Thread: Atkins Diet Pros and Cons

We all know what Atkins diet is and we know how it works. However, just like any other diets, this one has it's positives and negatives as well. Here are a few of them:

Pros

1. You don’t get hungry since large amounts of permitted foods can be consumed.
2. You are not restricted to eat meat, cheese, eggs or other high fat foods
3. If you stick to this diet, it will help stop cravings for bread and sweets
4. Forbidden foods like steak, butter and cream are part of the meal plan
5. The diet plan is easy to follow

Cons

1. Compared to low calorie diet, you lose more weight after the first 6 months when on Atkins diet. However, after one year, the difference are insignificant.
2. Since your body is using fat as energy, it could increase your uric acid and ketones, which could lead to health problems like kidney problems and gout.
3. The high amount of animal fat on the diet could increase cholesterol levels and lead to heart disease.
4. Does not conform with AHA's (American Heart Association) guidelines for healthy heart
5. Users of this diet experience side effects like halitosis, constipation, and dehydration.

No wonder this diet is so popular. Eating forbidden foods while losing weight could attract anyone. My diet restricts high fat foods but I'm not sorry I chose it. My diet works for me. I've been on this diet for 3 years now. =D

Who wouldn't want to eat steak in a regular basis and still lose weight right? The side effects are scary but they are expected. All diets have their own disadvantages.

That's true sasa. It's good that viktoria posted this. It's important to know both good and bad side of this diet. Thanks viktoria.

Is Atkins diet a fad diet? I read it in some articles and they listed Atkins Diet as one of the fad diets. Is there any truth to it?

I did read some reviews and they did refer Atkins as the most well known fad diets since weight loss only happens on the first 6 months and are not sustained after that. Also, the long term safety concern of low-carb, high-protein diets is still unknown.

Originally Posted by viktoria

1. Compared to low calorie diet, you lose more weight after the first 6 months when on Atkins diet. However, after one year, the difference are insignificant.

I would disagree. I know a number of people who lost a great deal of weight and their weight loss did not suddenly decrease after 6 months. A lot depends on how much you have to lose. Atkins, contrary to popular myth...thank you, media...is not an all you can stuff into your face way of eating. Atkins promotes eating low carb vegies (broccoli, etc.), eating only when hungry and, if you stop losing, take a hard look at how many fats you are eating. The closer you are to your goal weight, the more you will have to pay attention to calories as well...and Atkins was clear on this.

There also is no evidence that a low carb diet, high in animal fat, will lead to increased cholesterol levels. In fact, the very opposite is happening with people who live a low carb diet...and I'm not talking about people who cheat and go back to their old ways every other week. Those who stick to a low carb way of eating show both good and bad cholesterols coming into normal ranges.

If users are complaining of dehydration, that is hardly the fault of Atkins diet. It is *their* fault for not drinking enough water. Same with constipation. If they were truly following Atkins, the water and vegetables they should be eating would take care of that. The halitosis also goes away as carbs are added back into the diet.

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These are great information CellarElf. You really know your diet and I really appreciate that. If one wants to try Atkins to lose weight, what advice would you give them to be successful in staying fit?

Originally Posted by mikaela

If one wants to try Atkins to lose weight, what advice would you give them to be successful in staying fit?

They first need to realize that it is a commitment to a specific way of eating, just as Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and others are. In other words, educate yourself on the rules and guidelines. It's amazing how many people claim to be 'doing Atkins' and they've never read the book. So first...read the book. There are several revisions of Atkins over the last 40 years but I use his original 1972 book. There are just slight differences in his later books but I think his first is much 'cleaner' although some find it too restrictive. Whichever book the person chooses, they need to follow it. Also and just my .02...I wouldn't get any book published after 2002 as these were written by other people after Dr. Atkins death and looks to be some serious compromising going on.

Second, don't skip steps. Yes, induction is difficult but it's only two weeks and the purpose is to rid your body of the excess carbs which in turn will put you in ketosis (this is *not* the dangerous ketoacidosis that diabetics must watch out for) which in turn will create an appetite suppressing effect *as long as* they stick to the low carb requirements. The first week is the most difficult and where many fall away. In order to give any diet a fair trial, you really need to stick to it for a month...without cheating.

Third, Atkins is not a license to gorge yourself. He clearly states to eat until you're satisfied. During the first 2 weeks I was constantly eating. I was never satisfied. I'd guess I was eating 2500-3000 calories per day. I realize now that it was due to carb withdrawal and the terrible cravings but still...eat until satisfied. By the end of 2 weeks, my calories dropped somewhere down around 1600 per day just because I was satisfied on less. Instead of eating a 10 oz cheeseburger for lunch with my small salad or low carb vegies (green beans, broccoli, etc.), I was eating a 3 oz cheeseburger. 'Satisfied' may change on a daily basis, by the way.

Keep a food journal that records your everything you stick in your mouth (even a breath mint), how you're feeling, etc. If you stall or start gaining, then you can look back and pinpoint where it's going wrong. I use Fitday.com for tracking my food and keep a separate journal on my computer. I hit a several month stall after my first 75 pounds so I started recording everything (I hadn't up to that point) and realized that in addition to the 40 carbs I was eating...I was eating another 30-40 in 'hidden' carbs. One tiny breath mint has 2 carbs and I was popping them like they were free! Oops.

A warning about Atkins. Atkins is higher fat and higher calorie than most diets. It works though because of the low carbs. Weight loss does occur. Diabetes and blood pressure are/can be controlled without medication. Good and bad cholesterols do come within normal range. Some of this can take up to 3 months with initial 'abnormal increases' to come into normal range. Within a month of starting Atkins *with no cheats* I was able to stop taking my diabetes and blood pressure medication.

Bottom line...if used properly, the tool works.

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This is a great read. Thanks for sharing that the book published after 2002 were written by other people after Dr. Atkins death because it looks there are serious compromising going on. Many of the dieters who follow the Atkins Diet do not know that for sure. You pointed it our very clearly that Atkins do work if you only understand and follow the rules. I believe that it's the same with natural weight loss. Keeping a journal is a great idea because you can always go back to trace what's causing weight gain if there is during the dieting process.