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<blockquote data-quote="Umbran" data-source="post: 4349128" data-attributes="member: 177">Pardon if I bore you with things you already know, but this statement leads me to think you don't understand Atkins very well.&nbsp; When I called Atkins a metabolic hack, I wasn't kidding.&nbsp; Atkins is not just &quot;low carb, high protein&quot; - it is a very specific program designed to engage some very specific metabolic processes in the human body.&nbsp; For energy, the human body normally turns to carbohydrates.&nbsp; If you severely restrict carbohydrate intake, you can kick the body into using a secondary metabolic pathway (called ketosis), where the liver starts turning fats into things that can be used for energy instead of carbohydrates.&nbsp; You are, in essence, tricking the body into thinking it is in a state of starvation.&nbsp; You do not reach this state with simple &quot;low carbs&quot;, or swapping out some carbs for extra protein.&nbsp; You have to go to, &quot;I am eating so few carbs my body thinks I'm eating *nothing*.&quot;&nbsp; The power of Atkins cannot be invoked casually - it requires a major change in your habits and lifestyle.Atkins can be good for folks who like to take a whole lot of weight off in a short amount of time (like a guy who has found out he's got really high blood pressure, and needs to lose 50 lbs ASAP).&nbsp; But studies have shown that Atkins is no better than normal diet and exercise over periods of greater than six months, and has a greater rate of recidivism (falling off the wagon), due to the severe restrictions it puts on your habits.South Beach doesn't rely on the metabolic hack, but I've not seen any independent study showing that it works better than normal &quot;moderation of portion size and get exercise&quot; dieting.This is not to say that what works for you doesn't work for you.&nbsp; I'm saying that it isn't really related to what Atkins is talking about.&nbsp; Control of the feeling of hunger is a different kettle of fish, is all.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Umbran, post: 4349128, member: 177"] Pardon if I bore you with things you already know, but this statement leads me to think you don't understand Atkins very well. When I called Atkins a metabolic hack, I wasn't kidding. Atkins is not just "low carb, high protein" - it is a very specific program designed to engage some very specific metabolic processes in the human body. For energy, the human body normally turns to carbohydrates. If you severely restrict carbohydrate intake, you can kick the body into using a secondary metabolic pathway (called ketosis), where the liver starts turning fats into things that can be used for energy instead of carbohydrates. You are, in essence, tricking the body into thinking it is in a state of starvation. You do not reach this state with simple "low carbs", or swapping out some carbs for extra protein. You have to go to, "I am eating so few carbs my body thinks I'm eating *nothing*." The power of Atkins cannot be invoked casually - it requires a major change in your habits and lifestyle. Atkins can be good for folks who like to take a whole lot of weight off in a short amount of time (like a guy who has found out he's got really high blood pressure, and needs to lose 50 lbs ASAP). But studies have shown that Atkins is no better than normal diet and exercise over periods of greater than six months, and has a greater rate of recidivism (falling off the wagon), due to the severe restrictions it puts on your habits. South Beach doesn't rely on the metabolic hack, but I've not seen any independent study showing that it works better than normal "moderation of portion size and get exercise" dieting. This is not to say that what works for you doesn't work for you. I'm saying that it isn't really related to what Atkins is talking about. Control of the feeling of hunger is a different kettle of fish, is all. [/QUOTE]

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