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Summary: Where were the publisher's proof-readers?
Review: Atkin's diet is good and obviously valuable to a great many people; however, it became difficult for me to take his work seriously after plowing through page after page of typographical errors and misspelled words. Lacksadaisical printing led me to wonder whether greed propelled this poorly produced work before the public or an altruistic desire to help as many overweight people as possible. Dr. Atkins, you should be embarrassed that your name is on the cover; I suggest you find another publisher if you want to be taken seriously.
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Summary: Losing weight on Atkins is a fact
Review: Because my boyfriend wanted to try Atkins to combat some weight gained after taking an office job, I agreed to go on the diet with him. His sister, a (heavy) woman when I met her, had become a petite woman with slender legs and a flat stomach in a matter of months after cutting carbs. Of course, I ended up being the one who actually read the book and told him what we could eat and for how long. Both of us dropped weight, and quickly. After two months, he had lost eighteen pounds, and I had lost thirteen. Losing weight on Atkins is a fact. I'm not sure if I believe in what the good doctor has to say about the science behind the wieght loss; I was left with many questions and a skeptical feeling about whether this was the way my body was really meant to use food. I did come to a couple of conclusions, one being that your diet is about as personal a matter as they come, and if something works for you and makes you feel good, all people with opinions need to step back and keep their minds in their own kitchens. Another was that I am not fat enough to torture myself with this diet. I found that I could eat a generous spinach salad, two whole chicken breasts, and an apple with slices of delicious cheese and still feel an emptiness at the bottom of my stomach, a small child dwelling in my belly reaching its hands up and begging for just one soft roll of bread. I could order a double double with cheese at ... eat both patties, and still my gut would sob for the missing hamburger buns. I would have traded a life-time of hot, juicy meatballs for just one plate of carbohydrate laden, steaming, insulin-producing spaghetti. And my boyfriend? Well, when he was finally allowed beer on Atkin's schedule, he would drink his one mug so, so slowly while the rest of the guys downed the pitcher, and the look in his eyes was akin to shame. The best thing the Atkins diet did for us was that it forced mounds of vegetables into our daily feed. Many Americans will go days without consuming any vegetables other than fried potatoes or iceberg lettuce, and produce shopping became something exciting for us. I love bacon, but it gets tiresome for breakfast every day. I love steak as much as any other American, but not five nights a week. There are only so many meats to experiment with, and they don't really taste very different from each other. We discovered how many different flavors and textures of vegetables there are out there. I learned how to put together one mean salad. Dispite what Atkins has to say about ketosis and sugar, I think a real key to our weight loss was filling up on low calorie foods, replacing vending machine snacks with cucumber slices and radishes. Also, any diet with strict rules forces planning. I believe good planning is a key to weight loss all on its own. In any diet, the traps of temptation and the overdoses of calories come from unexpected places. By living under the laws of Atkins, you just don't have the option of blowing your diet over a great looking cheesecake on the desert tray. Cheesecake is simply not allowed. In the year since we quit Atkins together, my boyfriend and I have only gained back six pounds between us, and I think this is because we have maintained the good habits of menu planning and increased consumption of a variety of vegetables that the diet taught us. What I have taken from the book and the diet is this: this diet will work, but it's nothing special unless it happens to work miracles for you. My boyfriend's sister has fought her wieght all her life, now she is thin and perfectly happy turning away carbs. For me, if this diet had turned me into Julia Robert's twin with Denise Austen's energy, it would still not have been worth the feeling that something was missing. I was never satisfied, and towards the end I was even jealous of birds who got bread crumbs in the street. So go ahead and try the diet, but don't feel bad if you're back to toast before the induction period ends. And if you are one of those people who have found thier miracle solution, dropped ten clothing sizes, and gotten checked out at their ten-year reunion by people who used to make fun of them in high-school, congratulations. Now leave me alone, because I have a rice bowl to eat, and we're all saying no to that cheesecake together.
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Summary: PS to its a great diet, but .......
Review: I wanted to mention. That the last time I went on the diet and lost 35 lbs I had blood work done. My cholesterol went from 205 to 165 and my tryglcyerides from 260 to 105!
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Summary: Absolutely the Best Thing in the World for the Obese
Review: There are many reviewers who have categorized this diet as dangerous -- and the induction level can be for some people who have liver/kidney problems, etc. However, the induction level is not the only level on this diet. As a matter of fact, Dr. Atkins doesn't recommend that anyone stay on that level unless it's the only level that results in weight loss. Additionally, people who are lumbering around with 100-200 pounds to lose have more to worry about than just kidney problems! My OB-GYN, my gastroenterologist (I have Crohn's Disease) and my general practitioner ALL enthusiastically endorse this diet for me -- I was about 70 pounds overweight. All were skeptical at first -- until I begged them to let me try it for two weeks -- and all were convinced by my blood tests and blood pressure before and after the two week induction period. Dr. Atkins is NOT recommending that you eat only meat, eggs and cheese forever -- just for two weeks. But he does recommend that people eliminate flour and sugar forever. ... France as an example of people who eat lots of "French Bread" and stay slim. Actually, the French don't eat anywhere near the amount of bread products we do -- and what they do eat has more whole grain in it than what is produced here. Although that's changing as our American foods get exported on a larger and larger scale and France is starting to see more obesity as a result. ...staple of an Asian diet is rice. Granted -- but not the "rice" we eat here. Uncle Ben's and Minute Rice are NOT RICE -- they are rice products. Also Quaker Oats is not oat meal -- it's an oat meal product. Be sensible. See your doctor if you are concerned about your kidney or liver function, but give it chance if you are risking your life by carrying around an "extra person" with you in body fat!
