Finally The Damn Diet Is Gonna Die!
DrSuredeath
Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
Join Date: 2002-11-11 Member: 8217Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Bu bye Atkins</div> <a href='http://www.nbc5i.com/health/2835852/detail.html' target='_blank'>Yay!</a> <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
The first time I have read Atkins claim regarding his diet plan, my first reaction was "What a load of ****!" Imagine my surprise when several people actually bought it. Not trying to generalize, but it was sickening seeing vegetarians being scorned by Atkins' worshippers.
The first time I have read Atkins claim regarding his diet plan, my first reaction was "What a load of ****!" Imagine my surprise when several people actually bought it. Not trying to generalize, but it was sickening seeing vegetarians being scorned by Atkins' worshippers.
Comments
I doubt Pepsi is very happy that 25 million less people are buying their products.
And if you're a vegetarian for anything but health reasons I will openly laugh at you.
<a href='http://www.pcrm.org/' target='_blank'>http://www.pcrm.org/</a> this is who is making the claims, a vegetrain advocacy group.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Research Advocacy
We encourage higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research:
We promote alternatives to animal research. We have worked to put a stop to gruesome experiments, such as the military’s cat-shooting studies, DEA narcotics experiments, and monkey self-mutilation projects. We also promote non-animal methods in medical education. Currently, more than half of all U.S. medical schools have dropped their animal labs for medical students.
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<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Press Release Source: Center for Consumer Freedom
<b>Atkins-Blasting 'Physicians' Committee is a Front Group for PETA</b>
Tuesday February 10, 1:27 pm ET
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The late Dr. Robert Atkins is being smeared for his alleged obesity at the time of his death, by a phony doctors organization that has been exposed as a front group for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and has been censured by the American Medical Association (AMA). The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has taken in over $1 million from PETA and the animal rights movement. PCRM and PETA also share office space, board members, and staff.
The AMA has formally censured PCRM in the past, calling its recommendations "irresponsible" and "potentially dangerous to the health and welfare of Americans." The AMA has also called PCRM a "fringe organization" that uses "unethical tactics" and is "interested in perverting medical science."
PCRM's attacks on diets including meat, fish and dairy foods, and its constant demands for a vegetarian America are rooted in an animal-rights philosophy.
The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit coalition supported by restaurants, food companies, and consumers working together to promote personal responsibility and protect consumer choices.
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This should keep me warm while I stand outside in sub-freezing temps to grill my dinner steak.
The simple fact is that when you radically restrict your diet in any way, it's likely that you will lose weight:
The Subway diet -- when you're only eating two sandwiches per day, you're not taking in enough calories to meet your daily energy expenditure. To make up the difference, your body burns its fat reserves.
The traditional low-calorie, low-fat diet -- low calorie is obvious: take in no calories, and your body relies on its energy stores (fat) for power. Low fat means you're not giving your body the opportunity to replace the fat it uses. Vegetarianism is a form of low-fat diet, as the vast majority of fat in our food is found in meat.
The new low-/no-carb diet (e.g. Atkins) -- the principle behind it is the same as that behind the low-fat, low-calorie diet. Carbohydrates are your body's favorite source of energy. They break down easily and provide a great deal of energy. In your body, carbs are broken down into sugars and are then processed into CO2 and water. Unused carbohydrates, however, are stored as fat... and there lies the secret of the Atkins diet. If you don't provide the body with *any* carbohydrates, several things happen.
Your body must use what you provide it for energy - on a no-carb diet, that means protein and fat. One gram of carbs provides 9 Calories of energy, but one gram of protein or fat only provides 4 Calories. That means you're likely to burn everything you eat, leaving nothing to go into "storage" - and that means your body is more likely to start burning its fat reserves to provide needed energy. What's more, you're not getting *any* carbohydrates, which is what the body most often uses to "restock" its fat reserves.
What does the Atkins diet do?
1) Limits your food intake. A hamburger becomes a meat patty; beef stew becomes a lone steak. A pasta dish ceases to exist altogether. You're cutting overall food intake, which is the easiest way to start losing weight.
