I was happy and then mad

[PAdisMOM]

I was on the treadmill this morning (I just had to throw that in) and there was a news story on Atkins. It said that there are 2 articles in the New England Journal of Medicine coming out today about Atkins studies. And they show that people on Atkins lose more weight than people on low fat/ high carb diets. I was soooo happy!

Then they get into the story and they start comparing a high carb diet to Atkins, which they referred to as a high fat diet. Why call it high fat?? Why not call it low carb? That is the central idea, not high fat!!! And then as they do the story they are showing footage of these really fatty meats being cooked and cut. Like that's all people eat on the Atkins diet!

Well, I'm just disappointed that even when science is backing this up, the media still has to portray it poorly. They did mention the lower cholesterol effect, but they also said that after doing Atkins, when people went back to eating "normal" they gained all the weight back. Well DUH!!! On any diet if you go back to eating the way you did before, you are going to gain the weight back. That way of eating caused you to gain weight in the first place.

So I'm glad for the articles, but disappointed in the never changing attitude.

 

[welovedis]

I agree that most people have no idea what the Atkins eating plan consists of, and they do assume that the fats that people are eating are coming from high fat foods, like they showed on TV. I saw a segment on the evening news last night (ABC I think) and they showed huge steaks, etc...

Most people do not understand the lean protein aspect I guess.

Even though I am no longer doing Atkins I agree it really gets a bad rap from people who have idea about the plan.

 

[John In Illinois]

TV reporters are just jealous, because their jobs depend so much upon appearance, they are afraid of even the hint that the Low Fat way of life they have bought into may have been a waste of time (not to mention they passed up a lot of great food) !!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

PAdisMOM

Please don't let the media anger you or frustrate you. the media has their own agenda, they no longer just report facts, they senstionalize it. I have "tuned in" to see the reports of the "damaging storm" they are expecting, only to know I am waiting for drizzle . They just try any angle to be negative and feed public opinion. Unfortunately only the successes of low carb lifestyles will sway public opinion, but in the mean time just keep coming here, we will certainly stand behind you as you reach for your fitness goals!

 

[TigH]

Try not to watch TV! The media love to broadcast sensational news. It's getting so that the news is more like a Jerry Springer episode rather than reporting the facts about what is going on in the world.

I just try to not watch the news in general anymore. Don't get mad! You just keep doing what you are doing. What works for you is what is important, not what the rest of the world thinks or a slanted media report says.

 

[Jomrog]

Well said, Vija.

Looking at the success stories on these boards, I would have to conclude that both diet plans work. I believe that they are finally finding evidence that the Atkins/low carb diets (if done properly) have positive effects. I have been tracking my progress on fitday & found that it is easy to actually have too much fat. I believe you have stay in the 60-65% percent range (correct me if I'm wrong) and I have been closer to 70%. I cut back on the cheese & upped my veggie intake & it has helped.

As for my results, nothing yet, but it's only day 5. Wish me luck!!