AIBU to think Atkins is a reasonable option?

[leanbh21]

I'm generally within a healthy BMI but have gained about 10lb in the past few months, probably through eating junk. I'm thinking maybe Atkins will be helpful to kick start and drop most of the weight in a few weeks but AIBU to try doing this with a young family and a demanding job? Will I just be a tired and smelly-breathed grump?

low carb is the way to go imo. that and general reduction in calories. Atkins is very harsh for the first two weeks, but its just two weeks of your life, and assuming you have no other health issues, then its okie i think.

low processed or refined carbohydrates is good for you, low carb/high protein is very bad for you in the long term. There is a reason why heart disease and cancer are typically 'Western' lifestyle illnesses - and that's to do with excessive protein in the diet and too few fruit and veg. The typical Mediterranean diet with plenty of fruit and veg is far better for you.

I think Atkins can cause digestive disorders like gallstones and other illnesses. I suppose it would be OK for a couple of weeks but I don't think it's a good diet really. I've always found Weightwatchers impossible to stick to and I'm starving all the time. Slimming World is definitely better. But both are healthy I think.

No it's not, edam. Latest research and lots of research to indicate that low carbing is a healthier way of eating, as well as a better way of dieting.

And low carbing does not cause digestive disorders. There is evidence that is aids them considerably.

High carbohydrate eating is implicated not only in weight gain but also diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's. the evidence has been there for 50 or so years - but the world is obsessed with blaming fat for all these conditions. Funny how, since we all started dropping the amount of fat we ate, to deal with the rising crisis of obesity, that obesity levels have risen sharply, isn't it?

The healthiest diet is the one that's right for you. I'm a coeliac and I don't handle grains too well. I'm also intolerant to FOS, fruit fibre so I don't do well with too much fruit on my diet. Fill my plate with green veg and a protein portion and I'm as fit as a flea.

The one size fits all approach to weight loss can't work. We are wonderful complex machines and we need different types of fuel. Most people don't realise I'm doing Atkins because it looks like 'healthy eating' according to government guidelines.

I'd be interested in seeing the evidence on bowel health and long term LC(arb)D's. Particularly in regrds to SCFA/resistant starches/changes in gut flora.

Ins you'd be good on a FODMAP diet.

Lost my J

It'd be OK apart from the fruit but my gastroenterologist is pretty happy with me doing Atkins. Well probably if I called it Atkins she'd scream in horror but she's more than happy with my menu plan

its a misnoma to think that you can't do a healthy low carb diet.

Ive been really really rubbish and not LCed at all for two weeks not gone to gym either. and i feel generally rubbish.

back on lc wagon tomoz - so should be miserable for 2 days until my sugar stabelises

No, it's a daft diet. When you come off it your weight will just pile back on.

Just like it does with weightwatchers and slimming world.....

Or you could do it properly

Most diets are like that. You need a lifestyle change. Need to think about your health in a different way.

I just make better choices now, limit my calories and excercise lots. Lost 8lbs in 2 weeks so I'm doing something right. And I never go hungry, never deprive myself of anything

Ah well, eight years on and I'm still happier not having to count calories. Health is fine too.

Whatever works for you as I said upthread.

I'm trying to cut back on my carbs because a) I eat far too much of them and b) it seems that lower carb/bit more protein helps keep the spare tyre away as you become menopausal. I struggle to do hard core low carb though but am currently cutting out bread in the week and being very low carb at lunch. I thought I would suffer a slump in the afternoons but that doesn't seem to be the case.

It's true that 70s diet plans were pretty much low carb - whoever came along and said cut out fat and fill up on read and potatoes has a lot to answer for IMO.

It's not a diet, it's a way of eating. You can use it as a way of losing weight if you restrict your carbs more severely, but most low carbers just eat less carbohydrate than other people, so that their blood sugar levels are more stable - which prevents weight gain.

saggarmakers - the afternoon slump is caused by high carb lunches - so if you're not having lots of carbs then, your blood sugar will be much more stable and you won't find the need for something sweet at around 3 o'clock!

WhiteWidow - do you know anything about it at all? It isn't a daft diet and there's plenty of evidence back to the 18th century to support the fact that it's a healthier way of eating.

High protein/low carb diets to have proven LONG TERM adverse health effects plus can lead to depression and insomnia (carbs do have some benefits).

In the 1970s we just ate far less, less processed foods and hardly snacked.

Diets where you can eat as much as you like I think are very likely to fail as they lead to no understanding of portion control.

Can you link to the evidence of depression and insomnia?

As I have found the opposite, as have most of my low carb colleagues.

Actually I found it in my resources. It's the Wurtman study of 2004.

Coincidentally Judith Wurtman is the author of a diet book.

I make no further comment

I think moderation in all things is the way to go. So, yes, cut carbs if you eat loads. Cut fat if you eat loads. Balance your meals in thirds - protein, veg, complex carbs. Exercise more. I've done this and lost the best part of 3 stone since CHristmas. I don't feel 'on a diet' and I can see myself keeping it up for ever. I still drink wine and eat chocolate, just -you guessed it- in moderation.

BiWi - yes I do actually. It isn't a sustainable diet, and that's exactly what it is. A diet. People need to be taught about changing how they think and feel about food, and their health. Not given a quick fix.

Afternoon slump are not because of high carbohydrate, they are due to inadequate protein. (and high GI content of the lunch meal).

Restricting carbs can actually lower energy, Bi.