2) Makes you more likely to use everything you eat. Protein and fat are less efficient energy sources than carbs, so you're more likely to use them *all* as your body tries to get every last bit of energy from them.
3) Digs into your fat reserves. Eating less of less efficient food means your body is more likely to need extra energy -- which it will get from its fat reserves, depleting them.
4) Prevents fat replacement. With the primary precursor to fat - carbohydrates - removed from your diet altogether, it's not easy for your body to add any new fat.
Is it safe? As safe as any diet, I'd imagine. You're likely to suffer side effects - again, like any other diet may have. With Atkins, some that come to mind:
1) possible oily skin due to the extra fat in your diet
2) tiredness due to less available energy
3) heightened blood pressure from the high fat intake
A friend of mine did something similar to the Atkins diet her freshman year in college. Why? She had to drop 20 pounds of fat in 3 weeks for light-weight crew. Combined with rigorous exercise, a no-carb diet is *frighteningly* effective. But at the end of those three weeks, she was miserable - totally drained of energy all the time.
My point is that *any* diet in excess is unhealthy. Most diets in moderation are safe, and Atkins' radical approach and rampant popularity is no reason to dismiss it. No diet plan is appropriate for the long term, because all usually succeed by unnaturally increasing or decreasing the presence of a specific food type that the body most likely needs.
I hear this is mostly rumor circulated about the Atkins diet
The best plan for trimming fat and making yourself will always to be start eating healthy, well moderated food and keeping active. Obviously (and sadly), that just doesn't cut it for some people. Unless you have a medical condition that messes up your metabolism or restricts your activity, the burden of your health is on you alone, but it's well worth the effort.
But, at least a better lifestyle than sitting on the couch and eatting lard is still an improvement for some people. A step in the right direction is better than no step at all.
The "weight" that is lost is just water, rather than fat. He actually told us to check out this site:
<a href='http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/lcd.html' target='_blank'>Low-Carbohydrate Diets</a>
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I doubt half the people who make up these diets know what they're doing to their bodies or why their bodies are so good at storing that energy. After all, fat <i>is</i> stored energy (just is as a log or gasoline or a spring is stored energy.) As long as that fat doesn't get into the blood stream or effect the circulatory/respratory system in any way <i>i think</i> you should be fine with that extra 50 pounds. in fact, those with those extra 50 pounds would survive a winter if they didn't have any food while a skinny person wouldn't live for the first week.
The body stores fat so that when it doesn't have any food around, it can eat that fat and keep itself alive. the only problem is that it might not realize that there is lots of food around but still stores fat. I call it a "broken switch" effect; It can't turn off and thus continues to store fat. So... You have to find a way to put that switch back into commision or put another switch in front of it so you <i>do</i> have a way to turn it off. Surgery and/or total and radical life style alterations are the only real answers here; <b>diets are nothing more then a money pit for those who think they can!</b>. Too bad you can't change your genetics once you've been born, otherwise a doctor could just give you a shot in the arm and your problems would be solved... <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif' /><!--endemo-->
It's a long term diet, so I can't see what people deem "extreme" about it. The people who have the most against this diet are PETA activists and could care less about people's health and are simply offended by promoting eating strictly protein. This is a proven diet that doesn't involve potentially harmful supliments (like ephedra which didn't get a second glance for almost 20 years) and can promote a healthy lifestyle in folks who would otherwise definatly suffer health problems that have actually been substantiated.
So in other words, what's your beef with the Atkins?
And Maveric unfortunatly we don't live in an ice age where having an extra 90 pounds means the survival of your species. People care more about looking good naked then surviving a blizzard. Your ramblings about diets are kind of off base considering Atkins is free and by now is common knowledge. As far as I can tell it forces you to spend less money on fast food and dining out and using food more of a source of energy than a pleasurably activity, I know how horrible right?
PS. Since it is recommended to drink about 10 glasses of water a day on the diet I doubt that that's the weight you're losing.
The "weight" that is lost is just water, rather than fat. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'll admit first that I have not read your link yet... But it does sound like coil knows more than your science teacher. :-/
Actually, for the amount of weight some people lose from the Atkins diet, it doesnt make sense that it would be just water. That, to me, defies logic.
wooooooootage!
