Why the bad press???

[cherilyn_monroe]

Re: Why the bad press???

BTW..you look fantastic kiddo!

[not2late]

Re: Why the bad press???

I've only read through a few posts, but here are the other reasons why Atkins has a bad reputation....

1. The people who do "Atkins"

Plenty of people do "Atkins" by not doing Atkins. That is, they make up their own low carb diet---meat only, meat and eggs only, bacon and cheese, 0-1 carb, 0-1 carb with a "cheat day" every Friday, etc.---and they call it "Atkins". So naturally, anyone who sees their "atkins" diet thinks "Oh dear....how healthy can that be?" And whenever they hear about Atkins, they automatically think to how Uncle Bob ate nothing but bacon and cheddar cheese for 2 months.

That's why on ADBB and other Atkins support groups, "fakekins" is something we take very seriously. So you will see us write/quote/cite the Atkins book to these fakekins followers---because they aren't doing themselves or us any favors.

2. The magazine articles

Some of them are well-meaning, but poorly researched. So you come away with the idea that you will never, ever, ever again be able to eat more than 20 net carbs per day and you will never, ever, ever be able to eat fruit, nuts, grains, legumes, and starchy veggies.

[Aways2Go]

Re: Why the bad press???

Absolutely, Not2Late. While the doctors, govt agencies, dieticians and other "experts" often give Atkins a bad rap due to decades of being instructed that dietary fat was the demon and carbs should be the base of your diet, in the meantime most everyone I have ever spoken to that "did Atkins" at some point, save for 1 person I work with, did it wrong when I asked them about it. That gives Atkins a bad rap in the eye of the general public. With few exceptions, they eliminated basically everything except meat, cheese, eggs and maybe one salad a day with almost nothing but lettuce in it. And they did lose weight quickly for the short time they were able to stay with such a restrictive diet, until they tired of it and went back to eating "normally" and gained it all back immediately.

The one person who actually did it correctly DID lose the weight she needed to, and kept it off for some time (years, as I understand) until she experienced thyroid problems and began taking medication to try to correct it. She gained weight during her thyroid med experimentation and has since been slowly losing back to normal again. She is also the only one who told me she bought and read the book. Most of the rest just heard about how to do it (incorrectly) from a relative or friend of a friend, etc, and were shocked when I discussed my vegetable intake and occasional fruits.

I will add I have one friend who has ongoing cholesterol/triglyceride problems despite not having a huge weight problem (some extra weight, maybe 30 pounds - to a person like me, that is not a huge weight problem, LOL!) and generally not a horrible diet either - veggies and/or a salad with about every meal, meats selected for their lower saturated fat content and grilled plain or baked, whole grain varieties of things, some fresh fruits. Some snack foods and some eating out, but probably healthier overall than most people I know. Her generally reasonable diet has been geared for years towards lowering fat and controlling any sweets/junk, but has done nothing to reduce her cholesterol/triglycerides. She was already taking a cholesterol lowering prescription but it wasn't achieving the results her doctor wanted to see. He recently advised her to go on a low carb diet, although he did not specifically name Atkins, just low carb in general. He said it was the most effective dietary means of reducing those bad numbers. I laughed when she told me what the doctor said, as did she, and I gave her some pointers.

[stephbob]

Re: Why the bad press???

One of my doctors openly admitted to me that doctors don't know everything - it's so easy to rely on them to know what's wrong immediately, but they don't. A good doctor will take the time to research and read into things.

She approves of my Atkins WOL - she researched the stages and foods we eat, she's seen me lose weight, become healthier...

Another one of "my" doctors (ie. the one I see when I have no other choice) has the "ability" to diagnose me before I've even sat down in his office. And then has the nerve to belittle me when I question his diagnosis (one example, unrelated, was when I went to him initially thinking I was suffering depression, and he told me that I had allergies...yes, allergies. I did actually have depression)

The rest of the world seems to be just as "small minded". I explained the diet to a fellow colleague back in November, she thought it sounded GREAT! She started on the Monday, and by the Tuesday was claiming it was the most stupid diet in the world. Since then, she has tried EVERY other diet under the sun, and I kid you not, she makes it until lunchtime on day 1, and then declares it the most stupid diet ever. Even the Special K diet only made it to lunch, until she went and bought a burger instead.

I don't listen to people like that. It may sound cruel, but they're still fat and I'm not. At least I'm doing something about it and not knocking people down for doing what works for them while I stuff my face with a burger and fries. Or a jar of Nutella lol.

[livinontheedgell]

Re: Why the bad press???

Sorry I haven't checked this post for a couple days. I would like to thank each and everyone one of you for your replies and comments. I received alot of excellent information and the best part is that it came from members who are in all phases. The key thing I was worried about, "support for the bad hype" was not shown by anyone. That truely is a relief and a load off my chest. It's sad how much people's negativity about the Atkins WOE made my worry if this was the right lifestyle change. Because of all of your wonderful information and insight, I have a better understanding and now have ways to fight off the critics. Thank You!

-Shawn

[pagliaccia]

Re: Why the bad press???

One of my coworkers is planning to go down to Mexico to get a gastric bypass soon. She also loves telling me how "unhealthy" Atkins is. I just smile and nod, as I snack on pure yogurt with sliced strawberries, and she eats a huge chocolate muffin.

[cleochatra]

Re: Why the bad press???

Many who have gastric bypass seem absolutely clueless to the fact that they're going to have to low carb for the rest of their lives, only minus the fat, which is one incredibly sheer pleasure of low carb.

[pagliaccia]

Re: Why the bad press???

