Hi,

I am a newbie here. I am a 30yr old male,5'10" 235lbs.

I have just started Atkins for a Month and have since lost 11lbs and 1 1/2" off my waistline. Is this an acceptable progress?

I have some questions to some problems that I m facing,maybe you have similar ones and could give me guidance:

Problems:
1) I have consulted my doctors with regards to Atkins, but they are not supportive of it, calling it "a Fad diet" and also saying that:'Dr Atkins died of Heart Attack and was Overweight". "A balance diet is a better way to loose weight." "Atkins will hurt your liver and kidneys"
Coming from a Professional source, I am concerned about their opnions.

Q: Since we have higher Protein intake, does it mean that our liver have to work harder to breakdown the unused protein to amino acids? These unwanted acids are removed as urea via our kidneys which is why we drink lots of water to aid this process. But what can we do to help our liver?


2) Recently I am starting to go to a local gym for workouts. And that I have come across a handful of muscle magazines* that is encouraging carb intake for energy source and protein for recovery. How can I then do a proper diet to meet such workout requirements? If I increase my workouts, does it mean I have to increase my carb intake? WOuldn't that compromise LC?


*PS: there are magazines that slams LC diet and still going on about lowering fats intake= weight loss.... of cos, I try to read those that supports low carb as a way of weight loss. These are the mags that i was refering to.

Welcome, Hunnster. I think your initial weight loss is wonderful - congratulations on your success!

It sounds like the people you spoke with are not very familiar with the science of nutrition; particularly how the endocrine system interacts with food. The endocrine system refers to the hormones created by your body, including those that impact metabolism of protein, fat, charbohydrate, and fiber. Insulin is one of the important hormones that affect metabolism and weight gain or loss. Eating lots of sugars (carbs) causes changes to the endocrine system, which can be very detrimental to one's health. There are numerous recent studies that have swayed many doctors into accepting low carb diets as an effective and safe way to lose weight.

I would strongly encourage you to read up on this. There are several different low carb plans, Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution being one of the best known. There are other doctors who have developed their own low carb eating plans: Dr. Eades, Drs. Heller, Dr. Schwartzbein are other well known physicians who have published books promoting low carb diets. There are two good books that give an overview of the different low carb plans. One is by Laura Richards' The Secret to Low Carb Success and another is Johnny Bowden's Living the Low Carb Life: From Atkins to the Zone.

Now, to give you my take on some of your questions.

Number 1, Dr. Atkins most definitely did ~not~ die of a heart attack. He fell on an icy sidewalk and hit his head. He died due to his head injury. This is a fact, and it is very well documented. So, someone is telling you a falsehood or speaking from ignorance.

I'm not in the medical profession, but I have never ever heard of anyone's liver being stressed by consumption of protein. Your body needs protein; it's essential to good health. A person with normal kidney function should have no problems eating protein, either.

If you are working out strenuously, you may well be able to increase your carb level. According to Dr. Atkins, everyone has an individual "Critical Carb Level" for losing weight. One person may find that level is low (30 net grams of carb per day); while another individual, especially an active male, may be able to lose at much higher carb levels (say, 75 to a 100 net grams of carb).

Remember, asking questions and learning how low carb diets work is the best thing you can do now. I'm sure others will contribute more info.

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

hunnster: there are MANY MANY MANY misconceptions about low-carb, and your first post here managed to name off several of the big ones. congratulations.

i would have to say that if you honestly and sincerely want to understand how atkins works and be able to discuss it intelligently with your doctor (or "doctors" or anyone at all for that matter), you simply MUST start by getting and reading the book, dr. atkins new diet revolution, which answers your questions much better than i ever could dream of, and clearly outlines how the plan works as well.

however, i would certainly never DREAM of telling anyone to disregard medical advice. perhaps if you came to actually understand how the way of eating works, you'd be in a better position to work together with your medical professionals to come up with a plan that works for you.

on acceptable progress i have only one question: are you happy? if so, then it's acceptable.

good luck to you.

__________________

EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

As with everything else, you will have to find exactly what will work for you -- but I have always worked out - and really got into strength training while I was into the LC lifestyle

the beginning weeks were tough as my body was getting used to burning fat for fuel and not carbs --

I found i gained great strengths while lifting and eating LC

though one days when i hit the weights hard, I would up my carbs a bit in the afternoon so i didnt get sluggish and need/want a nap -- but my carbs of choice were grains (LC tortillas or high grained bread) or legumes (black beans) or a half of a yam

dont let all those Muscle mags sway your diet... you can read 10 different mags and get 10 different diet ratios (fat/protein/carbs)

hope this helps and good luck on your journey

__________________

My LC web site
LCE Member since 2000

There are many roads to a balanced, nutritious way of eating. Low-carb is one of them that many of us find helpful.

