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Summary: It's about ELIMINATING SUGAR AND FLOUR from your diet
Review: 200 years ago, the average American consumed 10 lbs. of sugar per year. Today, the average American consumes 150 lbs. of sugar per year. That's almost 1/2 lb. of sugar per person per DAY! This rise in sugar consumption has been particularly dramatic over the last 60 years, and corresponds to an enormous increase in the number of cases of diabetes and heart disease in the US. Obviously, this staggering amount of sugar consumption is not healthy for anyone. (And this should provide a hint as to why this diet usually results in a reduction in cholesterol levels).DR. ATKINS DIET IS LARGELY ABOUT REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR AND REFINED FLOUR, foods with little nutritional value. Do you have to eat steak and eggs at every meal? Hardly. In the first phase of the diet (two weeks or longer), carbohydrates are almost entirely eliminated from the diet in an effort to rectify the body's metabolism and insulin levels. During this period, you will notice a drastic change in your appetite (the elimination of false hunger signals resulting from fluctuating insulin levels), an enormous increase in energy, and a significant reduction, if not elimination, of cravings for sweets. So what do you eat during this period? A typical day for me follows. Breakfast, two eggs, deli ham and coffee with cream and Splenda. Lunch: deli chicken salad over lettuce and cucumber. Dinner: Steak tips with spinach, asparagus and hollandaise sauce. If I'm still hungry (which is rare): sugar-free Jell-O with whipped cream. Once you come within eight pounds of your target weight (Hint: buy a scale with a body fat percentage meter to determine where your weight should be) you begin to gradually re-introduce HEALTHY carbohydrates and starches, like fruit and nuts, etc. Slowly you increase your daily consumption of carbohydrates until you neither lose nor gain weight. Now tell me, what's so crazy about that? (I'm still in the first phase of the diet. I've dropped from 196 to 186 in ten days. I'm never hungry. My energy level has increased. My body fat percentage is now at 20.5%, at the high end of the healthy scale for a male of my age. I expect to get down to 175 lbs. with a body fat percentage of around 15%, which is very fit.)
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Summary: LIFE CHANGING
Review: This is an awesome book on nutrition. Everyone should read it. It has changed my life. A real eye-opener. I strongly recommend it to anyone looking to lose weight. I bought extra copies after I finished it to send to family and friends.
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Summary: CHECK OUT SAFEDIETS.ORG FOR HELPFUL INFO
Review: Before you take your life in your hands with this "diet", be sure to check out SafeDiets.org for new information about the serious consequences of this fad diet!
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Summary: It's simple to follow
Review: I have no clue why people say it's a fad or horrible things are going to happen to you if you start the Atkins diet. I'm diabetic I started the diet 3 weeks ago and my blood sugars have dropped from 240 to 120. Nothing horrible about that! I've also lost 10 pounds that I couldn't loose any other way. Nothing horrible about that. And I just got a check up from my doctor and he said my blood work and physical and mental appearances are BETTER than they have been in YEARS! NOTHING HORRIBLE ABOUT THAT. I suggest this diet to ANYONE who wants to loose weight and become healthier!! ATTENTION TO THE IGNORANT who refuse to read his book or understand the diet....there are steps you take. You don't eat "JUST" meat or fat. You eat vegetables too. Then as you progress to step 2 you eat fruit and nuts, then more vegetables and finally when you get to step 4 your back to your same foods but you have learned portion control and carb control and have understood your body better! Don't knock it till you've tried it!
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Summary: Health or Weight Loss?
Review: Hey everybody. My guess is you're looking at Atkins for weight loss reasons, not for health reasons. I know that all of you know in your hearts that although fat doesn't make you fat, saturated fat is disgustingly abusive to your heart. On this diet, you are at high risk for heart disease and cancer. Not to mention that you cannot live on this low amount of carbs. In fact, when I was on this, I had what's called a "hypogloxemic seizure" and the doctor not just suggested, but TOLD me to get off this diet. He gave me "The Zone", a low-carb but healthy balanced diet. My blood pressure dropped and I have more energy then ever. In short, Atkins will make you lose weight, but at the expense of your life.
