I really think the original Atkins is the best for the majority of people who need a low-carb diet. It's had the longest track record and the most research.

I wasn't aware until a couple of years ago that Atkins changed over the years. There was the original form from the 1962 book (which is the one I think is best); then there is the one from the 70's and the one from the 1992 book. The most current one is not terribly different, but perhaps was commercialized and not as effective.

The problem is that many people from around 2002-2004, when agribusiness jumped on the low-carb bandwagon, started buying the artificial, processed "low carb" foods and *thought* they were following a low-carb diet. Many of these people never read the books or even looked at the websites, let alone talked to their doctor about it. Eating a low-carb bar as a snack when you've had pancakes for breakfast is NOT what doing lowcarb means!

The original Atkins diet has you get your blood sugar straightened out immediately by switching your metabolism from burning it to burning dietary protein and body fat. Very soon after starting, you "climb the carbohydrate ladder", adding things--mostly vegetables, fruits, nuts, and even grains back in in order, until you find the level at which you first stop losing weight and then begin to gain weight. At that point, you know exactly what level your body can handle. You might even uncover some food allergies or sensitivities you didn't know you had! The current Atkins approach looses that aspect of it, because you introduce whole groups of foods at once.

Many people who have considered Atkins, or maybe have tried it briefly, don't realize that it's only the first couple of weeks that are very restrictive. So they either don't try it, or dismiss it as "too restrictive to stick to". But people aren't meant to stop at that first level. The modern Atkins has four different levels; the original had you finding your personal healthy level. The "lifelong" level of Atkins is very doable, with most people finding they can eat a wide variety of foods--just not making a habit of eating cinnamon rolls or whatever their personal trigger was.

Another diet that works very well for insulin-resistant or leptin-insensitive people is the Leptin Diet (Dr. Bryron Richards) or The Rosedale Diet (Dr. Ron Rosedale). The first is not necessarily low-carb but can be done that way. The Rosedale Diet is, but is more exact in what you eat and when. I had the best success after my metabolism was messed up during my last pregnancy by doing original Atkins with the schedule from the Leptin Diet and the supplements from Rosedale. I found doing the straight Rosedale Diet to be too restrictive after awhile, but combining this way worked very well for my stupid messed-up endocrine system.

There is a great community of supportive people at http://www.lowcarbfriends.com , no matter what plan you pick. And they will tell you, repeatedly to READ THE BOOK of the plan you pick--several times!
Source(s):
I've followed Atkins since 2001, except during the last 2 months of my last pregnancy. I lost 50 lbs. the first summer and kept it off until late 2004, when I was told to switch diets. It messed up my leptin responses. I started back on it in late 2006 and have lost and kept off 35 lbs. I feel much better on it than off it, from sleep patterns to disease resistance to energy level to not getting migraines.


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