After watching Dr. Phil and his crew slam the low carb/ Atkins diet today on t.v., I am very confused. Since I am new to the low carb way of life, I would like to hear some other opinions. Have any of you seen the show? One of the experts said the Atkins diet fools you into thinking you are losing fat, while you are only losing water weight. Dr. Phil, numerous times, expressed his concern about low carb dieting. He spoke about how our brains need half of our caloric intake from carbohydrates in order to think. He was against all fad diets, but seemed to focus on low carb as being the worst. What do you all think? Thanks, Joanna

Hi Joanna!

What I think is that he's trying to sell his sugar laden diet bars and another book or two.

You'll no doubt get other opinions here, and there's another thread discussing the same issue here other Dr. Phil thread

(50 pounds of water gone forever!)

Maggie
5'1" ~~ Atkins since '98 (160+)
Maintaining nicely (110 +/-)
~~ Redhead until further notice!

That lady in England who lost 309 pounds low carbing must not have realised she was carrying around so much water!! Wow!

Atkins since 11/11/03

140/133/115

I just responded to this same question in another thread, so I'm just going to copy and paste that reply.

Jul, I understand your concern, but just because Dr. Phil said it doesn't make it correct. He's a psychologist, not a medical doctor, and evidently misunderstands the basic physiology of nutrition.

The brain does not need carbohydrates to fuction, the brain needs glucose. Every thing you eat, be it protein, fat or carbs, is turned to glucose by the body. EVERTHING. Not carbs exclusively or even primarily -it's all the same. If the body doesn't produce enough glucose, then the brain uses ketones. Well guess what kind of diet is the best for producing ketones?

There are all kinds of studies supporting this fact. Here's just one: Amiel, S.A., "Organ Fuel Selection: Brain," The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 54(1), 1995, pages 151-155.

If you are really concerned, I'd suggest you email the Dr. Phil show and ask for some documentation supporting his statement. I can pretty much gaurantee you that there is no medically recognized study that does.

And if you're still concerned, there are other low carb food plans, like the Zone that don't restrict you carb intake as much as Atkins does.


Here's another supporting statement:
"The process of fat metabolism produces ketones, which are used as a source of energy. Ketones are particularly important for the brain. When glucose is not available, the brain turns to the alternative energy source of ketones. Ketosis (elevated ketone levels in the blood) is normal during fasting, after prolonged exercise and when a high-fat diet is consumed."

Mitchell, G.A., Kassovska-Bratinova, S., Boukaftane, Y., et al., "Medical Aspects of Ketone Body Metabolism," Clinical and Investigative Medicine, 18(3), 1995, pages 193-216.

Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002

Thanks Maggie..I read the other thread......and Jen....lol...hahhaha Peace, Joanna

Brightlady, I am debating whether to email Dr. Phil or not. I wish I was more "aware" on the chemistry of it. I would love to see you or another low carb expert debate him (Dr. Phil) on the issue. Sometimes he has people on who do not agree with him. Thanks, Joanna

I saw that show and was irritated with Dr. Phil's comments. He is usually right on. I used his keys to overcome emotional eating and damaging self talk so I can stick to the Adkins plan. I believe he has not researched the facts of what really happens when you switch to burning fat for fuel. The examples he used on the show to demonstrate the danger of LCE was people that basically stopped eating. DUH! Because of insulin resistance I cannot control my cravings on low fat diets. On Adkins I can. Yes I could go without food because my appetite is so suppressed but that is missing the point of health. Adkins has given me the control so I can eat to live and enjoy doing so. Dr. Phil's philosphy on what to eat is not appropriate for everyone.

Yes, Kerry, I agree, and did you notice that after dissing low carbs the suggested menu for the day his staff rolled out looked like it was taken from an Atkin's recipe book. lol...peace, joanna

As I've always said... the best way to show people Atkins works is to SHOW PEOPLE THAT ATKINS WORKS. Just lose weight and when people ask what you did, lay it out!!! LOW CARB RULES!!!!

