The Atkins Diet Plan - Readers Speak Out.

First, my opinion about the Atkins diet plan

I personally believe that the only benefit to the Atkins diet plan is it's emphasis on reducing the amount of sugar and other refined carbohydrates in the diet. While the Atkins diet plan does emphasize the need for healthy vegetables, it discourages most fruit - and many adherents ignore the veggies anyway.

The Atkins diet plan reduces the carbohydrates to a very low amount, especially in the first few weeks on the program. Your brain cannot work well without glucose, which is built from carbohydrates. Ketones are toxic, they create an acidic environment within the body that damages organs like the kidneys, and can speed cell death and the possibility of cancer.

However, Atkins is right - sugar and white flour are also toxic. The naturally occurring carbohydrates that are available in fruits and vegetables are not - they are desperately needed by your body, and Americans don't eat anywhere enough of them on a daily basis. The Atkins diet plan does say you should eat your veggies, but many folks just go for the bunless hamburgers and the cream in their coffee, truly believing that they've made a healthy choice.

There's at least one additional problem with the Atkins diet plan, in my opinion. When people give up the use of the pure chemical substances of sugar and white flour they experience withdrawal symptoms as the body detoxifies itself from the effects of a poor diet. This process takes only a week or two.

On the Atkins diet plan, these withdrawal symptoms are overlaid by the effects of toxicity that builds up in the total absence of carbohydrates. The ketones that the Atkins diet plan creates (and which are considered to be a "good" thing by this weigh loss program's proponents), will cause feelings of nausea and other symptoms.

The sugar withdrawal symptoms happen because a toxic substance has been removed from the diet, and the body is now rebuilding it's health. Ketone symptoms are caused by adding a toxic substance to the body, and you feel as though you are being poisoned - because you are. The Atkins diet plan actually requires people to ignore the very obvious symptoms of poisoning.

I personally believe that what America needs is not a dangerous diet plan that leaves out hundreds, if not thousands, of important nutrients, and replace them with a few expensive manufactured supplements. What we need instead is to rid our bodies of sugar and white flour, and replace these empty calories with the nutrition the body is really crying for - the nutrition found in fruit, vegetables, nuts and whole grains.

Obviously, millions of people disagree with me, and I'd love to hear why. Please send your opinions to me at jonni@howtothinkthin.com with ATKINS FEEDBACK in the subject line.

Feedback from George:

I started the Atkins diet the first week-end in march i have lost 27lbs i was told three years ago i had diabetes i was worn out taking med.my blood sugar has come down to were it needs to be between 80 to 115 without taking med.i check my sugar 4times a day.i have follow DR.Atkins book to the letter the low carbohydrates products i have bought are the low carbohydrates candy bars which are about the same price has a reg.candy bar.but mostly i to try read the labels on food products.One thing that has help me on this diet is i am a big meat eater but i still eat my veg.and drink my water.I stress water is a must with this diet

Feedback from James:

Six weeks ago, I went to my dentist to have my quarterly teeth cleaning. For the first time in the 15 years I had used this office, the hygienist took my blood pressure (a new practice for patients over fifty) and told me my pressure was "high". I'm a very infrequent visitor to my doctor and this was the first time I had been told I had high blood pressure. I made an appointment to see my doctor the next day. At that visit, my blood pressure was 140/90, the top of the normal range (and bottom of the borderline range), and I weighed in at 340 pounds (I'm 6 feet 4 inches tall and 51 years old.) My weight was 22 pounds greater than the last time I had weighed a year and a half before and I was obviously concerned about my blood pressure.

I knew several people, including family members, who had had good success with the Atkins plan so I started it that day. I knew Dr. Atkin's theory behind his diet and applied it to my daily routine long before I read his book. Six weeks later I have lost 33 pounds, my blood pressure is 128/74 and I feel 100% better. I had developed sleep apnia, but now sleep like a baby (I used to wake up every hour or so during the night, but now sleep straight through. I used to fall asleep at all times of the day...this no longer happens, ever. I have had chronic indigestion all my life...I haven't had it once in the last six weeks.

