Rating: 
Summary: Sounds too good to be true
Review: I went out and bought the book after I'd seen a friend of mine (looking as good as ever) and he told me it was the Atkins' Diet that did it. So I sat down and read the book and decided--after much consideration--to give the diet a try. I've tried many diets as everyone else has but I've never known one to allow you to eat AS MUCH AS YOU WANT so long as it isn't bread nor sugar. The book was helpful and consisted of a lot of useful information and it's been a good three days that I've been on the diet so I can't state whether it's helping me or not. But, for now, I'm not complaining. I eat, as the book says, as much meat and vegetables I want so I'm not hungry. Once I've lost half of my goal weight, I'll be back with an overrall review.So far, everything's peachy with me!
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Summary: This works very well for complusive overeaters
Review: I have used this diet for years but never used it long term. Instead, I would do the 2week induction, lose 10lbs. or so, and then go back to regular sugar shock. Now, for the first time I have been using this diet loosely for a year and have lost 70lbs. I still have about 50 to go. My secret to this success is based on a schedule of dieting as follows: I do the induction phase, then after two weeks I switch to the "Carb Addicts Diet" where I get an hour reward meal every day. After a few weeks on that I go back on Atkins' induction phase, etc. The funny thing is I actually only spent half the year dieting. THe other half I just ate lots of carbs and binged and felt terrible! So I basically lost 70lbs in 6 months on this "alternating" of diets. And it was fairly easy I must say. I think these types of diets are best for seriously compulsive overeaters like myself, because you can almost still have your eating issues and lose weight as well, since neither diet is based on quantity. And after a while, I don't feel that overwhelming need to binge on junk. Like they say it's all based on insulin. People who challenge these diets and say they are not healthy don't realize that no matter what it's healther than the way most of us heavyweights eat! Sure, I've heard arguments that bacon/eggs every day may not be the greatest thing for the body, but it's gotta be better the all of the potato chips, sweets, etc. that I was eating before in large quantities! Also- a tip for the social people- I have found that although alcohol may slow the process slightly, it's worth it because you don't feel deprived when out in a social/drinking setting. Just don't drink beer or wine! I always drink vodka or whisky mixed with diet soda/club soda. People may question the "psychological issues" associated with compulsive overeaters like myself and say that diets like these still don't address those issues. That may be slightly true, but they do address them chemically. Since I know that I can't eat "junk" but I can eat large quantities of other things, I don't obsess as much. Diets like Weight Watchers and other restricted-calorie diets pretend to address psychological issues but never really do. Instead, they give you a little bit of everything and leave you wanting much more every single day. I'll never do a diet like that. I plan to lose the rest of my weight in the next year doing exactly what I've been doing.
Rating: 
Summary: Great diet, lousy book
Review: This is my second review of this book. I read it a couple of years ago when its popularity had skyrocketed. At that point (really for the last 10 years up until a couple of months ago) I was an adherent of the low-fat diet. I have lost but gained back weight several times on that and so recently decided to actually TRY the Atkins diet, not just read it. I reread the book, and though the concepts were interesting, it was very frustrating! The book is horribly organized and Atkins rambles and raves on about the evil AMA, and constantly talks about how his diet is so great because you can have as much steak, bacon and eggs as you want. Guess what, not everyone wants all of that stuff! I've heard Atkins speak on radio talk shows and he is so defensive and empassioned that you get the sense that he is completely close-minded. As far as the diet itself, I have been following a low-carb diet which mirrors his for the past two months. I have only lost 5 lbs on the scale, but I've also been lifting weights and so I'm sure that I have lost way more than 5 lbs in body fat. More importantly, I feel more energetic and healthy than I have felt in my many years on low-fat diets! I am never hungry, never craving foods in between meals, don't need as much sleep as I used to. Generally I feel awesome! What I would urge you to do whether you are open to low-carb diets or not is to check out OTHER books! Unfortunately Atkins is the most well known adherent of this diet, and his hostile and commercialized persona does is cause a disservice. But there are many other MUCH better books out there. In particular I would highly recommend "Protein Power" or "The Protein Power Lifeplan" by Dr.'s Michael and Mary Eades. These books are well organized even with summaries at the end of each chapter! They are level-headed, detailed in terms of the science and physiology, and refreshingly admit to not knowing all the answers and even being wrong sometimes! They also emphsize healthy choices for your carbs like veggies as opposed to cheese, something Atkins does not do at all. I'm always dismayed reading reviews of people who vehemently put down these diets simply because they are not "politically correct." Unless you've been on such a diet yourself for at least a month or so, or know others who have been, don't spout the standard line about how these diets are dangerous fads or crazy theories. The whole idea behind fat and cholesterol being factors in causing obesity, heart disease etc. (as opposed to insulin levels as suggested by low-carb diets) is simply a hypothesis itself, and one that has never been proven despite many studies.
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Summary: This book changed my life!
