Since July 2005 I followed the Atkins Eating plan. This entry contains several observations and conclusions about the eating plan. Let me tackle the primary question first. Does Atkins work?

A few personal measurements say yes, yes it does:
1) Total pounds lost: 21
2) Percent of body fat lost: 3 percent
3) Omelets eaten: 109. Or, 436 eggs. Whoa.

Caliper measurements taken at the waist, thigh and upper arm show a clear decrease in body fat. Also, the most insulin resistant area of the body, my waist, shrunk so markedly that every pair of jeans slides off without a belt. In fact, most belts are now too large. That’s a good problem. I hate clothes shopping, though.

Another benefit, meal portions are smaller and less frequent. This underscores a key Atkins tenet. In sufficient quantities fat suppresses food cravings. The more time on the plan, the less time I spend thinking about eating, period. My old nemesis, food coma – the sensation of feeling tired after a meal as glucose levels rise and crashes – has not knocked since the first week.

Yes, let’s talk about the first week. Actually, the first two weeks. The Induction process is a hellish signpost along the weight loss journey. Induction is the reason many abandon the diet before seeing results. Ratcheting down from 300 grams of carbohydrates a day to 20, hurts. In German, it sucks. In English, it sucks, too. Just a few of the side effects: headaches, disorientation, lack of energy, irritability, insomnia and constipation. Those are the pleasant ones. It can get uglier, but that was the worst of what I experienced.

Because the process is so difficult, so painful, I do not recommend Atkins for the casual dieter. Instead, consult a doctor and nutritionist for a workout/meal plan. Atkins is a brute force solution, one that works, but at a price. The discomfort of severe carbohydrate reduction rivals nicotine withdrawal. Trust me, I’ve walked both roads. If one does not anticipate serious pain the first four to five days, and deal with the symptoms, the risk of failure is enormous. Which is a shame, because the greatest fat loss occurs after Induction.

And that’s about my last word on the Atkins Diet Revolution.