Rating: 
Summary: The Simple Proof
Review: Here's a simple reason why this book is a winner.
December 27, 2003
+ Weight 237 lbs.
+ BP 148/90
+ Cholesterol 240
April 20, 2004
+ Weight 197 lbs.
+ BP 124/60
+ Cholesterol 140No exercise (I wanted to, but couldn't prioritize the time). Just the Atkins diet. 40 lbs in 4 months. Key vitals drop. Say no more. This book was the key to my weightloss success.
Rating:
Summary: Surprising, evidence supported
Review: As opposed to the miriad of diets out there, the low carbohydrate-liberal fat diets have undergone medical scrutiny. Two recently published studies in the Annals of Internal Medicine comparing (head to head) this type of diet to the the traditional low fat, "heatlhy", low calorie diets demonstrate that people not only loose more weight and keep it off longer but also, against all medical predicitions, have better cholesterol profiles with decrease in bad and increase in good cholesterol levels. I am a convert now. Dr.Atkins showed us how mistaken we were in our simplistic approach to diets, i.e. less food (or calories) should equal weight loss, by addressing the paramount role of insulin in wight regulation.
Rating: 
Summary: The AMA reports have proven nothing
Review: Contrary to what our astute Canadian says about research and reports done by the AMA concerning weight loss and a healthy diet, recent studies by Duke University and others have shown that not only do you GAIN weight on a high carbo diet, but that a diet low in fat isn't necessarily healthy because of needed fatty amino acids. The AMA has based its entire arguement that fat is the basis of high cholesterol levels on a little known paper published in 1929 which described one of two Eskimos as having an elevated cholesterol count due to high fat content in diet. What the AMA has failed to see is that people who do have high cholesterol and are overweight have a correspondingly high rate of sugar intake and processed carbohydrate products...cakes, cookies, chips, bread, pasta, etc. Before the introduction of processed sugar and flour goods in the early 1900's, heart disease, heart attacks and cirulatory system problems were almost non-existant. Since the modern diet has arrived, these diseases ane now very common. The AMA has contributed to the misinformation that cholesterol levels rise in people who go on the Atkins/low carb diet. This is a half truth. What they do not say is that in the initial stages of the diet, the first week or so, cholesterol does go up. But this cholesterol is *HDL*, or high density lipids, which are what doctors say are good for you and prevent heart disease. Overall cholesterol readings in people who are on the Atkins diet actually DROP to normal levels. So enough of this verbage by the people who subscribe blindly to the lies and misinformation. Think for yourself and READ the book. Atkins does not exclude all carbos and vegetables. There are ample lists within the book that give specific carbo counts so that Atkins dieters can eat these foods and have a balanced diet without all the carbs.
Rating: 
Summary: No reason for this book to exist!
Review: First off I'm going to say that Dr.Atkins has some good points. It's true that CERTAIN carbs are bad for you, in particular ones which have processed sugar (Twinkies, Soda, Cake, etc). You should definitely cut back on these as they are unhealthy and will definitely make you gain massive amounts of weight. However, is Dr.Atkins the first to realize this? No, of course not. This is something that has been proven to the point where it's now common sense. However, complex carbohydrates (like starches) are not bad for you, unless you eat them in excess, much like anything. How can anyone be stupid enough to go on a diet in which FRUITS and VEGETABLES should be eaten in very small quantities? This just boggles the mind. Atkins claims it doesn't matter, since you can just take a multi-vitamin. Let me explain to you the REAL reasons that fruits and vegetables are good for you. 1) Both fruits and vegetables have substances in them called phytochemicals, which ONLY plants make. Much like our white blood cells, phytochemicals play a huge part in the defense of a plant from foreign pathogens and other forms of disease. When plants are eaten by humans, not only do we get healthy vitamins and minerals, but we also consume these phytochemicals. Research is now beginning to show that these phytochemicals have a huge benefit. For example, Bell Peppers have two such substances, Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which lower the risk of macular degeneration and fight the formation of nitrosamines, which are known to be cancer causing agents. Every fruit and vegetable has different phytochemicals which range in their ability to lower cholesterol and prevent cancer and heart disease. What's my point? Multivitamins don't have these valuable chemicals! 