Atkins Maybe,Fagan Yes
March 13th 2007 09:41
The effectiveness of the Atkins diet, I maintain, is ultimately compromised by its continuous elimination of carbohydrates from the diet. That is, at some point either weeks or even months into the regimen many people have a carb breakdown and some never recover. That fact is that, human motivation and discipline being what they are, there is no behavioral pattern that can command strict application forever, even when a likely outcome of abandoning it is disease and even death. So it is with dieting. Since the fall from dieting grace does not immediately result in something detrimental, it is the easiest thing in the world to cheat and take breaks etc.
Limiting carb consumption flies in the face of everything that our culture suggests. The fact is that the West is addicted to sugar and, as I said in my last post, sugar and other harmful carbs are frequently found in a delightful combination-pastry,pie,cake. I believe that this addiction is so dominant that a successful carb limiter must treat carbohydrates like a recovering addict treats drugs or an alcoholic treats alcohol: one slip and the whole effort may be lost.
However, the analogy breaks down. The reality is that quality carbohydrates have a function in diet and cannot be eliminated preemptorily without certain effects. It is diet suicide to ignore the need for any macronutrients.(Don't believe me? Look at the damage low fat has done.) The question is,instead, how to properly utilize carbohydrates.I believe the approach of Rob Fagan in his book Natural Hormonal Enhancement has the proper approach.
Fagan proposes an initial decarbing of about 8 days in which fewer than 20 grams of carbs are eaten daily. This establishes a new response from the body. Forced to relinquish its dependence on carbohydrates for its primary energy system it turns instead to fat. The body remains on this system unless a steady consumption of carbs resets the orientation of the energy system again. Since high protein diets are inherently low in calories and since protein actually reduces the level of glucose in the system the dieter's body is forced to consume body fat as energy.
With the body securely on this system it now becomes safe to ingest a certain amount of carbohydrate in a controlled manner. This manner is one of cycled all carb meals at intervals of every 3 days or so. When carbs are limited systematically, those ingested are treated in the body's preferred manner: simple put they are absorbed into the cells where they belong. That ingestion satisfies any craving the body has for carbs and off the wagon periods are effectively averted.
It worth remembering that it is the excess of often nutritionally empty carbohydrates that do so much damage to the insular system. The fact is that eating some proper carbohydrates at a controlled interval,while remining on very low carb most days, is the prudent approach to cleaning up the diet.
What are prudent carbohydrates? I suggest that a guide for eating a meal of carbs should be the now famous glycemic index,where the insular effects of foods are ranked numerically with the lowest numbers indicating the foods that least cause unwanted insular response. I further suggest leafy and green vegetable consumed in a carb meal.
I might also suggest that a serious dieter take a look at Fagan's book. He can explain himself on his own and do it more cogently than I. I recommend it,because it is simply so excellent a system. Fagan is also a bodybuilder and has insights into the mix of training and diet that are not found in Atkins, South Beach et alia. Take my word this is the system. Available at www.extique.com.Your servant,as always.
Limiting carb consumption flies in the face of everything that our culture suggests. The fact is that the West is addicted to sugar and, as I said in my last post, sugar and other harmful carbs are frequently found in a delightful combination-pastry,pie,cake. I believe that this addiction is so dominant that a successful carb limiter must treat carbohydrates like a recovering addict treats drugs or an alcoholic treats alcohol: one slip and the whole effort may be lost.
However, the analogy breaks down. The reality is that quality carbohydrates have a function in diet and cannot be eliminated preemptorily without certain effects. It is diet suicide to ignore the need for any macronutrients.(Don't believe me? Look at the damage low fat has done.) The question is,instead, how to properly utilize carbohydrates.I believe the approach of Rob Fagan in his book Natural Hormonal Enhancement has the proper approach.
Fagan proposes an initial decarbing of about 8 days in which fewer than 20 grams of carbs are eaten daily. This establishes a new response from the body. Forced to relinquish its dependence on carbohydrates for its primary energy system it turns instead to fat. The body remains on this system unless a steady consumption of carbs resets the orientation of the energy system again. Since high protein diets are inherently low in calories and since protein actually reduces the level of glucose in the system the dieter's body is forced to consume body fat as energy.
With the body securely on this system it now becomes safe to ingest a certain amount of carbohydrate in a controlled manner. This manner is one of cycled all carb meals at intervals of every 3 days or so. When carbs are limited systematically, those ingested are treated in the body's preferred manner: simple put they are absorbed into the cells where they belong. That ingestion satisfies any craving the body has for carbs and off the wagon periods are effectively averted.
It worth remembering that it is the excess of often nutritionally empty carbohydrates that do so much damage to the insular system. The fact is that eating some proper carbohydrates at a controlled interval,while remining on very low carb most days, is the prudent approach to cleaning up the diet.
What are prudent carbohydrates? I suggest that a guide for eating a meal of carbs should be the now famous glycemic index,where the insular effects of foods are ranked numerically with the lowest numbers indicating the foods that least cause unwanted insular response. I further suggest leafy and green vegetable consumed in a carb meal.
I might also suggest that a serious dieter take a look at Fagan's book. He can explain himself on his own and do it more cogently than I. I recommend it,because it is simply so excellent a system. Fagan is also a bodybuilder and has insights into the mix of training and diet that are not found in Atkins, South Beach et alia. Take my word this is the system. Available at www.extique.com.Your servant,as always.
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Comment by Claire S
I am not totally schooled in the diet you speak of, but remember that, as human nature goes, just as many people could fall off this diet as well. Fact is, even if you call it a way of eating or lifestyle plan, our nature is to screw up.
I agree that some people are addicted to carbs and must avoid them like alcohol or other substances. Some will be successful, some won't - that is up to them and not the fault of the diet, which is quite satisfying.
I might mention that in the maintenance phase of Atkins, a higher number of carbs can be eaten - I guess I can't specify numbers, but if you read the book he mentions up to 100. This includes wild rice, wheat bread, etc - what you have mentioned.
Again - thanks for today's post - and keep up the good work!