Atkins

[karrieu]

I keep seeing stuff on the Atkins dieting while doing my research on diabetes. Is this a good diet? Is anyone on here on it now or have done it in the past? What were your results?

[ShottleBop]

The Atkins diet is a very low-carb diet. Many of us T-2s find that limiting our carb intake makes it much easier to keep our blood sugar levels within safe bounds, and many diabetics, whether T-1 or T-2, find that we lose weight (or can control our weight) more easily on a low-carb diet. Low-carb dieting, by reducing the number of carbs that someone on insulin has to bolus for at meals, can help control blood sugar much more tightly for someone on insulin, and, by reducing the amount of insulin needed, can generally be better for one's cardiovascular health.

Atkins produced one of the better-known low-carb diet programs. Dr. Richard Bernstein, himself a T-1, has devised a low-carb diet specifically geared at helping diabetics maintain their blood sugar at a level as nearly "normal" as possible. He has published both The Diabetic Diet and The Diabetes Solution. Much of the second one can be read for free, online, here (http://www.diabetes-book.com/readit.shtml).

That said, the topic remains somewhat controversial, as you will find out if you hang around here for long. Many folks report that low-carbing does not work as advertised for them, and some people are concerned that we do not know enough about the long-term effects of low-carb diets to endorse them fully. Others are concerned that a diet that is higher in fat may have an adverse effect on their lipid profiles. We get into some spirited discussions. :D

[Ray4Rick]

I did Atkins a while ago for a few weeks, like any other diet, I feel off the wagon 2-3 weeks into it, but never the less, my BG were never better. Obviously you'll have to adjust your insulin because you are not eating any carbs.

Good luck,

[princesslinda]

I found South Beach Diet an easy diet to follow...I did it a few times prior to diagnosis, and lost weight and felt satisfied. The problem I found, is that when I think "diet," I think temporary....and each time I went of the diet, the weight came back on.

As diabetics, we have to make it a lifestyle, not a temporary fix....we're in it for the long haul.

That being said, the best way to find the "diet" that works for you is to eat by your meter. Eat, test 2 hrs after your first bite, and if your meter is over 140, you'll know that particular food should be limited/avoided. We're all different in our carb tolerances, though most of us find that minimizing "white" foods (pasta, rice, bread, potatoes) helps keep levels stable.

[notme]

Rather than buying a book and following a diet, I chose to eat healthy for me. Most of the foods that I eat come out of a garden and very little comes out of a package. I don't eat chicken or beef, only fish. I use fresh cream in my coffee and only small amounts of real butter when I cook. Just go back to natural. I don't buy cereal, cookies or breads made with flour. For me, it works. Don't try to subscribe to a "diet" that you will not want to follow forever.

I think the best bet for you is to decide on the healthy foods you enjoy eating and eat them in moderation. Exercise and keep your body moving.

Welcome to the forums.

[ShottleBop]

From Gretchen Becker's (author of The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes) blog, Wildly Fluctuating (http://wildlyfluctuating.blogspot.com/), for July 23rd (discussing a study of the so-called "Mediterranean diet": . . .

Although they called the diet Mediterranean, you notice that all these foods that showed benefit are real, whole foods that hunters and gatherers could eat, rather than processed garbage. You could just as well eat these foods and call it a Whole Foods Diet or a Traditional Diet or a Neolithic Diet. Hunters and gatherers probably eat all the meat they can get, but their hunts are not always successful. Olive oil is processed but in a minimal way. You could get the same monounsaturated fat by eating the olives themselves.

I'm not a big fan of any nutritional studies because most of them are based on food recall forms. I often can't remember what I had for lunch. There's no way I can remember what I ate for the past few days or the past month or so. Nutritional researchers claim they've tested the recall and it's reasonably accurate, but I'm not convinced.

Furthermore, we're all individuals. High fruit consumption might be beneficial for people without diabetes (certainly better than high banana split consumption), but a lot of fruit will raises the blood sugar of people with diabetes.

