First off, let me say this. I've tried low calorie diets. The weight goes off slowly. There is a loss of both muscle mass and body fat. I'm also hungry all the time, thus unable to adhere to the diet. Returning back to the old way of eating causes me to regain all of my body fat (plus a few extra pounds as interest), with no return of lost muscle mass.

I've tried low fat diets. Same as above.

I've tried low protein diet. Same as above. Actually feel worse and hungry all the time. The loss of muscle mass was unacceptable.

My mother, tried the liquid diet recommended by her doctor. Same as above.

I've tried a high protein, low fat diet. Some satiety, but always craved fat (especially saturated fat) and/or carbs. Weight loss was both body fat and muscle. Returned to the old way of eating and the body fat came back with a vengeance (plus a few pounds interest). I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to squeeze back into my pants before returning from travel (196 lbs peak, 40 inch "spare tire" enclosed by a size 38 pair of pants!)

Process of elimination... O.K. It's not the calories. It's not the protein. I discovered that carbs were indeed part of the problem, but I had not figured out a way to adhere to the low-carb program for long periods of time (i.e. years to a lifetime!) without hunger or cravings (physical or psychological).

In all of the above diet trial failures, dietary fat was restricted (both saturated and monounsaturated).


At that time, I decided to buy Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution. I read through the book and discovered some interesting chapters on Metabolic Resistance (which is a measure of the ability to lose weight and keep it off) and on the Metabolic Advantage. What I read was indeed a very stunning revelation. The chapters explained that I needed to eat a diet high in protein, high in fat (especially saturated fat), high in dietary cholesterol, and low in carbohydrate (starches and sugars). I couldn't believe it. This was totally contrary to the current conventional wisdom on nutrition. That I was going to have increased muscle definition, decreased bodyfat, increased energy levels, decreased health problems by eating this way was akin to telling someone in the 16th century who had believed all his life that the Earth was flat, that this bit of wisdom was wrong and that the Earth is indeed round!

So I decided to give Induction a try for two weeks and measure my degree of metabolic resistance. I had no idea what my CCLL (Critical Carbohydrate Level for Losing) was. But at least, I was going to know without a doubt if eating fat makes me fat. The first two weeks were rough due to carbohydrate withdrawal symptoms. I felt out of sorts, loss of mental acuity, lower energy levels. I was taking a vitamin at the time, only to later learn that it was the vitamin, canola and soybean oils that were making me feel out of sorts (and headachey). I now only use olive oil as the vegetable oil of choice. I had lost a grand total of 6 lbs in two weeks on Induction. The food intolerance problems were determined by reading the chapter on food intolerances and using a process of elimination to determine the offending foods (substances) while on Induction. Still, I missed fruit, so, I proceeded on to the Atkins OWL (On Going Weight Loss)/Premaintenance Nutritional Approach.

From there, I determined my CCLL and was saddened to learn that it was 50 grams (starches and sugars). My health improved (without the vitamin). I ate nuts and berries in addition to a greater variety of carb-controlled portions of vegetables. I also ate carb-controlled portions of higher carb fruits (half an orange, half an apple, half a banana, half a grapefruit, etc.) in addition to the berries. Beans were (and still are) limited to 1/3 cup. As long as carbs were spread out throughout the day in 5-10 gram counts, kept under 50 grams, and came from a wide variety of natural plant based (whole food) sources, then I was doing fine. The good news is that, I started to feel better and I was very slowly losing inches and pounds. I have been on the Atkins OWL/Premaintenance diet for three years. Even though the scale only shows a weight change of 15 lbs, I have lost 5 inches on my belt! The weight loss plateaus that I experienced showed that I was losing fat from my face. I had to get my wedding ring resized because my ring finger got skinnier!

No more hunger problems. No more craving problems and I still eat the same way as I did three years ago.

Given the choice between elevated cholesterol levels (LDL 325, HDL 53) or the alternative (Type II diabetes problems, Blood pressure problems, low HDL problems, Triglyceride problems, lack of energy problems, brain fog problems, skin healing problems, hair thinning problems, brittle nail problems, obesity problems, blood Sugar problems, and God knows what else), its a no-brainer. I am sticking to Atkins for life.

When my wife got introduced to my way of eating, she was a bit puzzled. "This is a diet?". She thought all Americans were eating this way. After all, she had been eating this way for her entire life in VietNam and in the United States and she was not aware that this was an actual diet (meat, fish, fowl, eggs, nuts, berries, butter, cheese, fruits, vegetables, spices, green tea, herbal teas, and some unprocessed whole grains). That's because, in Vietnam, my wife's family could not afford to buy and eat processed high carb junk food and other "luxury items" such as margarine. Members of my wife's family typically make it to the 90s-100s on this "diet" with no obesity problems whatsoever. However, there is a family history of Type II diabetes, but it only affects the elderly and they have only recently discovered that the problem is worsened (aggravated) by the consumption of white bread, white rice and white Sugar (which are hard things to give up)...