Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 I was considering using it for a jump-start myself, but haven't committed to that idea yet. An Atkins-type plan worked well for me a few years back and I lost almost 50 lbs.... but of course, without exercise, I regained all the weight over the course of two years. -- > > Oh, so don't do that... please. I have only met one > > person, of all the people who have claimed to have > > done it, for whom it worked. It's a quick way to drop > > water weight, not much else. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 I was considering using it for a jump-start myself, but haven't committed to that idea yet. An Atkins-type plan worked well for me a few years back and I lost almost 50 lbs.... but of course, without exercise, I regained all the weight over the course of two years. -- > > Oh, so don't do that... please. I have only met one > > person, of all the people who have claimed to have > > done it, for whom it worked. It's a quick way to drop > > water weight, not much else. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Before you do Atkins, I'd suggest reading the book or their website http://atkins.com/howto/index.html if you haven't. Many people claim they are doing Atkins just because they are cutting carbs, and don't really have a clue what the diet involves. Then there are those that have actually tweaked Atkins to the point where it doesn't sound that different from BFL nutrition. I also found in an article that the problem with the Atkins and other low-carb, high-protein diets is that this ketogenic state is unhealthy for several reasons. First, the brain relies on glucose for fuel (primarily derived from carbohydrates). When you burn fat to release energy, as you do on a low-carb diet, less glucose is produced and the ketones generated aren't adequate to fuel the brain. Secondly, as the body tries to eliminate ketones through the liver and kidneys, it puts a severe strain on these organs. Also, after several days of having high levels of ketones in your system you may experience dehydration, weakness, nausea, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, irritability and, in severe cases, gout and kidney problems. In addition, this ketogenic state can be particularly dangerous for people with medical conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, kidney problems and diabetes. For more on the Atkins obsession, see http://tinyurl.com/ve0d Andy > I am seriously considering doing the Atkins diet as it may jump start > my metabolism. Won't start until after turkey day. > > Jas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Before you do Atkins, I'd suggest reading the book or their website http://atkins.com/howto/index.html if you haven't. Many people claim they are doing Atkins just because they are cutting carbs, and don't really have a clue what the diet involves. Then there are those that have actually tweaked Atkins to the point where it doesn't sound that different from BFL nutrition. I also found in an article that the problem with the Atkins and other low-carb, high-protein diets is that this ketogenic state is unhealthy for several reasons. First, the brain relies on glucose for fuel (primarily derived from carbohydrates). When you burn fat to release energy, as you do on a low-carb diet, less glucose is produced and the ketones generated aren't adequate to fuel the brain. Secondly, as the body tries to eliminate ketones through the liver and kidneys, it puts a severe strain on these organs. Also, after several days of having high levels of ketones in your system you may experience dehydration, weakness, nausea, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, irritability and, in severe cases, gout and kidney problems. In addition, this ketogenic state can be particularly dangerous for people with medical conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, kidney problems and diabetes. For more on the Atkins obsession, see http://tinyurl.com/ve0d Andy > I am seriously considering doing the Atkins diet as it may jump start > my metabolism. Won't start until after turkey day. > > Jas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Most will be water weight, and some fat. But not more fat than you can lose eating the BFL method. That is why I am always surprised at the marketing, etc. The body only has a certain capacity to burn fat, and that capacity can be realized with any type of caloric deficit. Atkins may be effective for people to keep cravings and calories under control, but it has never been shown, not in any single study besides a more recent one conducted by the Atkins team themselves, to burn more fat than conventional methods. As for metabolism, higher protein intake will stimulate metabolism, but the effect comes from the extra protein, not the lower carbs. In other words, you could just as easily increase protein on BFL to increase metabolism, rather than having to sacrifice carbs. I am a fan of finding what works for everyone, but Atkins has to have more myths around it than any program out there. On the flip side, there are a lot of myths about low carb that people buy into as well. Really there are balances and variations that work to each person, but there is no faster route. Males can lose 2 - 3 pounds (about 1% of their body weight) and females 1 - 1.5 (about 0.5% of their body weight) in