The EVIL diet

[fidcastro]

So, about a month ago I crested the 250 mark, which is the heaviest I've ever been. I don't think I'm all that big (I'm 6'2") but my wife was giving me a hard time. So she convinced me to start the Atkins diet about a week and a half ago. I've lost 13 pounds, BUT I HAVEN'T HAD A BEER IN A WEEK AND A HALF!!!:mad:

I think I'm dying here. For some reason (a combination of love and a 5th anniversary promise) I agreed to do this for a month.

Anyone out there tried this? I'm worried that its pointless 'cause the weight will come flooding back when football season hits and the beer flows freely again.

Fid

[fretlessman71]

When I decided to lose weight, I gave myself a few "landmark goals." This way, I could still have things I loved to consume, and I'd be motivated. Here's how it works: Pick a food or caloric beverage that you can't live without (in your own mind) and say, "I'm going to swear off this luxury until I reach THIS weight." This weight may be, say, 5-10 lbs. away (I did 5 at a time). When you get there, you celebrate with whatever you were unable to consume during that period, but you then set a NEW goal, and pick a NEW food that you won't consume. I had beer on my list; there was also fast food, chocolate, and any sort of pizza. I've lost nearly 20 pounds (from 213 to 195) doing it this way.

By the way.... Guinness has very little carbs. You might convince your wife that it's doing less harm than good for you to have one once in a while. :)

[quantum24]

i know people who have lost 30+ lbs on the diet very quickly, the trick to keeping the weight off is to maintain a carb restricted diet after you hit your target weight. btw, if you need a little pick me up straight vodka has the fewest carbs.

[Fast_Eddy]

I maintain a pretty low carb diet. You're probably still in the Induction Phase...but after Induction you can boost your carbs up to around 40 grams a day. You can easily sneak a beer or two in with that many carbs. So there is light at the end of the tunnel. And just like fretlessman71 said - Guinness is relatively low in carbs(about 6.5 per 12 oz, if I remember correctly) so have one and be thankful for dextrins and mouthfeel ;)

[fidcastro]

You guys rule. I had no idea Guinness was so low in carbs. I'm only on induction for a few more days, so I think I WILL celebrate. How do you know how many carbs are in Guinness? Realbeer has a table (http://www.realbeer.com/edu/health/calories.php ) but they don't list Guinness, and most of the low carb beers on the list aren't very appetising...

I wonder how many carbs are in a homebrew...

[fuji6100]

go here


http://www.brewery.org/brewery/infobase/AlcCalTables.html

hope that helps ~_^

[Fast_Eddy]

http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/logout/calorie_counter/alcohol.htm


The above says that Guinness has 1.5 g carbs/100 ml. So that's:


8.53 g carbs/ imperial pint

5.31 g carbs/ american 12 oz.

.44 g carbs/american oz

[S.F.B.]

I have been doing the low carb eating now for almost the past year. I am not on it all the time, though. I take little hiatuses every few months for a treat. I have lost 2 inches off my middle and have a lot more energy. One thing I have learned is to watch that you don't cut too many carbs out. Especially if you exercise regularly.

Regarding beer, I try to limit it to the weekends. One of the books my wife read said that a glass of red wine per day is O.K. which is good because I love wine.

If you do get carried away and binge a bit, don't punish yourself. Just get back to it the next day.

[fretlessman71]

As far as the wine goes, later studies have shown that it's not just red wine that is beneficial, but alcohol in general as long as it's consumed in moderation (i.e., 1-2 drinks per night). The grapes have nothing to do with it. So enjoy your beer whenever you like! Cheers!

[fidcastro]

OK Fret, I'm taking your advice. Today marked 15 pounds lost, so I am celebrating the landmark with Guinness!:D

I actually like this diet. I get to eat all the meat and fat I want and I'm losing weight. If only pizza and beer were solid protien...

[paul84043]

They actually say not to do that diet as a long term thing...

I run, three times a week and have maintained a very shapely 215. I'm 6'5".

The benefits of the exercise go far beyond my ability to guzzle homebrew in excess every night. But I can't think of what they are....:D

Personally, I have seen more people lose weight and keep it under control on a Weight watchers, point type program. Much easier, because you really can eat what you want.

God I'm glad I'm a genetically predisposed skinny person....

I know..I'll drink one for each of you every night, how's that?

What?....go do WHAT to myself? HOW RUDE!!!

[Fast_Eddy]

I'm gonna mostly agree with Paul here - I'm 6'0" and I stay around 175-180 lbs. I hit the gym regularly - 2 or 3 times a week. Nothing replaces exercise. But I also maintain a sorta Atkin's-ish diet. Mostly protein, very few carbs.