2) Pound for pound, fruits and vegetables are extremely low in their calorie content. For example, a single spear of asparagus has a whopping 4 CALORIES. You can eat an entire garden worth of asparagus and you still won't gain a pound. Ditto goes for foods like broccoli and spinach. You can eat platefulls of this stuff and barely crack 100 calories in a meal. Contrast this to normal Atkins foods, such as steak, in which a single serving contains over 600 calories. What's my point? The more veggies you eat in a meal, the more full you feel, WITHOUT eating too many calories. Why do you think vegetarians are in such good physical form? Look around you, do you ever see a 400-pound vegetarian walking around? I strongly doubt it. Now I'm not saying you need to stop eating meat. Myself, I eat plenty of meat. Next time you eat, have a small amount of meat, and eat two or three times the amount of vegetables as compared to the size of meat. Not only will this make you full, but you'll also be eating healthy and not consuming too many calories. Another thing I need to mention. Atkins has this idea that humans emerged as hunters and meat was their primary staple. This is completely untrue. Atkins is not a historian and knows next to nothing about ancient history. Early humans were foragers; they ate seeds, nuts, berries, and any other plants they could find. They ate meat only when it was easy to allocate, such as when herds migrated towards their camps. Atkins thinks people were skinny because they ate meat. Wrong again. People were skinny because they were active. Life was precarious; people didn't have cars, they walked everywhere, and thus, burned off the calories they ate and could not possibly have excess weight. Nice try Atkins. Low-carbohydrate diets have existed for decades now. Only recently have they begun to be seriously studied, since a few celebrities used the diet and now everyone is in on it. I find it humorous that literally tens of thousands of different research methods have been PROVEN by the AMA and other similar organizations to show that exercise and proper nutrition are the best way to lose weight, and yet as soon as ONE man (whose research is laughable) comes forth and states something else, everyone believes it. Atkins funds research which studies 12 people (yes, twelve). Too bad that for a study to be considered accurate you need at least 1000-1500 participants. Nice try again Atkins. The last thing I'm going to mention is how to lose weight. Everyone, we already know how it works. Eat less, eat properly, and exercise. It's really that simple. I get tired of hearing about how people gorge on junk food, and then complain about how it's unfair that they're fat, like it's some sort of curse from the heavens. Get up and do something about it. You don't have to run a marathon to exercise, just GET ACTIVE! Walk a few laps around the neighbourhood, go walk the dog, ride a bike, jog lightly, play soccer with some friends, just do something! When you eat, you can eat whatever you want, just do it in moderation. You can have a piece of cake every so often, it won't kill you. Just don't eat the whole cake! The Atkins diet is not the answer you're looking for.
Rating:
Summary: The TRUTH about Dr. Atkins death
Review: It is astonishing to read the slam pieces here about Dr. Atkins so-called obesity and overweight condition at the time of his death. Here are the facts:
* He previously had a heart condition called cardiomyopathy -- a serious disease of the heart muscle which is unrelated to diet.
* He died of a head injury because of an accident falling on slippery ice and not of being overweight.
* His actual weight was 200 pounds when he was admitted to the hospital at the time of his accident. The erroneous reports of him weight 258 lbs was based on his weight at the time of his death. The extra weight was not fat, but an accumulation of body fluids linked to organ failure during his coma.
* His previous reported heart attack was due to a viral infection and not diet related. He spoke openly of his condition on various national news programs.
* The report that was released about him being overweight was leaked to the press by a group named "Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine", which is an ardent opponent of the Atkins diet. In short, they distorted his weight by reporting the weight at the time of death - 258 lbs, and not at the time of his admittance - 200 lbs...an obvious attempt to discredit and distort the facts surrounding Dr. Atkins death.
* A formal complaint has been filed by the Medical Examiner of New York regarding the suspicious leak of this information to the public by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine."
* The disinformation surrounding Dr.Atkins untimely death is politically driven by the AMA and other detractors of the diet. Dr. Atkins book, New Diet Revolution has turned the AMA and other nutritional views upside down and has created a furor over the standard edicts of the medical profession. What is not said among the detractors of the Diet is that it is safe and it works. The information contained in this book will not only help you lose weight, it could save your life. The food industry, especially the bread and pasta industry have lost hundreds of millions of dollars because of the low carb revolution. Is it any wonder that this diet is under so much fire? Keep an open mind and read the book.
Rating:
Summary: Great diet ..it changed my life!!
Review: Initially I was sceptic of this diet and especially since I was an Indian (Asian Indian). My normal diet and Atkins suggestions was totally opposite or so I thought ..:-) I was totally wrong once I started the diet. I had so many options that I never had to drastically change my eating habits to adjust to the diet. I started the diet in the end of January and today after 12 weeks or so, I'm 28 pounds lighter am able to exercise regularly ( I'm now able to run continuously on the treadmill for 60 mins without any problems) and enjoy playing tennis and racquetball. My goal weight is still around 10 pounds lesser but I've decided to lose that weight slowly as now I'm feeling better and healthier like never before.
I would definitely recommend this book and the diet to anyone who has got a weight problem and would like to lose a lot of weight quickly !!
