Question about low Carb Fad Diet



B

Benny

Guest
If the low carb diet is a fad, I have one question. How long is a fad?
The low carb diet has been around for at least 50 years and probably a
lot longer.
 
While I'm not sure if it's a fad, a LT trend, or just a permanent niche
with periods of explosion, I'd like to add something here to the fad
idea.

The people who call LC a fad diet (probably erroneously) do so based on
the period of mass popularity of the diet. That would be what, 2003? To
me, the accuasation of LC being a fad doesn't decrease it's efficacy.
It's more a testament of the rapid rise and subsequent fall in interest
in the diet among the larger population. I can pretty safely suggest
that there will be people doing LC for a long time, just as there will
probably be people eating low fat for a long time to come.

-Hollywood
LC Since 7/20/05
264/222/218

Benny wrote:
> If the low carb diet is a fad, I have one question. How long is a fad?
> The low carb diet has been around for at least 50 years and probably a
> lot longer.
 
While I'm not sure if it's a fad, a LT trend, or just a permanent niche
with periods of explosion, I'd like to add something here to the fad
idea.

The people who call LC a fad diet (probably erroneously) do so based on
the period of mass popularity of the diet. That would be what, 2003? To
me, the accuasation of LC being a fad doesn't decrease it's efficacy.
It's more a testament of the rapid rise and subsequent fall in interest
in the diet among the larger population. I can pretty safely suggest
that there will be people doing LC for a long time, just as there will
probably be people eating low fat for a long time to come.

-Hollywood
LC Since 7/20/05
264/222/218

Benny wrote:
> If the low carb diet is a fad, I have one question. How long is a fad?
> The low carb diet has been around for at least 50 years and probably a
> lot longer.
 
When one goes from diet to diet, they are all fads, including Atkins,
Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, etc. They can last a few hours, a few
days or even a few months.

When one goes on low carb as a way of life, it becomes a diet (as in a
way of eating) as opposed to a diet (as in a short term attempt at
weight loss).

Those who went on low carb with the general attitude of going on a diet
for short term weight loss were jumping on the fad and are now on to
another fad.

Those of us who took off copious amounts of weight and have kept it off
by eating low carb are not following a fad. We are making low carb a
way of life. We are also thin and healthy for life.

Low fat has been the fad for almost 100 years and we have never been
fatter. It is high time for the fad low fat diets to either show
effectiveness or we go on to a new fad.

TC

Benny wrote:
> If the low carb diet is a fad, I have one question. How long is a fad?
> The low carb diet has been around for at least 50 years and probably a
> lot longer.
 
Exactly.

[email protected] wrote:
:> When one goes from diet to diet, they are all fads, including Atkins,
:> Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, etc. They can last a few hours, a few
:> days or even a few months.
:>
:> When one goes on low carb as a way of life, it becomes a diet (as in
:> a way of eating) as opposed to a diet (as in a short term attempt at
:> weight loss).
:>
:> Those who went on low carb with the general attitude of going on a
:> diet for short term weight loss were jumping on the fad and are now
:> on to another fad.
:>
:> Those of us who took off copious amounts of weight and have kept it
:> off by eating low carb are not following a fad. We are making low
:> carb a way of life. We are also thin and healthy for life.
:>
:> Low fat has been the fad for almost 100 years and we have never been
:> fatter. It is high time for the fad low fat diets to either show
:> effectiveness or we go on to a new fad.
:>
:> TC
:>
:> Benny wrote:
:>> If the low carb diet is a fad, I have one question. How long is a
:>> fad? The low carb diet has been around for at least 50 years and
:>> probably a lot longer.
 
"Benny" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:1A%vf.6573$M%[email protected]...
> If the low carb diet is a fad, I have one question. How long is a fad? The
> low carb diet has been around for at least 50 years and probably a lot
> longer.

In a sense it is a fad and it's popularity seems to be waning at least in
terms of people *claiming* to be on "Aktins" ("I'm eating nothing but eggs
and meat"). Low-fat dieting is also a fad and it's popularity is waning to
the dismay of the mainstream dietician and nutritionist industry.

The thing is that while it's a good way to lose weight with much less effort
than low-fat and calorie restriction it requires a lifetime committment.
Many people weren't willing to do that and gained all the weight back and
more. I've seen it happen.
 
[email protected] wrote:
> When one goes from diet to diet, they are all fads, including Atkins,
> Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, etc. They can last a few hours, a few
> days or even a few months.
>
> When one goes on low carb as a way of life, it becomes a diet (as in a
> way of eating) as opposed to a diet (as in a short term attempt at
> weight loss).
>
> Those who went on low carb with the general attitude of going on a diet
> for short term weight loss were jumping on the fad and are now on to
> another fad.
>
> Those of us who took off copious amounts of weight and have kept it off
> by eating low carb are not following a fad. We are making low carb a
> way of life. We are also thin and healthy for life.
>
> Low fat has been the fad for almost 100 years and we have never been
> fatter. It is high time for the fad low fat diets to either show
> effectiveness or we go on to a new fad.
>
> TC

The term "fad diet" is generally meant to be derogatory ... that this
"fad diet" isn't a "medically qualified" diet.

