Some time ago there was a thread about Atkins diet and exercise. I am wondering if anyone has some good advice about using this diet when you are an athlete. I work out every day, whether it's 4,000 yards in the pool, or 3-4 miles on the treadmill, or dryland training (weights). I went on Atkins a week ago to lose 10 pounds, so far I've lost 4 and feel terrific. Last Saturday I had a 5000-yard workout that was the best in ages. So much energy!
I'm just wondering if it's because I've added much-needed protein to my diet (I'm a carb junkie). A fellow athlete poo-poo's the Atkins plan and says it's a bunch of hogwash, that athletes HAVE to have some carbs and they won't kill you.
Anyone?
Parents
Former Member
Do what feels right for you! I lost a great deal of weight on Atkins, have kept it off, didn't experience any of the 'side effects' the critics warn against, have had no long term effects, continue to eat a VERY LOW carb diet while swimming 3,000 m a day, 5 days aweek. I feel great and have plenty of energy. Don't blindly follow the sheep who tout a 'balance' diet that was developed by politians and then accepted by dietians, if that diet isn't right for you. That 'balanced' diet was what got me to the point of needing Atkins in the first place. 'Balanced' for me equals weight gain even now. My doctor wasn't crazy about the fact that I did Atkins (I went to him and did it under his supervision because of all the negative hype at the time) nor is he crazy about the fact that I eat such a low carb diet now, BUT he couldn't find any ill effects while I was on Atkins and can't find anything wrong with me now.
Elaine
PS: I have experienced ketosis first hand, its not as 'nasty' as people would have you believe. The worse part is the first three or four days of induction, thats when you experienced an extreme drop in energy. Then when the body switched from carb burning to fat burning energy will pick back up.
Do what feels right for you! I lost a great deal of weight on Atkins, have kept it off, didn't experience any of the 'side effects' the critics warn against, have had no long term effects, continue to eat a VERY LOW carb diet while swimming 3,000 m a day, 5 days aweek. I feel great and have plenty of energy. Don't blindly follow the sheep who tout a 'balance' diet that was developed by politians and then accepted by dietians, if that diet isn't right for you. That 'balanced' diet was what got me to the point of needing Atkins in the first place. 'Balanced' for me equals weight gain even now. My doctor wasn't crazy about the fact that I did Atkins (I went to him and did it under his supervision because of all the negative hype at the time) nor is he crazy about the fact that I eat such a low carb diet now, BUT he couldn't find any ill effects while I was on Atkins and can't find anything wrong with me now.
Elaine
PS: I have experienced ketosis first hand, its not as 'nasty' as people would have you believe. The worse part is the first three or four days of induction, thats when you experienced an extreme drop in energy. Then when the body switched from carb burning to fat burning energy will pick back up.
