What are the advantages and disadvantages to the Atkins diet?
454749
here are some good pros and cons for the atkins diet.\n\nBenefits \n\nThere is no need to cut out the food you like best like meat, cream, cheese and other high fat foods. \nBecause you can eat as much as you like of the permitted foods, you don't get hungry. \nBecause so many foods are permitted, there is greater variety on the Atkins Diet than on low calorie diets so the risk of cheating is small. \nNot all carbohydrates count in the total allowance. Those rich in dietary fibre can be eaten more freely because fibre is not digested. This allows even more latitude in food eaten. \nIt is argued that a low carbohydrate diet is more natural for the human body because grains in the form of wheat, rice, etc, only became a regular part of our diet 10,000 years ago so our bodies have not had time to evolve to cope with them satisfactorily. \nSome reseach indicates that people with type 2 diabetes have better insulin function and better blood sugar control on a low carbohydrate diet. \n\nDisadvantages\n\nAlthough a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine is sometimes cited as providing evidence that the Atkins Diet works, in fact its conclusion is that although more weight was lost at the end of 6 months on the Atkins Diet than on a low calorie diet, after one year, the difference was insignificant. \nThe same study found that both types of diet, Atkins and low calorie, had a large drop out rate so it seems the apparent choice of food on the Atkins Diet is not a sufficient inducement to keep people on it. \nThe metabolic processes involved in using fat for energy instead of carbohydrates can lead to increased uric acid and ketones which can cause kidney problems, gout and headaches. \nThere can be low amounts of dietary fibre on the Atkins Diet leading to constipation and chronic bowel disease. \nSome experts believe that the high amounts of animal fat eaten on the Atkins Diet can have a bad effect on cholesterol levels and can lead to cardiac disease. \nThere is some argument that a reduction in carbohydrates automatically leads to a reduction in calories because many high fat foods are unpalatable in large quantities without carbohydrates. For example, many people would not want to eat an egg without bread either fresh or toasted, or a burger without the bun or at least potatoes. \nThe Atkins diet doesn't conform to the American Heart Association's dietary guidelines for a healthy heart.
1108269
Pros:\nYou don't have to buy "special" foods.\nYou learn how to make the program to work for you.\nYou learn the 8 Good Health Guidelines to maintain proper nutrition.\nYou get lots of support and encouragement at the weekly meetings.\nIf you go on vacation, you can attend a meeting wherever you go (just bring your membership book).\nYou are encouraged to eat what you crave (though that doesn't mean you can eat what you crave ALL the time).\nOnce you reach your Lifetime, you don't have to pay as long as you stay within 2lbs of your goal weight.\nYou aren't REQUIRED to exercise, though it is strongly recommended.\n\nCons:\nYou have to weigh in every week.\nSomeone else gets to see what you weigh.\nYou have to pay to weigh in - and the weekly fee adds up!\nYou have to pay for missed weeks if you miss any meetings.
749981
I started the atkins diet once and carried on for six months.  I was a size 20 and after six months size ten.  \nNever had a problem with loose skin.  I had lost appetite whilst on the diet which meant it took me another to years to come back to a size twenty.\n\nI was contemplating going on the diet again but found out recently that eating red meat in large quantities has been proven to increase breast cancer.\n\nThe trick whenever u r dieting is to drink a minimum of three litres of water and u wont have a problem with loose skin and dont even bother with moisturisers, they dont even go skin deep, if u know what i mean!!!
117154
Southbeach diet.  It's healthier than atkins.  I've done both and they both allow you to lose weight really fast, but southbeach is easier to stay on in the long run.
1136810
atkins diet is not good very unhealthy. and mr atkins died from his mistake with it so i hear. try to make a healthy eating and excercise plan
444956
any lean meat, cheeses, eggs, anything that is a protein basically, then a very limited amount of green leafy veges. That is in the induction phase, the next phase is more liberal.\n\nhttp://learningcenter.atkins.com/\n\nIt does work and I actually like it because once you get the carbs out of your system it's easy to not eat all the junk. I will say it works alot faster in men than women but it does work.