Bon (AKA Hopeful in Hollywood)
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

I love Dr. Phil dearly, but he's missing the boat on his "Weight Loss Challenge." I e-mailed him a while ago and never got a response. He is just trying to sell his book and his sugary bars. He disses all other plans, but his is a PLAN TOO!!! It just irks me to no end. I have lost 30 lbs (of water?, I don't think so) doing low carb. I eat meat, veggies, some fruit, nuts, fiber, low carb breads and NOOOOOOOOOOO sugar. One of his "experts" was talking about eating balanced and lots of veggies and getting fiber. They are also low-fat proponents. Sorry Dr. Phil........I am LOVING my sour cream, cream cheese, whipped cream and butter. I could not do this if I couldn't have those things. I still follow his "Weight Loss Challenge" on TV but am often swearing at him in the telly. GRRRRRRRRR!!! Don't even get me started!!!!

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144.8/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

I'm in this boat too. I used to call Dr Phil my new best friend but boy has he ever messed up since this weight loss challange. I got so mad at him one day I just wanted to fly out there and punch him. That was the day they had the physical challenge and that poor woman ( the heaviest one) was being ridiculed by some of the others because she couldn't finish one of the challenges.I was appalled that Dr Phil let this go on like it did. He never did go to her rescue. I got my exercise that day from running around in my living room ranting and raving about how they were making her feel. If I could have put my .o2 in I would have had them strap 200 more pounds on the other ones back and see how many squats they could do then. Needless to say I lost a lot of respect for him that day. He could have stopped that. That was the point when I decided YES he too is in it for the money just like all these other ones that promise us the moon and deliver nothing. Ranting over, sorry. Anita

Isn't Dr, Pill about 20lb over weight?

Or do we just get old programmes in the UK.

I ask because the last time I seen him on the TV he had three chins.

BigLez Soon to be Littlelez

If you have never made a mistake then you've done nothing

I haven't been paying much attention to Dr. Phil's latest publicity stunt--the weight loss challenge--because I've been enjoying the LC lifestyle for a year now, and never felt better.

My two cents here? That recent studies suggest or demonstrate (nothing gets "proven" as far as I'm concerned) that including fats in the diet is very important. Of course, "good" fats (eg. olive oil) are supposedly better than "bad" fats (the stuff on an expensive steak). But human beings can't sustain a low-fat or almost-no-fat diet successfully or healthfully over time.

Anyone pursuing Atkins, or any other low-carb plan discussed on this site, learns a lot about balanced nutrition. Ultimately, the only things absent from the program are sugar, refined flour, trans-fats, and junk. No one, not even Dr. Phil, can quarrel with that.

I'm sorry, too, that he succumbed to the Big Bucks lure of America's obsession with fatness. I suppose many people will benefit from the plan he suggests--at least for a while.

Barb L.
Started Atkins January 2003
162/137/130

Welcome to a wonderful way of life Joanna.

You will have people make all kinds of negative comments about eating LC. Like Bon said we have to show them that it works. I had a coworker who was always telling me how unhealthy I was eating (the funny thing is she was telling me this while I was eating salad and she was eating a starchy school lunch). She finally admitted that I was looking good.

About Dr. Phil. I am different from lots of people because I have never liked him. I think he is very "full-of-himself". I also do not think he treats people with respect. I say this from only watching him a couple of times. I agree that he is trying to make money from his diet plan. Like Les says he is overweight. Maybe he should try his diet .

I am eating healthier now. I eat veggies, meat, some fruits, but I do not normally eat the sugar loaded foods I was eating before LC. How can giving up sugar and white flour be unhealthy?

Good luck to you.

BTW, I have loss 35 pounds of water .


Susan ( AKA Northwest)
207/172/160/
size 16/12/8
LC since 4/03

Hey Susan, with all that water we've lost I'm surprized we weren't sloshing around like water balloons,

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144.8/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER