Well, except that the writer omits the one thing that is definitely known about all diets: "going on a diet" makes you gain weight in the long run, most of the time.
Most people go on a diet, lose weight (because you can lose weight on any diet, if you stick to it) and then go back to their normal pattern of eating. They then gain back all the weight they lost, plus a bit more. For most people this doesn't matter all that much, physically, because people inclined to go on a diet will often go on a diet if they've gained ten pounds. Losing ten pounds to gain twelve pounds over the course of six months or so doesn't hurt that much. But keep repeating it for increasing amounts of weight over a lifetime, and, well, you can have a serious health problem.
The real problem with the diet industry is that more and more people see "going on a diet" as the only way to lose weight. Which is as foolish and unhealthy a belief as the belief that you can't get anywhere without a car.
(Though eating vast portions of refined carbohydrates with lots of fat and sugar doesn't help, no.)
Of course, none of this says that whole grains are bad for you, yet -- at least in the US, and judging from the behavior of most people on the Atkins diet and the makeup of most foods that are marketed with the "Atkins" label -- everyone's giving up carbohydrates without even ever having tried quinoa or teff or spelt or barley or millet or probably even brown rice or whole-wheat bread that isn't just white bread with a little food coloring added.
I think the major problem here is that once you go "on a diet" you must stay with it of go "off" the diet.
For some people, they can "stick with it" which in fact means they have changed their lives. Other people see it as a challenge, a task, a burden, and eventually they will "fail" and go back to their old ways.
I believe the "trick" or rather the no-trick is to change your life. Easier said than done? Of course. But I did not lose 40 pounds and keep it off for three years but quick fixes. I did it by changing some basic things about my life. My "diet" as in the food I eat every day changed, my exercise changed, and my medical attention changed (the thyroid treatment).
I still want to change more things and I am doing so slowly. I deserve to be healthy and happier and changing my eating habits and exercise habits will change all of that.
Every diet has it's dangers - mental and physical. Any type of restrictive diet has the potential to deprive you of things you need. Now yes, smart people are careful and balance everything, but really, you know and I know that the majority of very nice, perfectly intelligent people will mess things up - especially if they are emotionally involved - and being overweight and your reaction to it is invariably emotional.
In any case. I *have* taken inspiration from popular diet trends. The "low-carb" and Atkins ideas have reminded me to be choosy about the carbs I eat. Not eliminate them, but we aware of what I am eating. If I really want that muffin I shall have it - but if it's just a "nibbly thing" then I'll have an apple, a couple slices of tomato, or nothing instead.
I have lost a little more weight over the last few months and I plan on losing a still more, *and* getting stronger and more fit at the same time.
So, there are my "two bits" on the subject. Do with them what you will.
I'm not too big a fan of the Atkins diet, though I know people who have been able to lose weight by following it.
I remain skeptical of much pro-Atkins publicity that originates from the Atkins camp:
Those scientific studies that support the Atkins diet? Only a few exist, and all were funded by the Atkins folks.
The NYT Magazine article quoted? Interesting, but getting dated (July, 2002) and stirred up a bit of controversy. See follow-up articles here and here.
I'm all for being healthy through various paths. Being informed about your chosen path(s) is always a plus.
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andrewducker) wrote2004-03-07 10:10 am
no subject
Most people go on a diet, lose weight (because you can lose weight on any diet, if you stick to it) and then go back to their normal pattern of eating. They then gain back all the weight they lost, plus a bit more. For most people this doesn't matter all that much, physically, because people inclined to go on a diet will often go on a diet if they've gained ten pounds. Losing ten pounds to gain twelve pounds over the course of six months or so doesn't hurt that much. But keep repeating it for increasing amounts of weight over a lifetime, and, well, you can have a serious health problem.
The real problem with the diet industry is that more and more people see "going on a diet" as the only way to lose weight. Which is as foolish and unhealthy a belief as the belief that you can't get anywhere without a car.
(Though eating vast portions of refined carbohydrates with lots of fat and sugar doesn't help, no.)
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My thoughts
For some people, they can "stick with it" which in fact means they have changed their lives. Other people see it as a challenge, a task, a burden, and eventually they will "fail" and go back to their old ways.
I believe the "trick" or rather the no-trick is to change your life. Easier said than done? Of course. But I did not lose 40 pounds and keep it off for three years but quick fixes. I did it by changing some basic things about my life. My "diet" as in the food I eat every day changed, my exercise changed, and my medical attention changed (the thyroid treatment).
I still want to change more things and I am doing so slowly. I deserve to be healthy and happier and changing my eating habits and exercise habits will change all of that.
Every diet has it's dangers - mental and physical. Any type of restrictive diet has the potential to deprive you of things you need. Now yes, smart people are careful and balance everything, but really, you know and I know that the majority of very nice, perfectly intelligent people will mess things up - especially if they are emotionally involved - and being overweight and your reaction to it is invariably emotional.
In any case. I *have* taken inspiration from popular diet trends. The "low-carb" and Atkins ideas have reminded me to be choosy about the carbs I eat. Not eliminate them, but we aware of what I am eating. If I really want that muffin I shall have it - but if it's just a "nibbly thing" then I'll have an apple, a couple slices of tomato, or nothing instead.
I have lost a little more weight over the last few months and I plan on losing a still more, *and* getting stronger and more fit at the same time.
So, there are my "two bits" on the subject. Do with them what you will.
Ekatarina
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Re: My thoughts
Re: My thoughts
Disclaimer
I remain skeptical of much pro-Atkins publicity that originates from the Atkins camp:
- Those scientific studies that support the Atkins diet? Only a few exist, and all were funded by the Atkins folks.
- The NYT Magazine article quoted? Interesting, but getting dated (July, 2002) and stirred up a bit of controversy. See follow-up articles here and here.
I'm all for being healthy through various paths. Being informed about your chosen path(s) is always a plus.