Rating:
Summary: Why Follow Dr. Fatkins? The Dead & Obese Weight Loss Guru
Review: Why model yourself after failure? Dr. Atkins is dead. At only 72. And he suffered clinical death from cardiac arrest a year before he died. Autopsy showed he had suffered a heart attack, congestive heart failure and hypertension. As if this wasn't bad enough, Dr. Atkins was morbidly obese at his death! 258 pounds!! Why model yourself after a diet guru who was fat, fat, fat? 258 pounds at the time of his death! And why risk the same "side effects" as Dr. Atkins got -- heart attack and hypertension? Not to mention the other side effect. Which can destroy your social life. Horrible bad breath! Why not model yourself after a guru who has really stayed slim? The secret of success is to model yourself after success. After the Atkins diet failed me miserably, a very successful friend introduced me to The Elixxir Program. The Elixxir Program is based on the only scientific way to achieve dramatic weight loss. And keep it off for life. And the guru Elixxir is his own best testimonial and proof that The Elixxir Program works. Ever wondered why all the Orthodox Jews, Moslems, Hindus and Buddhists can stay on such "impossible" religious diets? Is it because they're stronger than you and me? No, it's because they have a philosophy/worldview and lifestyle which SUPPORTS their diets. And this is why The Elixxir Program works. And why Atkins diet and all the other diets do not. The Elixxir Program comes with an exciting philosophy and lifestyle which will empower you to lose weight and keep them off. It is in this book The ImmorTalist Manifesto on Amazon. Read The ImmorTalist Manifesto! And then run to the elixxir.com website and find out about the Executive Memo telling you all about The Elixxir Program. If anything can make you slim for life, The Elixxir Program can. I should know. I had a "love handle" or "beer belly" around my waist that I couldn't get rid of no matter what. Until I got on The Elixxir Program. It's a miracle. Actually, totally scientific. The only diet program that is documented with an overhwhelming body of scientific research and articles. Why follow a weight loss guru who was fat? Why not follow a weight loss guru who is as fabulously slim and healthy as you want to be? Elixxir is your man! Not Dr. Fatkins.;) Bonus: Unlike Atkins regimen which speeds up your aging, The Elixxir Program is also the only scientific anti-aging eating program! So "kill two birds with one stone," lose weight and stay young!
Rating:
Summary: Carb-Free Snake-Oil
Review: The latest in a long, unbroken string of attempts to help people who eat too much avoid actually moving to lose weight. At this point, it's become much like arguing that the sky is blue. Diet book after diet book gets wheeled out to a public eager to shell out cash to avoid the one the one and only cure to losing weight: getting off your duff. Day after day, I watch people order dripping cheeseburgers slathered in cheese sans the bun as a way to lose weight. Now seriously, folks, let's use a little common sense here. Just because some snake-oil salesman wrote a book on a foolish concept doesn't obligate you to read it. By the way, I strongly advocate the consumption of cheeseburgers, milkshakes, etc., I just can't imagine anyone thinking that "carbs" are the enemy. There's really nothing on earth wrong with being fat. I'm getting there myself and wouldn't dream of jogging, paddling, pulling or lifting anything to lose my ever-widening girth.....nor am I going to dole out cash to some hack who has half of the world on a diet while everyone just gets keeps getting fatter. If you're one of those perpetually dissatisfied souls who will just never quit thrashing themselves no matter what, I'm going to sacrifice the millions in royalties right here and now by offering you the full prism of weight loss options that work. Cut and paste this to a Word document, pin it on your refrigerator or in your cubicle at work. Weight Loss System: 1. Get off your lazy ass and move around until you sweat alot. Repeat. The End. Personally, if you're on this page reading this review, you're already moving (albeit slowly...heh) in the wrong direction. You've been sold a bill of goods. My advice is to shut off the computer, go to your local grocery, and get a pint of your favorite Ben & Jerry's and a movie. Eat lots of carb-rich bread. Kick back, let fools buy books that are destined to fail....let the driven little tyrants run and run until their fit hearts pop in a calorie-burning ecstasy. We may have billboards for rears, but life will have been much richer for our lack of really caring.
Rating:
Summary: Lost 60 pounds slowly in 12 months.
Review: I tried Low calorie but could not retain the weight lost. I am a classic yo yo dieter. I thought the Atkins diet was gross and insane but I was 35 desperate to lose the fat that low cal would not budge. I gave in suffered with headaches took my ibuprofen and fiber supplements and lost eight pounds in 2 weeks. My weight loss was slow because even Dr Atkins said go into the OWL stage if you dont want this to be another crash diet and bore easily. I had alot of lows and binging periods but by walking and doing pilates a year later I am 125 pounds down from 185. I am so glad I stuck with it and studied my Atkins books and picked myself up it really works and I eat normal now.Plus my family is trying it now because at first they were cynical and laughing at it but seeing my results and flat belly they are converts!!
Rating:
Summary: Before criticizing, read the book
Review: I am a nutrition major and naturally had my doubts about the Atkins diet. High in fat, eat as much as you want...that certainly does not sound like a healthy diet. But it is and if you read the book, you will see it is perfectly fine. If you are going to start a low-carb diet, be cautious. There are many people who say they are on Atkins, but have not even read the book! If you don't read the book, and just limit carbs, you aren't doing any good to your body. You have to follow the book. I am a previous loser on Weight Watchers and I gained it all back plus 30...WW was getting too confusing for me, I couldn't have a taste of something and not eat the portion I wanted. When I started Atkins I was suprised of how few craving for carbs I've been having. It is much easier going to restaurants knowing that you can either have something or you definitely can't have it. Atkins does not eliminate carbs, but it gets you into ketosis (fat burning) and gradually puts back more carbs while you are still in ketosis. And the people who say no diet is good if it requires you to take vitamins. Well, with any diet you may be losing nutrients and ALL people should take vitamins. That is a fact, take it from a nutrition major.
Positives: It will work if you read the book.
Negatives: The book is very inexpensive (compared to other weight loss programs) but meat products and the low carb products can be expensive.
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