Atkins Diet Misconceptions: Simply water weight loss?
In this video of the Atkins Diet Misconceptions series, I deal with the myth that Atkineers simply lose water weight. To some, the Atkins Diet is simply a trip to the sauna nothing more or less. (http://www.atkinsexposed.org/atkins/14/Losing_(Water)_Weight.htm)
As with any other “Big Lie,” it of coruse starts with the truth and departs rapidly from it.
* http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/low-carb-diet/NU00279
* Composition of weight lost during short-term weight reduction. Metabolic responses of obese subjects to starvation and low-calorie ketogenic and nonketogenic diets. J. Clin. Invest. M U Yang, et al.
During the first two weeks of the Atkins Diet Induction, the body consumes the remaining stored glucose (glycogen) in the muscles. This typically causes the Induction flu symptoms. However after that period of time, the low carb, high fat diet is responsible for greater weight loss of fat mass and greater prevention of muscle loss than any other diet. I have documented in prior videos the studies that have proven these facts. Here is just one article (Very-low-carbohydrate diets and preservation of muscle mass, Nutrition & Metabolism 2006, http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/3/1/9 )
There is no way my 211 weight loss was simply 25.3 gallons of water weight loss. My Body Fat percent dropped 35 percent over the course, and my bench press amount increased 50 pounds. That is not simply water leaving the body.
Duration : 0:4:26
“when on Atkins, if …
“when on Atkins, if we were to truly abstain from any form of carb… gluconeogenesis will be continuous.”
I am afraid your understanding of the Diet is extremely faulty as there is no phase of the diet where you eat ZERO carbs. Why the body would prefer glucose from protein as opposed to a dense energy source in fatty acids has never been proved in any study.
So I would urge you to actually study what the diet is and is not as a little knowledge just makes you look foolish.
As for …
As for atherosclerosis argument, there are multiple low carb studies that show dramatic decrease plaque formations on ketogenic studies.
Using my personal anecdotal evidence, my HDL went up over 20 points and my LDL dropped 50 points to bring my total down to 153 all the while eating loads of saturated fats.
“we have to consume …
“we have to consume enough fat for blood glucose. this is where Atkins can be bad for you” This is again where your reasoning break down. As there are countless studies that demonstrates Atkins Diet decreases LDL cholesterol while increasing the HDL cholesterol. Thereby the whole premise of fat avoidance is a faulty one. Check out my cholesterol video for all the links to relevant studies.
If you need one of the top of my head, check out the LC, LF, and Mediterranean Diet Israeli study.
You are partially …
You are partially right, but the assumption that fat reserves would not be sufficient or that muscle mass would be consumed at all when there is any non-essential fat left on the body is faulty.
There is no need to create the carbs as the ATP molecules made by the breakdown on the Fatty Acids is sufficient to fuel the energy needs. What essential carbs do you believe the body needs in excess of the 20g per day?
(5th)
– …
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– monounsaturated fat/ polyunsaturated fat seems to – LDL levels, but are still highly calorific. additionally, saturated fatty acids are more harmful than dietary cholesterol as we can only absorb about 1g in a meal, which is about the same amount in the bile we secrete into our duodenum.
low HDL and high LDL levels in blood are harmful because it will lead to atherosclerosis, and hardening of the arteries.
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our musle …
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our musle protein will be broken down into amino acids, and quite a number of amino acid types (not all) are glucogenic, able to make glucose.
so….. in order to prevent protein mass loss, we have to consume enough fat for blood glucose. this is where Atkins can be bad for you. yes, you’ll lose weight. but then your health will be compromised by the amount of fat you take in. saturated fat will + blood LDL levels. Trans fat will + blood LDL levels and – HDL levels. unsaturated fat–
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releasing …
(3rd)
releasing more energy when oxidised. that is why energy-wise, fats are better when oxidised. BUT… one of the products of oxidation of fatty acids are acetyl CoA, which will go into Krebs’ cycle to release its majority of energy. one of the intermediates of Kreb’s cycle will be used to make glucose, so in the end, there wont be enough intermediates to do both jobs.
the next type of molecule to be used will be protein from our muscle mass (this is if fat supply is exhausted).
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1st type …
(2nd)
1st type of molecule that is used will be our fat reserves (triacylglycerol). it will be broken down in adipose and the glycerol molecule will be used directly to make glucose. for the fatty acid chains, ONLY odd-chained fatty acids (which are uncommon) can be used to make a little glucose. The reason why these small amounts of carbons can measure up to the carbs’ somewhat in terms of energy is because fatty acids’ weight-energy ratio is much better than carbs, and they are more reduced
Atkins diet works …
Atkins diet works because of the types of food we consume.
carbs are the main fuel supply, and in <24hrs fasting liver glycogen will be broken down to maintain blood glucose levels. after about 24 hrs, liver supply of glycogen will be exhausted, and in order to maintain blood glucose levels, it will have to perform gluconeogenesis, synthesis of glucose from non-carbs.
when on Atkins, if we were to truly abstain from any form of carb… gluconeogenesis will be continuous..
