Re: As a physician, I am worried about those on SBD

[Guest guest]

Dr. Greger,

I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and opinions on our message board. I

hope you realize that by playing 'devil's advocate' you expected some of the

not-so-pretty mail you've gotten.

In your initial email to our group, you started out talking about the Atkins

diet. South Beach is NOT Atkins and they're not even remotely related,

except they are popular diets. Because they're popular, does that make them

similar? No. If memory proves me correct, Atkins is Low carb, High protein

and High fat. SBD is Healthy carb, Healthy protein and Healthy fat. Because

those who are on SBD do NOT count carb, protein or fat grams, it's incorrect

to say SB is low carb, etc.

In your email, you said you read the SBD book. However, after visiting your

website, I have to question your comprehension of the book. There were

several errors and I'd like to respectfully correct them.

** Why did you lump SBD in with Atkins? What similarities do you see that

we don't?

** " IT'S NEVER a good sign when a weight-loss plan promises that you won't

" suffer any hunger pangs " and that your cravings, especially for foods like

sweets and baked goods, " will virtually disappear " within the first week. "

http://www.atkinsfacts.org/atkins/85/Tufts_University_School_of_Nutrition.ht

m

This quoted remark is not scientific, it is merely someone's opinion. Is

this your opinion? I can't tell if this was written by you or by the Tufts

Univ. School Nutrition. Dr. Agatston had many of his patients on this diet,

before he published it. His patients told him they noticed their cravings

were gone and their hunger pangs no longer existed. If you remember from

reading SBD, you'll know the reason why Dr. A developed this diet. His

motives were not to quench hunger pangs and eliminate cravings. I suspect

those things were a priority to him, but not the reason he developed this

meal plan. From my personal experience by following the SBD, I can tell you

this is the ONLY diet I've tried that DOES take the cravings away! That is

profound news for me!! It give me hope! Dr. Agatston says in the book to

eat if you're hungry. How simple is that? Don't skinny people eat when

they're hungry? Dr. A. suggests a healthy snack of low-fat yogurt, or a

part-skim cheese stick, or a handful of peanuts. He suggests a reasonable

amount, probably because he knows we can go crazy with those nuts.

** " the book says that the diet is " distinguished by the absence of calorie

counts...or even rules about portion size " and that you should not " even

think about limiting the amount you eat, " then proceeds to count calories

and measure out servings every step of the way. "

http://www.atkinsfacts.org/atkins/85/Tufts_University_School_of_Nutrition.ht

m

How many years have Americans been interested in dieting? Wasn't one of the

things we first learned was how to count calories and if you eat fewer than

you burn, you'll lose weight? I think many folks still look at calories and

fat grams as a way to eat healthy. I also believe that by providing

nutritional information for a recipe, it is merely a handy tool. As far as

serving size goes, he does say to forget about that during Phase 1. If you

remember from reading the SBD book, you'll remember there are very few

carbs during Phase 1, so the larger portions make sense to someone who is

wanting to make a lifestyle change. Have you ever been overweight? Have

you ever dieted to lose extra weight? If so, you know when making such

major changes to your meal plan, you're bound to suffer from headaches, body

aches and crankiness. On other diets I've experienced, adding hunger pangs

on top of those other symptoms simply make me unbearable. Is there a

problem with eating too much salad? Or having a 10 oz steak every once in a

while? I have personally discovered (joyfully) that I did not require as

much food (volume) after being on the SBD a few weeks as I had experienced

while on Phase 1. I consider that a blessing.

