Diet Chronicle, Article (22)

So, I returned to the pages of my "Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution" book and reviewed those pages dealing with "Metabolic Resistance: The Unique Fat Fast"

It turns out that some people, according to Atkins, have a "metabolic resistance to weight loss." He defines it as the "inability to lose weight or to continue to lose until a reasonable goal weight is reached on either a diet containing 1,000 calories or on a 25-gram carbohydrate diet."

Atkins contends that it is "very rare" to find someone who cannot lose ANY weight on these dietary parameters, but it is far less surprising for individuals to find themselves stuck short of their "seemingly" realistic weight goal. He estimates that no more than 4 percent of his overweight patients have this "metabolic resistance to weight loss." He adds that no more than 1 percent of the total population would be so afflicted.

The test

To test whether you might be one of those in that 1 percent of the nation that is "metabolic resistant to weight loss," there is a test.

If you too, are on the Atkins diet, simply go back to the 14-day "Induction Diet" and your weight loss should be kick-started back on track. I have received e-mails and other communications from readers who have testified that this works.

If you are on some other diet, Atkins advises getting a version of the diet that limits you to 1,000 calories per day. If you still do not begin to lose, try the induction diet outlined in the book.

If neither approach works, it probably is a good indication that you are in that 1- percent group. If on the other hand, the weight loss is slow and the plateaus are frequent, it may mean that you are what Atkins labels "relative metabolic resistant."

Sticking to diet

Of course, the one factor that we have not considered is that maybe, just maybe you’re not sticking to the diet as well as you would want to believe.

Atkins can’t have all the fun coming up with new names for diagnosis opportunities.

If you’ve, ah, what’s another word or phrase for "cheated on your diet?" If you’ve taken a detour around the orange barrels on your diet from time to time, that may be the problem, too.

So, I’ve named this the "Resistance to the Orange Barrel Parameters of a Diet Syndrome." It means you cheated on your diet.

I, too, have a test to see if you are a "victim" of this syndrome. Here it is: "Go back to a strict adherence to your diet!"

If you again begin to lose weight, then you know whether you’re a "victim" of this syndrome.

I’m not making any confessions here, but let’s just say I’ll neither confirm nor deny anything about those orange barrels on my diet.

Exercise routine

There is yet another "made-up name syndrome" opportunity related to stalled dieters. It’s related to whether a dieter, on a plateau, is as dedicated to his/her exercise routine as they should be.

What we need, again, is a catchy name for this syndrome. The grand plans for exercise have been "clipped back" a step or two. The program has lost some of its original fervor. The dedication to the exercise regime is not where it started or where it should be. …

But I shouldn’t have all the fun, so it’s up to you, the reader, to come up with a name for this syndrome. Send me your suggestion(s) and I will present them in a future column. You can send them by e-mail to rfisher@sdnccg.com or you can send by mail to Rich Fisher c/o The Sidney Daily News, 911 Vandemark Road, Sidney, Ohio 45365, or you may fax suggestions to (937) 498-0893.

Please keep in mind, while we are having fun on our diets, that any real concerns or conditions should be discussed with your doctor or other medical professionals.