Don't bash....

[Thinker]

Re: Don't bash....

I completely agree about not becoming the very close-minded diet adherents that created the low-fat craze. When I was losing my 110lbs - I took a lot of resistance from people as I was eating omelletes and black coffee for breakfast instead of their "healthy" toast and cereal. I'd never want to be like that.

However, one thing strikes me. Many of these diets continue to strike me as Atkins-lite. There's nothing wrong w/southbeach - but it appears to me to just be Atkins with a different schedule/menu. Ditto the mediterranian or Sonoma diets. They're fine and if people follow them - great! But they all look like Atkins to me.

[brandywine1241]

Re: Don't bash....

I absolutely agree with Kate. I was hoping someone with better writing skills than me would weigh in and I think she nailed it. It's not a question of bashing the studies but of pointing out additional details that were not in the widely circulated news reports and of commenting on the quality (or lack) of the supporting data.

It may seem like people on this board are bashing any studies that are not pro-Atkins, but I think one reason is that we tend to post the ones that are the most egregious.

[TitianWasp]

Re: Don't bash....

I definitely don't mean that any method is ok. I mean that there are methods out there besides ours that are ok - both diets, as well as advances in nutritional science. I have seen Atkineers immediately dismiss any study that is not Atkins or does not support low carb. Again, contrasting research should not receive a knee-jerk dismissal. That is a trap that the mainstream medical community falls into time and time again with low-carb research, and many of our members have had to fight an uphill battle with their healthcare professionals to convince otherwise. Let's not be that small minded. Take research, REAL research with an adequately sized population, an adequate duration of time, adequate control groups and unbiased funding, as research. Thank goodness for contrasting research and confirming research. Ultimately they will discover how to keep us all young and thin forever. We'll keep doing Atkins, and I personally will keep reading everything I can get my hands on, culling the legitimite from the nonsense, and making educated decisions about my health.

[brandywine1241]

Re: Don't bash....

Titan, when you find credible contrasting research, would you please post a link to it? I for one would be most interested.

[Katlambert]

Re: Don't bash....

Thanks for this post...point well taken. We should be supportive of people no matter what method they choose. I know people who have been very successful using other plans and although what they do wouldn't work for me, I know that I what I do doesn't necessarily work for them. We're all trying to get to the same destination - just taking different roads.

[matawguro]

Re: Don't bash....

My teacher once told me, "There's a difference between questioning and doubting."

A respected american news anchorman (whose name escapes me at the moment) once said, "Always be a skeptic, so you will not be a cynic."

My martial arts teacher once told me, "Never stop learning. Never stop studying. But also, never, ever, allow yourself to be taught by someone else."

By all means, question everything. Be skeptical of anything that is fed to you. It's one of the main points of Gary Taubes' book Good Calories, Bad Calories. The current obesity epidemic is a result of people who took one man's hypothesis as gospel truth.

Personally, I think I'm informed enough to bash the lipid hypothesis. However, I am open enough to change my view if the evidence does not support it.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Don't bash....

Nice quotes Robbie!

[TitianWasp]

Re: Don't bash....

Agreed, Robbie - just the right kind of attitude.

I tend to post a lot of the research I find (when it appears credible), both pro and con, as well as having nothing to do with Atkins, but nutrition and such in general. I will continue to do so, as we are our own best health advocates and too many people know less about their bodies than they do their cars.

[michigander]

Re: Don't bash....

Oh sister, I totally agree, and have found that it pays off NOT to disclude information you've learned from other diets.

For example, I did Weigh down (a religious workshop that teaches you that God gave you a hungry and a full button on purpose - why do you choose to eat past it). And when I FIRST started atkins, back when the book read eat all the meat you want, I took that literally. Now the atkins book also says to eat until satisfied and not stuffed. But that's what I used to do, I'd eat and eat and eat, because it was "free", and not because I was hungry. And that didn't get to the root of my problem. I'm an emotional eater.

