Robert C. Atkins, M.D.
ISBN 0-06-001203-X
Started 2003 June 21, gave up.
Reviewed 2004 January 12
ItÕs about no-carbs, low carbs.
Wilda was at the late end of a Persian Gulf deployment on the Bonhomme-Richard. We were in touch by e-mail virtually daily. We were both trying to lose weight. By strict Slim Fast and exercise, I was down around 195, hoping to go 20 more. Wilda was closer, had less to lose, but wanted to quit busting Navy physicals.
Tired of craving and shaking in the late afternoon, this looked like a possibility. Atkins died last winter, but the news was clear to point out that it was due to a head injury from a fall, not from anything dietary. There were various rumors about what AtkinsÕ diet could do to you – kidney disease, losing hair.
Wilda and I bought copies of the book. She complained that it was hard to have any specialized diet under deployment circumstances. I complained that I didnÕt live in a vacuum myself. She worked the plan; I agreed to read about it. I started with chapters 18 and 22 as recommended then went to the beginning and started through. Gave up at page 90 and hereÕs why.
The book is more than 50% hype. Atkins promises that you wonÕt have to count calories, wonÕt have to go hungry, can eat your fill, not worry about fat content (indeed, embrace the stuff) and get to about the right weight. What you have to count, keep track of, control, and otherwise be selective about is lots worse than just a calories number. I eat other peopleÕs cooking; people who would rather not be cooking but who do it anyway. IÕm not going to complain or suggest. There would be benefits to Atkins IÕm sure, but counting carbs and carotin and who knows what else requires a level of obsession not seen in most other dieting, fad or otherwise.
I could never bring myself to even start and realized one night that I would never learn all that stuff and even if I did, my skeptical wife and friends would be anti-supportive, from inaction if nothing else.
So I decided to ditch the whole idea. Today IÕm back up to 211, havenÕt ridden the bike in six weeks. ItÕs just too dark out there and IÕd rather spend the extra time at work or home. One good thing, IÕm not so afraid of fat anymore. Not that I want to eat much of anything. My issues with food and weight are not going to be solved by a diet plan.