I suppose this study is a first step. Perhaps future studies will be able to refine these results.

In the meantime, follow the advice we patients so often give. Don't accept any diet as the "best diet" until you see how it affects you individually. If your nutritionist tells you to eat a lot of "healthy whole grains," try a few whole grains and see what it does to your blood glucose levels 1 and 2 hours after you've eaten them.

Then make up your own mind.

[knorris]

Hi and welcome
I have been on Atkins for about 2 yrs after being diagnosed with T2. Made sense to me, if carbs are what put up the blood sugars then why eat alot of them? My blood works 1 hr later were wonderful. Chol was down, fasting bg in normal range, lost approx 40#. My 2nd year - closer to 3yrs T2, is in August.
That being said I love the eating to meter. I have found I can eat certain things I didnt think I could and cant eat others that I thot I could. Just experiment and dont hit yourself to hard on the head if you get #'s not so good. Just realize thats a food on your off-meter list. Dont make it a diet. Its what works and doesnt work for you. But if you must think of it as a diet think of it as a live-longer diet. Or keeping-limbs diet. Or not dying of kidney failure diet. That changed my mind on "restricting" foods faster than anything.
Good luck and you will find amazing info on this forum, read, read, read.
Karen

[jenb]

I've found Dr. Barry Sears' Zone diet easier to maintain long-term than Atkins. His approach of balancing the macronutrients and eating food sufficient to sustain your "ideal" weight has worked very well for me for about 4 years and I've lost about 50 pounds. I started Zoning a couple of years before my T1 diagnosis, so I didn't have to make many dietary changes to control BG. I have reduced my carb intake slightly and increased fat and protein. I target 1100 calories a day, with 35% protein, 35% fat and 30% carbs.

Jen

[inkvisitor]

I agree that diets breed an ad hoc/ad interim affectation and that integrating a balance that works individually is best (which can take a long time to develop). Your body isn't in shock and you have the time to find foods you like and that "work" for you.

[GayleM]

Yup, there are folks that are passionate about Atkins. I remember in the late 60's trying it when it first came out and it was a really low carb version at that time. I'll never forget the horrible breath I had from being in ketosis :o

If there has been a diet "invented" in the last 35 years, I've tried it.

I lost my 75 pounds of extra weight finally just eating a good variety of foods sticking to around 70-90 carbs a day and 1300-1600 calories or so. I use alot of variety in my choices, primarily poultry, fish and beef tenderloin for meats and use only fresh veggies now, which I've come to love because they taste so good compared to frozen! Seldom eat bread, pretty much stay clear of fatty meats or foods high in sodium. Don't do desserts as I prefer my calories go to foods that provide nutrients.

I lost about 2 or 2.5 pounds a week, felt fabulous (still do) exercise daily for an hour (cardio and weight training) and by keeping fats to 30% or less of my daily diet and sat fats less than 4% my cholesterol has gone from making me basically a solid (:eek: ) to near a perfect lipid panel. It has also turned out to be the perfect combination for me to keep my BG at normal levels without meds. (for now, of course...I realize I may need meds at some point and would certainly use them if that's needed.)

I won't encourage folks to do one or the other kind of food choices - people can make their own decisions and the only thing I consistently support is losing weight without the use of appetite supressing drugs.

For me, there wasn't enough known about really low carbing for a lifetime; whereas - for me - a balanced amount made sense.

I think PrincessLinda hit it spot on...we don't "diet," we are selecting a food choice plan for a lifetime.

But, yes, I've seen really nasty posts back on forth about Atkins on some forums which is really sad.

[dbaratta]

I keep seeing stuff on the Atkins dieting while doing my research on diabetes. Is this a good diet? Is anyone on here on it now or have done it in the past? What were your results?

