Re: OT - Calorie Counts

Annie C wrote:
"K Barrett" <mormodes@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:Qt6dnX4M2MKDdRXVnZ2dnUVZ_rHinZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| "Annie C" <chernow2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
| news:4888d47f$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| >
| > "Greggo" <frankgoodish@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
| >
| > "I am a solid proponent of low-carb eating. I started eating low-carb
| > the day before Christmas 2007 and have lost 99lbs in that time (from
| > 391 to 292). I have 72lbs to go to hit my goal and I have no doubt I
| > will make it. The great thing about eating low-carb is that the diet
| > is qualitative and not quantitative, meaning you can eat as much as
| > you want as long as you eat the right foods. Of course, once you start
| > losing weight, the sheer amount of food you need to consume to prevent
| > hunger goes down."
| >
| >> > You have to watch out, though. Atkins (unless he's changed his
| >> > tune from the early days) actually wants you to go into ketosis.
| >> > THIS IS NOT GOOD.
| >
| > Not true. When the Atkins diet was first promoted in the early 1970's,
| > it was THOUGHT that there was no way that way of eating could be
| > healthy. Several studies set out to prove that opinion, and none did.
| > In fact, lately there have been many studies that proved the positive
| > effects of low-carb dieting, even above and beyond low-fat dieting.
| > Here's one...
| >
| > http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071701058.html
| >
| > It should also be noted that the Atkins diet, when followed properly,
| > allows "good" carbs after weight loss commences. Consumption of the
| > good carbs from veggies and fruits are not only allowed, but
| > encouraged under Atkins' plan. I personally consume veggies with at
| > least one meal a day now, and fruits for snacks, though in small
| > portions (normally one to one and one half cup a day).
| >
| > *Any* diet can be dangerous. When I hear folks talking about how
| > dangerous low-carb eating is, it always reminds me of the scene in a
| > "Family Guy" episode when the two Guiness Book fat twins are riding
| > their scooters and discussing dieting. When one of the twins says he's
| > thinking about going on a low-carb diet, the other says, "but that's
| > SO unhealthy!".
| >
| >>>Greggo
| >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
| >
| > Greg,
| > Wow, that is a spectacular weight loss! Congratulations -- and hang in
| > there!
| > I can tell you from personal experience that those last pounds will be the
| > hardest to get off.
| > And the plateaus you'll reach can make you crazy.. But you sound totally
| > committed and that's what counts.
| >
| > I'm not a nutritionist, nor am I a doctor, but I would recommend you check
| > with a physician or nutritionist to make sure that you continue doing the
| > right program for you and your health.. and not losing muscle mass, etc.,
| > etc.. I honestly don't know enough about Atkins to comment, but I've
| > observed among fellow weight losers that Atkins seems to work better for
| > men
| > than for women. Just my observation.. which seems to be borne out by the
| > article...
| >
| > Thank you so much for posting that article about the research findings.
| > Their findings on Atkins really surprised me. It also confirms my belief
| > that I did the right thing (at least for me) in following and adapting to
| > a
| > Mediterranean-style diet. This works for me because I choose not to eat
| > beef
| > or pork ( mostly fish/seafood and little poultry) and would never be able
| > to
| > do an Atkins-style program. What is important, I think, is that, in the
| > end,
| > you find that you've changed your approach to food and to eating. I've
| > learned the hard way that maintaining any loss and keeping up with the
| > exercise --after all those pounds are gone -- is been the biggest
| > challenge.
| > At the moment, I'm trying very hard to get back in the groove and mend my
| > 'evil' ways.. since I've gained back a third of my 60 lb loss of 4 years
| > ago.. but it's been a tough road.
| > Best of luck to you!
| >
| > Annie
|
| I'm not a nutritionist nor am I a doctor but I found this Science Friday
| podcast compelling info about carbohydrates.
| http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200711024
|
| K Barrett
|

Thanks for that.Yes, that was quite a discussion! Excellent. I listened to the whole program and took copious notes. In the end, however, it seems that both agreed that there is much research needed to be done in these areas. That is what I came away with. :-) It is an extremely complex subject. And like Dr Krauss, I too am still skeptical.

And, if you listen carefully, they also both said that science still does not have a _definitive answer_ about the role of carbs or the role of fats (all kinds). Is it the processed carbs that have the biggest effect on insulin production -- leading to weight gain and disease? are fruit and veggie and whole grain carbs okay in moderation? or are the fats the culprits in disease and weight gain? Or perhaps both, if too much is consumed? And what is the role of genetic predisposition? They don't know.

Strikingly, neither researcher specifically mentioned the role of exercise, except in passing when they discussed burning more calories than you take in, etc.. Unless you resort to a really low-calorie way of eating, I don't see how a body could lose weight and maintain that loss without increasing levels of activity to the point where you burn off the excess cals. You can't have it both ways.

As for me, I think I'm going to get myself back to the gym more often and stay on my Mediterranean eating plan -it makes me feel great --- at least until someone can prove to me that eating this way is not the best way to stay healthy, for me. I don't think science is close enough to give me a satisfactory, definitive answer in the near future. There are a lot of conflicting opinions and huge knowledge gaps floating around out there... as this program illustrated.

Annie



I love Science Friday on NPR. Glad you liked it. Sometimes they almost seemed to be saying the same thing, but from different points of view. Food for thought (no pun intended). The huge gaps in knowledge are astounding sometimes. My husband became Type II diabetic and the amount of stuff they don't know about diabetes would floor you. Well, it floored me. But what do I know? *G*

For me, and I stress that for me part, on weight watchers it didn't take long for me to realize that if I wanted to lose weight I had to cut out the carbs, cut back on the alcohol, get exercise as well as eat 5 servings of veggies, & add in some meats/protein. As always YMMV. But I'm with you Annie. If eating a Mediterranean diet works for you then go for it (not that you need my approval). Tastes great too. I think the take home message from all the disasters that have happened since Katrina is that you have to save yourself. And I apply that to my health. I'm the only one who can keep me healthy. I lost 47 lbs. Have put back 14 of them and know when to stop so I don't gain much more than that. Which is why I applaud calorie count on menus. Sure, mostly I wouldn't look because if I'm out for dinner its a special occasion, but the info is there if I want it.

Anyway, Glad you liked the SciFri discussion

K Barrett

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT - Calorie Counts
    ... The great thing about eating low-carb is that the diet ... When the Atkins diet was first promoted in the early 1970's, ... |> allows "good" carbs after weight loss commences. ...
    (rec.arts.mystery)
  • Re: LOSING (WATER) WEIGHT (THE ATKINS WAY)
    ... > My mom is on this retarded diet. ... She really hasn't lost much weight, either, despite ... Time to Take Low-Carb Diets Seriously? ... low-fat diets to assess effects on cholesterol levels and weight loss. ...
    (sci.med.cardiology)
  • Re: LOSING (WATER) WEIGHT (THE ATKINS WAY)
    ... > My mom is on this retarded diet. ... She really hasn't lost much weight, either, despite ... Time to Take Low-Carb Diets Seriously? ... low-fat diets to assess effects on cholesterol levels and weight loss. ...
    (sci.med)
  • Re: OT - Calorie Counts
    ... "I am a solid proponent of low-carb eating. ... When the Atkins diet was first promoted in the early 1970's, ... It should also be noted that the Atkins diet, when followed properly, ...
    (rec.arts.mystery)
  • Re: OT - Calorie Counts
    ... "I am a solid proponent of low-carb eating. ... When the Atkins diet was first promoted in the early 1970's, ... It should also be noted that the Atkins diet, when followed properly, ...
    (rec.arts.mystery)