Dateline NBC, Sunday, Jan4/04

[mollymom]

Well go figger!

Dateline aired a program where they picked six people preparing for a class reunion, and put each of them on a different weight loss program: WW, exercise only, personal diet guru, SlimFast, hypnosis and yep...ATKINS. Well guess which one lost the most!?!

The Atkins man lost over a 100 pounds in just over nine months, and he looked and felt great.

He was the highest loser, but they awarded him second place. The winner was the exercise woman, even though she had severely injured her knee, and then re-injured it. She then ran the Hawaii marathon in 5:20. I mean, I admire her, but with knee supports and in pain????..geez...how is that going to be a lifetime change, other than possibly permanent knee problems?

I will be interested to see the followup show in a year. I want to know how her knees are, and how they all maintained, gained or continued to lose.

[Birdy...]

I saw this too.

You would have thought they would award the "Award" to the best loser but apparently not so.

I was wondering actually "muttering" if they wanted to keep the great success of Low Carbing "low key"?

Birdy...

[Marge]

I saw the last 15 minutes of the show and was amazed when the fellow doing Atkins said he had worked with his doc to help him through a bout of gout. He then went on to lose an incredible amount of weight. I wonder if they will do follow up in a year ro see how all are maintaining the life style change.

[orchidday]

I saw the show and I was disappointed that they did not talk more about the low-carbing. But in all fairness I could see why they made the awards the way they did. The low-carb guy who lost the most weight was a man and they often lose quicker and he had the most weight to lose so that would speed it up as well. but no matter how they depict it low-carbing WORKS!!!

[tightpants]

I wanna know why he said he probably wouldn't follow it anymore. That scared me. What does he know that we don't?

[FromVA]

I wanna know why he said he probably wouldn't follow it anymore. That scared me. What does he know that we don't?
Nothing. Do you know if he ever went past Induction/OWL and got to maintenance, so you know what he was eating by the time he finished? He may have been eating nothing but eggs, meat and tuna and the same veggies over and over because he didn't have a wife/gf who used some imagination to fix meals. He may have limited the types of foods he ate so much he is bored stiff with Atkins. I missed this program and if any of those who saw it know what his meal plans looked like, they would be better able to address this. He probably just misses all the high-carb stuff that made him so heavy in the first place.

[SeeMyself]

I missed this program and if any of those who saw it know what his meal plans looked like, .

Hi,

They posted a 1 week diet of his on msnbc dateline:

They also posted the diets of the others in this challenge
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3841501
if you want to see their meal plans.

Rick Burnes - Atkins Diet
Goal: 150 pounds
Lost: 108 pounds
Notes: When noting peanuts, there are usually a few ounces of pistachios or cashews. Also meal times are not typical because Rick works the night shift. He uses 'Ken's creamy Caesar' salad dressing, which has no carbs.
Day one
Breakfast: Atkins pancakes and coffee
Lunch: Salad with tuna, chicken and peanuts
Dinner: Three eggs with pepperoni, cheese and coffee

Day two
Breakfast: Atkins shake
Lunch: Three cheeseburgers with Atkins steak sauce
Dinner: Three 'Wendy's Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers,' no ketchup, no buns

Day three
Breakfast: Four eggs with cheese and peanuts
Lunch: Steak
Dinner: Five cheeseburgers with lettuce and tomato

Day four
Breakfast: Coffee
Lunch: Approximately 20 chicken wings
Dinner: 'Wendy's Chicken BLT' with salad and a block of sharp cheese

Day five
Breakfast: Three eggs and cheese omelets with peanuts
Lunch: Approximately three pork chops with salad
Dinner: Two bacon cheeseburgers

Day six
Breakfast: Ham and cheese roll-ups with peanuts
Lunch: Atkins shake and five beers
Dinner: Two cheeseburgers, steak and salad

Day seven
Breakfast: Bacon and eggs
Lunch: Peanuts
Dinner: Chicken, sausage and broccoli (cookout)

[FromVA]

If he ate like that the entire time, no wonder he was bored.