I am on adkins, just started about a week ago. I lost 4 pounds but then had some lows and had to dump some carbs so that kind of kills the first 2 weeks.....it just makes the weight loss go slower. I like the adkins because the low carb helps a lot with diabetes BG numbers,,,,but, I have a problem with liver dumping so I have to use novolog to help with that, just a small amount.

It is a diet worth trying if you are interested in low carb, it is a good balance of food,,,,at least that is what I think ;)

[dbaratta]

I think PrincessLinda hit it spot on...we don't "diet," we are selecting a food choice plan for a lifetime.

But, yes, I've seen really nasty posts back on forth about Atkins on some forums which is really sad.[/QUOTE]

I didn't see the exchanges about the diet, but I know when that diet first hit the market it was different than it is now. We did a study on diets in my nutrition class in college and that Adkins hit the top of the list as one of the worst, but, they tweaked it since then, it is more like a diabetic diet other than the first 2 weeks which limits your carbs to 20g or less a day which can be tough for those on insulin,,,,,,it is worth looking at now though, it is much like your own diet you discribed, good mix of healthy foods. I just bought the books and read thru them a week or so ago........I like it. I don't follow 100%,,,,but close.

[Chef Barrae]

I tried the Atkins plan once. I wound up with a blinding headache and a high BG. So, it was not for me. For me, I find if I don't eat the right amount of carbs I get a headache. Just keep one thing in mind on the Atkins plan. If you are eating lots of red meats and fats, you are possibly doing harm to your arteries. Let's not forget, Dr. Atkins died of a heart attack. I imagine choosing low fat proteins and the good fats would be beneficial though. It just didn't provide enough carbs for me. If I don't eat enough my BG goes UP! It is always a balancing act! When you find what works for you, stick with it until it doesn't work anymore and then adjust it.

[Granny Shanny]

Hey Chef B? Have you ever told us your numbers? If you have, I musta missed it. Give us an idea how you manage this beast. Like your usual BGs & your latest A1c . . . :)

[fgummett]

I tried the Atkins plan once. I wound up with a blinding headache and a high BG. So, it was not for me. For me, I find if I don't eat the right amount of carbs I get a headache. Just keep one thing in mind on the Atkins plan. If you are eating lots of red meats and fats, you are possibly doing harm to your arteries. Let's not forget, Dr. Atkins died of a heart attack. I imagine choosing low fat proteins and the good fats would be beneficial though. It just didn't provide enough carbs for me. If I don't eat enough my BG goes UP! It is always a balancing act! When you find what works for you, stick with it until it doesn't work anymore and then adjust it.I think there is a big question mark over how Atkins died -- there is a copy of his Death Certificate on-line showing it was from head trauma after a fall.
I also had headaches as my BG's came down to more normal levels and my body re-adjusted... that didn't suggest to me that I should keep my BGs high to avoid the headache. :)

Perhaps you need to be a little more open minded about Fat and Protein and how they are natural foods which many traditional communities thrive on without them being a "heart attack on a plate". There are many threads discussing this on DF. My own experience (shared with several others here on DF) has been that increasing the amount of Fat I eat (all kinds including animal fats) actually improved not only my BGs (level and stability) but also dramatically improved my lipid/cholesterol profile such that I no longer take a Statin.

Fat has no effect on your BG level other than potentially slowing the digestion of other nutrients. Protein can be converted to Glucose by the Liver but it is a relatively slow and costly process compared to the digestion of Carbohydrates which have the most marked and quickest effect on BG levels. Armed with that knowledge I fail to see how drastically cutting back on Carbohydrates (as in the Atkins induction phase) could lead to higher BG levels :confused: Was this your BG's all day, postprandial results or just fasting BGs?

As I mentioned in an earlier post I'm not a big fan of Atkins -- over-hyped and carries too many negative connotations -- but rather adapted my own low-carb approach after reading Gary Taubes "Good Calories Bad Calories" and Dr Bernstein's "Diabetes Solution". Its nothing scary, just real whole foods -- nothing processed or packaged -- with natural mixes of Fat and Protein and minimal Carbohydrates (because I already have Type 2 D) mostly from green veggies... lettuce and broccoli are favourites.

