Happened to tune in to Dateline Sunday evening, and caught the results of their 10-month diet challenge.

High school classmates facing their 25th reunion embarked on six different diet programs: intense exercise (marathon training), Slim Fast, hypnosis, Weight Watchers, Atkins, and a personal trainer-led fitness and nutritional program.

Guess who lost the most weight, at 108 lbs!! The Atkins guy! He seemed to be the happiest, too--and the most likely to continue the program. We'll have to wait a few months for the follow-up, but my money is still on Atkins.

The marathon training gal won the competition, for sheer determination. She finished the Maui marathon in 5 hours and 22 minutes. As the veteran of a single marathon (1979, four hours and seventeen minutes) I can vouch for her commitment. I got pretty skinny that year, but I'm in much better overall health right now.

Hope you are feeling good about yourself and your program as you start a new year!

Best wishes!

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

Thanks, I had saw the preview and wanted to watch it, but forgot all about it. Last time I saw it a few months back, they were all doing good, even the guy that was hypnotized.

261/226/215?
(recently re-joined, Started Atkins on 6/12/03)

I caught it too. I missed the very last few minutes when they were giving them that group interview because somebody knocked on the door.

It was a good show. The Atkins diet sounded very easy, which it is, although I wish they would have mentioned vegetables a little more. The guy was bragging about eating six burgers at a time for dinner! I'm all for doing that when you're that hungry, but it might have given some people the wrong impression.

**************
"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."

Yes, the Atkins info was (as usual) a bit misleading. It also sounded like the guy stayed on induction the whole time--limiting himself to 20 carbs.

If I recall correctly, he was also the guy who gave up a habit of 16-18 beers a day. Yes, you read that right. I'm surprised he wasn't much bigger to start with--or maybe dead already.

If he discovers low-carb beer, he may be in trouble once again.

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

Yep. I caught most of it. The Atkins Guy beat everybody hands down (108lbs). He was the only one you did not see complaining (i.e. SlimFast). I was surprised the "hypnotized" guy did so well. They did show that the Atkins Guy was exercising which is good. They even showed where Atkins sent him a bunch of prepared meals (salads, etc). Gee, wonder where you can order those (wink!)?

Wolfman
Restarted Atkins 1-02-04
201/195/175

When I heard that, I thought, "Oh no, not the bars!!" I guess it was something closer to regular food, though.

I was worried he was going to find "low-carb" beer, too.

**************
"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."

I watched the show and it re-inforced my decision to re-start, re-induct today. After falling completely off the wagon the past 2 months, I had been wondering if Atkins was the right choice. I'm re-starting today with more determination then I ever had before.

01/04/04 (re-start)
205/204/140 5'5"
16/16/10

Good for you, nomi!

Atkins really is an easy plan to live with. The longer you spend on it, learning what foods you like and how to get them, the less it seems like a diet. Really!

I never eat bars, shakes, or low-carb baked goods either. Well, yes, I did make some low-carb muffins--but they weren't worth the trouble.

Eat good whole foods, and you'll be fine!

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

He did say that he wasn't sure if he was going to continue and that he was going to IHOP the next day. I hope he got right back on track.

BTW, on the Atkins Web site in the lower right hand section, there is an ad for Atkins meals delivered to your door.

181/174.5/135
Re-started Atkins 12/29/03

DH and I stumbled across that show right at the beginning! I was afraid it would be your typical Atkins-slamming show, and was glad to find it wasn't. I wish they'd showed more VEGGIES too, but at least they didn't diss it!

That poor woman and the marathon - geez! Her knee was not doing well and yet she insisted on running on it - I must be the world's biggest baby, but I'll be dam*ed if I'd do that to my body - I'd find a less-stressful way to exercise!

I enjoyed the show overall. I said to DH, "Yeah, but they ought to revisit these folks in a year and see where they all are!" when they announced that WAS what they were planning to do - now that ought to tell the tale!

Char

Don't squat with yer spurs on!

The reason that the Atkins people started sending this guy food was because all he was eating was meat basically, hardly any veggies. I guess they didnt want people to be mislead and that is why they started sending him the food. My impression was that this guy totally did not "get it". No wonder we get a bad rep! If I were Miss Anyone USA watching Dateline I'm sure I wouldnt be too impressed by just watching a guy eating meat all day. I wonder if he even read the book or if anyone suggested it?!?! Grrrr.... some people on T.V.

Carpe Diem!!!
Atkins since 8/15/03
5'4
231/194/155
Fiesty Red-Head

The Adkins company also wanted to make sure he was doing the plan correctly. He had a flair up of gout when he first started because he was eating mostly meat. I think they could have found a better follower of the Atkins' plan. Anybody checking on him in a year may see failure and say "See, we told you so."

Joyce

All the people in this challenge admitted that the main reason they stuck with it was having cameras following them around all the time! Would you want to fail on national tv??

For those of us responsible only to ourselves (and to the rest of our natural lives) LCE is a pretty good way of being "on camera"--with a very friendly audience at that. We love success stories here--and will encourage anyone who needs it at any time.

Maybe we should send Dateline a candidate list for their next challenge??

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