What I wish, is if there was a weight watchers for low-carbers. Because the weekly weigh in's and fellowship was extremely helpful. And since we're at it...the low carb WW will be a FREE class! LOL!

I'm personally a non-discriminitory dieter. I've tried them all - and even atkins (when you do it wrong) doesn't work and isn't healthy.

So yeah, I agree, it's still good to evaluate all your options. I personally am a beliver that whatever diet you're really on, the only way it works is if you're 100% about it. No half-assing it, or you'll end up with a double-***! LOL! No, but seriously, it has to be your lifestyle, or it won't work, no matter what the name of the program is, it's got to be a life change, not a diet.

Now if I could just train myself with dedication past the 1 year mark. I know I can get there again, but can I maintain it - my head knows it, now I've just gotta get my feet to follow it.

[JenLynn]

Re: Don't bash....

I agree. I hate the way some people talk about Atkins and I would not do that to someone else. Great post!

[quotidianlight]

Re: Don't bash....

I totally agree as well. For myself I find value in reading many different studies and ideas. I use butter just like Atkins recommended but I use a lot of olive oil usually and I eat a lot of fish while barely touching red meat. By the time I finish OWL I can very well see my Atkins menu choices looking a lot like the Paleo, Mediterranean, French or Sonoma diets. There is a reason they look like Atkins light... they are all based on common truths. Atkins wasn't the first to promote this way of eating. I think any diet based on basic indigenous eating is going to stress meat, fish, veggies and have a smattering of grain. My ancesters weren't running around Africa chasing wheat with spears! Pretty much everyone ate that way before aqriculture became easily trasportable and big business. Some stress high levels of saturated or other fats, some don't. The differences are in the details. If Atkins where still alive he would still be researching and learning and the diet would be evolving instead others are using his truths to figure out details and techniques he didn't get a chance to.

[TitianWasp]

Re: Don't bash....

Ironically, I had to defend, yet again this week, that Atkins is not the bacon and butter diet. It's not evil, it's not unhealthy, and it really does work.

I wish we could dispell once and for all the Tabloid Version of Atkins.

[Skeptika23]

Re: Don't bash....

Ironically, I had to defend, yet again this week, that Atkins is not the bacon and butter diet. It's not evil, it's not unhealthy, and it really does work.

I wish we could dispell once and for all the Tabloid Version of Atkins.

Quoting for truth.

I eat more veggies - and a variety of veggies - now that I did pre-Atkins. I replaced the starchy stuff, the pasta, the bread in my meals with veggies - that's the major change (besides not gorging on a large bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos for my snacks any more).

I'm really not eating that differently meat-wise and my butter consumption is about the same (I put it on veggies instead of in sauces for pasta).

Most people don't know that there's a plan past Induction either, though.

[momtomany1]

Re: Don't bash....

I think that is true of most persons. On the SAD, who actually eats the 3 cups of veggies, or 'five a day' (five half cups) that is recommended? Instead it is the 'anti-nutrients' sugar and white flour.

I think highly of the Good Mood Diet. My lifetime maintenance will be a meld of Atkins and that particular plan.

[FLdoodette]

Re: Don't bash....

An excellent post!

I'm still in the "honeymoon phase" of Atkins (will be 3 months Nov. 1), and - having tried every diet plan known to womankind - found Atkins is the only program that works for me. So, naturally, I've been feeling quite smug and pleased with myself I'm not knocking any one else's dietary choices, but I never miss an opportunity to point out how effective Atkins has been for me; when people are curious, I tell them to get ahold of the book and decide for themselves.

Personally, I would prefer to be a vegetarian and went that route for awhile, but - regardless of how I combined my proteins - I ended up fat, bloated and tired Now I'm eating more animal products (and leafy greens) than ever before ... and feeling 100% better! Not to mention, thinner.

Going for my semi-annual bloodwork and check-up soon and hope my doc is as pleased as I am