[davef]

I found South Beach Diet an easy diet to follow...I did it a few times prior to diagnosis, and lost weight and felt satisfied. The problem I found, is that when I think "diet," I think temporary....and each time I went of the diet, the weight came back on.

As diabetics, we have to make it a lifestyle, not a temporary fix....we're in it for the long haul.

That being said, the best way to find the "diet" that works for you is to eat by your meter. Eat, test 2 hrs after your first bite, and if your meter is over 140, you'll know that particular food should be limited/avoided. We're all different in our carb tolerances, though most of us find that minimizing "white" foods (pasta, rice, bread, potatoes) helps keep levels stable.
Ditto

Over the years I have tried many and varied "diets", without exception I found them all to be short term things as I could not eat in (what I found to be) restrictive manner.

Since DX in Nov'07 and discovering these forums, I eat by my meter and watch my carb intake. I typically (not always) avoid things like rice/pasta/white bread & potatoes. From time to time I will have small portion of one of those items. Since reducing my carb intake (about 100-120g a day) I find I can eat "normally", maintain this approach and have lost nearly 70lbs. More importantly for me, I find I can maintain my weight, something that has always eluded me.

[GayleM]

Hi, Chef!

I don't consider myself doing "low" carb as I can have 70-90 a day. But, I have tried going very low on carbs, like 20-30. I had very little energy at that low level and noticed less mental acuity, but I don't recall headaches. (I do recall having horrible breath! LOL) However, even though my BG was good, my lipids were horrible after eating with that regimen for 6 months. So I went back to the drawing board.

I now balance my dietary fat quite strictly, but will give some slack if it is fat from nuts, olive oil, that type of thing. My BG is slightly higher, but still averages around 115 at all times, so that is great. (due as well to exercise and the weight I lost) I was able to bring my lipid panel to perfect levels with no meds doing that, but I don't know how much genetics might have played. I had horrible lipids for years - my father's weren't too bad and my mom's were always good.

I've read many success stories on super-low carb regimen's and many like mine. I guess I still think the "try & test for health" approach works best for me and that is really all any of us can do since no two of us are the same.

Take care!

[notme]

I tried Atkins years ago and I had very little success. My Mother also tried it and she did poorly losing weight. My Mother finally had success with just changing her eating habits to mostly eating plants and fish and consuming less calories. She lost over 100 pounds. I have turned the corner in my eating and I eat very little out of a package and mostly eat fresh veggies, fruit and salmon. This way of eating combined with exercise has made the twenty pounds I would like to lose, start to come off.

[knorris]

Dr Atkins slipped on the ice and did not have a heart attack!!! Nor did he weigh the 250# stated at time of death because of the steroids and stuff like that given him. He was on way to many tv shows and it would have been noticed.
That being said I do believe I am not going to follow the low-carb way. It will be still low carb but not as low as I made it. Maybe I'll have to go on meds. Been reading the Sweitzbern (sp) Principle and she gave me the reason I've been looking for as to why I should eat more carbs than 20-30 a day. There are other glands in our bodies (@!?!) Did that take me a long time to figure out or what!!! The Adrenals take a hit at very low carb according to her. And bad adrenals will kill ya to. Guess its a balancing act. Sure didnt want to take meds but I'll see!
Thanks for listening
Karen

[Chef Barrae]

I was only speaking of how the Atkins diet worked, or in my case did not work, for me. I hope no one took it wrong. Every diabetic IS different, and our needs seem to also change as time passes. What worries me about a high fat, especially if it is the bad fats, diet is heart disease. My doctor has said many times that diabetics are at a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. I keep that in mind and eat a well balanced diet that had resulted in a significant weight loss and excellent BG management as well as coming off of cholesterol med. That is what worked for me. But again, everyone is different and you have to find what works for you and stick with it until your body tells you otherwise.

