April: A Month of Atkins

 
Mark's and my goal for March was no eating out. It wasn't too bad, really, but we sort of missed the social activity that eating out brings us. Which leads us to April. Last year, I picked a month to be "low-carb", and it was challenging, but certainly doable. And so I'm doing it again. I find that by really reducing the carbohydrates I eat, I see the following benefits: more energy, some pounds come off, and, interestingly, my skin complexion improves. I'm sure it's from not eating sugar, but I think the highly refined grains found in pasta and bread are just not that good for you. So, I'm giving it another go this April. Mark, however, is not participating, and as I write this he is pulling two loaves of homemade bread out of the oven and getting ready to make some strawberry ice cream. I know, right? Thanks a lot! But, I will persevere.

An Atkins Protein bar. Perfect for those days at work when lunch just doesn't happen.

Here's a great research article from the Journal of the American Medical Association about the health impact of low-carb eating, Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish and LEARN Diets for Change in Weight and Related Risk Factors Among Overweight Premenopausal Women. Basically, the authors of the study followed women who ate the Atkins diet versus the others (which included other low-carb diets, low fat vegetarian diets, as well as the LEARN program), and found that those who ate the high protein, high fat, low-carb Atkins formula had more weight loss and bigger decreases in the levels of triglycerides, increases in HLD (good cholesterol), decreases in LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, insulin levels, glucose levels, and blood pressure measurements.

I by no means consider myself to be overweight. But I have my trouble zones and would like to get rid of them!

So, it may not be for everyone, or for everyday, but I thought I'd give it a go. So far, so good. And it's already 4pm.