Dr. Atkins kicks off his plan with a restrictive two-week "induction" in order to establish a new metabolic activity in the body. Then it's time to move on to the next stage of the program.

As the plan progresses, it moves further and further towards what might be considered a more "balanced" consumption of healthy foods--with emphasis on fresh vegetables, fresh meats and fish, and healthy fats like olive oil and avocado.

Don't confuse yourself with other lifestyle recommendations. Body-builders (the readership of most "muscle magazines") are pursuing an entirely different goal than most of us, who are simply aiming to lose fat and keep it off as a lifetime commitment.

One popular substance we have in common with body-builders is protein powder. Whey or soy protein is a convenient, low-fat way of adding healthy protein to daily nutrition that some of us like. Look for Maggie's Cereal in the recipes, and check out the variations.

Best wishes.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

I strongly recommend you check this page:

http://atkins.com/why/debunking-the-myths.html

Please note that in each case, the position of Atkins is supported by science, not heresay or wishful thinking.

However, if your "doctors" are not supportive of Atkins, I don't clearly understand why you are doing it anway?

Thanks for all your comments and support!

I was reading Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution for a while and was a skeptic, I consulted my doctors, who sadly mentioned a few untrue points. As I spoke to a friend who started(and recommended) Atkins, and that I could see improvements in her health.

Eventually, I was thinking "what the heck, I am fat overweight and have hypertension. 1 month of diet can't kill me....what do i have to loose?"

And well after a week, I am a CONVERT! Never do I loose more than 4lbs in a month in my life and I was happy to loose 11lbs. Of cos, I had to work through not only my own determination on losing those addictive carbs(which sounds easier than it REALLY is) but also against skeptics who are believers of those fallacies that LCandrea mentioned in the link(thanks andrea).

Not too many people that I know have are well informed about the Atkins diet and that untaking the diet has given me a new lease of life in that I was more focused on my lifestyle and health.

You can imagine my graditude then now that I have found this site and people who have experience doing Atkins.

Once again thank you all for you kind encouragements and guidance.

Hunnster,
Glad you are doing so well! Welcome to LCE; there are lots of helpful folks here to guide you and help you along if you're in need...and who isn't, every once in a while?
11 lbs in a month is a great start...that averages out to be about 2.75 lbs a week and that's super! At some point your rate of loss may slow a bit, but just be patient with your new WOL( way of living)...you'll get there!

post often and let us know how you are doing!

Shelley

__________________
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Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

If you would like to check out Dr. Atkins Death Certificate here it is.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive...rgatkins1.html

Best wishes on your LC WOE and welcome to the boards,

ed

Hunter, welcome and congrads! I can so relate. I think I still have issues with how friend, family and coworker treated me when I told them I was "doin Atkins". I thank God for this group daily, without them I would have no support. I know one thing for sure Im at my best then Im "doing the program". I feel great, I look great, my outlook on everything is wonderful. My body has never been at a better place as it is when Im low carbing. Best of luck to you in whatever you do and come here often; I really believe the support you get here will be a great benefit.

__________________
If God is for me, who can be againist me?

July 21, 2003 - 246.7/214/155
Janurary 31, 2007 - 246.7/228.6/155
(Notice 246.7, again)

Welcome, Hunnster.

I dont have much to add but a welcome. There are many people more knowledgable than I about many things here but I do know that I felt great while doing Atkins and it helped me lower my blood pressure from a very scary number to one that is now back into the normal range.

I hate to admit but must that I fell off LC for a month but now am back in force. I lost a large amount of weight in the beginning so why would I quit this fabulous way of eating? Well, a lack of will power when faced with some odds.

So good luck and if you do slip don't let it destroy your progress (I had to come back before I ruined my own).

Those 11 pounds are something to be very proud of!

__________________
Noël


Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strengths.

ANY weight loss is acceptable. The rate, though frustrating because we want it all now, is irrelevant. If you are loosing weight, you WILL get to your goal weight at some point in time.

Congrats on your fabulous success to date and welcome.