Well I have to chime in since Atkins has worked for me. The key here, in my opinion, is that it really is a lifestyle and that doesn't mean I lose the weight and then go back to my old eating habits. My old eating habits is how I gained the weight in the first place so what makes me think that won't happen again. It's the same with Weight Watchers, Long Beach, and all those million others out there. If you don't stick with it and go back to how you ate before, you will be how you were before. I do know that the AMA and American Heart Association endorse the Atkins plan... but I also know that doesn't mean a whole lot to many people.

For me, Atkins was such a simple solution because it really just meant cutting out the sugars and caffeine (easier said than done for this Big Gulp a day drinker of Coke!) while eating more of the better types of carbs like veggies and eating as much meat as I did before anyway. Remember it's not a low or no carb diet, it's a "controlled" carb plan in which you control the types of carbs that you consume and make sure that the ratio of carbs to protein is the best for your individual metabolism.

I didn't have a ton of weight to lose but the reason I went on Atkins originally was the side effect of better concentration after eating. In other words, no after lunch coma feeling because of the decreased amount of sugar in my diet. And that has been the difference for me. It is SOOOO nice to eat and then be ready to go without all that yawning and desire to nap feeling. That's a huge thing for me since I've spent the past 7 months studying for a two-day exam and completing my dissertation. I have needed as clear a brain as I could get. One effect that I didn't expect was the change in the effects of my workouts. Because I was decreasing my fat percentage (still a healthy 18-20%) my muscles "seemed" to be building up easier and nicer. Anyway...

This is all just *my* perspective and I am totally not a scientist or anything like that. I also have never advocated anyone going on Atkins if they thought it was dangerous or unhealthy. But I have advocated reading about any diet plan if there is an interest rather than taking people's, including my, word for it. I just wanted to respond to some of the comments made since it has worked so well for me for over a year now.

~TTG