Purpose of Study: To determine whether 12 weeks of exercise enables extra grams of carbohydrate to be eaten without resulting in weight gain.



Participant qualifications:



1) You have lost at least 12 lb on the Atkins diet.

2) Your weight has remained stable for at least 3 months.

3) You are between 18 and 65 years old.

4) You take no prescription medications.

5) You have never been diagnosed with heart disease and you have no symptoms of heart disease (eg. chest pain), nor with lung disease and you experience no wheezing, etc.

6) You do not have a regular exercise regimen.



Description of Study:



ELITE Health & Wellness is located at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. You would need to visit us 3 times during the study (pre, and wks #6 & 12). Each participant will walk (or jog) 4 times per week for ~45 min for 12 weeks at home or at your health club.



We will loan you a heart rate watch to count the 350 calories you will burn during each workout.



We will give you 50 grams of carbohydrate to eat (above and beyond your normal meals!) within one hour after finishing your workout. Also, you will take a total of 9 urine ketone tests with test strips before and during the 12 weeks.



During your initial visit you will undergo: 1) a brief screening physical exam, 2) a treadmill stress test, 3) skin thickness measurements for body fat estimation, 4) a blood draw (comprehensive metabolic panel, and 5) a one-hour explanation of diet logs and your exercise program.



During your week #6 and 12 visits you will have body fat and weight measurements taken. We will contact you during weeks #1, 3 and 9 to answer questions and monitor compliance.



If you are interested, please contact Dr. Dan Moser at ELITE Health and Wellness at MoserD@PAHosp.com. Study participation costs you nothing except a little time and travel.



This study was approved by the University of Pennsylvania Institutional Review Board. Investigators include Gary Dorshimer, MD, FACP, Daniel Moser, PhD, Garath Maenpau, MD, and Stuart Trager, MD.