Question about Atkins

[RJC]

I was just wondering how this diet works for so many when the high fat foods are so high in calories? From what I've learned you need to have a caloric deficit to lose and wondered how these people lose so much weight eating bacon,full fat cheese, and full fat dressings etc...

[lalareb05]

You might want to check out the Keto forum. LOTS of information!

[twinnett]

Fats fill them up and they eat less...

[SumthinOrNuthin]

There have been many studies done on this for precisely the reasons you state. I saw a couple of TV progs some time ago covering a couple of these studies. One proved that it is the protein that fills people up, and because they eat very few carbs and were so full from the protein, they maintained a deficit. Sure, the high fat content was there, but the lack of carbs and the fullness they felt ful from the protein, they were in a deficit. This was backed up by testing people eating a set number of cals from almost exclusively carbs, protein or fat and judging how long til they reported feeling hungry again. Those eating just carbs felt hungry again before the rest. Those eating fats were next, then the protein group who lasted longest before feeling hungry again.

Another proved what I have always thought - Atkins can work for eveyone, but unless you exercise (like our friends on the keto forum), you're going to store up future probs. The people studied all lost significant amounts of muscle mass as well as fat and water weight. Loss of muscle mass can be prevented by resistance training - you can in fact gain muscle. If you lose a load of muscle and fat, then fall off the wagon and revert to your previous weight, all the weight added back is fat - the muscle has been lost. So, you end up the same weight, but your BF% is higher. So, you're fatter than you were so start with.

I do think though that Atkins, or rather the Atkins principle used in a keto prog, is absolutely ideal for some people - those who are prone to insulin resistance, ladies with PCOS and those who just prefer to eat in the keto style. But it has to go hand in hand with resistance training.

[ShortMonster]

Originally Posted by SumthinOrNuthin

There have been many studies done on this for precisely the reasons you state. I saw a couple of TV progs some time ago covering a couple of these studies. One proved that it is the protein that fills people up, and because they eat very few carbs and were so full from the protein, they maintained a deficit. Sure, the high fat content was there, but the lack of carbs and the fullness they felt ful from the protein, they were in a deficit. This was backed up by testing people eating a set number of cals from almost exclusively carbs, protein or fat and judging how long til they reported feeling hungry again. Those eating just carbs felt hungry again before the rest. Those eating fats were next, then the protein group who lasted longest before feeling hungry again.

Another proved what I have always thought - Atkins can work for eveyone, but unless you exercise (like our friends on the keto forum), you're going to store up future probs. The people studied all lost significant amounts of muscle mass as well as fat and water weight. Loss of muscle mass can be prevented by resistance training - you can in fact gain muscle. If you lose a load of muscle and fat, then fall off the wagon and revert to your previous weight, all the weight added back is fat - the muscle has been lost. So, you end up the same weight, but your BF% is higher. So, you're fatter than you were so start with.

I do think though that Atkins, or rather the Atkins principle used in a keto prog, is absolutely ideal for some people - those who are prone to insulin resistance, ladies with PCOS and those who just prefer to eat in the keto style. But it has to go hand in hand with resistance training.

Very nicely written..IMO keto is better though.

[RJC]

Thanks for the great response! I'm still doing trial and error and figuring out what works for me.

The atkins thing got me wondering because my mom just lost 14lbs. in 3 wks. but she's pretty heavy and does not exercise so it would fit her lifestyle a lot better than mine.