The one thing I'd say is that who is "They" in the sentence They actually say not to do that diet as a long term thing... ?
It's only very recently that any reputable studies(Harvard is doing one for instance) have been done on Atkins and they mostly say that people aren't able to say on it for life - not that they shouldn't.

[paul84043]

Just what I've heard through the grapevine. Something about deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals.

"they" are the aliens that land on the roof and distribute information, then leave...great for pawning responsibliity for decisions off onto...."It's not my fault..."they" told me to do it!!"

I basically live that diet anyway, if it were up to me, all I would eat would be meat, cheese and eggs. Until I get mad cow disease, that is.

It's not that I put myself on a diet, I just don't ever eat bread and pasta and stuff like that...I'm too lazy.

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by paul84043

It's not that I put myself on a diet, I just don't ever eat bread and pasta and stuff like that...I'm too lazy.

I'm down with ya brother ;)

[paul84043]

My wife thinks I'm crazy, thier family eats bread with everything.
I'll barbeque a big steak, plop it on a plate, and that's dinner,
What else do you need?

Oh, yeah...the beer!!

[fidcastro]

I actually DO work out 3 to 5 times a week, but from January to July I went from 215 to 252. I blame stress and pretzels. Pretzels have TONS of carbs.

It could also be that trip to Belgium I took that was all about drinking a lot of different beers and eating a lot of new foods. I think I probably gained 10-15 just in those 3 weeks...

Anyway... I'm out of induction now, so I am up to a respectable allowance of carbs now, so a beer a day isn't gonna hurt me.

[Brewdepest]

I hate the Atkins diet, and any other fad diet that comes along. Diets don't fix anything, exercise does. Don't get me wrong, it's not cool to shovel crap in your face, but this diet can do more harm than good. it could have effects on your liver (and if you're gonna damage your liver, you might as well do it with beer instead of a diet prohibiting beer.)

Last summer I lost about 5 lbs in less than a month by swearing off sodas permanently. Think of cutting other, less painful things, and keep exercising.

Drop the Atkins thing, that's just bad news. All that fat will be bad for your arteries as well.

[Jeff]

I agree with Brewdepest for the most part. I have tried excercise time and again, and didn't get any results. I started trying something new 3 months ago, and have learned about portion sizes and selecting foods. Since May I have dropped thirty five pound and plan on going for more.

Don't get me wrong I can still drink beer, and still eat what I want, but I am much more careful for most meals. If I go out to dinner I eat whatever I want, but the next day I am more careful. On Sunday went out to dinner and had a full rack of baby back ribs with two delicous micros at the local brew pub, so yesterday I ate very conservatively and feel just fine.

[Brownbeard]

I recently delt with this, lost 40 pounds last year. The best advice I can give is eat slowly, and chew excessively. You will get full on less food. It takes a while for your body to register it has had enough, and if you eat too fast, it will not let you know in time.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, this is pure theory, do not take my advice, it will probably kill you.

[fidcastro]

Originally posted by Brewdepest
this diet can do more harm than good. it could have effects on your liver (and if you're gonna damage your liver, you might as well do it with beer instead of a diet prohibiting beer.)

Where is your info from about damaging the liver?

And to clarify, it is not a diet that prohibits beer. For the first two weeks you shouldn't drink any alcohol, but after that you just need to regulate your carb intake. Also, I eat more vegetables and vitamins than I ever did before, so I can't see how this diet is going to be bad for me.

[hopjack13]

my wife is an athletic trainer, she said the atkins diet (bill?) will help you lose weight fast , but will come back just as fast, if not faster when you start taking carbs again. she says the best way to lose weight is to simply burn more calories then you consume, by excersie and eating right. i think she's right..she thinks she's always right. when i married her i knew she was miss right i just didn't know her first name was always.....he he he
im 6'1" and 220. i know i could probably stand to lose 15 of those but i aint trippen. i did go on the jim fast diet once when i was about 24 or 25...a pint of jim beam for breakfast, a pint of jim beam for lunch...you get the idea, but i don't recomend this diet to anyone.

[Brewdepest]

The thing about the Atkin's diet being bad for your liver came from nutrition class. the reasoning behind it is that it's not healthy for your body to acquire most of it's energy from protein or lipids because the process our bodies use to digest these particular macronutrients creates ketones as a by-product. Ketones cause damage to your liver and kidneys as they filter your blood. Not enough studies have been done covering the long-term effects of the Atkins' diet. It is the exact opposite of what the healthiest people in the world - the Okinawans and Maltese - eat.

