LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Fitness: Fad Diets |
by Rick Moore |
What is this? The latest craze is low-carbohydrate/ no-carbohydrate diets where people are existing on only protein and fat. Now, really! Fad diets come and go but this one is really taking off. It seems everyone knows lots of friends, neighbors, or relatives who are trying this out. It's called the "Atkins Diet Revolution," and it has taken the country like a wildfire in Yellowstone Park. It allows you to eat all the protein you wantsteaks, chicken, pork, eggs, and even greasy, fatty bacon. Now you can chow down while you cut up. Just one thingstay away from the carbohydrates. You can't eat much, if any, pasta, noodles, breads, potatoes, or sugary items. They (the experts) say it works, but does it? You see all these testimonials. You hear that some grossly overweight woman lost 109 pounds, and a shockingly overweight man lost 180 pounds while on the Atkins diet, etc., etc. I have a couple of questions for successful cases such as these. What were these people's eating habits before Atkins? Did they get any exercise before they started? Do they do any exercise while on the diet, or afterwards? Were or are they under a doctor's care? Do they have any after-effects? What about long-term health risks? It's said that high levels of protein and fat with a very low intake of fiber can cause constipation, fluid dehydration, weakness, and nausea. It's also pointed out that it's a great strain on the kidneys. I've read that there's another unpleasant side effecthalitosis, meaning really bad breath. I haven't heard much about the long-range health effectsthis remains to be seen. Being fat in itself is bad, but you want your weight-loss diet to make your health situation better, not worse. Let's face it, the United States is by far the fattest country in the world. I've been writing about that a lot in recent columns, 'cause I'm not kidding. 54% of the total population in this country is overweight. We actually have convinced ourselves that a 200 pound female and a 300 pound male are normal! Something is seriously wrong here. How in the world did we allow ourselves to get to this point, anyway? And the scary part is that 25% of our nation's children are overweight, too. Our society has created a strange paradox. All the actors and actresses on TV, and all the models in ads and on billboards, are lean and lithe. But the people buying the products that they're selling are shockingly fat, and rapidly getting fatter. We as a nation will spend any amount of money necessary to be thin, or to even create an illusion that we're thin (vertical stripes, anyone?) But we won't do the free, safe, and proven things that guarantee a healthier body. People won't exercise and they won't eat in moderation. Instead, everyone's looking for that shortcut, that "magic pill" that will make them young and thin again (assuming they were ever thin), without exerting any effort whatsoever. The drug company that comes up with that pill will rapidly make Bill Gates look like a pauper. The Atkins diet has come really close to this no-effort ideal. Let's admit it, it does work for many people who've tried it. It's made people aware of what they're eating, and has actually educated people in the concept of nutrition. I have always said that the general population doesn't consume enough protein in their diets, but they consume way too much fat and carbohydrates. So I guess Atkins has been a plus, from the standpoint that the diet has made protein an acceptable food. But many people still think that protein is bad for you! Not! Protein builds muscle and carbs are your energy sources. That's why bodybuilders consume one gram or more of protein per pound of body weight when they train. They make great gains in muscle size from eating meals with red meat, chicken, pork, eggs, and by supplementing with a good protein powder for a quick protein shake. If the choice is between Atkins or a fistful of Little Debbies, I have to vote with Atkins. But anything in excess is going to be bad for you. It's very important to have a balanced diet to be completely healthy. A true bodybuilder never cuts out his carbohydrates while training for size and strength, but bodybuilders routinely limit fat intake to low percentages. A balanced diet is essential for good health and you may be cutting out important vitamins and minerals if you're not eating a wide variety of foods. You may not be aware that you're lacking certain nutrients while you're on the Atkins diet, because you'll feel full. It's not proven that the Atkins diet is the best or the safest. The research data is still lacking. There are lots of other diets out there besides the Atkins. There's the "Carb Addicts" diet, the "Zone" diet, the "Sugar Busters" diet, the Suzanne Somers diet, and hundreds more diet crazes. If only people would eat sensibly (and not over eat), get exercise, join a gym, stop consumption of alcohol and tobacco, and use common sense (is this good for me?) then maybe we Americans will cease being the fattest people in the world. So when you sit down for your holiday meals, please be careful not to stuff yourselfstuff the turkey instead! Rick Moore is a personal trainer certified by the American Fitness Professionals & Associates. Check out his website at http://www.enrapt.com/ricksfitness, or give him a call at (302) 684-3669. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 9, No. 15, Nov. 24, 1999 |