29-03-2004, 09:19 AM
I have two main problems with the Atkins diet. Firstly if you plan to incorporate any type of Gym workout into your approach to fitness then you will struggle. The reason for this is that your body initially burns carbs for fuel when you start working out and many people that have gone onto Atkins have said that their workouts struggled on it. You simply don't have the same amount of energy. Your body is also forced to burn up the protein instead which causes a further problem in that your muscles require that burned up protein to recover and build themselves up after the workout.
As such a lot of the weight lost is actually muscle and not fat (muscle weighs a lot more than fat) which is also counter productive in that the more muscle you carry, the more calories are burnt by your body to maintain the muscle. The less muscle you have the less calories are required and any excess calories thus go to your hips/stomach.
The 2nd problem with it is the high amount of fact that can lead to dangerously high levels of cholesterol. Most GPs will confirm this about the Atkins and if you are deadset about using this type of diet, use the South Beach one which can give you better long term result. If anything, stick to a long term approach losing about 1KG per week max, as you will be guaranteed to minimise muscle loss as well and it will also take longer to pick it up again.
As such a lot of the weight lost is actually muscle and not fat (muscle weighs a lot more than fat) which is also counter productive in that the more muscle you carry, the more calories are burnt by your body to maintain the muscle. The less muscle you have the less calories are required and any excess calories thus go to your hips/stomach.
The 2nd problem with it is the high amount of fact that can lead to dangerously high levels of cholesterol. Most GPs will confirm this about the Atkins and if you are deadset about using this type of diet, use the South Beach one which can give you better long term result. If anything, stick to a long term approach losing about 1KG per week max, as you will be guaranteed to minimise muscle loss as well and it will also take longer to pick it up again.