I used to think it was full of c--- too along with most "fad" diets, but I saw 3 people I work with lose between 35-50 pounds in about three months - and these were BIG fast food guys with desk jobs. So I tried it for three weeks and lost the 10 pounds I'd been trying to lose forever and it does seem to work. I also have a few relatives who use it as a quick weight maintenance program whenever they pack on a few and they swear by it - one an ex-smoker who didn't want to gain weight after she quit. The diet is popular with Hollyweird and anorexics too - which is probably a sign there's something legitimate happening.

During those three weeks I did a bit of research and it seems that there may be something to the Atkins low carb mantra - and that is why KFC and other fast food places are now trying to modify their menus. According to some sources 20 million Americans are now on a carb-restricted diet and the bread, sugar and fast food industries are feeling the impact.

Supposedly the body gets an insulin rush when one eats carbs. The blood then facilitates the processing of fat. In a carb restricted diet - the insulin level is down and the body has to feed off of the stored carbs to process the protein and passes over most of the fat. The key is to eat a lean protein based diet - without going overboard on the fats - stuff like tuna, grilled chicken, lean hamburger, etc - stuff one eats anyway even on a low calorie, low fat diet. When I read the Arnold article in Esquire - I noted he doesn't eat bread either when he wants to lose weight. If his wife Maria is any example - the diet probably works pretty well. In her case I think it would help if she knew when to stop. From my experience - it works and only the first week was tough to adjust to throwing away the bread from your burgers. ;-)

Since then I have kept up with news of the diet and the latest study showed that low carb eaters lose more than their low-fat dieting counterparts even when they consume an extra 700 calories a day. In theory that should be impossible unless the science behind Atkins is basically legitimate. Most doctors agree something is happening, but are hesitant to endorse it - saying long term effects are "unknown". But I think that is the pharmaceutical industry talking who want to sell you a bunch of appetite suppressant weight loss drugs. I certainly suffered no ill side-effects.

Perhaps after Thanksgiving and after I pack on a few pumpkin and pecan pie pounds- I'll try it again.

;-)

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