Very true…
Very true…
Certainly the idea …
Certainly the idea that we can accurately without a doubt calculate exact weight loss via Caloric formula is.
calorie r just a …
calorie r just a myth!!
my friend Zoe …
my friend Zoe Harcombe explains very well that when it comes to weight loss weight is weight!! water fat they both have to be dropped!! argueing about water lost over weight lost is a bit silly!! They both gotta go!!! my friend did liposuction years ago! she got much slimmer but still had water retantion!! plus she had pain on her body for long time!!!
bowulf you are …
bowulf you are right, people do not have to have flour refined sugars or starches, it is more of a want or luxury depending on the person. But i do agree going to too low calorie has alot of negative health benefits. But you are knowledgable on the atkins diet and i always had a question about it. When you take in fat as a primary energy source, how does the body know whitch fat to burn first, the fat coming in, or the fat already in the body. I thank you again for your time I have learned alot
As I do, others’ …
As I do, others’ ability to lose focusing simply on portion control or going Low Calorie. If it works for someone else — whatever that is ultimately makes them *healthy & fit” (not just thin) is fine by me and I’ll cheer them on.
The second …
The second difference I think I can say is that we differ on where that nutrition should come from. I have no desire to have my blood glucose to be on the roller coaster any more, and therefore I believe keeping more even keel with fueling the body with fat makes more sense.
Ultimately if you are doing grueling workouts, your body will get more fit, but you can’t necessarily work your way to thinness. Gary Taubes has pointed hat out in a number of studies.
I think the real …
I think the real point of contention between our understandings is one what is important to track to lose weight. I am saying you can pretty much ignore Calories with the assumption that ketogenic diets naturally reduce hunger, reduce appetite, and also encourage the body to burn stored body fat while also preventing the metabolic pathways to store body fat. The only reason I ever cared about Calories was to ensure I got enough.
My question is …
My question is who’s definition of balanced do you follow? USDA can’t make up their mind what their recommendation are. I just personally do not believe there is a necessity for people to HAVE to eat refined sugars, flours, or starches. Most people would see large gains in health benefits if they would drop that out.
But i do respect …
But i do respect the atkins system and it i recognize it has helped people
But some resistance …
But some resistance training will increase thier metabolism and ability to store glycogen. I am talking to the general public as a whole. Personaly i am just over the whole “diet” thing and just moniter my calories and activity level. But everyone IS different, my opinion is to try a balanced diet first with a caloric deficit, and then if thats not working for them try a diet system.
i used to be 230 at …
i used to be 230 at 5′10 and started natural bodybuilding 4 years ago and im now at 5′10 185 at 9 percent body fat. I know glycogen stores carry carbohydrates so the more muscle a person may acquire, the more glycogen (carbs for fuel) they can eat this storing it in thier muscles and not in thier fat. So i found as the years go by i had the ability to eat more carbs and food overal because of the higher glycogen stores in my muscles. I understand not everyone wants to be a bodybuilder
I do agree with …
I do agree with what you did say, but a person can have sausage cheescake and fried chicken even chocolate if they factor those calories in thier daily total. even a unhealthy diet of fast food will cause weight loss if your taking in less calories. I remember in highschool I was very thin on a diet of just mcdonalds and bugerking. I was about 130-135 at 5′8 But i walked 1 hour to school and back and was very active. But I think somones diet atkins whatever may be dependant on thier workouts.
Yep get all those …
Yep get all those in my diet too – I think the question is the amount. My diet is full of grains in flax, fruits in strawberries after Induction, and veggies in a full daily portion on every single phase of the diet.
I never said …
I never said everyone has to follow low carb to lose weight, but it certainly worked out best for me. I have been able to fuel my full and half marathons on no more than 30-45g of Carbs per day as well as my high intensity workouts and sprints like 5k or playing basketball.
As for going through life without bread or pasta, those are part of the diet, but restricted. To me going through life without sausage, cheesecake, or fried chicken would be a huge sacrifice. To each their own…
Check out my …
Check out my Calories In – Calories Out fallacy video for my thoughts on the simple burn more calories than you take in argument. The short answer is in many studies Low Carb followers lost more weight eating more Calories than Low Fat followers. If you are cutting Cals and maintaining the same other macronutrient amounts, you are doing it wrong. That is why Atkins is a high fat diet.
As for Carbs being the preferred source, it may be the easiest or cheapest source. That doesn’t mean best.