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Summary: Secrets that Coke and McDonalds don't want you to know
Review: Finally, another researcher woke up and reached "nutritionist-enlightment". Ever since Micheal Montignac in France discovered that sugar combined with fat causes fat-storage, I've been waiting for someone to pick up on this in US for years. I know many people in US that are extra-overweight, and when I tell them to quit eating sugar and starch to lose weight, I always get blank stares. "So what else am i supposed to eat?". The scientific truth behind this theory is so simple that it troubles people; they look for harder solutions, like running every day, or counting calories. Hopefully this book teach the basics right. Also, I think every anti-sugar book like this should also include a list of recipes so that people see the alternative; there is marvellous and "safe" food besides french fries, calzone, pizza and spaghetti. Not surprisingly, a kitchen with all sugar and starch removed will come amazingly close to French, Turkish or Asian kitchen, after all this is how our ancestors ate hundreds years ago; and they weren't fat.
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Summary: Couldn't get through the induction period
Review: I needed to lose about 20 pounds mid-life weight so, about 6 months ago, I gave this diet a try. I found the induction period too difficult. I was nauseated, tired, headachy and could not even muster enough energy for my daily walks, plus I was constantly craving carbs. Neverless, I did lose about 5 pounds and think Atkins could work for people who are extremely insulin resistant. I have since followed the guidelines from the book "The Schwarzbein Principle" and found this eating plan much more suitable. This plan is similar to Atkins but allows some carbs and unlimited non-starch vegtables. I've have lost weight with such, but more important, I feel great and do not suffer the mood swings and carb cravings that have plaqued me in the past. I highly recommend it.
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Summary: Lost inches and gained strength
Review: 9-06-99 is my 14th day of being on the diet. After the initial weightloss which was mostly water as Atkins himself says will happen I have lost just a few pounds. However, I weight train with heavy weights with a personal trainer 4 times a week. Since muscle weighs more than fat I figure that is why scale wise I do not show a huge drop, but it has been about 7lbs. I have lost 2 inches on my upper thighs and 2 inches on my hips. I love this way of eating and going out with friends to eat has never been a problem. My favorite quick food is now egg, tuna or chicken salad with cheddar cheese wrapped in a lettuce leaf. Thanks Doc!
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Summary: Nothing new
Review: Actually, this diet is nothing new to dieticians and exercise scientists. It works through the same method as other diets--that being lowered calories. Wrestlers and bodybuilders have using this diet secret for years. The reason you are not hungry on this diet is because proteins and fats are broken down slower by the digestive system and therefore stay in the gut much longer than carbs. The less hungry you are, the less you eat. And you also lose a tremendous amount of water on this diet. One gram of carbs holds 3 grams of water, so the more carbs you don't eat, the more water weight you will lose. The lack of carbs also contributes to the leveling off of blood sugar levels, leaving you with more energy. Does this mean that carbs are evil? No. Carbs are OK if taken in moderation. But carbs are so readily available that MOST people overeat them. If this diet works for you, good! But Atkins did not create this diet. He just commercialized it. This diet has been around for years but has really only been used by elite athletes, bodybuilders, and personal trainers with their "hollywood" clients. I have used this diet with clients and it has been a trade secret for a long time.
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Summary: GREAT, and not just for weight loss!
Review: Like most of the people reviewing this book, I'm really pleased to be losing weight: 9 pounds (4 kgs)so far. But because I started it to combat sugar sensitivity/fungal infection, however, it has been anything but easy. I've had the headaches, body aches, dizziness of withdrawal. Everything's relative, though. It's the first time in 6 years of struggling with my sugar intake that I've really been able to control my eating habits. Until I read this book, I didn't realise that all those non-sugary carbohydrates were part of my problem, too. I'm astonished to find myself quite effortlessly saying, "No thanks; I can't/don't eat that." One thing you should be aware of on a high-protein diet like this, however, is a possible problem with excess uric acid, a by-product of digesting protein. I find I have to keep reminding myself to drink enough water all the time to avoid symptoms of dehydration. Don't miss Atkins' warning that this diet is NOT for people who are pregnant or have kidney problems. For anyone else out there with chronic fungal/candida/sugar-craving problems: READ THIS BOOK!
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Summary: Dangerous
Review: A decade ago, I tried Dr. Atkins' diet and followed it religously for six months. I sucessfully maintained a state of ketosis about 90% of the time. Sure, I lost an incredible amount of weight, but I was sick most of the time while I was on it... headaches, shakiness, sweats... and as soon as I discontinued the diet, the weight came back with a vengeance. It may work for some people, but it is CRITICALLY IMPORTANT that you consult a doctor or nutritionist before you try it. Ketosis is a very dangerous metabolic state and the weight loss results are temporary.
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Summary: very easy to read
Review: well its sept 2nd and im starting the diet again after being off of it for a whole year and gaining back 25 pounds,i lost weight very quickly on atkins last time,however this time i will be cutting out all the bacon and greasy fatty foods and try to stick with lean chicken and turkey....i will give an update in 14 days wiithwillndsgained back ingae
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Summary: Hey, has anyone out there checked their cholesterol lately?
Review: In January of '99 I had a complete blood work up. My total cholesterol was 230. Three weeks ago I began the Atkins diet. I loved it. Any why not? I got to eat cheese and meat ad nauseum (and I was frequently nauseated). Last week I had anothrt blood work-up: My cholesterol had skyrockerted nearly 50 points to 279! Now, as a rational human being I realize that only three weeks of the Atkins diet could not have been responsible for that huge jump in total cholesterol...but it sure as hell didn't help. Watch yourselves out there, folks. And have your cholesterol checked!
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Summary: odd timing
Review: Why haven't people figured this out before now? This is the only diet that's worked for me, and I'm not going to waste your time with yet another testimony, so on to my point: mankind has been around for a fairly long time, and now there are billions of us, and we're just now figuring out how to easily lose weight? What's the deal here? This diet COULD have been figured out centuries ago with a bit of trial and error, it seems to me. I find this bizarre. Bruce Mihura
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Summary: This diet flies in the face of current norms - and it works!
Review: Before I read this book, I'd been eating low-fat foods for several years, and was gaining weight steadily. I was always hungry and constantly eating. I craved high-carbohydrate foods. On the Weight Watchers 1-2-3 Success plan, I could only lose 1/2 pound a week, and it was excruciatingly difficult. The slightest mistake, and I was back up several pounds. I was skeptical about the material in Dr. Atkins' book - his writing was anything but concise, and I had a hard time believing what he said. Now I've been on the induction diet for 2 weeks, and I've already lost 9 pounds. Finally, I have the incentive I need not to cheat. And it's true what he says about hunger. I am hardly ever hungry! I was addicted to carbohydrates, and now I feel normal again. No more uncontrollable eating sprees for me.
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