My personal favorite: Atkins shake and 5 beers.

[Puggy]

I loved this program, I can't wait to see the follow up. Everyone experienced some level of success and it seemed pretty honest to me. The woman who did the heavy exercise was amazing, I can't even comprehend how difficult her training must have been with 7 kids to tend.

[PatchLady]

I am bummed out that I didn't get to see the show. Sounds like it was a pretty good take on the diets. Also shows you realy do lose weight on this WOE.

[WeeOne]

I wish I would have seen this. It would have given DH a little more faith in it. Although the fact that he has lost 5 lbs in 4 days is proof enough.

I agree, his menu is awful, pretty much all he ate was hamburger! That would get pretty boring after awhile. The sad thing is is that non-LC'rs are going to read that menu and say that there is no way that they could ever do Atkins or any other LC WOE. Not to mention, I doubt he even added any carbs into his diet, just stayed in Induction.

Wee

[Puggy]

No Wee, I think after he copped to the fact that he hadn't disclosed a previous history of gout, someone from the Atkins center saw the footage and set him straight. At one point, Atkins Inc. was sending him frozen meals and snacks. I think he went a bit easier on the hamburger after that.

[cmwiste]

I heard differently....i heard the ATKINS dieter say, "i'm going to take TWO DAYS OFF THE DIET and eat whatever i want..................he didnt say forever

[mollymom]

I see two major problems with that program the more I think about it. FIrst of all, they did not show him eating many if any vegetables, and that slice of tomato and the leaf of lettuce on those cheeseburgers won't count. Secondly, my god, if anyone read that menu..what opinions would they form. Why can't TV do a show on people who are using an LC way of life, and trying to do with healthfully, with variety, tracking foods, not relying on fast foods! Perhaps we should all deluge Dateline NBC with this demand, as this portrayal was not a true indicator of a properly done LC way of life! I was a Wendy's addict...haven't been there in four weeks! :read2: RRRRRRRRR!

[Marge]

After seeing the show I tried the hamburger throw the bun away thing.

In my opinion, it might be okay for a rush lunch with no other option but I'd rather walk 10 blocks and get a BLT salad from Wendy's.

A good friend of mine stuck to Atkins and was quite successful with losing 25 lbs. She maintained through the holidays and is now finishing the last 10 lb push. I know she went out to eat a few times but simply chose well, turned down the breads and potatoes and ate just as well as the rest of us.

[Bloveld]

Hello
I followed Atkins 20 years ago, but I always treated it as a quick fix. I thought the high fat level was unhealthy, so I just lost the weight and then got back on my normal diet ie lots of carbs and watch the fat. I would put the weight back on at some stage and have to do it all over.
I would say that this guy is thinking the same thing. Once he gets back into the carbs he will find it very hard to control and in 6 to 12 months when he puts it all back on then he will do the LC thing again. Also his diet was fairly boring and I think he should of eaten a lot more salad and veggies so he may of been lacking a few nutrients.

I got the latest Atkins book last year and have really changed my mind about the long term health benefits of a high fat diet. Looking at Mercola's site and reading Weston Prices book have also really opened my eyes.
Steve

[TAK]

I saw the "middle of the year" show, so I enjoyed reading the end results on this thread. (At that point the marathon runner had not lost anything). I agree - I can't imagine eating all those hamburgers in one week. (Although I too get in my own ruts like shell-less taco salads for five days in a row). Low carbing is so much healthier than that suggests - I eat more veggies now than I ever did eating low fat. Hopefully, people who saw his success will learn more about the program from other sources.

Teresa

[kyrasdad]

We eat a lot of ground beef, because it's economical, but we don't make burgers out of it every time. You can make burritos of it with LC tortillas, or use La tiara shells and make tacos, or have it mixed up in a casserole kind of thing. There are other options. We do quite a lot of chicken for the same reason. I have tried to get away from the concept of food as boring or exciting. Every once in a while, it can be, but I want to think of it as fuel, no more important than that. Food is not a reward, not an event. It's just something I do to stay alive.