[knorris]

Chef, you get good bg control eating carbs? Are you taking meds? Im being on a roller coaster right now. If I eat any carbs but vegies I go up both in weight and bg. Im to see the dr the end of this month. Im frustrated to say the least. I guess I was trying to defend the good dr, as I know there is a bunch of misinformation about the atkins out there. Sorry if I offended you.
Karen

[ShottleBop]

Dr Atkins slipped on the ice and did not have a heart attack!!! Nor did he weigh the 250# stated at time of death because of the steroids and stuff like that given him. He was on way to many tv shows and it would have been noticed.
That being said I do believe I am not going to follow the low-carb way. It will be still low carb but not as low as I made it. Maybe I'll have to go on meds. Been reading the Sweitzbern (sp) Principle and she gave me the reason I've been looking for as to why I should eat more carbs than 20-30 a day. There are other glands in our bodies (@!?!) Did that take me a long time to figure out or what!!! The Adrenals take a hit at very low carb according to her. And bad adrenals will kill ya to. Guess its a balancing act. Sure didnt want to take meds but I'll see!
Thanks for listening
Karen

I tried googling "adrenal carbohydrates low", and found multiple sites that recommend low-carb diets for adrenal issues. Can you provide a link for the Sweitzbern Principle?

[knorris]

Schwarzbein Principle - Home - Endocrinology - Controlled Carbohydrate Plan - Vitamin Supplements - Menopause Testing (http://www.schwarzbeinprinciple.com/pgs/home.html)
this is one of them. I found the info in the 2nd book! Thanks for your information. I am going to google it too. She says it harms the adrenals. Hummm
What about carb rotation? to lose somemore weight
Thanks
Karen

[xMenace]

If you are eating lots of red meats and fats, you are possibly doing harm to your arteries.

This has never been proven. It is not fact. Saturated fats and red meats have been ASSOCIATED with problems, but so have many things, especially carbs. Yet carbs are never ever considered the problem because it "doesn't seem logical that they could be a problem." Associations are not proof, they are clues.

Let's not forget, Dr. Atkins died of a heart attack.

He fell on the ice and died of head trauma. The assertion he died of a heart attack is an urban myth spread by his opponents.

What's more controversial is his weight. His death certificate lists him at 6.0 and 258 lbs. But was he always following his own diet? I assume even he had problems doing so. Bernstein and Mendosa certainly don't carry extra weight.

I imagine choosing low fat proteins and the good fats would be beneficial though.

"I imagine" does not equal good science. That's the diet that's been pushed on us the last 30 years, yet obesity and western diseases are in epidemic proportions. Such a diet seems to make sense. It is logical from the layman's point of view. Systemic fat, including in our arteries, has to be caused by fat consumption, right?

The people responsible for pushing these views on us held firmly to such beliefs even though science at the time was pointing elsewhere. It was known in the early 60's that insulin was responsible for fat storage, yet limiting foods that induce insulin was never considered by people clinging to such ideas. Ansel Keyes is being cursed by many.

It just didn't provide enough carbs for me. If I don't eat enough my BG goes UP! It is always a balancing act! When you find what works for you, stick with it until it doesn't work anymore and then adjust it.

You didn't get enough carbs yet your sugars went up? Do you not see the paradox here?

Of course it's a balancing act, and low carbing is a different paradigm. I don't know what your regimen is, but I've had to not only bolus for my proteins but also spread the boluses out with square waves.

[ShottleBop]

Schwarzbein Principle - Home - Endocrinology - Controlled Carbohydrate Plan - Vitamin Supplements - Menopause Testing (http://www.schwarzbeinprinciple.com/pgs/home.html)
this is one of them. I found the info in the 2nd book! Thanks for your information. I am going to google it too. She says it harms the adrenals. Hummm
What about carb rotation? to lose somemore weight
Thanks
Karen

The Schwarzbein Principle: Degenerative diseases of aging are not genetic but acquired. Because the systems of the human body are interconnected and because one imbalance creates another imbalance, poor eating and lifestyle habits, not genetics, are the cause of degenerative disease.

