Reading Dr. Atkin's 1972 Diet Revolution Book!

#21

OMG… Dr. Atkin’s is so quick on his feet… he TOTALLY burned this guy who was criticizing his diet:

I can’t quit laughin!

#22

Thank you for your kind words, Erin!

(Jack Bennett) #23

The contribution of Atkins can’t be understated. He’s a true medical hero and a man of integrity.

He advocated low carb into the head winds of the late 1970s and early 80s and paid the price professionally and with his reputation. His peers treated him terribly for sticking to his clinical observations and refusing to give in to the false, premature “consensus” about low-fat.

Yes, he didn’t invent low-carb diets himself, but nobody in the US is more identified with that movement than he is.

(Jane) #24

Amen!

They even tried to smear the poor man after his death by claiming heart disease I stead of the head injury from his fall on ice.

Just reinforces how much low carb threatens the food industry which relies on cheap processed carbs they can mark up like liquor and cigarettes and make huge profits.

('Jackie P') #25

Actually I was very successful with Atkins many years ago, but it was the reintroduction of carbohydrates that was my eventual downfall. Mentally and physically.
This time I won’t be reintroducing carbs, although I will sometimes go to 50g for a special occasion. Very rare though.

(Jane) #26

Same here.

I will occasionally treat myself intentionally to more carbs but I have to go back to minimal carbs to keep my weight stable, not feel bloated and keep my energy level high.

Atkins reintroduction of carbs was a slippery slope for me and I did not succeed.

#27

Yeah definitely Atkin’s is a modern day hero. He even took his profits to fund studies o n the diet (Duke University / Westman).

#28

It’s really fascinating stuff. I think Westman, Phinney & Volek’s “New Atkins” book does a good job at articulating that the goal is fat loss - and not necessarily weight loss for those who aren’t considered overweight due to whatever parameters such as age, waist measurement, waist-to-height ratio, etc. And that changes the perspective, esp if one is non-obese.

That’s why the re-intro phase is very gradual at 10g per week - and involves body measurements for those that aren’t obese, not primarily weight (as weight can reflect increased muscle/bone mass which is a good thing).

Then there’s the thing about increased water weight w/ higher carbs - some like myself view it as having benefits such as additional shock absorption and conduction, others who are aiming for very-lean physiques or for competitions, are happy to set those benefits aside for their goal.

But bloating’s another matter entirely. It feels yucky, and is a sign of sluggish/stagnant digestion due to enzyme issues or other gut imbalances or stuff like dairy products that are pasteurized/ultrapasteurized. That’s why I’m a major fan of taking Ginger capsules with meals, for the prebiotic and enzymatic help, and am still recomposing at around 75g carbs/day a few days a week and other days still around 20-30.

#29

For me, the bloat-prevention and energy maintenance has pivoted on the Ginger & Beef Liver supplementation and MCTs (if I cook with Ginger I don’t supplement it in capsule form, otherwise, I try to take 2 caps with each significant meal), which for me seem to enhance the metabolic agility of days on higher real foods carbs and days on very low carbs and a day or two of IF or a 24 hour fast and supports subtle ongoing recomposition w/ backsliding prevented.

Hopefully someday soon there will be controlled studies that prove out how to best optimize/tweak for different categories of folks, such as midlife females! I’d be a willing guinea pig. :sweat_smile:

#30

I gained a lot from this 1972 book… He touches on things I haven’t seen in any of the newer keto books. For example:

I am so glad I caught what he said about diuretics in combination with his ketogenic diet, because I was taking a diuretic and it was causing orthostatic hypotension, migraines, ultra dry and all problems related to severe dehydration. It has actually caused me to have to quit the keto diet more than once in the past 3 years. I quit the diuretic yesterday and am feeling much better… no more low blood pressure/faintness when standing, less of a headache now… skin is much better… more normal stools (instead of very liquid). Here’s what he said on page 124:

WHY THIS DIET AND DIURETICS DON’T COMBINE. Now the reason why diuretics must be discontinued is a little different: The diet itself is a very potent diuretic. (Yes, the seven to ten pound losses we frequently see the first week are partly due to the natural diuretic effect of the diet.)

So you see, when a synthetic diuretic is combined with the diet, it leads to uncomfortable and even dangerous symptoms of salt depletion and depletion of such vital minerals as potassium and calcium (to name only two).

No matter how much extra salt I consumed (I put it in every glass of water I drank), and drinking a gallon of water per day (despite not being thirsty whatsover)… I still was severely dehydrated to where I got my first ever aura migraine the other day – which was really scary with temporary vision artifacting & loss. Now that I am off diuretic I felt thirsty again, thankfully, and starting drinking more water, gained a couple pounds of water weight in a day which is a great thing.

So Keto forever now, diuretic never again! Nothing can stop me now! WHen I’m in ketosis (BHB > 0.8) I have zero hunger and couldn’t eat if I tried. I was stuck at this weight 368 for a long while (2 years) because right when I got into ketosis, and was doing spectacularly well with weight loss and blood glucose control, I got too dehydrated and to always get out of a ketosis above 0.8. Perpetually hungry because stuck inbetween glycogen burning mode and ketosis… I maintained an 80 lb loss though for years with this. AT least this shows this diet is definitely sustainable in the long term. But again now that the diuretic is gone I suppose I can have levels of 2.0 BHB even with no side effects… and I expect to lose another 200 lbs over the next few years. I am so hopeful now. I never feel better than when I am in ketosis above 1.0 BHB… no hunger, mental clarity, excellent mood. ETc.

(Jane Srygley) #31

I did Atkins when I was 13 going on 14yo. I was up to over 200 lbs, the biggest ever back then. I lost about 25 lbs and kept it off through high school. I still felt like “a blimp” back then at 180 lbs next to all my skinny classmates (in the 1970’s I stood out as a chubby child/teen) but I look back at my photos then and OMG I was so gorgeous and had no clue :pensive:

I subsequently got confused by a multitude of stupid diets and didn’t try low carb again until 2014 when I read an article about a new book on fat “The Big Fat Surprise” I think it was called… Anyhow, I wish the low carb thing had become the standard for weight loss back then. Would have saved me decades of confusion and heartache.

(Troy) #32

Reminds me
Side digression :wink:

I remember in the late 90’s
I personally came across many that tried the Atkins Plan
Much success as well

I can REALLY remember amongst us, " He or she must be on Atkins or Phentermine ":roll_eyes:
That’s just OUR circle talk back then
I was a part of it…:sweat:

Or right after, the over the counter Metabolife? … ( ephedra stuff ) before removed by FDA if I remember correctly
I tried that
Good kick🤪
Man!!
Freaking jitters all the time
Yet, I Still consumed

Ahh
Life
Sigh