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From: seifert@hammer.UUCP (Snoopy)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Need Advice on Limited-Carbohydrate Diet
Message-ID: <1649@hammer.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 20-Nov-85 12:22:51 EST
Article-I.D.: hammer.1649
Posted: Wed Nov 20 12:22:51 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Nov-85 00:22:59 EST
References: <508@cylixd.UUCP>
Reply-To: seifert@hammer.UUCP (Snoopy)
Organization: The Daisy Hill Puppy Farm
Lines: 55
Summary: 

In article <508@cylixd.UUCP> dave@cylixd.UUCP (Dave Kirby) writes:

>Some of you may be familiar with the book "Dr. Atkins' Diet
>Revolution." A few years ago I went on this diet for about 4 weeks;
>I lost weight rapidly and felt great. But I left the diet because
>it severely limited my choice of foods, and because I was experiencing
>side-effects of irritability.

>Is Dr. Atkins full of B. S.? Is his diet downright dangerous? Or is
>it a safe and effective method of weight control?

I haven't read _D.A.D.R._ , but I've read a couple of his other books,
including _Dr. Atkins' Super Energy Diet_ and _Dr. Atkins' Nutrition
Breakthrough_.  These have a lot of useful information, and I recommend
reading them.  (available in paperback at most bookstores and
nutrition stores)

Yes I know the titles sound like something out of the _National Enquirer_,
but like they say, you can't judge a book by it's cover.

Anyway, he lists a couple of rare conditions under which the diet
could be harmful, and strongly recommends being checked for these
beforehand, just in case.  (I'm not listing them because I don't
remember what they were.)

I didn't need to lose weight, so I didn't try the absolute zero
carbohydrate diet, I just eliminated all sugar (which knocked out
99% of the stuff I was eating, read those labels, you'll be shocked
at the things they put sugar in!), cut down on white flour, and
started taking vitamin/mineral suppliments.  This alone helped
tremendiously.  Strangely, I lost about two inches around the waist,
without losing weight.  (no cracks about getting denser :-)  )

But I still didn't feel as good as I thought I should, so I thought
that something else might be wrong, in addition to hypoglycemia. I
went in and saw a conventional MD (happy Craig?), who ordered a battery
of tests, some of which were, shall we say, not exactly fun, and
which turned up absolutely nothing.  Upon my insistance, these included
a GTT, except they refused to do it properly and take samples for
5-6 hours like is supposed to be done, but only took them for three.
Naturally, the numbers they got fell within 'normal', never mind
my head feeling like it was in a vice, and being too tired to do
anything except lie down.  (too much pain to go to sleep)
Joe MD pronounces me to be as healthy as a horse (?) and sends
me on my way.

The next thing I need to try is a diet with lots of raw or lightly
cooked veggies (e.g. Chinese stir-fry), no white flour at all,
and check for food allergies.  Problem is (1) finding a source of
decent produce, and (2) learning how to prepare it.  -sigh-

Also need to get more exercise.  -sigh-

Snoopy (ECS Ronin #901)
tektronix!tekecs!doghouse.TEK!snoopy