Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program 2006

[2big4mysize]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

still in the science part of the book

[kjspea]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

How about a fun discussion about metabolism/science and food?


Dr. A was very thorough in the first section. He needs to win over even the biggest skeptics of his plan. Not only those who are determined to be healthy, but for those that need to understand the science behind it. It is really this ‘science’ part that won me over. Thus, as opposed to other knock-off diets such as the South Beach, he cited numerous studies & facts that support his eating plan. (As he explains on the very 2nd page of text, he refuses to refer to his plan as a “diet”.) Although the studies of various low-carb ‘diet’ plans that he cited were a little too ‘obese subject’-focused for me, I was nonetheless intrigued by the results.

And to boot, he discusses two important subjects that an Atkineer should keep in mind – the glycemic impact of foods & antioxidant qualities. The fact that not all carbs are created equal is important to note. Now that we are really trying to be aware & cautious of what we put into our bodies, we need to focus on maximizing our food bang for the buck (especially with carbs.), as Dr. A stressed.

The glycemic impact of carbs discussion was very useful. Looking at his chart, it’s no wonder when I ate breakfast cereals – even seemingly ‘healthy’ ones, I would be hungry within an hour! Grapenuts, Corn flakes, even shredded wheat are all bad. And I guess I will never eat a jelly bean again, it’s just not worth it! No big loss, but what was particularly upsetting for me personally was the GI of watermelon!

I also appreciated his phytonutrient & antioxidant discussion (esp his personalized Atkins ratio ~ brilliant!) Looks like I will try to focus on cruciferous veges, spinach, lettuce, kale, onions (I was particularly surprised with this one), red bell peppers and of course the star, garlic.

[jimmie 48]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

all good thoughts, kjs.

i imagine that alot of folks just skip over part one. but the information in this part sets the stage for the rest by telling us the why's of this way of eating. i will admit, i don't find it to be the most exciting of the parts but still, it lays the ground work for what's to come.

patience, heidi! we're getting there!

i hope everyone is one track and is finishing part one or will have it done tomorrow.

reading part 2 begins sunday and i think we will have some really good comments, questions and answers.

nice job, everybody!

[dotsamantha]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

It took me a few tries to get through it when I first started the wol. It was hard to get past the first few pages after all the years of hearing how unhealthy it was, and the Dr. had the nerve to make such claims. I work in health services and this man was trying to tell me all my eating habits were wacky. Now I see and feel the proof.

--The summer reading program is an awesome idea, again. Always good to refresh.

[wienerin]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

--The summer reading program is an awesome idea, again. Always good to refresh.

Amen to that, Samantha!

Information in Part One: kjs, good thoughts. I agree with Jimmie, there seem to be a lot of people who simply go to the "How To" section and have no regard whatsoever for the "Why". And that attitude is bad for them, because informed choices are only possible when there is enough information! They may be following the plan to the letter, including the menus, yet that will always be a short-term solution as they have learned nothing. Armed with the information of Part 1 - as you mentioned, the glycemic index and much more - I don't have to slavishly adhere to spelled-out plans, but I can go to the grocery store and make informed decisions. That's what long-term Atkins is all about!

It's also better for us (as in, this board), when people actually read the information Dr. Atkins provided in his book - he put it there for a reason. That way there's a basis from which there may still questions, but the foundations are laid. Which is the idea of the Atkins Boot Camp on here, a brilliant idea in my opinion. Go ADBB!

[2big4mysize]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

yep informed choices.

I look at it like the folk who assemble the new purchase without reading directions and have parts left over or just don't quite get the pices to fit but dang it is together, or those who never read the owners manual and the clock on the electrical appliance is always flashing 12:00

[not2late]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

And to boot, he discusses two important subjects that an Atkineer should keep in mind – the glycemic impact of foods & antioxidant qualities. The fact that not all carbs are created equal is important to note. Now that we are really trying to be aware & cautious of what we put into our bodies, we need to focus on maximizing our food bang for the buck (especially with carbs.), as Dr. A stressed.

A while back in the OWL forum, we had a thread about being a "food snob". I'm "snobbish" in the way that I try to eat the most nutritious foods while staying within my carb count. So I'll choose a serving of coleslaw before I'll choose a serving of lettuce, but I'll definitely choose the lettuce over a serving of low carb candy or diet soda.

The glycemic impact of carbs discussion was very useful. Looking at his chart, it’s no wonder when I ate breakfast cereals – even seemingly ‘healthy’ ones, I would be hungry within an hour! Grapenuts, Corn flakes, even shredded wheat are all bad. And I guess I will never eat a jelly bean again, it’s just not worth it! No big loss, but what was particularly upsetting for me personally was the GI of watermelon!

Dr. Atkins doesn't mention it, but another person, Mary Enig, did. The glycemic index has it's problems: anything that slows the digestion of a food, can decrease it's glycemic impact. That's the concept the Dreamfield's pasta works by. Things that slow digestion include fiber and fat. So if you were to eat your watermelon with some kind of fat, like a bit of cheese or a ounce of nuts, that fat would technically slow the digestion of the watermelon carbs and would decrease the glycemic impact. The trouble is that they haven't examined fat's impact on the glycemic impact of a food. It would be interesting if they did, though.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

Dr Atkins touches on that fat and slowing in his OWL tips in chapter 14 when he saya to have a fat with your beeries to slow the blood sugar impact.

it is almost like he assumes we read all the footnoted parts of DANDR and follow up with thiose articles. I know i did back in 2002 when i was studying Atkins before I started and boy did i learn a lot of stuff he just skims over.

Another thing he does is once he has mentioned in DANDR something he assumes you remember it and know it later. As you read a long you will see he talks about having whipped cream. Since he already told you no sugar he assumes you know that is sugar sub sweetened whipped fresh cream. i can't tell you how many folk who only read bits of the phases think whipped cream?? OH BOY COOL WHIP HERE I COME!!!!!!!!

[Kate113]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

Amen to that, Samantha!


It's also better for us (as in, this board), when people actually read the information Dr. Atkins provided in his book - he put it there for a reason. That way there's a basis from which there may still questions, but the foundations are laid. Which is the idea of the Atkins Boot Camp on here, a brilliant idea in my opinion. Go ADBB!

I totally agree. I read every word of what he wrote in "the book" so that I could understand WHY it works. I figured I needed to get that part down before I went ahead and tried it blindly. It has helped immensely.

[dotsamantha]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

i'm really glad i read the book before i started, it helped immensely.

[cristylp]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

Ditto on the reading. I read through the book a couple times before I actually started and it helped me a lot. Now I even have two copies - one stays on my desk at home, and I carry one with me.

[jimmie 48]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

megs, my sister was on some kind of eating plan years ago that sounds much like you were explaining with the watermelon and the cheese. not those 2 particular things, she was making sure certain things were ate with certain things. do you know what kind of eating plan that would have been? she had diverticulitis and i guess her doctor at the time had her eating on the plan.

2big, i have noticed that, too, that he expected us to remember certain points. i guess that is another reason not to skip parts and read often.

[dotsamantha]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

SOme people practice "food combining". I don't know much about it, but I thought you might be talking about that.

[jimmie 48]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

sam, it could be. she didn't talk much about it but i know when i was around her she would eat certain things with certain things. the watermelon/cheese phrase made me remember that. our bodies are amazing machines. i think that is one important thing i have taken from this whole woe.

[presidentholmes]

Re: Dandr ~ Our Summer Reading Program

Part 1 completed, part 2 here we go.
I'm allowed onions???
Well I never!
It's funny the things that you presume without double checking isn't it?
Steak n onions tonight then!