6 more days... 144 more hours... 8640 more minutes... 518400 more seconds till i can EAT FOOD!
Then i will be all... OMG YAY!!!!!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ^_^
-----------************Doncing Activated!************-------------
<(O_O<)
(>O_O)>
anyways... to the topic at hand. Your body regulates many things, and this includes your wieght. Every body has it's own setpoint, which is a wieght the body wants to maintain. This is determined by your size, Genetics, frame, gender, and race. Go into cold regions (Wisconson) and you will not only see cold depressed people... but also you see more wieght on people. The fat insulates the body, helping to survive in cold conditions (also, winters are harsh, i would assume the body thinks that food will be scarce as well).
The things we do change the body's balance, and the body reacts without you knowing it. Yes that simple "Cause and Effect" rule applies here. This is observed around thanksgiving, where everyone eats alot and then for the next few days... without knowing it... eat less then they usually would.
Inside each of our brains is a section devoted to hunger... actually two, one that tells you "I'm hungry" and another that tells you "I'm not hungry" (Notice this doesn't mean you feel full, you just do not crave food). In expiriments, lab mice had specific sections of their brains destroyed. Those that had the "I'm hungry" sections destroyed starved to death. The others had the "I'm not hungry" section destoryed and literally turned into the size of BASKETBALLS... Some died when their stomachs ripped open. So what does this prove? I dont know, its what i learned in psychology last semester........
......
Oh wait, now i know what it proves! it proves.... ahhh.... dang i had it!
...........................
Ok, this time i got it.... but I'm to lazy to type it now. ^_^
Sorry coil,
You are a bit inaccurate here.
Proteins and Carbohydrates both give 4 calories/gram
Fats give 9 calories/gram
(If you want me to scientifically go into why this is so, sure I will). I'll assume you got the two mixed up or something hehe, but fats provide more energy than carbs.
Check a food label, on specific Nutrition Facts, towards the bottom, it will tell you that Protein/Carbs = 4 calories/g and Fats = 9 calories/g
Therefore what you said afterwards wouldn't make sense. You actually get more energy from fats then what you do from carbs however, carbs can be synthesized quicker than fats can and is a <b>faster</b> source of energy.
Personally I agree with the Atkins diet, however I think more research should be done before people start pointing figures and linking the diet to heart disease and other problems.
Besides, there's nothing wrong with following the Canada food guide and moving in some semblance of exercise for 20 minutes 3-4 times a week. You know, that whole "body is a temple" type thing. Seek balance and overall health, and exercise some caution and common sense towards radical approaches to what you do or put in your body.
Or you could be like one of my friends and pretends to be a hardcore vegan just to anger restruant staff.
I just think its sad that they resorted to illegally obtaining medical records to launch attacks against a dead man. I hope his family can sue and does.
Personally, I think that it is YOUR fault that you are obese. I'm not gonna get into this, as I could start another whole thread on it. DOWN WITH ATKINS!
Not thinking straight, so I'm not sure which one would take more calories to burn...but I'd go with fat, if only because it's easier to burn a plant than it is to burn a cow (calorie = energy to heat 1g (mL) of water 1 degree celsius - we burned marshmellows in Biology, 10th grade).
Anyway you look at it, you're going to lose weight if you take in fewer calories than you burn. Now this works two ways:
Eat less
Exercise more
(there's also the problem of metabolism, but that just depends mostly on when you do these things) It just generally leads to people eating less because it's <i>easier</i> than exercising more. Of course, exercising also has the side effect of creating muscle, which needs more energy to sustain itself and weighs more than fat.
And the guy who said you should only lose 2 pounds (I think someone said 2 pounds) is right. If you lose to much your body is going to think you're in trouble in some way and you're going to get lower metabolism and less energy, among other possible bad side effects:
My dad tried to go on a diet a few years ago, he lost 10 pounds per week. Except, a month or two later (when he weighed 180ish) he went crazy because of a salt deficiency. He was taking a shower, broke through the glass shower door, broke down his apartment door and ran around banging on everyone's [that lived in the apartment] door...then he ran naked out into the street and got beat down by some cops.
