ATKIN’S: BARRIERS TO WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS!

 

1.    Medication

·       Diuretics (water pills)

·       Beta blockers

·       Diabetes medication

·       Oestrogen and synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

·       Anti-arthritis drug

·       Birth control pills

·       Anti-depressants

·       Steroids such as prednisone

2.    Thyroid Problems

·         Low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) which slows the metabolism and cause weight gain.

3.    Age

4.    Carb creep

·         Food with hidden carbohydrates in them.

ATKIN’S: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU EAT FOODS MADE FROM PROTEIN, FATS AND CARBOHYDRATES

 

Carbohydrates

(Or plus a much smaller degree portion)

·        Body turn it into glucose (blood sugar) – the primary fuel for energy

(Fat is the backup fuel supply)

·        Body also produce insulin

·        Insulin’s job:

o   To transport glucose from blood stream into cells

o   Also prevent body fat from being released a burned as fuel

Glucose

·        Body needs it

·        Necessary to keep the level of glucose in the blood stream within a fairly narrow range

·        Eating a lot carbs will raise blood sugar to a higher level than what the body needs.

·        To clear all that extra glucose from bloodstream, the pancreas has to produce an extra spurt of insulin to transport blood sugar to cells where it is stored for later use.

- The excess blood sugar is stored in the form of body fat.

·        Glucose enters the bloodstream very quickly when you eat rapidly absorbed carbohydrates.

o   eg.: A candy bar or a slice of white bread.

o   Body must quickly make insulin and clear that glucose away just as quickly

o   Giving a quick energy boost

·         Resultant spike in insulin can overshoot

o  Dropping blood sugar level too low; which then leads to an energy slump

o  This will simulate craving to eat more carbohydrates.

·         Insulin respond happens mostly when you eat high carb, rapidly absorbed foods.

·         Consuming foods that are mostly protein or fat requires body to produce far less insulin.

o  Protein stimulates glucagon, a hormone that counteracts some of the effects of insulin.

o  When less insulin is produced, the blood sugar level remains constant and along with it, is your energy level

·        Cutting down on carbs help to trim:

You go from burning carbs for energy to burning the stored fat instead.

ATKINS: A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR FOOD

 

Protein

·         Made of long, complex chains of amino acids, which are the basic building blocks of your body

·         Needed to build and maintain your muscles, bones, organs and other tissues and to keep the body functioning.

·         Besides bones and water, body is made up almost entirely of protein.

Fat

·         Also knows as lipid

·         Dietary fats are complex molecules that don’t dissolve in water

·         Body must have fat for many vital purpose

o   Making hormones

o   Building cells

o   Storing energy

Carbohydrates

·           Made from long chains of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms.

Simple carbohydrates	Complex carbohydrates
Sugar	Vegetables
Sugar in Fruit	Grains
	Legumes

·           When body digest complex carbohydrates, it breaks them down into simple carbs

·           Fibre is one class of complex carbohydrates that body cannot digest

·           It’s valuable ally in weigh control efforts.