looking here, too, or here, or over there. There's all kinds of interesting research done and to-be-done. We're not finished."

But, yes, it helped me to reconsider diets such as Atkins and South Beach, et al. It led me to try to find my truth.

[Chicklady]

Re: Straight Dope: How painful is Atkins?

I have read that book. Thanks. I do feel, however, that Taubes' book is more a critical look at the process of how we decided to become a nation of low-fat/high-carb dieters rather than an indictment of those diets. Yes, he lends a lot of creedence to diets such as Atkins, but he really doesn't prove or disprove anything. He states many times in there he's not a scientist. He's right. He's not.

In the end, I think the message is: "We've decided a certain way is right. Maybe it isn't. Maybe we should be looking here, too, or here, or over there. There's all kinds of interesting research done and to-be-done. We're not finished."

But, yes, it helped me to reconsider diets such as Atkins and South Beach, et al. It led me to try to find my truth.

There was also a time we thought trans fats (margarine/shortening) were better for you than butter.
Sooner or later, the truth emerges.

[spirittalker]

Re: Straight Dope: How painful is Atkins?

Well all i have to say honestly is i do not believe the human body should be uncomfortable tired or in pain day in and day out. And that's how i feel when i am not following Atkins. When i am on plan i get up earlier, i exercise because i have energy to burn and my digestive system goes unnoticed. Which i believe is how i should feel, not gassy bloated and crampy all the time. So called 'normal' eating is what makes me feel bad. This WOL is not painful. Different, flying in the face of conventional "wisdom", but definitely not painful.

[rozigrl221]

Re: Straight Dope: How painful is Atkins?

Well all i have to say honestly is i do not believe the human body should be uncomfortable tired or in pain day in and day out. And that's how i feel when i am not following Atkins. When i am on plan i get up earlier, i exercise because i have energy to burn and my digestive system goes unnoticed. Which i believe is how i should feel, not gassy bloated and crampy all the time. So called 'normal' eating is what makes me feel bad. This WOL is not painful. Different, flying in the face of conventional "wisdom", but definitely not painful.

I agree with Spirittalker...I feel worse when I am off of plan. I have terrible stomach aches, heartburn, lower back pain, leg cramps, you name it.
The first couple of days durning induction, I felt lethargic and headches, but after that, I felt great.
It is like any addiction that you are trying to break, in the beggining you feel like crap, but when you have "detoxed" you fell wonderful.

[ttdriver]

Re: Straight Dope: How painful is Atkins?

There is no pain involved, only good eating. When Atkins is followed properly, you will eventually be eating from every food group, including grains.

So, what you can expect? You can expect to feel very energetic, not hungry, your skin will glow, and above all you will feel really good about yourself!

Yep, that sums it up!

Betty

[blue996]

Re: Straight Dope: How painful is Atkins?

I find being off Atkins painful. I feel bloated, sluggish, and just generally unhealthy.

Being on Atkins I have tons of energy, sleep well, don't experience any heartburn, my asthma is much better controlled, and to top it all off I lose fat meaning I don't suffer the horrible emotional toll of not fitting into my clothes! Seems like a win/win to me.