[edit] did I mention it was January?[edit]
[now, my dad did have a chemical imbalance in his brain, but this was from the diet and salt deficiency, as the doctors said]
Okay...so...exercise, don't eat less <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> . Remember, your body doesn't know we're in the computer age...it thinks you're still running away from wooly mammoths and sabre tooth tigers in a fight for your life. You have to treat it as such (or just act as such...just jog before your meal or something to simulate hunting it down....or something less crazy sounding).
I watched a documentary on BBC 1 the other night, the diet is not to do with fat at all.
PROTEIN makes feel more fullup THEREFOR making you eat less and losing more weight.
So you can eat protein and nothing else and lose weight due to not feeling hungry. Scientific tests were taken to prove this.
But it is still not clear whether or not it is dangerous since it has only been found out recently and needs more research.
<b>Some dr. d, some coil, some other random stuff</b>.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Umm Dr. Atkins gained most of his wait after his health failed, there have been plenty of studies that debunk the diet being linked to heart disease, <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And several that show abnormally high LDL (Cholesterol) levels in the blood, which could easily lead to heart disease later. A recent paper by a human nutritionist at the University of Otago (to be publised soon) has confirmed that in several people folloed on the atkins diet. This isn't something that occurs to everyone however, but some people definitely have an undesirable reaction.
I can find out who he is too, including giving you his email address if you like. I can assure you he has nothing to do with PETA <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Protein and fat are less efficient energy sources than carbs, so you're more likely to use them *all* as your body tries to get every last bit of energy from them.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is not true.
One molecule of a 16C fatty acid=~107 ATP
One molecule of carbohydrate=~38 ATP
I'd love to know how that is LESS efficient. It is a few things however, for example it is extremely hard to mobilise (extremely) and you must have an oxidative respiratory pathway to use it (that means mitochondria). Things that can take the fatty acids will do so, it is metabolically a better option for the cell. Carbohydrates are used for several reasons: RBCs lack a citric acid cycle, so must get their energy from using an anaerobic process (IE breaking down glucose to lactose) and fatty acids cannot cross the blood brain barrier. Muscles use carbs for short bursts of energy, but carbs are useless for long periods so fats are more desirable (see above).
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Digs into your fat reserves. Eating less of less efficient food means your body is more likely to need extra energy -- which it will get from its fat reserves, depleting them.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fats are 3 x the energy of carbs in ATP, the magic currency of the cell.
Carbohydrates and protein are roughly equal, at 17kJ per/g while Fats are 38kJ/g.
I think you've got a figure confused somewhere.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Prevents fat replacement. With the primary precursor to fat - carbohydrates - removed from your diet altogether, it's not easy for your body to add any new fat.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Carbohydrates are first used to produce glucogen, then excess carbohydrate is diverted to make fat. It isn't carbohydrates make fat THEN glucagon.
Fat, surprise surprise, is made by fat. Fatty acids are taken up by chloromicrons and then taken around the body where they are stored or broken down into free fatty acids. FFAs can then be used for whatever. It isn't much of a suprise to me that many atkins dieters apparently suffer high cholesterol levels as a direct result actually...
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->2) tiredness due to less available energy<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No, try lack of energy to the brain because the body will have to resort to using ketone bodies to supply energy. Glucose is one of the few things that can cross the blood brain barrier. Presumably in some people this could be very dangerous, especially if they have a malfunction in their ability to produce ketone bodies.
Other disadvantages may be metabolic acidosis (from excessive ketone bodies) and the previously mentioned cholesterol through the roof (I'm putting my money on a genetic problem).
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Combined with rigorous exercise, a no-carb diet is *frighteningly* effective.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Rubbish.
You're dropping more water than any fat you could imagine. The best kept secret of the dieting industry is that glucagon stores attract a large shell of water. This shell of water can often weigh up to 3-5kg, if you burn through your glucagon store, then the immediate weight loss is in fact water-Not fat. It will inevitably start working, because your body will chew through fat to make up for lost glucose etc. But the IMMEDIATE rapid weight loss IS water.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->PS. Since it is recommended to drink about 10 glasses of water a day on the diet I doubt that that's the weight you're losing. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not even sure how to respond to that. The water is chemically attracted to the largely positive mass of glucagon, that is what forms the shell. I have no idea how drinking water would somehow magically replace that shell, with nothing for it to actually get encouraged to start gathering around (Groupies!).