(Not saying I've achieved that, but I'm trying to set myself to think that way).

[FromVA]

"kyrasdad: Food is not a reward, not an event. It's just something I do to stay alive."

That is an attitude I have seen expressed before and, for me, is the attitude I find helps with the "emotional" eating issue.

[mollymom]

I need that tatooed on the back of my hand. Or use it as a mantra when I try those relaxation/meditation exercises...um tell my brain to shut up please, or engrave it on my fridge....good good good quote!

[SeeMyself]

Food is not a reward, not an event. It's just something I do to stay alive.

(Not saying I've achieved that, but I'm trying to set myself to think that way).

I had said once before in another post that each day I visit this forum, that I learn something "new" and/or see something in a different way so that I understand it from a different "point of view" and today this is the post! :wiggle:

I am an emotional, event, reward, no reason needed eater!!!! (I even eat to clean out the fridge so we don't waste and throw food away :roll: , now thats dumb.

I like this quote, and I am going to post it everywhere to remind me, I seemed to have forgotten that food is fuel, I seemed to have lost that thought along the way, thanks for the reminder :agree:

[snaggle]

I just have to say that I can see why he suffered a bout of gout.... I'm sorry but I just don't count the piddly amount of lettuce and tomato a fast food place gives you as being ample vegetables.

[SeeMyself]

I just have to say that I can see why he suffered a bout of gout.... I'm sorry but I just don't count the piddly amount of lettuce and tomato a fast food place gives you as being ample vegetables.

And something that concerns me also when you watch these programs, it seems like Atkins Induction is all there is and all they show!.... there are 4 phases of his program too! each phase should be given credit where you add in different foods. Atkins last book, Atkins for Life is the way we all will and should be eating someday after we work through the 4 phases. That is the wol/woe I am looking forward to! but, these shows, show Atkins diet as if it is only the induction phase and no progress into other foods after that :daze:

I would really like to see a show that would give this woe the credit for all 4 phases! :agree:

[hatetocook]

did you see what the Day 1 Weight Watcher menu was? Talk about a bad advertisement! And they say low carb is vegetable deficient :lol:

"Day one
Breakfast: Breakfast bar and black decaf coffee
Snack: Water and Weight Watchers bar
Lunch: Chicken cutlet, apple and water
Dinner: One cup of whole wheat pasta, chicken with free mozzarella and red sauce
Snack: Coffee and piece of cake"


And just in case you thought it got better...

"Day two
Breakfast: 1/2 cup Special K cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk, 1 packet of Equal and black decaf coffee
Snack: Water and grapes
Lunch: Hamburger with fat free cheese, whole wheat bun, lettuce and tomato, and iced tea
Dinner: Three steamed Peking dumplings,
Snack: Water, 1/2 cup sugar free, reduced fat chocolate ice cream, and decaf coffee"

What is a steamed Peking dumpling :confused: Whatever it is, I'm sure 3 of them would not be a very appetizing dinner!!

[FromVA]

Can that WW menu be right? I am amazed at the lack of vegtables. What gruesome food!

[mollymom]

And to think you have to PAY WW to make you suffer. Perhaps they should advertise on some masochism websites. OOOOH I would love to be eating lunch next to person on that program. They would die of envy. Let's see lunch today:

2 cups romaine lettuce
topped with : 4 oz freshly broiled with spices chicken breast sliced, portabello mushrooms, onions and bacon sauteed with 2 slices chopped bacon. Topped with diced plum tomato, 1 oz sharp cheddar grated, and ranch dressing..could barely finish it!

Lemon Zinger herb tea with .5 packet of Splenda

Strawberry Sugar Free Jello, two sliced frozen strawberries (GAWD after a month without fruit those tasted like ice cream in themselves), and a tbsp whipped topping

So girls, how did you like those peking dumplings YUCK!:lol:
AND I DIDN"T HAVE TO PAY ANYONE TO TELL ME TO EAT IT