Wednesday December 27, 2000

The Atkins Diet Revolution

It sounds too good to be true: eat as much bacon, eggs and meat as you want and watch the pounds melt away! It's the Atkins Diet Revolution! And its helping Whoopi Goldberg, Dennis Franz, Elizabeth Taylor and millions of Americans trim that waistline.

Dr. Atkins says, "That's why the diet is so successful because its the only one where you don't have to cut quantities to lose weight."

For four decades Dr. Robert Atkins has been preaching the benefits of a high protein low carbohydrate diet. A cardiologist trained at Cornell medical school, Dr. Atkins first shared his revolutionary philosophy in 1972.

He explains, "The diet basically has unlimited use of the main courses the meat fish, eggs, cheese. But it also has salad and green vegetables."

Businessman Steve Keating says he lost 15 pound on the Atkins plan in six weeks. Steve tells us, "I had a pot belly now its not there anymore."

Here's how it works. Dieters eat as much protein; meat, cheese, butter, eggs and nuts as they want. Carbohydrates are limited to four cups of lettuce or green vegetables a day… no bread, pasta or potatoes. Dr. Atkins also recommends an entire regimen of supplements. Once a dieter reaches his goal weight more vegetables are added.

Steve says, "A lot of people look at you and say what kind of goofy diet is that but it's for me the only one that's ever worked."

It works, says Atkins, because with very little carbs, your body will burn fat! He says, "The trick is to make the fat the stored fat the primary fuel. You do that by simply by cutting out the carbohydrates."

But the high protein, high fat plan has endured a barrage of criticism from those who say a high fat diet leads to heart disease and cancer. Atkins counters by saying, "Anybody that says that eating a lot of meat can cause cancer doesn't' keep up with the medical journals."

The cardiologist also believes his diet reduces heart disease by helping people lose body fat! So if the Atkins plan sounds right for you, go ahead, crack that egg, grill that burger, and put away the bread.