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Actually, for the amount of weight some people lose from the Atkins diet, it doesnt make sense that it would be just water. That, to me, defies logic. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Tell that to a biochemist <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
It isn't as nonsensical as some think:
Carbohydrates are broken down in sugars (Glucose, Fructose etc) which are transported to the liver/other tissues. Excess glucose is converted into a storage form called glucagon which has a high positive charge. Glucagon attracts a large shell of water molecules around it, which increases the 'weight' of the substance quite substantially. When you have no more glucagon (Which is also in your muscles BTW), then you have no more water shell=Rapid drop in weight.
This is why diets make it so easy to lose weight seemingly very fast. The initial weight loss is simply water (very quickly too), but after that it is all fat being burnt. It is important to realise that the moment they begin eating carbohydrates again, they will probably gain a fair bit of weight again quickly. This is because the body begins manufacturing glucagon, and its surrounding water shell comes back.
Wether it is healthy or not is debatable, but the fact that it is an effective long term weight loss solution has been more or less proven (higher protien intake, less calorie intake, less desire to eat, etc.)
I'd rather see people doing this than starving themselves, or paying hundres of dollers for "herbal" weight loss remedies, and don't forget stomach stapling. If it poses serious risks (rare cases I'm sure it does) they'll be discovered soon enough.
Combined with rigorous exercise, a no-carb diet is *frighteningly* effective.
Rubbish.
You're dropping more water than any fat you could imagine. The best kept secret of the dieting industry is that glucagon stores attract a large shell of water. This shell of water can often weigh up to 3-5kg, if you burn through your glucagon store, then the immediate weight loss is in fact water-Not fat. It will inevitably start working, because your body will chew through fat to make up for lost glucose etc. But the IMMEDIATE rapid weight loss IS water.
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Im not sure how this is meant to dispute the comments about the comination of exercise and a low carb diet. Yes as you say, the initial loss is water. After a few weeks you will start burning fat. The muscle you are developing during your exercise will also start burning this fat and will help you keep it off. I have seen the effects of the combination and it works. Excercise will also increase your matabolism, which will also aid in the burning of fat. I might not have excessive knowledge in biochemistry, but I do have a sister and borther-in-law that are physical therapists.
Because much of the weight loss isn't really fat at all, if you lose 8kg and are happy with it, you could potentially gain half of it right back when you eat carbohydrates again. Technically this reduces its efficiency by 50%, a massive drop.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->After a few weeks you will start burning fat. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, after a few weeks you will, however as mentioned over and over, the initial weight loss has nothing to do with this. Hence, it isn't as efficient as everyone thinks. Not even against some other diets. That water loss is THE key to its success IMO.
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I might not have excessive knowledge in biochemistry,<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Some people actually work in science you realise, on the contrary however, I have only a moderate knowledge of human biochemistry, I would probably only have an 'excessive' knowledge of mycobacterial biochemistry.
I'm sort of a pseudo-vegetarian, It's definetly not for health reasons so go ahead and laugh allready.
I don't eat what I don't feel comfortable cooking, and meat is creepy, for the same reason I find that tv show "plastic fantastic" which showed plastic surgery with all the gory details creepy, or the same reason I would be rather grossed out by chopping up a cow carcass. I have nothing against, cheese, fish, eggs etc. and I don't really care that cattle are breed to be eaten.
Not thinking straight, so I'm not sure which one would take more calories to burn...but I'd go with fat, if only because it's easier to burn a plant than it is to burn a cow (calorie = energy to heat 1g (mL) of water 1 degree celsius - we burned marshmellows in Biology, 10th grade).<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fat is more efficient in terms of energy/mass, that is why many seeds contain fat. Especially nuts. Animals store energy as fat because it is more efficient, they would have to wheigh ~ twice as much to store the same amount of energy otherwise.