** " You'll even lose weight on it. But it will have nothing to do with your

blood sugar or carbohydrates' effect on the body. "

http://www.atkinsfacts.org/atkins/85/Tufts_University_School_of_Nutrition.ht

m

I have to disagree on this. I am not a scientist and my 'findings' are

based on my personal experience. Do you agree that if blood sugar levels

can be maintained within a range, without spikes going too high or without

dropping too low then insulin levels also remain level too? Do you agree

that higher insulin levels cause insatiable appetites? (Look at a diabetic

experiencing low blood sugar). Do you also agree that an insulin-dependent

diabetic takes insulin based on how many carbs have been consumed? (Well,

ok you might not know this if you are not too familiar with IDDM). And, if

less insulin is taken, fewer carbs have been consumed (however, your patient

might eat those carb calories in foods containing with a lower GI, which

does not affect blood sugar levels like higher GI foods). There IS in fact,

a connection between blood sugar, insulin and carbs effect on the body.

I'm not sure if what I read on your " Atkins Facts " (again, HOW does SBD fit

in with Atkins???) site is YOUR opinion, or Tufts Univ. School of Nutrition

opinion. But it really seems to have come from someone pulling information

out of the book that is completely out of context. If you have indeed read

the SBD book, I seriously doubt if you could honestly say the SBD is

unhealthy. It is by far, the most healthy and most comfortable way of

eating my family and I have ever experienced. By the way, I'm the only one

in my immediate family who is overweight. My DH and DD eat the same foods I

do, with more healthy carbs added to their meals. My 13 year old is

learning a lot about healthy eating because of SBD. We eat very few

processed foods, rather more UN-processed foods. Please tell us how that is

unhealthy.

I'm going to assume you are at a healthy weight for your height. Would you

PLEASE try Phase 2 of SBD plan for 1 month? Chances are you won't lose much

weight, if any at all. However, I PROMISE you, you'll feel incredible!

Would you agree to try Phase 2 and let this group be your support system?

Please consider this challenge and when your month is up, THEN tell us what

you think about SBD. On your web-site you say, " That said, the South Beach

Diet isn't the worst weight-loss plan in the world. We've seen worse, and

following it for a while isn't going to kill you. " So, I challenge you to

give it a try. Are you up to it?

I apologize this message is so terribly long. However, I hope you'll

respond to all of us here, asking YOU, " What is wrong with eating fresh

veggies, whole grains, lean meats and healthy fats? " Please don't quote

Tufts; share YOUR opinion.

Sincerely,

Donna

Tulsa, OK

[Guest guest]

Hi:

Dr. Gregor, thank you for your opinion. I saw the same post that you put on this group, at another group for the " Hallelujah Diet". since this diet promotes (correct me if I'm wrong), pretty much all "raw"/vegan eating or 80% raw, 20% cooked. I'm curious, which "diet" do you follow??

I'm a vegetarian, and am planning on starting the SB. After reading the posts/thoughts the last few days, I am very impressed with the SB plan. I'm more concerned and worried about the majority of Americans who night after night eat fast foods or Hamburger Helper or the like; sit in front of the T.V., and wonder why they are so over weight, have to be on high blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds, diuretics, and are having heart attacks in their 30's and 40's. And BTW, I was one of those people. However, since December, have lost weight, and started to exercise (oh, my physician just wanted to prescribe another pill; changing my diet was never mentioned); cholesterol/trig. are below normal, as is my blood pressure; and I feel great (slowly decreasing the meds I:m on). Basically, the white processed foods, sugars, and all the bad carbs were killing me. The SB plan isn't a diet; it's a life style change. And for the positive (pretty much how I lost my weight). Especially if one is eating the typical SAD (like I had been, and the majority of America still is).

Again, thanks for your opinion. May you find whatever it is you are seeking.....~~gail~~

[Guest guest]

" (oh, my physician just wanted to prescribe another pill; changing my

diet was never mentioned) "

Gail,

Yes. My doctor did the same thing.... about 8 years ago she told me

my cholesterol/tryglicerides were way too high and she was gonna give

me a pill, I refused to take it, and instead turned to more healthy

diet and exercise. I was able to lose 40lbs, and I feel a lot better

now. So far I have been able to keep the weight off, except I still

would like to lose another 10 lbs which are sticking to me because

of my hypothyroid... but that's another story.

