Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution

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 show more 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 when Dr. Atkins died, he was obese and had heart disease himself. show less

Radical vegetarians have spread the rumor that Dr. Atkins died fat and afflicted with heart disease. He did have a heart condition,but it was probably of viral origin unrelated to his diet. He was 195 lbs when admitted to the hospital. At 6' that is hardly fat. He died of traumatic brain injury from slipping on ice and striking his head. No amount of vegetables would have saved him unless corn stalks were spread to give traction on the ice. The diet is hard to maintain--but it does not call for only eating meat, or eating as much fat as you want or most of the other things said about it. This is a revision of the original Atkins Diet and reflects changes in scientific research about the value of various kinds of fats. Remember when show more polyunsaturated was good? show less

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, show more 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. show less

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.

Very similar to original 1972 book and 1992 update. Fleshed out and more emphasis on exercise than book one. The update to 2002 was necessary because there have been major changes in policy with the AMA and others towards low carb diets. Once an anaethma with every doctor and official voice claiming Atkins was bad for your health and with the backing of big sugar and the guide put out by the government and the media on the bandwagon...Dr. Atkins 1972 was demonized except by those of us who had actually lost weight with his help. To have seen him vindicated in the 90's almost felt like vindication for those of us who believed in him way back when. This book adds the information on all the new carb free foods available now.

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.

I remember trying this diet many years ago. I had heard that people were having success with it so I gave it a try.

I remember eating a lot of meat and eggs and desperately craving things like apples. I did lose weight with the diet but, not surprisingly, gained it all back when I returned to a normal diet.

I have never known anybody that tried this diet and was able to maintain the diet for any length of time. Personally, I think it is unhealthy and an unnatural way to eat.