Just wondered if anybody has tried the Atkins diet, is it a sensible eating plan.

you know.. people say its calories in and calories out... and that should make sense... but for me it doesn't

you know.. people say its calories in and calories out... and that should make sense... but for me it doesn't

I just finished up my Ironman build.. and I maintained weight or even gained 2-3 pounds

my diet consisted of mostly grains with limited fruits and veggies (I know.. I know)

Now after scaling back my training and getting back on my paleo diet.. I will shed weight like crazy (up to 10 pounds) in a month

Yes.. it might be mostly water weight... but my body is leaner and lighter and easier to run

I am much leaner now with less than 20 miles per week of running than when I was in full on IM training. It is all calories. I dont use the large volume of aerobic exercise as an excuse to eat junk any more. Gordo liked to say that if you are doing more than 6 hours per week of exercise and you are not at your ideal weight, you are guilty of using exercise to compensate for a bad diet. I like to say it more simply, You cannout out exercise a bad diet.

If vanity is your only goal, then yes, go Atkins (or go Diet Coke and cigarettes). If feeling great, performing well and optimizing your health through food is your goal, then I would follow a diet that is vegetable heavy (especially raw ones), avocados, some nuts and seeds, some fruit, limited processed grains and lean protein. Atkins will quickly give you "beach muscles", but that is it.

....you can have the diet coke and ciggies...;)

Please don't let common sense hold you back. Lay your vast modern knowledge of weight loss supremacy upon us. As I said in my original post (the part you so conveniently omitted), "Eat smart. Exercise smarter. Weight will be lost." That's the formula.

So, what's your magical formula? Eat junk food + don't exercise = weight loss? Eat in a dark closet after midnight + exercise only on odd days = weight loss?

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The math is more or less correct. The issue is that some types of calories produce much more satiety, and therefore people spontaneously eat less. Protein and fiber are most associated with satiety. That is why Atkins was producing more weight loss. Studies that controlled for protein intake found no difference between Atkins and a low fat diet. Insulin is NOT the culprit, excess calories are. The question is, "how do I get fewer calories?" The most reasonable answer is to avoid low satiety, calorie dense foods (mostly junk food) and drink no calories (except for skim or lowfat milk). Success with Paleo diets probably has a lot to do with the high satiety index of "Paleo" foods. There is something to be said for the meat and vegetable diet.

Just wondered if anybody has tried the Atkins diet, is it a sensible eating plan.