To have a healthy weight, there is no magic diet, and there will never be one. The best you can do is control portion sizes, exercise, and limit the amount of junk you consume.

[fidcastro]

People keep chiming in about the Atkins diet as if people on the diet eat excessively and never excercise.

I have always worked out strenuously at least 3 times a week for 45 minutes to an hour-and-a-half. I don't eat giant portions, but up until recently, most of the food I ate was made up of primarily junk-carbs. The Atkins diet helps correct that. I eat more vegetables on this diet than I have in my entire life, and I still don't eat giant portions. Beer, fruit and vegetables are now my primary source of carbs, and I am still working out regularly. Since I started the diet in late July I have lost 20 pounds.

Everyone can have thier oppinions, and mine is that this diet has worked for me, and will continue to. It doesn't work for people who see it as a "lose weight fast" diet and then go back to thier former eating habits. It is meant to be long term.

I am feeling good. I am 20 pounds lighter. I am eating healthy. I am drinking beer.

[chazwicke]

Adkins is a lifestyle change. I have done it twice once in 1999 and lost 60 lbs. Gained it back over one year and I did it again in 2002 and lost 50. I went off it last Christmas and have gained 30 back. So I am on it again. You have to be willing to eat low carbs for life. You find the carb level that is best for you and stay at it.I was doing great until that holiday season then I fell right back to my bad habits. I am 5'11 and weighed 213 today. 165-175 is good for me but I am good at 180 too. My problem is that I have been attending too many Beer festivals this year also. I was just at GBBF and next week I am going to a beer/ breweriana collectors convention in Pittsburgh that will include brewery tours and plenty of beer drinking. Then Oct. 4th is The World of Beer in Durham. I'm sure there will be a few Oktoberfests in between. So it is hard for the hapless beer traveler to stay on the diet. I know many who have done it and are successful. But I agree Adkins must be a lifestyle change and surely works better in conjunction with exercize. I did keep most of it off for a year until I caved at Christmas.

[BluesHarp]

The Atkins diet is famous for it's "yo-yo" effects; yes, it works short term, but almost everybody that does it gains back weight when they stop.
The only real way to lose weight safely is to burn more calories than you take in; this involves exercise, which not only burns calories, but helps keep your metabolism high.
I'm not a doctor either, but I was a competetive bodybuilder. I would go down as low as 2% bodyfat for a contest, and it was by cutting out fat, sugar, and sodium; not complex carbs or protein.
I actually lost the most fat by binging one day a week (up to about three weeks out from a contest); when you deprive you deprive yourself of calories, your body goes into a protective mode and slows your metabolism. The one day of binging fires up the calorie burning mechanism, which lasts for several days.

So, avoid fats and sugars (yes, alcohol), exercise, and allow yourself one "diet-free" day every week or two (have some beers!!)...the pounds will come off.

BTW...I am 5'8", 205 lbs, with a 33" waist, and I probably drink about15-20 beers each week, mostly on the weekend.
I work out 3-4 times each week: 1 - 1.5 hours of weight-training, followed by an hour of kick-boxing and self-defense work...kick-boxing (with a bag or partner, not tai-boe, can burn up to 800-1000 cal/hr)

[Brewdepest]

You can't go "low carb for life." That is HORRIBLE for your body, and it totally goes against everything any medical association on the planet will tell you.

First off, you will be screwing around with your liver and kidneys, for reason I already stated.

Second of all, the reason the Atkin's diet has a "yo-yo" effect is because, though you lose a lot of weight very quickly, it actually has the reverse effect in the long run and slows your metabolism rather than speeds it up.
What happens is that since you are not consuming carbs, your body uses its fat stores instead. Kind of the point right? Wrong.
You are tricking your body into thinking that you are starving, so at first, it will burn protein - that's why the diet calls for so much protein in addition to fat, because if you weren't consuming all those amino acids, your body would be burning your muscles and organs instead.
When your body does beging to burn fat, you lose a lot in the beginning. But as time goes on, the more fat you burn, your body "panics" and starts slowing down your energy consumption in an effort to try and "save" your fat stores. If your body believes that you are starving (and how much you eat or how full you feel has no bearing on this), then it will slow its own metabolism down in order to save what few fat and muscle stores it has left.
In the long run, you're making it more difficult to keep it off and lose it again if/when it comes back.

[fidcastro]

You aren't supposed to go low carb for life.

As has already been pointed out, it is about a lifestyle change. The diet starts out extremely low carb, and you are right, the pounds initially fly off. But you are supposed to gradually add carbs back to your diet until you reach equilibrium. It basically teaches you to eat healthy. It only has a yo-yo effect if you don't change your lifestyle.

