Atkins Review

First of all, I am a paramedic and very concerned about health issues.  I am also overweight, so this is a real health problem for me, if not now, it may be later.  Therefore, I am seeking to lose weight, but in a healthy manner.  I had considered the Atkins diet, as my body/metabalism type needs high protein and I gain from carbs and fat. I thought this diet would work well for me.

A close friend had used the Atkins diet to lose quite a bit of weight and it really worked for him.  However, I noticed that he did not look healthy anymore.  He looked drawn, old, and ... just didn't look good at all.  He also lost a lot of his energy.  When he quit the diet, he began to look better again.  He found that he could restrict his carbs, though not as severely as the diet called for and he kept his weight down. 

I tried restricting my carbs in the way he had started doing when he quit the diet itself, and I found that I can lose weight that way.  It is slower, but healthier.

We need a certain amount of carbs for our bodies to function correctly - even for our brains to function correctly.  When you cut out too many, you are going to suffer for it - even if you are losing weight.

 The key is to understand what your body needs for health and then diet in a reasonable way that will still sustain those things you need.  You may lose weight slower, but it will be healthier and be more apt to stay off.