Atkins Diet avoids carbs, not high-fat foods

Imagine a diet where every day you can eat a Quarter-Pounder with cheese from McDonald’s without worrying about gaining those extra pounds.

You have to lose the ketchup, bread, fries and Coke. If the meat and cheese alone can fill you up, the Atkins Diet may be for you.

The Atkins Diet is a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. It’s based on the theory that dieters can eat any kind of protein and as much of it as they want and still lose weight.

This includes foods high in fat, such as fried bacon and high-fat cheeses. As long as dieters don’t eat carbohydrates or sugars, they should lose weight.

Examples of these forbidden carbohydrates and sugars include pasta, crackers, fruits and vegetables such as corn. And, of course, all desserts.

“There is no way that I would be able to resist all carbs,” junior Amanda Erb said.

The Atkins Diet has both pros and cons. For those who have time to manage their diet by preparing foods at home, it can be beneficial.

For students, however, the Atkins Diet can be difficult. As with any diet, it’s important to consult a physician or nutritionist before starting a diet or workout program.

Jessica Setnick, a nutritionist at Understanding Nutrition in Dallas, believes the most important factor in losing weight is getting enough food without overdoing it.

“Most people aren’t able to stay on the diet that long,” Setnick said. “Long term nutrition-wise; it’s not a good idea.”

When people discontinue this diet, the results may not be what they expected.

Dr. Cynthis Dott, owner of the Family Clinic in Lake Highlands, believes this diet can cause serious health problems because the food intake is so high in fat.

“Although people lose weight with the Atkins Diet, they are likely to regain that weight and more when they stop the diet,” Dott said.

Mimh-hai, a nutritionist at Sundrops, also believes the Atkins Diet can cause health problems.

“This diet can promote problems with the kidneys because the diet calls for foods which have the liver working overtime to digest these byproducts that the kidney needs to excrete” Mimh-hai said.

Dott, Mimh-hai and Setnick said a long-term diet should include protein, fruits and vegetables. Dott stresses the importance of a proper diet, which can help with weight loss and maintenance. This diet is not recommended for long-term use due to health issues.

Convenience is another factor when dealing with the Atkins Diet.

Sophomore, Kristin Williams, sophomore, tried the Atkins Diet for three weeks. “It was easy to do, but it was not very convenient to find food with no carbs,” she said.

The diet was over before it began for first-year Adrienne Simpson. She thought about doing the Atkins Diet when she came to SMU, but the strict regimen proved too hard for someone living on campus and eating college food.

“It worked really well for my mom, but it’s hard to stick with it living on campus,” Simpson said. “When you have a kitchen to actually prepare the food, the diet isn’t difficult. But everything in the cafeteria is mostly carbs.”

When students depend on someone else for meals, it can be hard to satisfy such specific requirements. Time restrictions can also cause problems. As Simpson discovered, the diet is not easy to follow on the run. So if the Atkins Diet sounds like an excuse to eat that greasy Quarter-Pounder, remember you can only eat the meat and cheese.

The nutritionsit at Understanding Nutrition are available for appointments to discuss dieting and nutrition.

The SMU Health Center, your local doctor or a hospital can recommend a nutritionist for dieters.