Similarly, telling someone they should just "eat right and exercise often" is also a lifestyle change. It will also create a yo-yo effect if someone goes back to their old habits after they lose weight.

I asked my doctor about the diet before I started it, and I asked him again last week. (that would be the 25 pounds lighter me) My cholesterol is better (although it wasn't bad to begin with) and I am overall healthier. Because I am now eating right (a balance of carbs and protein) I have more energy, and feel much better. And yes, I am still working out regularly.

It is a lifestyle changing diet. If you abuse it, it won't work.

[Brewdepest]

Congradulations on your clean bill of health! Now, if more Americans would follow your example and use things like the Atkins and Cabbage diets as a starting point instead of the beginning and the end, we'd all be much happier and healthier. Good job.

[SoxyinMO]

Last summer I lost about five pounds by swearing off sodas permanently

Isn't it amazing, Brewdepest, how not drinking soda makes such a difference? It is so easy at work to walk over to the convenience store and buy a 32 oz soda out of the fountain every day. That's like adding the calories of TWO meals to your day!

That has been my response to "dieting" as well and I've found that by cutting soda, I'm drinking more water. I don't feel as bloated as I did with sodas and I'm not eating as much because all that sugar in my stomach was making me hungry. From Feb to June I went down one clothing size (don't believe in scales) and feel much better. Such a simple thing to do.

[Herb Ninja]

I too have lost a good five pounds by swearing off soda. That may be fine and dandy, but there is something more important then that. I feel allot healthier. No more ulcers, no more drinking soda for breakfast, no more wasting countless dollars dehydrating my body. Not only do I feel healthier, I am healthier. I get sick less often, I have more energy, and i'm happier. Quitting and overcoming my addiction to coca-cola was one of the best things ive ever done and there isn't one good person I wouldn't recommend it to. Caffeine has caused me more harm then any other drug ive consumed, and thats saying allot. ;)

[chazwicke]

I rarely drink any carbonated beverage except beer. (Maybe an occasional fresca.) I am going to start back on Atkins next Monday. I had to wait for several Oktoberfests and Beer fests to be over first. Anyway I am starting back on the 20th. And yes, I do intend to get back to my club and work out as well. Or at least sit in the sauna or steam room.

[chazwicke]

OK, here it is Monday October 20th. I started back on Atkins today after being off it for a year. I weighed in at 233. This time last year I was 185. I know several of you are opposed to this diet but it has worked for me before. I am posting my starting weight here publicly as an additional incentive for me to be successful or risk public humiliation if I do not lose or if I quit. I also intend to incorporate exersize into my plan. wish me good luck as I don't want to have to start buying size 40 waist pants!

[hops99]

This might sound crazy, but a couple years back I lost about 30 pounds (in 3 months) on a low-fat, lots of beer diet - as a matter of fact, I jokingly referred to it as the"beer diet" with my friends. Basically, I exercised every morning and evening, ate relatively low fat foods (lots of veggie burgers, salads, fruits, pretzels, chicken, etc.), but drank more beer than I did even in college.

My biggest problem had always been late-night snacking, and my diet plan had me eat dinner around 7, after getting home from work, exercising for 30 minutes around 9:30, then drinking four or five rich brews - which filled me up and killed my late-night hunger. My metabolism was still rolling along, because I had just worked out, and I worked out again in the morning. Anyway, it worked for me, as strange as it sounds.....

[chazwicke]

The hardest part of reading this board is that it makes you mighty thirsty. And being on the evil diet induction phase is awfully tough when you are reading about so many great beers. But I'm sticking to it. Lost 6 lbs so far and my wife has lost 7. Not bad for 2-3 days.

[BluesHarp]

Chaz...so you went from 185 - 233 by going off the diet? That is the problem with that diet...it doesn't hold, it is a weight loss program, not a "weight control" program. I know people who go on that diet every year; the constant lose-gain cycle is hard on your body.
You say you lost six pounds in 2-3 days? I have to tell you, that is not fat loss, it is mostly water that has been used by your body in an attempt to digest and metabolize all that protein; 2-3 lbs per week is the most you can realistically lose and have it be primarily fat, not water or muscle tissue.
I applaud your efforts, but please be carefull!

[chazwicke]

Thanks for the advice Blues. I am also working out a bit. Just got back from my club.

[Beaver]

Interesting read. Thanks to Fast_Eddy for pointing it out.

I could never do Atkins...I don't go for fad diets and pretty much all I eat is carbs (beer, cereal, sandwiches, crackers).