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Summary: This book brought me out of a depression.
Review: After seeing myself in a beach photo and thinking I looked like a beached whale, I decided I definitely needed to lose weight. When I had to buy size 18 jeans, I told my sister to just take me out and shoot me if I got any bigger. I'd been exercising for a half and hour EVERYDAY for a month and could see little difference in my weight. I started the Atkins diet. I definitely felt a little deprived on day one and two. After a while, I adjusted. I kept excercising. I ate as much food as I wanted and I stuck to the diet. I'm a meat lover so I didn't have much of a problem. (Veggie lovers need not try this diet.) I even had a little pizza on Fridays. After a while, I could pull those size 18 jeans off without unfastening them. I want to thank Dr. Atkins.
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Summary: Still Working After A Year
Review: Well, I've been on this low carb diet on and off for about a year now. This past winter I was mostly OFF of it and was craving all kinds of sweets and got back into the eating habit of high carb foods and gained ten pounds. Having gone back on it again made me realize how well this diet makes me feel and now have gone back on it most of the time and I do lose weight the easy way. This diet does make you feel good with great sleep, energy and strength. The first few days are the hardest but after that it is a 'piece' of cake to stay on it. Still works for me.
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Summary: Diet will cause neurotransmitter imbalances
Review: One must seriously weigh the benefits and costs of Dr. Atkin's diet. Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter that affects our mood and overall well-being. The precursor to serotonin, tryptophan, is found in proteins but it will only cross the blood-brain barrier if it is carried in long-chain amino acids that are ONLY FOUND in carbohydrates. In other words if you cut out carbohydrates from your diet, you will eventually diminish the amount of serotonin in your brain and it will begin to affect your functioning. I strongly urge you to consult with your doctor on the pros and cons of a long term commitment to this controversial diet. Many will evidently lose weight initially but the costs incurred over the long run may very well outweigh this weight loss.
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Summary: It does work!
Review: I went on the Atkin's diet about a year ago. I was successful in losing at least 30 pounds in 2 months. And I am happy to say that a year later, I have not gained a pound back, in fact, I've lost almost 20 more by going on the diet a few different times throughout the year. The majority of the time I've been eating regular foods like bread and pasta. You just have to watch how much you eat. My doctor was so impressed with my weight loss that she went on the diet and lost weight. I think the key to this diet is to eat more than just meat. I eat a few salads a day and some veggies like green beans. Also, with any diet, water is the #1 key ingredient. Drink lots of it, it helps tremendously. I also think that this diet isnt for everyone so try it for a week and see what results you will get. Just think, all those foods you love will be there when your done, just dont overdo it and you'll be fine. GOOD LUCK!
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Summary: This diet will change your life
Review: I work for a large communications company and got involved with the Atkins diet as part of a media study. I needed to lose over 100 pounds and had tried numerous other diets without success. I figured, what the hell, I'll give it a try. Now, 10 weeks into the diet I have lost 30 pounds ( on top of 15 pounds that I had already lost from the diet I was on directly prior to the Atkins diet ) I tell you I feel great and I can absolutely confirm the lack of hunger on this diet. As part of the program, I was subjected to a lot of blood work, a full physical and a glucose tolerance test. It turns out that I was insulin resistant, had very high levels of insulin in my blood, had high blood pressure, 250 colesterol and 202 triglyceride levels. I was shocked. So after 8 weeks on the diet I had follow up bloodwork. The results were astounding, not only has I lost 20 pounds, my colesterol dropped almost 40 points to 213, my triglycerides down to 111, yes 111, and my blood pressure medication has been halfed and my pressure is still lower then before on the higher doses. since these readings were taken I have lost another 11 pounds and will have follow up bloodwork next week. I suspect, as does Dr. Atkins, that my colesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure will be lower still. This diet has been nothing less then a life change for me. I agree that this diet is probably not for everyone, nothing is, but for those who are seriously interested in losing weight and regaining their health, certainly look into this diet. And yes, definatly speak to a physician before beginning this, or any other diet, but please, keep an open mind. You will be so glad you did.
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Summary: It Works, But ....
Review: I went on the Atkins diet 25 years ago and lost about 16 lbs. 3 years ago I went back on and lost 35 lbs! Kept it off for 18 months and then gained back about 10 in the past 18 months. I am back on again! After trying Weight Watchers for a month I lost 2lbs. I must admit that when I stuck with the WW program it worked. But that's the catch, I and some of my friends found it too easy to cheat and overdo it on WW. Atkins is much easier for me to stay on for longer periods of time. BUT, it does get Boring and I plan on easing off of it when I reach my goal of 25lbs. Most people I know hit a plateau after getting within 5-10lbs of their ideal wieght. My experience is that calories do matter and thus the plateau if one continues to eat all they want.
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