I’m trying to lose some weight and someone told me to go on the atkins diet. Personally I’m a little concerned about it. My younger brother playes football for his high school and whenever he needs to lose weight in a hurry he goes the atkins route. The problem is he never stays on it and his weight jumps right back up. I want to lose some weight but, I don’t want to go up and down like that. Does anyone know if the atkins diet is safe or is my brother just unable to stay on the diet?
Your awareness of the need to be fit is commendable. My answer comes from my experience as a professional health care provider (holistic), as well as my success in Weight Watchers. I’ve worked with thousands of patients, and witnessed people trying different "diets." That’s the key: A diet doesn’t work (is also unsafe), because it’s not conducive to daily living. While your brother is probably too young to be interested in Weight Watchers, I recommend it over any diet. With Atkins in particular, I’ve known patients long enough who started enthused (given the advertising and success stories, after all), but ended up disillusioned. You might start with Weight Watchers, which teaches us how to live wisely, in a way that’s enjoyable and doable. Your brother might be inspired by you. My husband and I each dropped 35 pounds in 6 months (7 years ago). Despite wobbles, we’ve kept most of it off. We followed the program, though, including attending meetings until we met our goal (although you can continue longer), for support and healing emotions that inevitably surface as fat ceases to cover them. I’ve included a blog about my experience, in case that might help you. Best wishes (and let us know how you do).
March 10th, 2010 at 1:34 am
Your awareness of the need to be fit is commendable. My answer comes from my experience as a professional health care provider (holistic), as well as my success in Weight Watchers. I’ve worked with thousands of patients, and witnessed people trying different "diets." That’s the key: A diet doesn’t work (is also unsafe), because it’s not conducive to daily living. While your brother is probably too young to be interested in Weight Watchers, I recommend it over any diet. With Atkins in particular, I’ve known patients long enough who started enthused (given the advertising and success stories, after all), but ended up disillusioned. You might start with Weight Watchers, which teaches us how to live wisely, in a way that’s enjoyable and doable. Your brother might be inspired by you. My husband and I each dropped 35 pounds in 6 months (7 years ago). Despite wobbles, we’ve kept most of it off. We followed the program, though, including attending meetings until we met our goal (although you can continue longer), for support and healing emotions that inevitably surface as fat ceases to cover them. I’ve included a blog about my experience, in case that might help you. Best wishes (and let us know how you do).
References :
http://kitchentablehealing.wordpress.com/2008/02/11/our-return-to-weight-watchers/
http://www.weightwatchers.com/index.aspx
March 10th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Atkins is effective as far as weight loss goes, I’ve been doing Atkins since January and have lost 20 lbs, but I loose weight very slowly and I’ve been on and off the diet a bunch of times since then. My husband can loose up to 25 lbs in 1 month on Atkins. HOWEVER…. Atkins is not to be played around with, since you will be eating a lot of protein and fat your cholesterol will go up (the bad one) if you don’t stick to it and do it right – so take it seriously if you decide to follow this diet. I have to give Atkins credit for reversing my non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the 6 months that I’ve been on it, and I’ve also been able to keep the weight off by not eating that many carbs and calories. I still have no bread and pasta or chips or sugary stuff in my pantry. I’m off the diet now, and I’m keeping the weight off – although I haven’t reached my goal weight. Most of the "scary quick" bounce back from Atkins comes from water retention, the moment you go back to eating carbs the body holds more water in (glycogen cells or something), so drink lots of water and things like hibiscus (jaimaica) and green tea (home brewed), with splenda of course.
Truth is ANY DIET WILL WORK if you follow thru with it all the way to the end and modify your eating habits FOR LIFE!!! Otherwise… even with weight watchers (which I’ve also been on) the weight will come back. You go back to eating the way that got you fat in the first place and you go back to being fat. Simple as 2 plus 2.
Just eat less, watch your calories, increase your excercise, everything in moderation is the key. Portion control, you control your portions and you automatically control your calories. And steer away from fatty starchy greasy unhealthy sugary foods.
References :