Yeah, my mom had a GB and she doesn't say anything, but I suspect she regrets doing it. You wanna talk about major dietary changes?

EDIT: Not to say it doesn't help some people...I'm sure it does. I just get frustrated when someone belittles me for eating basically all fresh, real food, and in the same breath says she wants a doctor to perform invasive, life-changing surgery on her instead.

[PolarBearKing]

Re: Why the bad press???

Lots of great reply's here (I read 'em all).

My .02 cents... I feel most people only look at the Induction phase of Dr Atkins diet and immediately conclude that it is unhealthy. What I tell those around me is that drastic times call for drastic measures. Until one cleans out their system and finds what the real problems are, they will never know what works for them. Induction does that.

I then continue on and say that if I were to tell you I was on the Zone Diet (still recomemded by many health care professions in some shape or form), they would approve because it is a "balanced diet". If you look at Dr Atkins Mainenence diet, it closely resembles the Zone Diet. Bu you gotta get there first and Induction is just the first step in a marathon. This is usually followed by more questions, which usually has me telling them to read the book. It's an easy read and can change your life.

[not2late]

Re: Why the bad press???

Lots of great reply's here (I read 'em all).

My .02 cents... I feel most people only look at the Induction phase of Dr Atkins diet and immediately conclude that it is unhealthy. What I tell those around me is that drastic times call for drastic measures. Until one cleans out their system and finds what the real problems are, they will never know what works for them. Induction does that.

I don't think those people have really read the Induction phase. What's "unhealthy" about eating whole foods and 3 cups of vegetables daily? Answer: absolutely nothing.

Alot of people "read" only the parts about the eggs, meat and cheese. Then their minds turn off when they come to the vegetable part. Or if they do read the vegetable part, the only veggie that registers in their brain is lettuce. And when they get to the fats part, they just read "butter, butter, butter, butter, and butter": olive oil and other monounsaturated fats simply don't register.

imo, those people are just as bad as the ones who do "fakekins"....

[cleochatra]

Re: Why the bad press???

And hey, I posted a new thread in the Main Lobby comparing Atkins to the Food Pyramid that so many slobber all over. The results for even Induction folks? Pretty astoundingly in favor of the whole foods eating plan known as Atkins 2002.

[PolarBearKing]

Re: Why the bad press???

I don't think those people have really read the Induction phase. What's "unhealthy" about eating whole foods and 3 cups of vegetables daily? Answer: absolutely nothing.

Alot of people "read" only the parts about the eggs, meat and cheese. Then their minds turn off when they come to the vegetable part. Or if they do read the vegetable part, the only veggie that registers in their brain is lettuce. And when they get to the fats part, they just read "butter, butter, butter, butter, and butter": olive oil and other monounsaturated fats simply don't register.

imo, those people are just as bad as the ones who do "fakekins"....

You're absolutely right when you say that you don't think these people read the induction phase. Mostly, I think they go by what they've heard, and I also agree that they stop "hearing" after a few sentences.

I participate in an annual "wellness" program through my work. Full blood work, cardiac stress test, respitaory fit test (required by OSHA for my job). strength & flexabilty testing, a Dr's exam and consultation by a nutritionist.

The first time I did Atkins my cholestorol dropped 60 points. When I was off of the program it went right back to where it was previously. A couple of years ago, I tried eating oatmeal for breakfast (approx 5 times a week for six months) before my physical. My total cholestorol went down only 15 points. Then last year I had been on Atkins for only a few months before my physical and it had dropped an additional 50 points from the year before.

This year will be interesting, because I am totally going by the book (no caffiene for example - always cheated there). We'll see. So far, so good...

[ziggy]

Re: Why the bad press???

One of my coworkers is planning to go down to Mexico to get a gastric bypass soon. She also loves telling me how "unhealthy" Atkins is. I just smile and nod, as I snack on pure yogurt with sliced strawberries, and she eats a huge chocolate muffin.

its really sad when people get this gastric bypass abomination surgery done on there body. people die all the time from it and it doesn't help at all

if your freind thinks atkins is soo unhealthy why not telling her about cultures of people who eat high fat and have great health?

take the eskimos for example they eat up to 80% fat in there diets and loads of saturated animal fats and out of all there people who eat there native diet they have 0% obesity, 0% heart disease, 0% type 2 diabetes

while 1 in 2 amaricans will die from a heart attack

after telling her that ask her how the heck fat and saturated animal fats are bad? these people eat higher fat than atkins and they have great health

then tell her people who try eating that way get thoughs illnesses cured and that she should give it atleast a chance


now lets look at a culture who don't eat alot of fat or meat

The vegetarians of Southern India eat a low-calorie diet very high in carbohydrates and low in protein and fat. They have the shortest lifespan of any society on Earth, and their bodies have an extremely low muscle mass. They are weak and frail, and the children clearly exhibit a failure to thrive. Their heart disease rate is double that of the meat eaters in Northern India.


and lets look at this too

Some people use the story of Daniel to suggest that eating only vegetables is healthy.

Daniel 1:12 "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 "Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king's delicacies; and as you see fit, [so] deal with your servants." 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies.

They are distorting Scripture by suggesting that Daniel proves eating only vegetables is healthy. The people knew that eating vegetables was unhealthy. Daniel was proving that his God would perform a miracle by keeping him healthy even though he ate an unhealthy diet consisting only of vegetables. The Bible is confirming in Daniel's story that the vegetarian diet is unhealthy.

anyways i hope you can get your coworker to change her mind before she makes a big mistake maybe if you tell her these things and pray and then she may listen to you