Also, fat is soft, carbohydrates are not(unless you store them with lot's of water like cooked pasta or something). Also, bacteria and mold seem to love carbohydrates, but they seem to have a hard time getting at fat, this might be why animals don't store more then a little energy as carbohydrates.
The reason you can even store energy in fat is that you get more energy from it then it takes to burn it not the other way around("so I'm not sure which one would take more calories to burn"). Fat may well be harder to ignite/burn but that says very little about the total energy stored.
Unfortunetly calorie is ambigous when talking about food. A lot of people and even labels really mean kilo calories when they say calorie.
And no, I don't mean believe as a **** mantra or something. I'm talking about belief beyond a shadow of a doubt. As in the kind of belief that makes people jump off of bridges because they know they can fly kind of belief.
The body, in all it's complexity and glory, is still a symbiosis on a grand scale. There's still got to be latent communication in there somewhere for how your body maintains itself. Sort of like how breathing works, but on a much smaller scale. To elaborate that point, think about how much control you have over your breathing. When you're awake, you can flat out stop it. When you're asleep, you're letting your subconcious take the wheel and do what it wants in that department. Or as another example, think about adrenaline. The presence of fear makes you stronger and faster. There has GOT to be some way that we can change our maintained weight by some system connected to the brain.
And even beyond that, back to the world of common reality as most people know it. Most of these people only want to be thinner at a marginal degree. IF they seriously wanted to be thinner then they'd make time for exercise or go low-calorie vegetarian in a heartbeat if for some reason they can't exercise.
I myself have around 40 extra pounds of the greasy stuff (to put that in perspective, I'm 6'3 and weigh 300). Just recently I decided that I'm going to lose at least a third of that come hell or high water. So I started working out, but instead of maintaining some set regimen or schedule. I basically work out whenever the hell I feel like it, and that is solely fueled by the idea that if I do, then things will change. I've already tripled the number of pushups I can do (and they're not lame like the ones I was doing when I started) and doubled my maximum jogging range. The point of those statements being that I don't think I'd be making even half the progress if I didn't truly want to change myself down to the deepest recesses of my soul.
I used to hear that saying "no pain, no gain" and equate that to meaning... "If I don't go through the monotony and inconvenience of working out, then I can't ever get results". But now I've come to realize that it means something more to the effect of "When you think to yourself that you can't do any more, that means you've still got 10% left". Forcing your arm to LIFT THAT **** WEIGHT JUST ONE MORE TIME through force of pure will.
So, yeah, the main point of this whole post. Atkins will work if you actually truely believe it will. Otherwise, just stop it now and save yourself some miserable side effects (and by miserable, I mean the accepted side effects such as loss of energy).
YARRRRRRR!
(and yes, you can go ahead and call me crazy, but any attempts to persuade me out of my beliefs are pointless.)
However, I will dispute the idea that Atkins is a long-term diet. If it's billed as such, it shouldn't be. Human beings are designed to eat a variety of foods, and restricting one's diet that severely for a long period of time just isn't healthy. We can't produce all the essential vitamins, minerals, and some amino acids that we need to survive; we rely on our food to supply them. Cutting out carbohydrates, one of the most abundant food sources on the planet (hell, try telling someone living in northeast China to stop eating rice!), can't be good for us in the long term.
I think PETA's crusade against the Atkins diet is deplorable, but then I think just about anything PETA does is wacky. Besides, I like steak.
last day without food... asian buffett here i come!!!!
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If you want to lose weight, the thing to realize is you also have to stay healthy and your MAIN problem are all these pre-packaged things we eat. Soda, chips, candy, crackers, jam, peanut butter, hot-pockets, and anything that says 'instant'.
These things are simply unhealty, you need to increase your friuts and vegetables, and when it comes to meat, make it lean and cook it yourself! (thats right, no frozen TV dinners). Carbs, likewise should be things like pastas and bakery breads, not Wonder white bread.
If you stop fragging skulks for 2 minutes and go run around for a while, have some fun...walk, dance, run, beat up your little brother...ect then you'll have a better diet+excerise.
10 bucks says you'll feel better, look better and BE better, all without the health risk.