Gretchen Becker (from her August 7, 2009 Sharepost at MyDiabetesCentral.com, "Is Type 2 Diabetes Your Fault?") : Telling someone that getting type 2 diabetes is their own fault is like telling a 4-foot-tall man that it's his fault he didn't make the basketball team. An extraordinary person that size might be able to make the team despite the handicap. But most of us aren't extraordinary.

Do what you can to control this disease. But don't listen to people who try to blame you for getting diabetes.

[knorris]

I read the googles on the adrenals and am wondering where she came up with the fact the one HAS to have a certain amount of carbs. I dont know why I struggle so much with the idea of eating low-carb. That is how I lost 50# maybe its because I cant lose anymore it seems, so I want to try another direction but can find no good reason to!? LOL
As for Dr Atkins.
Someone said he weighed an awfully lot on his death certif. He did. But he was doing the tv circut just prior to his death. Dont ya think someone would have noticed how fat he was on tv propounding a low-carb diet. His detractors would have jumped on that like a cat on a mouse - just like they did his supposed overweight. They had pumped him up on steriods and ivs like crazy. I would love to talk to the emt's who picked him up. They would know. It took a few days for him to die. Brain injury.
He my hero
Karen

[knorris]

Is T2 diabetes your fault?!
I wonder. I knew the train was on my track yet I persisted on drinking regular coke by the gallon, eating whatever, whenever I wanted and not exercising. Im sorry but in my case, talking only about me, I would say I am responsible for my own diabetes. I know there are lots that its not a responsibility that is theirs. One of my dad's best friends was rail thin, ate good home prepared food, played basketball with his kids among other things and both of them died from diabetic complications. Now my friend who is the daughter of my dads friend is active, eats well and if she gets diabetes well she has done all she could. I did not. Period. I did not. so yes its all my responsibility, had I done what I knew to do and still ended up with it then it would not be my fault.
Thats my take on the situation
Karen

[dbaratta]

If you are eating lots of red meats and fats, you are possibly doing harm to your arteries. Let's not forget, Dr. Atkins died of a heart attack. I imagine choosing low fat proteins and the good fats would be beneficial though. It just didn't provide enough carbs for me. If I don't eat enough my BG goes UP! It is always a balancing act! When you find what works for you, stick with it until it doesn't work anymore and then adjust it.

You don't have to eat red meat. The new books suggest lean meats like chicken and fish. The diet is a guideline only for me. I don't eat hardly any red meat so I feel confident that I am not doing my body any harm. :)

[Josselyn]

I tried the Atkins plan once. I wound up with a blinding headache and a high BG. So, it was not for me. For me, I find if I don't eat the right amount of carbs I get a headache. Just keep one thing in mind on the Atkins plan. If you are eating lots of red meats and fats, you are possibly doing harm to your arteries. Let's not forget, Dr. Atkins died of a heart attack. I imagine choosing low fat proteins and the good fats would be beneficial though. It just didn't provide enough carbs for me. If I don't eat enough my BG goes UP! It is always a balancing act! When you find what works for you, stick with it until it doesn't work anymore and then adjust it.

I'm sorry you didn't have success with the low carb way of eating, Atkins being the program in question here. This might be one area in which the statement YMMV ("Your Mileage May Vary") would apply.

Personally, I had great success with the Atkins plan...when I stayed with it for any length of time, that is. I lost weight from my belly and chin(s) immediately. I might not always have been "satisfied" (I do like my carbs), but I was NEVER hungry and didn't have to bother with calorie counting.