Smile!

Martha

> Hi:

>

> Dr. Gregor, thank you for your opinion. I saw the same post that

you put on this group, at another group for the " Hallelujah Diet " .

since this diet promotes (correct me if I'm wrong), pretty much

all " raw " /vegan eating or 80% raw, 20% cooked. I'm curious,

which " diet " do you follow??

>

> I'm a vegetarian, and am planning on starting the SB. After

reading the posts/thoughts the last few days, I am very impressed

with the SB plan. I'm more concerned and worried about the majority

of Americans who night after night eat fast foods or Hamburger Helper

or the like; sit in front of the T.V., and wonder why they are so

over weight, have to be on high blood pressure meds, cholesterol

meds, diuretics, and are having heart attacks in their 30's and

40's. And BTW, I was one of those people. However, since December,

have lost weight, and started to exercise (oh, my physician just

wanted to prescribe another pill; changing my diet was never

mentioned); cholesterol/trig. are below normal, as is my blood

pressure; and I feel great (slowly decreasing the meds I:m on).

Basically, the white processed foods, sugars, and all the bad carbs

were killing me. The SB plan isn't a diet; it's a life style

change. And for the positive (pretty much how I lost my weight).

Especially if one is eating the typical SAD (like I had been, and the

majority of America still is).

>

> Again, thanks for your opinion. May you find whatever it is you are

seeking.....~~gail~~

[Guest guest]

---Gail you know what is really scarey!! Kids as young as 2 years

old are being diagnosed these days with High Blood Pressure and

diabetes(type 2) already. I just watched this program on one of the

american news shows like Dateline or 48 hours or something.

Absolutely fascinating!! This is something that can generally be

controlled with diet & exercise so this really telling us something

isn't it?

In South-Beach-Diet-Getting-It-Right , " ptachkrew "

<ptachkrew@c...> wrote:

> Hi:

>

> Dr. Gregor, thank you for your opinion. I saw the same post that

you put on this group, at another group for the " Hallelujah Diet " .

since this diet promotes (correct me if I'm wrong), pretty much

all " raw " /vegan eating or 80% raw, 20% cooked. I'm curious,

which " diet " do you follow??

>

> I'm a vegetarian, and am planning on starting the SB. After

reading the posts/thoughts the last few days, I am very impressed

with the SB plan. I'm more concerned and worried about the majority

of Americans who night after night eat fast foods or Hamburger

Helper or the like; sit in front of the T.V., and wonder why they

are so over weight, have to be on high blood pressure meds,

cholesterol meds, diuretics, and are having heart attacks in their

30's and 40's. And BTW, I was one of those people. However, since

December, have lost weight, and started to exercise (oh, my

physician just wanted to prescribe another pill; changing my diet

was never mentioned); cholesterol/trig. are below normal, as is my

blood pressure; and I feel great (slowly decreasing the meds I:m

on). Basically, the white processed foods, sugars, and all the bad

carbs were killing me. The SB plan isn't a diet; it's a life style

change. And for the positive (pretty much how I lost my weight).

Especially if one is eating the typical SAD (like I had been, and

the majority of America still is).

>

> Again, thanks for your opinion. May you find whatever it is you

are seeking.....~~gail~~

[Guest guest]

> I'm curious, which " diet " do you follow??

I basically follow what the World Health Organization is advocating in

their latest report on nutrition in May, 2004: a whole foods

plant-based diet.

> However, since December, have lost weight, and started to exercise

>(oh, my physician just wanted to prescribe another pill; changing my

>diet was never mentioned); cholesterol/trig. are below normal, as is

my >blood pressure; and I feel great (slowly decreasing the meds I:m

on).

Congratulations--that's great. Way too many vegetarians live off

bagels and french fries. Just getting rid of refined carbs and

exercising as you have experienced can often to wonders

-

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http://www.AtkinsFacts.org

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