These are just a few of the improvements I've experienced. I do understand that many of the things I'm seeing are a product of simply dropping 10% of my body mass, but I'm beginning to believe goals I have set might be achievable. I have been overweight all my life and have tried many different diet plans over the years. Each has had its measure of success, but none ever made me feel as good as I feel today.

This is not a testimonial for the Atkins plan but a tribute to a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. I'm just now beginning to learn the Atkins approach to healthy living. My goal is 220 pounds. I haven't weighed under 225 pounds in 30 years. I'm hoping I have enough common sense to stay healthy while working towards this goal. My resistance to flu's and colds always seems to drop whenever I in a weight loss mode. I was researching proper vitamin and mineral supplements when I stumbled across this website. I'll let you know how I\'m doing from time to time.

Feedback from Laurie:

I am using the Atkin's diet and I am allowed carbs! The Atkin's Diet encourages us to eat a measured amount of "good Carbs" , it does not say no carbs! Nuts, vegetables and fruits are allowed and seen as these good carbs but in a controlled way, how can a Doctor who says he has researched this diet ignore the very basic and much repeated outlined basis of this diet? Ketosis is only a part of the diet, finding your level of tolerance for the healthy carbs ,your daily count, is the most important, not sustaining ketosis, or losing weight, Maintaining a healthy weight with a eye on controlling and having those good carbs is the key! Do you think sugar and white flour is a better poison than our own bodies reaction (Ketones) the byproduct of using it's own fat?(the same fat which was laid on because of too much of that sugar and white flour?)

(Note from your webmaster - I heartily agree with Laurie when she says that sugar and white flour are poison - but these substances can be safely removed from the diet without using the Atkins diet. I think we still need more solid research to know for sure if this diet is safe.)

Of course, the biggest problem with any diet is finding the perseverance to carry through with the program. That's why Jonni created the Weight Loss: How to Keep Your Commitment program - it gives you the full understanding of the reasons that fattening food seems so irresistible. And then it gives you proven strategies for transforming your destructive cravings into powerful life-giving signals that lead you to the healthy foods that actually cause natural weight loss.

Jonni's program includes a printable e-book and a full month of follow-up audio emails to give you the support you need. One reader wrote to me and said:

"Your ebook delivers common sense, proven and simple methods for ensuring that the inevitable setbacks are of little or no consequence, resulting in overall and long-term success. I can honestly say I am more hopeful than ever before of returning to a size 12 and staying there."

To find out more about this program, click here.

Jonni Good is the author of most of the original articles on this site. Jonni always looks for the easy way to solve common health problems, by working with human nature. Her books have helped hundreds of people lose weight, get fit, and regain their health - with less struggle. Please take a moment to visit her other sites:

Do You Gain Weight... Even when you eat less than your thinner friends? Learn why it happens, and how to use nutritious, satisfying food to break the metabolic pattern that causes some people to gain weight too easily.

Sugar Cravings and Addiction – Describes a simple program to help people break their addiction to sugar and fat. This book has been popular ever since it came out in 2003, and has helped hundreds of people lose their cravings for sugar and other simple carbs. Once the cravings are under control, it's easier to stick with your diet and regain your health.

Weight Lifting for Absolute Beginners – A guide to lifting weights for strong muscles and bones.

The Easy-Does-It Diet – A guide to creating your own delicious and healthy frozen diet meals. Eat healthy, low-fat meals without paying extra for store-bought frozen diet food.

Disclaimer: This site and the articles contained here are for information purposes only. The authors have made every effort to make sure the information is accurate, but no health decisions should ever be made based on this or any other website. Please contact your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.

The Atkins Diet Plan - Readers Speak Out.

Feedback from George:

Feedback from James:

Feedback from Laurie:

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