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Summary: Caring For Body, Mind, And Soul
Review: Atkins works. Not a fad. After blowing up by 35 lbs while on crutches, I was back to my trim self in a few months on Atkins. What a miracle. Couldn't believe it. It takes discipline, though. That's the name of the game with all self-help books. If you're in to self help, "Atkins" is the one for caring for the body, but "West Point: Character Leadership" and "The Purpose-Driven Life" are the ones for caring for mind and soul. It all goes together, you know. You and your kids need to learn that, for your own good, and the good of America.
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Summary: Doctors are still laughing at Atkins
Review: This is my expererience with the Atkins approach. I bought the book, read it from cover to cover in a weekend. I decided I would like to try it, though I knew of no one personally who had. As the book emphasized, I saw my physician, who laughed at me and tried to discourage me from it: "You'll consume far too many calories, far too much protein and fat. It's not good for your heart. You'll feel exhausted, headachey. Your blood pressure and cholesterol will soar. Don't do it."
Well, I was gung-ho. I had my blood drawn (ouch), had the doctor check my blood sugar, had my blood pressure taken. Everything was within normal for my age. So, just as the book suggested, I started the program and did it diligently for 14 days. I walked 40 minutes each day and lifted weights twice a week in that period.
I felt headachey and weak. I craved sweets. And I gained 4 stupid freakin' pounds!
Went back to the doctor, who laughed some more, checked all of my levels (my cholesterol had risen by 8 points, my blood sugar had dropped), and then said, "Now will you try a sensible diet?"
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Summary: There's more to losing weight than losing weight....
Review: Finally, I have come across a weight program that makes sense for myself. About 30 years ago I went on a low carbohydrate program and came to my weight goal. Over the years I managed to put it all back on and than some. You ask? Why would I try it again? 30 years ago there wasn't as much understanding on why this diet works but having read Dr. Atkin's book I am a firm believer that most of us are addicted to carbohydrates, I know that I am. My doctor informed me that my glucose count was borderline and she suggested Dr. Atkin's. I was surprised since she is a homeopathic doctor and also an osteopath, I thought wow! I guess I'll have to check into this program another time to make sure this is for me. I did just that about 1 month ago and I already feel more energy and less sluggish in the afternoon. I have lost weight and I know that I am on the right track, I feel at peace with my decision to make this my lifetime commitment. The food market has changed so much in the last 30 years and there is no reason to feel deprived on this program. You can order low carb foods on the Atkins' web site and I also was able to find a low carb store only 10 minutes from my home. They have bread, bagels, etc. made with soy flour and toasted I can't tell the difference. There is alot of fiber in all of these foods so you get a full feeling. Whereas foods loaded with carbos only make you crave for more. Once you reach "ketosis" it took me about a week, you start feeling more energy and less cravings, it's like your body has reached a certain satisfaction and you don't think about food as much as before. My two grandmothers had adult onset diabetes and it was no "picnic" for them. I think I played around enough with foods to start taking it more seriously and pay more attention to what I put in my body. Another book to consider is "Protein Power" by the Eades. This book gives a complete description of the "insulin resistance" that most overweight people have encountered.
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Summary: It truely works.....
Review: My husband and I are both near the big 50 in age. Low fat diets and exercise saw us both gaining weight and raising our cholesterol. Finally my husband's cardiologist recommended Atkins diet---- WOW ! He has lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks, and I have lost 12. We have more energy, feel better and our cholesterol is DOWN ! We both plan to be low carb people for our remaining years.
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Summary: Caring For Body, Mind, And Soul
Review: The Atkins diet works. It's not a fad diet, but a way of eating you can enjoy for life. On crutches for many months, I gained 30 lbs, without even pigging-out. I decided to give the 4 step Atkins diet a try, and, in a few months, I was back down to my previous weight, and even less. I couldn't believe it. It was like a miracle. I'm still holding my new, trimmer look, and enjoying eating! It DID take SOME discipline, however. For me, the toughest part was laying off of bread. But, if you're into self-improvement, you'll do fine. If you're like me and are into self-improvement books, "Atkins For Life" is the one you should have for caring for and improving your body and physical health. For caring for and improving both your mind and soul, the books I think are the best are "West Point: Character Leadership Education" by Norman Thomas Remick, and "The Purpose-Driven Life" by Rick Warren. Another good one for caring for your body is "Sugar Busters". Caring for body, mind, and soul are what life is all about, if you want to be happy. It's what we in America should all do for ourselves, and pass on to our children, family, and friends.
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