Customer Reviews

Complete Atkins' Three Book Package

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After 30 years and hundreds of millions of dollars of research, the medical establishment has failed to show any link between dietary fat and weight gain, or for that matter, heart disease. Furthermore, no one can explain where the "low-fat" belief came from: apparently it has never had any foundation in science. Thirty years of pain and frustration, not to mention an incipient diabesity epidemic, have led many of the American public to become sceptical and despondent at ever gaining control of their health. Meanwhile, for thirty years Dr. Atkins has been prescribing what used to be accepted belief for diabetes and other endocrinary problems: the source of weight gain is carbohydrate, not fat, and his results have been undeniably successful.

His books first gained attention during the early eighties, and were lumped among the other "high-protien" diet schemes which were quickly discredited. But Dr. Atkin's quiet conviction, many pages of scholarly research references, and consistently mounting anecdotal evidence have now built to a small mountain of persuasion which cannot be simply refuted. His theory is based on a commonsense understanding of the insulin cycle which has somehow escaped the researchers. He convincingly debunks the supposed risks of his program as far safer than the low-fat, high-carb recommendations currently in fashion.

Earlier editions include more scientific background, particularly the fascinating fifteenth chapter on the heart, which expertly critiques the famous Harvard Nurses Study, among others. A bedrock of current dietary belief, this study completely ignored the effect of sugar on diet because the researchers "presumed" sugar had nothing to do with it, contradicting their own results. This chapter alone should open many scaled-over scientific eyes, and rightly cause much rethinking. I challenge you to read it with an open mind, and judge for yourself the evidence, based on strict science and observable results.

Drawbacks: He has not made a clear enough distinction between a high-protien diet, which he nowhere directly advocates, and a low-carb diet, which he does. It is not necessary to follow his 4-step program or take expensive supplements, though these are helpful and recommendable. He is a practicing cardiologist, not a researcher, so he must rely on others to do the necessary research to develop credibility. He should drop the hyperbolic "revolution" title, which sounds like shallow promotionalism. His biggest setback has been to accuse the American Medical Association and American Heart Association directly of bad practice, which has turned a scientific debate into a blood feud, and slowed down acceptance of his theory. We have a long while to wait for the marketing system to provide affordable low-carb products.

Ultimate take-away: low-carb is good science, and low-fat has been a 30-year old-wives tale. The medical establishment should drop their defensive posture, which only sets back the credibility of the scientific community and keeps us all in bondage to out-of-date beliefs. If you want a balanced controlled-carb diet with little explanation, go with Barry Sears' "The Zone". If you want to really understand and thereby control the mechanism behind weight loss, hypertension, heart disease and diabetes, Atkins' book is a medical watershed.

This diet is very workable and effective. It is NOT dangerous as some people think. In fact, my doctor, after viewing the results of many of her patients who have tried this diet, has become very supportive. It takes willpower and a willingness to stick to it. I have lost lots of weight and the best news of all is that my blood lipids are the best they have been in my entire life. Cholesterol, triglycerides, LDLs are at an alltime low. We do periodic liver testing along with a lipid profile and the levels remain normal after many months. My glucose levels are also excellent. It takes some work but it becomes second nature after awhile because you feel great and have tons of energy. You must adhere to the 8 cups of water a day and it's very important to have some form of exercise program going. My wife and I both use this low carb diet and we both find it very satisfying.

I got on this diet as a result of my personal doctor telling me it was the only thing that would help me from not becoming a diabetic. Although I ended up being diagnosed diabetic I have lost and maintained, over the course of 12 months now, over 30 pounds. I began as a size 38 (almost 40) and now I am on my way to size 32 (I am at a comfortable 34 at this point).

There are several things you should bear in mind about it:
* This is NOT an easy fix for nutritional disorders. It works, but it takes TIME.
* This is NOT a balanced diet, because by repressing carbs (or maintaining them under 20 g per day in the begginning) it's aimed at getting your body in a state called ketosis. In such a state the body starts to use its stored fat as a source of energy, as opposed to expecting it from carbs. There are very diverse points of view about ketosis: being such a delicate topic, I invite you to make your own mind about it, but based on all I've read about it (and believe me: in a year's time, my diet is something I've devoted a lot of reading to), it seems to not be tied to the heart or kidney-related problems that are attibuted to it.
* It's not a static diet either, because your menu evolves as your weight does: as you begin to get to your ideal weight, the amount of carbs you're allowed increases as well.
* This diet requires vitamin supplements and exercise along with it, in order to work well.
* Most important of ALL, please check with your doctor before you begin this diet.

Long story short, read Atkins' books and decice for yourself. So far, I'm with it, but not too fond of the total lack of fruits that it has during its early stages. I've combined its elements with those of the "Omega Diet," and the concept of reducing the portions I eat in every meal.