751663
Low carb is the answer to not being hungry.  It offers natural appetite suppression.  This doesn't apply to "new" Atkins with all the high carb junk you can now eat or South Beach after week 2.\n\nThere are many diet website with free plans.  Take your time and do a search. Read up, decide what will work best for you.
51578
I recommend the South Beach Diet. It was designed by a cardiologist, and is good at teaching you about good carbs/bad carbs and good fats/bad fats. It's very effective (you lose 10-12 pounds the first two weeks), but it's not unhealthy like the Atkins diet. \n\nI use South Beach regulary, and have lost weight and kept it off. I also eat much more healthily now.
372140
Berries like strawberries, blueberries etc are the best. Another good one is avocado, which is really nice. Check out the Atkins website to have a look at their carb counter table.
1086259
First off...Its  Atkins not Adkins\n\nThere is a book called New Diet Revolution. The Author is Dr Atkins. \n\nIve read it twice and gives you the science behind the diet. why it works and why you gain the SECOND you come off of it.\n\nThe diet really works but you cant cheat. Once you do you just killed a day and have to start over. \n\nBy the urine test strips. I used to do that nightly. The more purple they become the more fat you are burning. \n\nKeep under 20 grams of carbs a day. \n\nAnd eat mostly proteins. \n\nReally you should just go get the book\n\nAs for the negative commenters above...\n\nsome dont know even how to spell ATKINS.\n\nSome suggest he died of a heart attack...not true\n\nHe died slipping on ice here in NYC\n\nAtkins has been proven to LOWER Cholesteral and LOWER Triglycerides. My own Dr is on Atkins although in a OWL form.\n\nCheck the link in my sources \n the second link is the REAL cause of his death\nand good luck!
737229
Don't do atkins, in the long run it'll cause heart damage and brain disease. Its not suprising that atkins himself died of a heart attack. If you simply need a meal plan, weight loss program go with south beach, but follow it closely. It'll jump start your metablolism, but you need to follow it and realize that you can't lose it all at once. Its about changing how you eat as well as what you eat. Its better to lose 15lb a year and keep it off than to lose 15lb in a month and have 20lb of gained weight the next month.
4712
I would say No. I can only tell you from personal experience. I remember when the Atkins diet was all the rage and everyone that couldn't loose weight wanted to try it. It did help some people, but I wasn't able to do the diet because of the kidney problem I have. The diet puts too much protein in your blood. You have to use good judgment when trying new things. A good rule of thumb: always check things out and find out what your alternatives are.
68027
The atkins diet is good for quick loss but not a long- term diet to do! At least that is what i think!
252178
If you do it too long, you can change the PH of your blood which is in no way healthy.  Also, you can easily risk not getting the minerals, vitamins and fiber you need from fruits and vegetables.  Not to mention the high fat intake that is allowed with Atkins can cause many health problems - like high colesterol.
441776
I am on Atkins right now it's not easy especially if you are like me and love fruits and veggies you wont be able to eat any fruits and veggies as you like and if you don't like too much meat or eggs and fats well that is Atkins! If you want quick results that should do it if you follow it strictly but if you want healthy , lifetime maintenance try eating healthy , small portions and exercise.
1062816
If you are going to exercise a lot, make sure you are eating plenty of complex carbohydrates like bread, rice, or potatoes.  Don't try the Atkins diet if you're going to be working out since it forbids carbs.  You also need to incorporate plenty of iron into your diet.  You may have a slight iron deficiency which will make you more tired more often.  You can get iron from foods like dark greens, Total cereal, and beef.  Just make sure you're eating.  A diet doesn't mean you stop eating 3 nutritious meals a day.  Just make sure you're cutting back on the fats, especially the saturated and trans fats (but don't cut fats out of your diet completely) and on cholesterol (since your body produces cholesterol for you, you don't need to consume any).  Also, don't try to overwork yourself.  It seems like you're doing a great job of varying your workouts, but make sure that you're not doing too much.  Spread them out and take days to cool down.  Good luck.
1149928
Atkins it is better aswell!