Hi all,

I believe I have an important warning for newbies who are of the mind-set "if low carb is good NO carb is BETTER!!!!!"

I have been low carbing for 7 months and am pleased with the results. My adult son decided to try it. He told me he had started and how much weight he was losing. I asked him if he was doing it right and told him how important it was to follow the rules.

Well, if you have ever watched Charlie Brown shows you will understand what I mean when I say I'm sure he only heard Wah Wah Wah.

I had to rush to Florida because Mom had a heart attack. While I was there my son was rushed to the hospital after passing out. After ruling out a heart attack the testing began to find out the reason. The only thing they could find was vitamin deficiencies and a minor sugar elevation.

I asked him while he was in there if he had had eaten an excess of sugar....natural or manufactured and he said...."not really". Which to a Mother means Yes because that was a simple yes or no question.

When I returned I found out from a mutual friend that for a month and a half he had eaten nothing but meat and cheese. Than (as expected) he went off the wagon and absolutly went on a huge 2 day binge....and I'm talking huge.......carbs....sugar.......beer.....

I was sooooooo disgusted with him. It is people like him who give Atkins a bad name.

Sorry this is so long and I hope anyone who is trying to NO carb will take the warning. ONE CANNOT SUSTAIN NO CARB!!!!! YOU WILL EVENTUALLY CAVE IN TO THE NATURAL BODY CRAVINGS AND THE RESULTS MAY NOT BE PRETTY!!!!!!!

Please please please follow the plan.....Get the book....GET INFORMED!!!!!!!

Live well Love much Laugh often
Started June 25 2003
235/178/160

Becki

[This message was edited by beak on 02-03-04 at 05:36 AM.]

Good Post Becki! All i can add is that your son should have been taking a multivitamin. Especially with induction level carbs (or less).

Rob
310/230.5/180

Me, a skeptic? I trust you have proof.

VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC! thanks for posting.

I wrote an article for the next issue of Low Carb Living Magazine called "Beyond Carbphobia" which addresses this topic. I interviewed Dr. Trager, who is the chairman of the Atkins Physician's Council, and I think you'll find his quotes very revealing on this topic! (Can't tell what they are, I sign an agreement that I won't use the material from my articles anywhere else.)

But I can say this: EAT EVERY CARB YOU CAN AND STILL LOSE WEIGHT AND BE IN CONTROL OF CARB CRAVINGS! It's not only the secret to long term success on the diet, it's the best way to ensure that you stay healthy.

And HEALTH is the goal - not just weight loss, eh?

LCandrea

Wow! What a great post. So many people are of the mind set, less is better. I think we get this from being on many low calorie diets through out our lives.
Reading the book is key to success, but also following the books guidelines are very important!

Thanks for sharing your son's story.

Good luck all!!
Seesko




242/232/135

"What my mind can envision; my body can master!"

Thanks for posting your story.
I hope your son's OK.



Always eat your veggies first!
LCE member since March 2002

becki, i really hope your son is doing OK. thanks so much for sharing this with us - it's a VERY important message!

Becki, this was a very critical issue to point out, and thank you for that!!!! I don't know how many times I have posted: "This is LOW carb, NOT NO CARB!!!!"

So many people make the mistake that less is better, just as they make the mistake that more meds might be better, and get themselves in trouble.

Excellent!!!!!

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


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

THanks Becki for the great post...

It amazes me how many comments I receive from family members and co-workers, giving me advise about how Atkins said its okay to eat, blah blah blah..... When I ask if they have read the book the answer is always NO. They are basing all their information from the MEDIA.

I personally am so thankful that I did my research and found this web site.

I hope your son recovers.... Thanks again for reaffirming the importance of eating CARBS...

Kimberly
Started Atkins 10/31/2003

Thanks all for the concern. Just wanted to add my son is fine other than having a sore butt from my kicking it!!!!! (they are never too old). For fear of my post being too long I didn't even add that he was taking NO vitamins and not drinking any water!!!!!!! sigh. He told me he thought his leg cramps were just normal life and not a result of his diet. Be assured when he starts again he will be doing it right!!!!!

Live well Love much Laugh often
Started June 25 2003
235/178/160

Becki

Don't be too upset with him. I am guessing he has learned a valuable lesson: LISTEN TO YOUR MOM!
But this is a definite wake up call to all wanna-be low carbers. READ THE BOOK, DO IT RIGHT. I hear all the time people saying, "That diet can't be good for you, especially if you can't have fruits and vegetables." HELLO??? I CAN! It kind of makes you crazy!
anyway, I hope he's ok, and just give him an extra helping of love (and a copy of the book.)

Heather
181/158.4/140
atkins 8/5/03 (off Thanksgiving 2003-Jan 12, 04)

OH Becki, now I'm REALLY flabbergasted...........NO WATER?????????? YIKES!!!!! Give him a swift one in the rear for me too!!!!!!

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


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

It could be the lack of water causing problems more than the zero-carb/binge thing.

I've passed out (several gray-outs and one black-out) while low-carbing. The one blackout was after half a beer.

The doctor told me that it was from postural hypotension. Low-carbing can dehydrate you. Combine that with some other factors like a hangover and you might have problems.

If you feel a gray-out coming on, the best thing to do is bend over at the waist. You can also try clenching your abdominal muscles.

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."

Ah yes youth! A time of being omniscient and bullet-proof. I seem to recall those days and for me it was the liquid protein diet. Unfortunately the parent is almost never the one to get through. Get his doctor to have a heart to heart with him. Any chance of getting a LC friendly doc??

I do wish you all well. Hopefully some lessons have been learned.

Rave
232/169/130
57yo. 5'2"
Started Atkins 6/1/02

man, what a lesson. i think its important that anyone thinking of starting reads this to remind them of how important it is to get that 20.

Sarah
159/148/135

Becki,

I am so glad your son is okay! Very important message for the rest of us to keep in mind!

From a Sandusky, OH resident
Working in North Olmsted, OH

Valerie, 35
DH Shaun 37
DD Madison 2
DS Jackson 11 month
Weakness? CHOCOLATE!

5'4" - LC 7/1/03
243(preggo)/216 (prepreggo)/202/145 goal

"I plan on living forever. So far, so good!"

"Brain cells come and go, but fat cells live forever!"