Review: I lost 40 lb. in 3 months thanks to Dr. Atkins. And I've kept this weight off for a little over year now without effort. The change in metabolism is a bit tough to handle the first few weeks of the diet. And my cholesterol went up for the first couple of months but eventually plunged to new lows. My triglycerides are now rock bottom too. My long term digestive problems are gone. My bad knees and bad back have mended. And my hypoglycemic episodes (periodic shakes) are gone too. I find it much easier and more fun to take my exercise daily. And I now feel more positive and energetic than I have in years. The notion that you must eat only meat and cheese on this diet has been over inflated by Atkins critics. One I reached my goal weight I gradually reintroduced carbs to the point of balance. And I must say that I am having more fun eating lobster, fried eggs, bacon, pate, exotic cheeses, flax seed and/or olive oils, protein shakes, macadamias, walnuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, almonds, almond butter, almond flour pancakes with splenda sweetened maple syrup, various berries, sugar free cheese cake, low-carb chocolate candy bars et. al. than I was eating green salads, celery sticks, boiled fish, pasta and potatoes. Thanks to Atkins I can actually go out to a restaurant now and eat a 'real' meal. I was on a low fat diet for years and did not not lose a pound. In fact, I was gradually gaining weight from year to year. I was also preoccupied with cravings for all of the foods that I was not allowed to have on a low fat diet. I find it much easier to stay on a low-carb diet because I've completely lost interest in all of the foods I am now supposed to avoid. I think that I've lost interest in food with high concentrations of carbohydrates because my body no longer uses carbs the way did before. And I believe that anybody who is obese and thinks that he or she cannot live without the bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes et. al. had better think again. Once I got beyond the difficult induction period, the Atkin's diet got very easy to do. I think Atkins is a hell of a lot more fun than the conventional low-fat alternative. I am healthier and stronger now than I've been since I was a teenager (I'm 48 now). And I owe it all to Dr. Atkins and this wonderful little book. Don't do what many others have done: Don't skim this book and walk away with half a notion of how it really works. Read it all and read it well!
Rating:
Summary: A life changing concept.
Review: I started the diet in January of 2000 after reading the book cover to cover. I combined the diet with a workout program of 3 days per week at the gym riding the stationary bike for 45 minutes each time, and doing a half hour of weights and stretches. After 4 months I lost 30% of my body fat, and a total of 15 lbs, and now I am at an ideal weight for my age, height, sex and body type and have never felt better physically. I also noticed that a sinus condition that I had been dealing with for the last two years virtually went away. THIS DIET WORKS, but you HAVE to read the book and do it EXACTLY as Dr. Atkins says, or you will not see the results that you want. There are so many misconceptions about this diet, but if naysayers would actually read the book, they would see that the diet does not say that you must eat only protein forever - it is only during the induction part. The reading is very easy to understand and Dr. Atkins uses many case studies to prove his point. Through his writing, I learned to look at products in the supermarket differently, and he is so right about sugar being in all of the fad diet food products. No wonder they don't work! I am happy to promote this diet and the book at any time, because nothing else ever worked as well as this for me.
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Summary: Losing Weight and Gaining a Sister
Review: This book has really changed my life. From being resigned to always being fat, I have now lost 44 pounds in ten weeks and I intend to lose 60 more to reach a weight of 160 lbs. I have done every diet there is but the end result has always been that I gain back more than I lost. Of course, being lazy hasn't helped. I don't exercise beyond taking a few walks each week. This diet is easily adaptable to your wants and tastes. I, for example, quickly realized that too much cream and bacon didn't sit well with me. As the diet does require fat however, I'll eat some hard cheese to compensate for that. Sometimes I miss a good spagetti meal, but I'll treat myself to one on my birthday and then continue with the diet. My sister is the one who started on the Atkins diet and told me about it. The funny thing is that we hadn't been on speaking terms for nearly two years, but this diet was so great she couldn't keep it to herself. When I also went on the diet, we started calling each other with recipe suggestions or just plain admiring each other with each pound we lost. I recommend dieting with someone else, it's a lot of fun. When I see fat people in the street, I want to grab them and tell them that they don't have to live with their fat but that it's easy to lose. Even for lazy, non-exercising people like myself. I would probably have lost more weight, but I meet my friends at bars a couple of nights a week when I drink several glasses of wine. Drinking wine will put the weight loss on hold but not make you gain. Beer is a no-no. Finally I want to say that not everyone does succeed on this diet. I have another sister who is also on the diet. She lost 7 pounds and then stopped losing no matter what she did and however stringently she followed the diet and all suggestions regarding a weight loss plateau. She has given up on Atkins. Good luck to all dieters!
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Summary: Basically we are carnivores so what's wrong with that?
Review: I was sceptical of this diet as I have been of all diets, but I have a sedentary occupation and I don't exercise "the way I should" as people are constantly telling me (admonishments from the very people who also don't exercise as they should!). Well now, I've just had a LONG talk with my physician who is very concerned about my weight (over 100 lbs. what I should be) and at my age (nearly 62) this is NOT a good thing: heart problems, high blood pressure, potential diabetes, back problems, etc., all could kick in at any time, and a few already have. So this is how my doc explained dieting to me, and it makes sense to me: Look at animals. The herbivores are constantly eating AND running. Zebras, for instance, are herbivores and they eat a LOT of grass, are always eating, but they are running all the time, either from real predators or imagined predators. Zebras eat a lot of veggies, BUT they also EXERCISE a lot (all that running). On the other hand, the carnivores (lions, leopards) only run when they are trying to catch food (e.g.: zebras!). When carnivores aren't capturing food what do they do? They relax! They lie about under trees and sleep, play with their kids, and sort of go on vacation. Now, if we apply this example to people we have the carnivores who are sedentary, but who are also eating way too much carbohydrate which turns into fat, so we get fatter. If we try to become a herbivore we still continue to get fat because the carbohydrates herbivores need also turns into FAT. What to do? Atkins to the rescue! He says: turn OFF the carbohydrates and become a carnivore. Meats and stalk and leaf vegetables will get us (and KEEP us!) THIN. Following his plan also has this wonderful benefit: NO hunger pangs! All the pseudo-herbivores on high carb/low fat diets are hungry almost all the time, and they are still getting fat, while all us low carb/high fat & high protein diet carnivores are getting slimmer and feeling no pain! Hummm.... Sounds like a plan. I say, those who are already skinny can scoff. Those who want to stay fat can remain herbivores, and hungry herbivores at that. Personally, I'm a carnivore and I like being a carnivore! A THIN carnivore!
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Summary: For long term, try the 40-30-30, or Zone diet, instead
Review: I have mixed feelings about this. Atkins is a low maintenance, easy to follow diet to lose some quick pounds for the short term. It is not a fad diet, but it borders on it! But this diet is not a long term way to eat, and there is no detailed or scientific procedure like Barry Sear's Zone book states. Atkins was the pioneer in making high protein diets popular and somewhat effective and easy to follow, and his book is still great reading. Barry Sears book, though, is more up to date, scientific, healthy, and meant as a long term health plan. Barry sears book is more quantitative, emphasizes healthy foods, and explains why a certain carbo/protein balance is necessary for long term health. It is tougher to follow and requires more dicipline, but it is worth it, believe me! Once you get the drift of the zone and read the book carefully, it is actually easier to follow than Atkins!
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Summary: I lost 48 lbs. and feel G-R-E-A-T!
Review: The program works. Like most, I was leary about all the fat in this diet. Then I realized that the fat that I was carrying around was a lot more dangerous.I enjoy the program. Wake up to eggs and bacon. Eat burgers and cheese, macadian nuts, cream cheese, fish and lots more.My skin is tight. My nails are great. My husband has trimmed 7 inches off his waist. No more potbelly and more energy and vitality than I have seen in nearly a decade. I have lost in all the major fat accumulation areas. My hair looks healthy again (I am a 40-something year old) and have more energy than I had in my teens.Aside from the the recipes in the book, I also took some supplements including a herbal product.I have tried the High carb/fiber diets. They didn't work for me. Just bloated me.This is the best. People tell me I look about 10 years younger (attests to the value of protein)Disregard the negative remarks. If everyone agreed, then I would be worried.If I can be of help, let me know.Feel free to e-mail me @winningimage2@webtv.net
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Summary: The diet for a long lifetime
Review: I am a research scientist and began the Atkins diet on June 13, 1998, when I was 43. I began it because I was feeling old -- tired, sleeping my life away. And as a research scientist (Ph.D Biochemistry) the diet was and is sound. I have never been happier or healthier, and my medical doctor can confirm this. Overall, I lost about 30 pounds and developed a strong, muscular, lean body (and I wear a women's size 8 and am 5'10"). But the body was not the issue. What was important to me was that I no longer felt old, no longer "groggy" after meals and in fact became full of energy, and happy. My colleagues wanted to know my secret and I shared what I know. We now have a sizable group following Atkins that includes my husband, children, mom, dad, and various colleagues and friends. My bother-in-law who was newly diagnosed as a diabetic started Atkins, and has had normal blood sugar levels without medication for over 18 months. The simpliest way to understand the Atkins diet is to understand that your body is composed of protein which needs to be constantly renewed. Your body cannot synthesize 20 amino acids that are the structural element of proteins. Therefore, you must eat proteins to build a strong and healthy body. Carbohydrates serve as "energy" fuel, but so does excess protein and fat. Humans have not evolved to be able to handle the excessive amounts of sugar (carbohydrates) presnt in a diet of jumbo muffins, candy, cake, ice cream, soda pop and so on. Atkins doesn't impose restrictions on the amount of fat and protein you can consume because those foods are self-limiting. People who can eat a quart of ice cream in one sitting cannot eat a quart of bacon grease. People who can eat a pound of chocolate in one sitting cannot eat a pound of steak. This is a diet for a lifetime
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