Atkins'
Diet Disaster
By
Robert Ferguson
"The Master Weight-Loss Coach"
If
all you want to do is lose weight and you are not concerned
with how your health may be affected, go ahead�adhere
to the Atkins' diet. However, if you value good health and
are ready for a diet-free lifestyle�the Atkins' diet
is not for you.
Whether
you want to believe it or not, the Atkins' diet is no more
than a short-term fix to a long-term disaster. We study and
follow diets and dieters each and every day and it is our
BUSINESS to know the truth about what works and what doesn't.
And the truth is�a low carb/high protein approach to
weight loss is hazardous to your health.
Now,
I am not here to preach to you, but to empower you with the
truth-the facts. To do so, I encourage you to read Peggy's
story.
Meet
Peggy
At the recommendation of her best friend who lost 35 pounds,
Peggy decided to go with the low-carb approach to weight loss.
Peggy was aware that fad diets come and go, but this one was
exploding. It was hard to believe that she could lose weight
by feasting on beef, eggs and bacon, but the proof was that
of her friend: 35 pounds in two months. Excited, motivated,
and ready to go, Peggy jumped in with the perception of attaining
the body of her youth. The only requirement was to eat less
than 25 grams of carbs per day. Other than that, Peggy could
eat whatever she wanted.
On
day one Peggy would eat steak and eggs for breakfast. Throughout
the day she snacked on beef jerky, cheese, sausage, chicken,
turkey and anything else that contained little to no carbs.
In little time, maybe 10 days, Peggy was in the process of
losing weight. Not just a pound or two-the weight seemed to
be melting off her body. It was an amazing experience according
to Peggy. Eating all the fat and protein she wanted and losing
weight was like magic. There was no doubt that in a couple
of months Peggy would be a true testament to the low-carb
revolution.
What
Peggy didn't know
It is true that Peggy was losing weight and she felt great,
however, she was not aware of the unhealthy processes taking
place within her body. During the first three to five days
Peggy was on the low-carb diet, her body began to deplete
the glycogen stores in her muscle and liver. Please understand,
glycogen is a source of energy that is created primarily from
the consumption of carbs.
The
reason Peggy's glycogen stores were depleted first is due
to the fact that they were the most readily available stored
source of glucose (energy) for the brain and body. Now keep
in mind that during this stage in adhering to the low-carb
process, there is very little if any fat burning taking place.
Unfortunately, the dramatic weight loss noticed in the initial
stages of the low-carb diet is practically all from glycogen
and water loss. The water loss is secondary to glycogen loss,
because glycogen is stored with three times its own weight
in water. And as glycogen is depleted, water is simultaneously
released from the body. Peggy also noticed that during the
initial stage of the process, she had to urinate more often
than usual.
While
Peggy began to notice the scale lowering in numbers, she also
became aware of a loss of endurance and strength, a significant
surge in fatigue and some irritability. The reason behind
these physiological changes was the loss of glycogen�her
body's number one energy source that had just been severely
depleted.
Focused
and set on following through with the low-carb diet, Peggy
continued to keep her eye on the scale. Now that glycogen
was history, Peggy's body began to pull from its fat stores.
This is good, right? Well, yes and no. Peggy's body did begin
to burn body fat and she did start to lose fat pounds. But,
fat is not the ideal source of fuel for your body, if you
hope for it to function at an optimal level. Our body is not
used to relying on fat exclusively; doing so sends the body
into a metabolic tizzy. Here is what happens:
As
the fat is released from its storage sites, muscles burn some
of the fat as fuel and some makes its way to the liver.
With
the brain being used to burning glucose for fuel (to the tune
of 150 grams per day) and unable to burn fat (it won't cross
the blood/brain barrier), fat can't be converted to glucose.
The liver soon converts fat to "ketones," creating
a state known as "ketosis." Ketones are a secondary
fuel source the brain can use. However, the brain can only
use ketones for about 50 percent of its energy needs. The
other half MUST be glucose;
Some
key points to remember when considering the reduction or restriction
of carbohydrates in your diet:
1.
Muscles are broken down to provide proteins to create glucose
for the brain, meaning you're losing muscle along with your
fat.
2.
Brain function suffers because ketones are not its preferred
fuel source. Research shows that learning, memory, reaction
time and mood are all compromised.
Ignorance
is not bliss
Peggy was not aware of what was going on inside her body.
Her only reference was witnessing her friend losing weight,
and now she was experiencing the same thing. In seven short
weeks Peggy lost a whopping 40 pounds. We aren't sure how
much of her weight loss was fat, however in our experience
the majority of her loss was lean muscle tissue. Unfortunately,
she gained all the weight back plus an additional five pounds.
This relapse not only saddened Peggy, it lowered her self-esteem.
Peggy
now knows the truth about low-carb diets. She knows that losing
weight on the scale does not equal improved health. Releasing
body fat and keeping your valuable muscle is how you lower
your body-fat percentage and increase health at the same time.
Peggy no longer avoids carbs. What Peggy has learned is that
if reducing your body fat is the goal, it helps to understand
how to combine your carbs with protein, be aware of the timing
of your meals and understand how some carbs can cause a rapid
rise in your blood sugar, which may lead to excess body fat.
Peggy
is an advocate of never repeating the same mistake twice.
It has been two years since we first met Peggy and at 43 years
young, she has acquired the body of her youth: standing 5'5",
weighing 135 pounds with a body-fat percentage under 25. Peggy's
lifestyle is one that reinforces her desire to maintain permanent
fat loss.
Increased
risk effects of ketosis (low-carb diets) are:
Kidney stones
Gout
Lightheadedness
Various cancers
Poor long-term weight control
Reduced athletic performance
Rising blood pressure
Osteoporosis
Dehydration
Headaches
Keto (bad) breath
Heart disease
Final
note
When someone asks if the low-carb approach is healthy, again,
I am quick to say no. Many of those who ask already know the
answer. However, it does help to hear someone explain it again.
If you know anyone who is on a low carb/high protein diet,
forward this story to him or her. Thank you for taking the
time to read this week's word and I look forward to keeping
you informed.
To
schedule a complimentary session with a Wellness Weight-Loss
Coach, call or e-mail us: Newbury Park (805) 236-4765 or Ventura
(805) 642-8440.
Send
inquiries to: [email protected]
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