Late last year I did go from 213 to 192 (eerily similar to Fret from the first page) by riding the exercise bike an hour a day. However my bike broke and I've been waiting for a part to come in for 3 months. So now I'm up to 199.

I am starting to play hockey so I hope that will help.

I try to exercise a lot and eat somewhat sensibly. Different things work for different people though.

[MARK123]

"They" are also heart physicians. You have to agree a fat filled diet is gonna clog arteries and make your heart work overtime!!
The only way to lose weight is simple. burn more calories than you consume. If you eat 2000 calories of carbs and burn 2001 calories, your gonna lose weight!..I think it's easier to do less fat foods which are larger portions per total calories.

[chazwicke]

Hey, I just noticed, I got fat again! Damn!

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by MARK123
"They" are also heart physicians. You have to agree a fat filled diet is gonna clog arteries and make your heart work overtime!!
The only way to lose weight is simple. burn more calories than you consume. If you eat 2000 calories of carbs and burn 2001 calories, your gonna lose weight!..I think it's easier to do less fat foods which are larger portions per total calories.

I'm not advocating the below - simply stating what I've read.

-----------------

One of the underlying notions of Atkins is that fat filled diets do not clog ateries. There was a very compelling article in the New York Times that actually explained that there has never been a proven direct connection between fat intake and high levels of fat in blood. That connection was just assumed based on the idea that people with atherosclerosis usually had higher blood levels of lipids and chloresterol. They never actually proved it was diet that was the primary cause of the high levels in the blood.

If anybody is interested I'll see if I can dig up a link to the article.

[ontap78]

I look to the animal kingdom for logic. The predators eat meat only, basically. They are usually pretty fit looking. Now look at a cow or any other animal that consumes a carb high diet...... BIG GUTS. Also a predator animal is smarter than a carb eater.Probably because it takes brains to get there food unless they scavenge. Is this all coincidence?I'll ponder this while I suck down a high carb homebrew.

[Beaver]

Originally posted by ontap78
I look to the animal kingdom for logic. The predators eat meat only, basically. They are usually pretty fit looking. Now look at a cow or any other animal that consumes a carb high diet...... BIG GUTS. Also a predator animal is smarter than a carb eater.Probably because it takes brains to get there food unless they scavenge. Is this all coincidence?I'll ponder this while I suck down a high carb homebrew.

Predators also get a lot more exercise than cows.

[Herb Ninja]

Youd think beer wouldn't be a worry for gaining weight considering alcohol is a solvent you might presume it makes you smaller. I guess the solution.... drink barleywines/higher alcohol beers? Hah... ;) Peace, HN-

[theincumbent]

The predator/carnivore argument does not hold when considering that carnivorous and mostly carnivorous animals metabolize their foods differently than humans.

Also, did not the original founder of the Atkins diet just die? I believe they did an autopsy and found his arteries were so clogged they were barely working. (I don't have a source on that so let me know if anyone else has heard that.)

It has also been proven that excesses of protein promote cancer in the body, particularly when not balanced by green vegetables. This is due mostly to the growth hormones that are injected and fed to our meat supply. (This is also true for chicken, etc; I am not just knocking the beef supply.)

BTW, How cool is it that they found that alchohol in moderation actually helps the body, particularly in memory funtions!

Sorry for the annoying rant.
Just my .02
I'm thinking steak tonight

[jmassey]

I've heard he just died, too. I know several people on the Atkins that are seeing a lot of success losing weight.

The dad of a friend of mine from college was on the Atkins when, oopsy, he had a heart attack. Luckily, he's still with us. Seems the diet, although you lose weight, can also make you dead. Not worth it in my book.

I guess I'm one of the lucky few that has never had a problem with weight gain. I work my a$$ of trying to put it on, but I think it's hopeless. I have gotten up to - look out now - 173# (5'8"), but that was when I could work out every day and eat more protein than any human really should. Now I just work out to maintain the ol' physique.

I think my metabolism is naturally high (probably b/c I screwed it up in high school wrestling). Even when I eat so much at a buffet, I never gain weight. I can't run anymore (car accident), so all I can really do is workout.

The only true way to lose weight is like someone stated before, burn more calories than you take in. If you eat only a bowl of fat at 2000 calories (absolutely disgusting), and you burn 2500 calories with exercise, you lose weight.

I think the only real diet that works is Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. I think they both work on the principle that you count calories, which are listed as points.

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Hey, I just noticed, I got fat again! Damn!

My philosophy, why fight it?!

[Beerdaily]

I just joined because I want to find a diet that allows me to drink beer and lose weight.

There must be one out there that's easy. I used to know of a "beer and sit-ups" diet, but I'm too old.

Atkins is not the answer for beer drinkers!