fat, on average, per week, and no method really will do much beyond that. Best of health and success, (Jas, I still have a web site, just not the old one! LOL -- if you are interested, pop me an e-mail, I am still working on getting the calculators, etc back up). > Not all of it can be water weight. In the begiining it may be, but > some fat will be lost. Yet I am more concerned if I will lose muscle > if I stay on it over a long period (i.e., 6 weeks). If I could use > the Atkins to jump start my metabolism I may be able to get further. > > Jas > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Most will be water weight, and some fat. But not more fat than you can lose eating the BFL method. That is why I am always surprised at the marketing, etc. The body only has a certain capacity to burn fat, and that capacity can be realized with any type of caloric deficit. Atkins may be effective for people to keep cravings and calories under control, but it has never been shown, not in any single study besides a more recent one conducted by the Atkins team themselves, to burn more fat than conventional methods. As for metabolism, higher protein intake will stimulate metabolism, but the effect comes from the extra protein, not the lower carbs. In other words, you could just as easily increase protein on BFL to increase metabolism, rather than having to sacrifice carbs. I am a fan of finding what works for everyone, but Atkins has to have more myths around it than any program out there. On the flip side, there are a lot of myths about low carb that people buy into as well. Really there are balances and variations that work to each person, but there is no faster route. Males can lose 2 - 3 pounds (about 1% of their body weight) and females 1 - 1.5 (about 0.5% of their body weight) in fat, on average, per week, and no method really will do much beyond that. Best of health and success, (Jas, I still have a web site, just not the old one! LOL -- if you are interested, pop me an e-mail, I am still working on getting the calculators, etc back up). > Not all of it can be water weight. In the begiining it may be, but > some fat will be lost. Yet I am more concerned if I will lose muscle > if I stay on it over a long period (i.e., 6 weeks). If I could use > the Atkins to jump start my metabolism I may be able to get further. > > Jas > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 It would be more accurate to say that Atkins may jumpstart your " weight " loss. I doubt it is going to jumpstart your metabolism, but most people equate quick weightloss with an increase in metabolism. What actually happens with Atkins is that it isn't uncommon to lose 10 - 15 pounds within 24 hours. What you're losing is muscle glycogen (stored energy within the muscles) and body water. If you want to jumpstart your metabolism, you follow the BFL nutrition plan as you have stated. Also, for intense or endurance training like is required for BFL, the Atkins Diet is not ideal. Because you're depleting your body's primary source of energy used during a workout. Then everything else will literally shut down over the long haul as a direct result of depleted carb levels. Your energy and strength levels while training will suffer. Yes, Atkins works for losing weight. Yes, it's the most popular fad diet ever created and that is why people will continue to try it. No, it isn't known yet whether it is safe, and most people aren't able to keep the weight off for the long-term. Amusingly, I found this website http://www.faddiet.com/ which includes Atkins, Southbeach, and others, but not BFL. Here's their version of the South Beach diet: Here is my version of the South Beach Diet. Put on your bathing suit. Go to South Beach. Take of your shirt and sit on the blanket for a while. Look at all of the beautiful, thin, tan people. Look at your own body. If that doesn't motivate you, go for a walk. Walk all along South Beach until you find a donut shop. Keep walking. Walk and walk and walk looking for that donut shop. You will become thin before you will find a donut shop in South Beach. Why? Because the think folks at South Beach don't eat donuts. But honestly, is life without donuts really worth living? Andy > I am confused, how will atkins jumpstart your > metabolism? I though the way to do that was to eat > mini-meals with the proper combo of carbs, protein, > etc and building muscle because the muscle burns more > calories at all times than fat and the mini-meals keep > the body from overeating and fuels it every three or > four hours forcing the metabolism to stay elevated to > deal with the food/not triggering the starvation mode. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2003 Report Share Posted November 21, 2003 It won't really " jump start " your metabolism because your metabolism drops before it goes back up on that diet. Besides it won't do you much good in the long term because once you go back to eating regular portions of carbs, your body will suck them right up. Even for competition I don't switch diets really. It's more effective to just pick a diet and stick with it long term. Long term as in months, years, for LIFE. - > I am seriously considering doing the Atkins diet as it may jump start > my metabolism. Won't start until after turkey day. > > Jas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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