PattyTherre's Full Review: Robert C. Atkins M.D. - Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolu...
Well, I guess I need to preface this opinion with saying that not only am I NOT dead as some people on here have been saying when one is on the diet, I am more alive than I ever was.
Now to the book.
My nephew was on the Carbohydrate Busters diet -- the one where you eat low carbs all day then get 1 hour to gorge yourself on anything you want. He was losing weight but the idea of the yo yo eating wasn't really appealing to me. I decided to pick up the Atkins book after two doctors recommended that I go on it. I had about 15-16 pounds to lose and nothing was getting that weight off. My metabolism is really slow and my fear was that I would continue to gain weight and become obese at some point and I was also concerned with my cholesterol which was rising from bad eating habits and lack of exercise.
So after two different docs recommended it, I went out and bought the book.
I am one to read entire books in one or two sittings if they capture my attention and this one did. While the book is a bit technical in places and Atkins repeats himself in certain areas (probably to get his point across), I found the book absolutely eye opening.
My son was on the ketogenic diet for seizure control at age 4 -- he was in ketosis for 2 years and seizures stopped and he was very healthy -- so I knew more than the regular layman going in when I started reading the book as it pertains to ketosis.
I am sure many people here broke down the book into chapters and such and I will spare you that. I will say the book deals with the aspects of the Atkins low carb, high protein diet and explains the four phases of the diet in quite good detail.
Atkins goes out of his way to tell you how the general population refuses to see his views and gives many examples and scientific research to back up all of his claims. Every worry I had going in vanished after reading the book. Naturally I am aware that Atkins wants to sell books and then supplements, etc., and I did not look at this book as gospel but I was impressed enough by the dialog to enter into the induction phase of the diet (and subsequently remain on it). The book explains almost everything you need to begin your foray into the Atkins lifestyle. However, there are few things missing.
I would like to see a chapter or at least a mention, on what to do if you get sick on the diet. That is, if you catch a bug or something, what should you do. The BRAT diet certainly doesn't apply (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast -- none of which are on the diet) and thus, when I caught a little bit of a flu bug (only lasted about 36 hours), I had no idea what to eat or drink that would keep me in ketosis yet not upset my stomach.
Other than that, the book does have just about every question answered. It goes into a lot of detail about vitamins and other things which is an obvious ploy to get you to buy his other book on vitamins. But still, Atkins writes with a conversational style, sometimes like a friend, sometimes like a scientist, always vehemently and ferociously stating his opinions and facts.
I suggest that anyone considering a low carb, high protein diet buy this book. Don't go for the imitations. Atkins has been around for over 25 years and he pioneered this type of diet and it shows. He is strict, yes, but he is sensible in his approach to the diet. (Many naysayers will roll their eyes at the idea of Atkins and sensible in the same sentence but I was on a "sensible" diet and nearly lost my life due to complications from it so, in my opinion, Atkins at least backs up his statements with research and facts. He is also very aware of how hard people will think the diet is when looking at it in black and white and does a fine job of showing the diet in its best light, none of which is misleading. Thus, I say sensible.)
Many opinions against Atkins are that he encourages very rapid weight loss. He does so in only the first two weeks of the diet, after that he strongly encourages you to up your carbs until you are losing at a slow even pace, and he also strongly encourages you -- several times throughout the book -- to see your doctor before starting the diet for blood tests and a medical check up. He then asks that you go back to the doctor to check your cholesterol, kidney function and other things. He is by no means "anti-traditional doctor."
Many who get this book tend to go right to the section on induction (the first 2 week phase of the diet) and don't read anything else, like a good friend of mine who is on the diet now. I strongly suggest reading it through. See how the phases of the diet work, understand what is happening in your body, know what you are getting into.
Admittedly, Atkins highly recommends his diet of course but to his credit he does give you some of the "cons" and does give you solid research to prove his points.
The book is a good read for those interested in the Atkins Diet, either to go on it themselves or to understand what a friend or relative is going through. However, you will not find 100% support if you do go on the diet in this book. There have been questions I have had that the book did not address and I only got the answers when I went to an Atkins Seminar with his assistant speaking. She cleared everything up in a short few minutes and I was much more confident after the talk.
Nonetheless, I highly recommend this book over any others out there (copycat low carb diets especially the new Suzanne Summers diet book, oh my). Take some time to really READ the book and get the facts from it. If, after you are done, you feel like it is a bunch of hogwash, well...at least you can have an educated opinion.
If, like me, you decide to give the diet a shot, I wish you all the luck in the world. It was a Godsend to me, not for the weight (I only needed to lose 15 pounds) but the energy, peace of mind, and other benefits I am getting from it.
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