My Support Forums - View Single Post - To Fish re: diet/food (from: i would appreciate an opinion)

fishsandwich · Jun 17, 2012, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by costello

Yeah, the book's not well-written. I'm not sure diet books ever are.

Which edition do you have?

I have "Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution". It seems to be some kind of second edition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by costello

What is his point in mentioning the 19th century? Is he comparing the diet then with the diet now?

Yes, basically. He talks about how people in the 19th century ate meat swimming in cream but they were (apparently) OK. He also talks about 'cave men' eating animals and plants they could kill/pick and that made them healthier and (more) free from disease.

Quote:

Originally Posted by costello

I do remember he was very pro-artificial sweetners. It's a source of debate amongst low-carbs - for a variety of reasons.

I mostly thought it was hypocritical of him to bash all the manufactured carbs through an entire chapter, but then at the end of the chapter laud artificial sweeteners (and other fake carb products).
I never have eaten artificial sweeteners and I never will; that is probably what will make the diet so hard. This book is full of them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by costello

Keep in mind that Atkins was a clinician not a scientist. He was a doctor who helped people lose weight. He wrote a book meant to be read and used by the average person. And many of his patients might have objected to giving up all sweets. They might not have stayed on the diet without the AS. He was a practical man.

I'm neither a clinician nor a scientist, yet I keep finding logical flaws in his book. That concerns me. One can write a scientifically valid work for a layperson. I think the paleo book I have (by Loren Cordain) is so much better.

I found more problems whilst I was reading last night. It's a shame, because the diet seems *almost* sensible.
Actually, the book kind of reads like Dr. Atkins wrote the book, then his editor/publisher/publicist realised they could make even more money selling those "Dr. Atkins' granola bars!" and "Dr Atkins' cupcakes!" so they inserted paragraphs into the book to make it part of the plan all along. The book was published in 2002, so it wouldn't surprise me.