I should have paid better attention to just how sensitive I was to carbs with that response to my dietary change...I'd never heard of Metabolic Syndrome or its relationship to Type 2 diabetes. Maybe if I had, it would have given me the extra motivation to stay with that kind of eating program. As it was, I thought I was just gambling with my jeans size when I indulged, not the quality and length of my life.

The problem is, most people have never even read one of Atkins' books cover to cover before undertaking what they think is the program. It must be done methodically. It's not a free-for-all on fatty meat. Carbs must be added back while testing. Modifications can be made. I always include more veggies, for instance.

The first two weeks (Induction) permits more indulgences on fats in Atkins because it takes into account the fact that most of us are crawling the walls at that time from our carb cravings. Therein lies the negative press. If the fat and protein combinations are satisfying to hunger and the craving for something that just plain tastes good is addressed, then one is far more likely to stick with the program. At some point, there seems to be a natural weaning from large quantities of protein, and one becomes far less pre-occupied with the carbohydrate-ridden foods one has been accustomed to eating. There is a balance being striven for here.

BTW, I think someone here might have mentioned it, but it bears repeating: Atkins died as a result of a head injury sustained when he fell...NOT from a heart attack. He otherwise was in excellent condition, particularly for a man of his years.

[PERKDOUG]

A sketch of Dr. Atkins is needed here to add a little flavor to the soup.

In 1963, Dr. Atkins was a Cardiologist practicing in Manhattan, NY. He was about 50 lbs overweight and happened onto an article by Dr. Edgar Gordon in JAMA titled "A New Concept in the Treatment of Obesity". The paper detailed the use of the low carb diet in weight loss. He lost 28 lbs in a month using the diet. At that time, Dr. Atkins worked part time at AT&T and the executives there noticed his weight loss and asked him to aid them in weight loss. He helped 65 of them to very successfully lose weight. He then started treating obese patients at his cardiology clinic. His obesity work went unnoticed until 1966 when women's magazines began recommending his diet. An article in Vogue really got his train rolling. In 1970 he began writing his book "Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution". The rest of the sketch you know bla - bla - bla, I won't bore you.
It should be said that Atkins did not invent the low carb diet. Many weight loss clinics going back many years before 1963 used a diet very similar to the Atkins protocal. Low carb diets were not villified until the notorious Mr. Ancel Keys Phd. caused "FAT" to be public enemy #1. We will save Dr. Keys for a much darker sketch sometime in the future.

[Josselyn]

A sketch of Dr. Atkins is needed here to add a little flavor to the soup.

In 1963, Dr. Atkins was a Cardiologist practicing in Manhattan, NY. He was about 50 lbs overweight and happened onto an article by Dr. Edgar Gordon in JAMA titled "A New Concept in the Treatment of Obesity". The paper detailed the use of the low carb diet in weight loss. He lost 28 lbs in a month using the diet. At that time, Dr. Atkins worked part time at AT&T and the executives there noticed his weight loss and asked him to aid them in weight loss. He helped 65 of them to very successfully lose weight. He then started treating obese patients at his cardiology clinic. His obesity work went unnoticed until 1966 when women's magazines began recommending his diet. An article in Vogue really got his train rolling. In 1970 he began writing his book "Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution". The rest of the sketch you know bla - bla - bla, I won't bore you.
It should be said that Atkins did not invent the low carb diet. Many weight loss clinics going back many years before 1963 used a diet very similar to the Atkins protocal. Low carb diets were not villified until the notorious Mr. Ancel Keys Phd. caused "FAT" to be public enemy #1. We will save Dr. Keys for a much darker sketch sometime in the future.


Thanks for that contribution. Well put, PerkDoug, and adds more insight than is commonly afforded to Dr. Atkins. His is one of many low carb programs out there, and is hardly the first.

I also remember some earlier, horrific, virtually no carb diet by a Doctor Irwin Maxwell Stillman. :eek:

I'll have to research Dr. Keys online...

All I know is that farmers use grains to fatten their cattle, not fat.