This diet is my last resort!I was so desparate to loose weight on
January 10 I picked up my freind's book and read about the diet. I started that day! It is January 20 and I have lost 12 pounds so far and I am totally encouraged! I am eating the food I love,
I am a type II-diabetic and my blood sugar which was uncontrollable; it has been normal since I started. I went from 80 units of insulin a day last Friday to 5 units in less than a week.This is better than losing weight,it's losing weight and losing the insulin drudge and the needle at te same time. I would recommend any overweight diabetic to seriously consider following this plan.

I tried the 40-30-30 becuase on paper it made sense. I felt good, had high energy and lost weight, but it wasn't fat, a lot was water and some muscle.

Then I went on Atkins. My energy level was just as high. I lost weight faster but most significantly to me was that I lost inches and fat, not just weight.

I dropped 2 pant sizes in my first week and for once wasn't afraid to go out to public pools in my swim trunks. Previoously, I used to procrastinate by saying that I didn't look fat in a suit, but I was in denial.

My face looks tight. No more double chin. My overall muscle tone has improved significantly. I love this diet. It's the best. Far better than the 40-30-30 which may be okay for those natural high metabolism types who gain a few pounds and lose easily or are already thin. Didn't work for me or anybodyelse that I know.

Atkins is the best.

I just went through the earlier reviews (there were 30 at the time of this writing) to see if I'd done one yet. I bought this set about 11 months ago, right here on amazon.com.

Instead, what I found were a few real uninformed skeptics...check them out yourself...they are hilarious, particularly my favorite: Don't do this diet. I will make you sick.

Funny, but since starting my own Atkins Lifestyle on January 27, 2003 at 260 pounds, I haven't had a sniffle. Today, November 26, 2003, I weighed-in at 162, 98 pounds down and 2 pounds from my goal. At 6 foot even, 160 is exactly dead-center of the normal range of the BMI (Body Mass Index).

I've gone from a 52" waistline (wearing 44" slacks below the belly) to a 36" waistline (wearing 36" slacks around my waist). My inseam is now 32" instead of 30" due to me wearing the slacks where they were made to be worn and now the crotches of the slacks don't extend inches down my thighs. Boy, I must have looked like a slob. (Must have? I know I did. I used to hate glancing at my profile reflected from store windows when I walked down the street. I looked like a pregnant man!)

While I might have waited to write this after losing the next, final, TWO POUNDS, I could not wait. Tomorrow, you see, is Thanksgiving.

This year, I give thanks for these books and their author, Dr. Robert C. Atkins. May God rest his soul in peace, for the peace that his undaunted efforts have given and will give millions of formerly overweight people, now living a healthy lifestyle in healthy bodies.

I've had a great deal of success myself with the Atkins diet. My cholesterol is down, my weight is down, my blood pressure is down. I was so enthusiastic that I gave this three-pack as a birthday present to a relative who wanted to lose weight and in the past two months he's lost thirty pounds, and he's someone who had never successfully dieted before.

...

Actually there isn't any research indicating this diet is dangerous, though there's not really any research on the long term effects of the diet at all. A study just published in the The Journal of the American Medical Association found no evidence of risks, but suggested the weight loss was merely the result of reduced calorie intact. That's not consistant with my own experience -I'm on the diet and have lost 28 lbs, and my calorie intact isn't exactly scanty. Hopefully, future studies already in the works will shed more light on all this.

As for the book, I found New Diet Revolution to be quite readable and interesting. And I know others that have had very positive results with this diet.

My wife and two daughters have lost over 200 lbs since August 2002 following the Atkins program. In my case, I dropped 75 lbs and 8 waistline inches. My blood pressure was at 170/108 is now down to 135/80. And I can tie my shoes and actually see my ribs for the first time since High School! I have more energy, more positive and feel great!

My wife Cindy dropped 60 lbs and now has that high school cheer leader shape that I remember when we first started dating. She has slimmed down her hips, things and butt and look fantastic!

Our daughter Tammy was suffering from hyperactivity. Along with weight and inch loss, an unexpected benefit was that she is no longer hyperactive (the protein I suppose)and along with our other daughter dropped 38 lbs and 35 lbs respectively.

We enjoy the various menues and also started the supplements. I noticed that since using the Vit/Min supplement, in particular the antioxidants, my old knee injury from playing high school football has gone away along with other aches and pains that affect us middle aged people. My wife noticed the same thing.

Atkins is a great program and I highly recommend it.

15lbs a month safely, and I'm more healthy than I have been in years. Cholesterol and BP are better. This diet is easier than the rest, the best for eating out at restaurants, and you're not starving yourself. Current headlines may say its because you eat less calories, but that is irrelevant. You eat a good amount so you are not hungry, and you lose weight. Can't be better than that.

Oh, and that safediets.org? They're promoting their own vegetarian diet of course.