I have been a low-carber for over 4 years, my husband for nearly 3. I lost 43 lb, lowered my cholesterol and triglycerides. Hubby lost 100 lb the first year, 50 lb the second year, and lowered his blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and as a result, the insurance company lowered his life insurance premium by 30%.
He has been obese all his life until now.
My before/after pix:
http://www.web-magik.com/lowcarb/rani.html
Hubby's before/after pix and interview:
http://stores.yahoo.com/carbsmart/steveflorida.html
It takes a certain mental adjustment, because we are used to eating a protein entreé, a vegetable, and a starch on our plate. I have learned to make substitutes that fit within the parameters of the regime. For instance, if you miss potatoes, make faux mashed potatoes out of steamed cauliflower. I missed cornbread and developed a fabulous recipe that looks and tastes just like it... made from almond flour. Miss rice? Chopped steamed cauliflower. Miss pasta? Try spaghetti squash or finely grated steamed cabbage. Miss lasagna? Make it with horizontally-sliced zucchini or eggplant or soybean-thread oriental noodles (made from the skin that forms on top of tofu), all the other ingredients are fine on Atkins.
In response to the poster saying, "I have to say that I am concerned about any diet that is so high in protein. It is very hard on the kidneys to process so much protein." I spoke to my urologist about this very issue, because I have MS and I have to really watch kidney and bladder functions. He told me that his wife lost all her "babyfat" on Atkins, that it is a TERRIFIC diet, but that it is even more crucial for a low-carber to drink the required water, in order to flush out the ketones. He also said that the kidneys were made to process protein, that's their job, and don't worry about it.
In response to the poster who asked, "There is a web site promoting Atkins diet, which is a low carbohydrate diet. Natural Weightloss, etc. My question is about the combination they say to
avoid - which is protein and starch/carbo combinations. "
There is an error here, either in the website or the poster's interpretation of it. Atkins does not advocate avoiding those food combinations, he advocates avoidance of the starches and sugars period. The food combining is an aspect of Suzanne Somers' program "Somercizing" as well as a diet going back to the 70s called Fit for Life, and there are prior and later versions of it, as well.
Another common misconception is that Atkins advocates NO carbs which is very far from the truth. What he says is to get your carb intake from vegetables, eggs, nuts, seeds, cheese and other low-carb dairy, and the low-glycemic-fruits such as berries.
In response to the poster who said, " I don't think there is anything natural about this diet. If you look at all the various cultures around the world, the Atkins diet isn't like any normal diet." Maybe not nowadays, but this is the way our ancestors ate in pre-agricultural times. The mainstay of the diet was proteins and veggies and animal fats, nuts and seeds, minimal fruits only in season, and very few grains. No dairy either. You might want to read the book "Neanderthin" by Ray Audette. Or check out
www. paleodiet.
Rani