More praise for the zero-carb weight loss diet

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Wednesday, July 18. 2012

More praise for the zero-carb weight loss diet

In this blogger's case, not zero-carb but close to it. He did it without exercise. He helpfully reviews the nonsense about low-fat diets too. There is no evidence, it seems, that a low-fat diet does any good at all for heart disease or anything else.

That's basically the Maggie's weight-loss diet. Fruit, bread, cereal, pasta, beans, corn, juice, sugar - all are instant poison if you desire weight loss, energy, good vigor, and a springy step. Bacon is good for you!

People on no-carb diets feel better, feel less lazy.

I remember when I got upset years ago when my doc advised me to avoid fats and red meats to lower my cholesterol. My doc now (that older good fellow retired) is up-to-date. He says that, if you want to stay in shape, quit the carbs and eat all the eggs and meat you want. He says fruit is the killer, because people have the idea that fruit is healthy.

Same as candy. He says. "Carbs are addictive."

Posted by Bird Dog in Medical, Our Essays at 16:26 | Comments (11) | Trackbacks (0)

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So I'm expected to trust a blogger's advice regarding high-fat diets and heart disease?
And the only way to lose weight is to avoid practically all carbs?
Stuff and nonsense.
On a vegan diet that includes oatmeal, beans, unlimited fruit, etc., I lost 45 pounds in 6 months and have kept it off for 5 years.
I might die prematurely because of low levels of German chocolate cake and pizza, however.

#1 PacRim Jim (Link) on 2012-07-18 16:44 (Reply)

If you're a vegan, you have more to worry about than chocolate cake. Like B12 and Vitamin D deficiency, and a cancer and other serious disease risk the same as non-vegans. But don't let the facts get in the way of your wacky vegan propaganda, right?

#1.1 Chad on 2013-06-06 11:02 (Reply)

I don't buy this at all. i have seen many many people go on Atkins style diets. First of all, there are other things to worry about besides weight. Your kidneys for instance. Also your digestive system (constipation, anyone?). Also, sorry, bacon and other cured meats are well-established carcinogens. Most of the Eastern Europeans I know, who live on sausages, have developped colon cancer. Also, fruit and vegetables have lots of vitamins that your body needs in all sorts of ways that we only vaguely understnad.

Every person I know who went on Atkins lost a lot of weight, and then they gained it all back. Why? because carbs are comfort food. First you deprive yourself. Then you have a crisis. Then you eat comfort food. Then you gain the weight back. Every time.

#2 Park Slope Pubby on 2012-07-18 17:19 (Reply)

Bacon and eggs are comfort food!

#2.1 Bird Dog on 2012-07-18 17:26 (Reply)

I've lost 50+ pounds counting calories and eating micro-meals throughout the day to manage my hunger. I've never looked at carbs, but I'm pretty sure there's more than a few in the food I eat.

I calculated my BMR and just eat under that target. I weigh myself every day and chart progress so I can fine tune the numbers. I keep putting calories in the fire every couple of hours so I feel satisfied and to stimulate my metabolism. It's been easy. I eat what I like...I just make most of my meals ahead of time so I can eat and run. It's incredibly convenient and I don't feel like I'm dieting. The closest I get to the "carb" idea is distributing protein throughout my day because it's satisfying. I'm fitting into old clothes and working out again, which is a lot easier without the extra 50 pounds, and I'm enjoying myself. I don't feel deprived...at all. All this just from cutting calories. (Okay, getting a divorce helped me a lot in this, but really I think it's mostly just cutting the calories).

Then there's this: "When it comes to weight loss, evidence from randomized, controlled trials comparing different diets finds that restricting total calories is more important than diet composition such as low-fat versus low-carbohydrate. Therefore, the specific aim of our study was to identify behaviors that supported the global goal of calorie reduction."

I don't give a rat's derriere about theories. All I want it what works and cutting calories is working.

#3 Jephnol (Link) on 2012-07-18 18:30 (Reply)

Problem is...I love donuts (and never cared for bacon).

Good links to the facts that the lack of support for the evils of proteins and fats.

Would like to point out that veggies shouldn't be an afterthought.

#4 DrTorch on 2012-07-18 19:18 (Reply)

I lost 40lbs since January greatly increasing my exercise levels (more time in the gym) and cutting down on carbs (pasta & beer). Now that the goal was achieved, we'll see how maintenance goes.

Although beer consumption is slowly creeping back up

#5 Dennis on 2012-07-18 21:55 (Reply)

Well, after reading Gary Taubles Why We Get Fat, I'm convinced that carbs and carb-loading diets are a no-no.

After two weeks of weening off sugar, carbs, pasta, bread, soda (even the diet ones) (note - it was REAL hard the first week, since it was vacation in Virginia's tidewater. too much good food.....), I feel a difference. Scale shows only a 5-7lb loss, but, its been a short time. I do also miss the pizza and pasta, but, loosing the pounds is FAR more important than satisfying my habit. I think once my body becomes accustomed to the new fuel input, I hope to introduce small amounts of carbs (whole grain ones - the processed ones are a big no-no), and see how it goes....

#6 Fred Zeppelin on 2012-07-18 22:32 (Reply)

Listen to an interview with Gary Taubes on EconTalk, with Russ Roberts, and learn how so much of what we "know" is based of faulty research. A real eye-opener.

I've eliminated carbs, mostly, and have done great without them. Difficult at first, like quitting smoking, but eventually you don't even think about them.

Don't agree that fruit should be eliminated. It's a natural part of the landscape. People evolved eating it.

#6.1 Estoy Listo on 2012-07-19 11:39 (Reply)

I "kind of" do this diet. That is I over indulge in fats and protein but as a reward for myself I overindulge in carbs too. It is so much better then limiting my eating pleasure. Tonight's dinner was a medium chocolate Dairy Queen blizzard, a bag of chips and all the nachos I could eat accompanied by a 48 ounce coke. Don't worry I balanced it with Pizza for lunch. I am 69 years old, have eaten whatever I wanted to all my life. Avoided fad diets and guru advice and yet my weight is perfect. Obesity is genetic. You can diet and fight it but your genes will win.

#7 GoneWithTheWind on 2012-07-19 00:59 (Reply)

I totally agree w/ #7 about the importance of genetics, and I would go one step further. I really question whether being fat is so bad for your health. There have been medical studies that show that the skinny actually appear to live shorter lives. Plus, skinny old people look worsethan pleasantly plump old people.

My grandmother was fat, ate whatever she liked, never ate a piece of fruit unless she cut it up and put heavy cream on it, loved carbs (I think she ate several pieces of buttered toast at every meal) and lived to be 93.

Always be suspicious of health advice that supports the dominant cultural gestalt. Right now, that advice is "fat is death." Everybody believes it, but I don't see evidence of it. I am also suspicious of the idea that it is better to slather chemicals all over your body than to be exposed to a little sunshine. Etc. Etc.

#8 Park Slope Pubby on 2012-07-19 13:55 (Reply)

What we need is a pill to make us feel like we will after we eat "that"! Maybe thats what my lapband is supposed to do.

That said, I know Taubes is right. But, actually I am so sick of buying food, figuring out what food to buy, cooking the stuff, getting people to eat it, eating it myself and cleaning up the mess that I would welcome just forgetting the whole damn thing.

#9 pbird on 2012-07-19 16:00 (Reply)

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Wednesday, July 18. 2012

More praise for the zero-carb weight loss diet