Atkins Diet Appeal

Whatever happened to the Atkins diet revolution?

Not so long ago, the english speaking world was absolutely enamored with the Atkins diet. For a while there, carbohydrates were perceived not as friend, but foe. Bread, pasta and even the potato were the ominous opponents. Why were muffins shunned, even though they contain about 27 grams of fat (1 large commercially prepared blueberry)? 69g of carbs; that's why.

The carbohydrate opposition prevailed. It was a powerful weapon against obesity — in the minds of the dieters. This 'diet' possibly changed the nation's eating beliefs for all time. Maybe the Atkins diet appeal was the fact that it appeared easy to implement, as compared to The Zone — in my humble opinion, a superior diet — and its complicated ratios.

The motto uttered on every street, and around every corner was: meat is good; carbs are bad. Restaurant managers raced to make changes to their menus to fit with what their customers were ordering. Bars even catered to the craze by promoting diet coke and rum as a diet-friendly drink — 1oz of rum has only 65 calories!

Grains and other sources of carbohydrates have sustained us for millennia. Why did so many, suddenly decide that they were not good for us? Perhaps people joined the Atkins diet revolution because it encouraged the consumption of meat and fat. Meat lovers rejoice! We now have a diet just for us. Grill it, fry it, broil it. The idea of meat was pleasing to plenty.

The emphasis on meat in the Atkins diet was perceived as easier to carry out than a macro-biotic — or more appropriately, a balanced — diet would have been. To this day, I cannot see a large number of Americans getting rid of their barbeques. Finally though, the Atkins diet was examined by those that thought it might be detrimental to the health. The consensus is: when followed for long periods of time, high protein/low carb diets result in potassium loss due to increased sodium and phosphorus retention. Potassium is needed for the heart, people; eat you fruits and vegetables. period.

Regardless of whether you adhere to the Atkins diet, or any other diet, the reality is that weight loss is achieved by — balanced — portion control and regular exercise. No matter what's on your menu, you must consume less in order to drop pounds. In my experience, weight loss is about counting calories and duration (and quality) of exercise. I'm not of the belief that dieters have to give up their favorite foods in order to lose weight. Restraint is important and perseverance is imperative.

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