I tried, I ate a lot of meat, I failed and I went back to my couscous and chickpeas and veggies. The diet was developed in the 40s for uncontrolled diabetics who bodies could not handle any but a minimal amount of carbohydrate. Since carb molecules take on 4 times as much water as protein ones, water weight was lost very fast and then, since proteins are filling because they are digested very slowly, people snack less and true fat is lost, but a huge amount of cholesterol is consumed. It was realised that if you actually stuck to the diet rigidly you would put yourself at risk of heart disease, but when the diet was still current for diabetics, it was realised that without the diet they weren't going to live long enough to get clogged arteries from all that red meat's cholesterol.The book does not make any of that clear. It is a dangerous book that puts weight loss for vanity (surely not health) above a long and healthy life. It should be noted that Dr. Atkins died, obese, of heart disease himself. ( )

I felt great when I first went on this diet. I was amaized by the results. However, like any other diiet my body eventually started craving the things I had eliminated. I just eat a balanced diet now. No more fads for me. ( )

This is the book that started it all. I have no idea now why this worked so well but it did. Now that I am older, wiser and slimmer I wouldn't go back to it. Don't make me! lol. What's so wise in this book? Well it breaks dieting down into steps. I think it's great failing is that there is no minimum protein requirement. And the admonition to limit calories is buried in small print somewhere inconspicuous. ( )

Atkins was one of the pioneers in the now popular low-carb diets. While the diet seems effective in the short term, I seriously doubt its extended efficacy. Moreover, I fear it may cause actual harm when followed for prolonged periods.

It IS effective. If you study the human body, and our nutritional development, then it totally makes sense WHY it works.

But, YOU have to work.

I am 6'3". I was 275, 28% body fat. I went down to 216, 13% body fat. (I am now 245 lbs, with 13% BF due to weight training). All because of this book. I am forever grateful to Dr. Atkins. Others have done the research, but it is those individuals who bring it to the masses that make it count! He was a pioneer, like Ayn Rand and Art Williams.

Here's what worked for me:

1) no-carbs (not "low carbs" - NO carbs).
2) aerobic exercise 3 times per week, with INTENSITY. No talking, no reading, no tv, just sweating, huffin' & puffin'. PUSH yourself. If you can talk on your damn cell phone while working-out, guess what you're not doing....
3) Weight-training with INTENSITY. Lift heavy weights. Build muscle, which will strengthen you and cause your body to use up more energy, even while resting.
4) Supplements. CLA, DHEA, a thermogenic. ( )