Health Fitness

Confessions of a personal fitness trainer

Last year I had several clients who stubbornly started the Atkins diet despite my warnings. I immediately saw almost profound results in her weight loss. I reminded them that it was water weight loss and warned them about the strain on the kidneys and the risk of high cholesterol.

During this time, I was mastering my yoga practice as a complete vegan, but found that my immune system had been deeply compromised and I was currently on my third cold of the fall season.

Atkins was back in the media due to the results of a new study indicating a reduction in cholesterol. I went to the Atkins book once again with a more open mind and decided to give the diet a try. I liked the counterpoint to the AMA’s current position on the low-fat diet, which seemed to be producing a society of increasing obesity. Atkins’ view of sugar as the culprit for fattening, not fattening, made sense, and all protein’s extra work for the kidneys…is benign. He wanted to use his diet as a tool to get rid of sugar completely.

I started with the high-protein, low-carb aspect of the diet. As I reintroduced animal protein into my diet, I could feel myself getting stronger and the colds finally stopped. I also saw my abdominal muscles start to open up and swell again. The winter cold was not as painful as it had been during my vegan diet.

So I worked up the courage to start including fats in my diet, including bacon, egg yolks, cream cheese, heavy cream, whipped cream, even bacon rinds. On a daily basis I would marvel that I ate these “forbidden foods” only to wake up the next day slim, trim. I couldn’t believe this, result! I loved eating all these foods so familiar but banished from… childhood

I was in full swing eating the high-fat, high-protein, low-carb diet at the time the photos on my website were taken. I felt strong, but I had no energy!!! My walks on the beach were lethargic, I had to force myself to go the extra mile. I was skinny but felt like a beached whale. My love affair with Atkins continued for a few more months. I followed her prescriptions religiously.

Eventually I had to add more carbs, I needed more energy. By carbohydrates I mean vegetables, salads and whole grains. At this point I gained back the full two pounds I had lost on Atkins. Body fat went from 16% to 18%, my energy was better. After 7 months I decided it was time to get a blood test and to my horror found that my cholesterol, which had always been around 150, had shot up to 300! Fortunately, my HDL to LDL ratio was still at a healthy level. Thanks to forcing myself to exercise, I kept my HDL levels up.

I immediately started drinking hot lemon juice with cayenne pepper every morning to cleanse my blood. I have now cut out all high-fat foods and am once again back to square one of moderation and balance. A balanced diet. It takes a little more discipline, but my energy is back and I can now eat the same meals as my husband, so dinner preparation is easier. My weight hasn’t changed since I gradually introduced carbs. I avoid at all costs “white foods” flour, sugar, milk. I drink soy milk without sugar. I avoid foods in packages, boxes and bags. I feel a thin layer of fat, but that’s okay, it’s winter, I need it, and in summer, the heat always melts it. I am completely off sugar and alcohol to keep my blood sugar down.

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