The Low Fat diet has been "medically qualified" for going on 50 years now.

It works for some. For the rest where it doesn't work, the fault is
clearly something about the patient.

To an MD (commonly), if the diet is "medically qualified", any failure
of the diet must be caused by the patient somehow. And therefore, the
medical myth of the 'medically qualified' Low Fat diet can go on, and
on, and on.....


--
1) Eat Till SATISFIED, Not STUFFED... Atkins repeated 9 times in the book
2) Exercise: It's Non-Negotiable..... Chapter 22 title, Atkins book
3) Don't Diet Without Supplimental Nutrients... Chapter 23 title, Atkins
book
4) A sensible eating plan, and follow it. (Atkins, Self Made or Other)
 
Joe the Aroma wrote:
> "Benny" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:1A%vf.6573$M%[email protected]...
>
>>If the low carb diet is a fad, I have one question. How long is a fad? The
>>low carb diet has been around for at least 50 years and probably a lot
>>longer.
>
>
> In a sense it is a fad and it's popularity seems to be waning at least in
> terms of people *claiming* to be on "Aktins" ("I'm eating nothing but eggs
> and meat"). Low-fat dieting is also a fad and it's popularity is waning to
> the dismay of the mainstream dietician and nutritionist industry.
>
> The thing is that while it's a good way to lose weight with much less effort
> than low-fat and calorie restriction it requires a lifetime committment.
> Many people weren't willing to do that and gained all the weight back and
> more. I've seen it happen.
>
>
LEPTIN - may be the key to weight maintenance, not necessarily the
weight loss phase.

Recent research seems to indicate that Leptin may be one of the keys to
keeping the weight off after losing it.

So, the initial surge of interest in Leptin may end up with a positive
outcome, but not the simplified "BAMM - Leptin = weight loss" version
everyone leaped at in the beginning.

--
1) Eat Till SATISFIED, Not STUFFED... Atkins repeated 9 times in the book
2) Exercise: It's Non-Negotiable..... Chapter 22 title, Atkins book
3) Don't Diet Without Supplimental Nutrients... Chapter 23 title, Atkins
book
4) A sensible eating plan, and follow it. (Atkins, Self Made or Other)
 
Joe the Aroma wrote:
> "Benny" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:1A%vf.6573$M%[email protected]...
>
>>If the low carb diet is a fad, I have one question. How long is a fad? The
>>low carb diet has been around for at least 50 years and probably a lot
>>longer.
>
>
> In a sense it is a fad and it's popularity seems to be waning at least in
> terms of people *claiming* to be on "Aktins" ("I'm eating nothing but eggs
> and meat"). Low-fat dieting is also a fad and it's popularity is waning to
> the dismay of the mainstream dietician and nutritionist industry.
>
> The thing is that while it's a good way to lose weight with much less effort
> than low-fat and calorie restriction it requires a lifetime committment.
> Many people weren't willing to do that and gained all the weight back and
> more. I've seen it happen.
>
>
LEPTIN - may be the key to weight maintenance, not necessarily the
weight loss phase.

Recent research seems to indicate that Leptin may be one of the keys to
keeping the weight off after losing it.

So, the initial surge of interest in Leptin may end up with a positive
outcome, but not the simplified "BAMM - Leptin = weight loss" version
everyone leaped at in the beginning.

--
1) Eat Till SATISFIED, Not STUFFED... Atkins repeated 9 times in the book
2) Exercise: It's Non-Negotiable..... Chapter 22 title, Atkins book
3) Don't Diet Without Supplimental Nutrients... Chapter 23 title, Atkins
book
4) A sensible eating plan, and follow it. (Atkins, Self Made or Other)
 
Benny wrote:
>
> If the low carb diet is a fad, I have one question. How long is a fad?

Taken in those terms, probably under a decade.

> The low carb diet has been around for at least 50 years and probably a
> lot longer.

At least since the late 1860s when Banting published his booklet.

Something can be well liked forever but suddenly become extremely
popular and then fade back to well liked again. That happened with
low carb. But look around in the stores. Slowly but surely products
appear with labels claiming low carb. Even though the burst of low
carb substitutes came and went with the fad, there are still enough
people who want lower carb versions or no sugar added versions
that they are to be found on shelves. Low carb as a way of life
gradually builds but without its sudden burst of popularity.

Consider that it also happened with miniskirts in the 1960s. They
got very popular for a while and then became less popular. But
have you ever encountered a young unmarried man who voiced a
dislike for miniskirts or a young women who thought they weren't
popular with young men? And I've seen plenty of them since the
1960s just not as many. And over time either skirts have been
getting shorter again or my aging is making me think so as a
sign of senility.

I offer a different definition for a fad diet: If it recommends an
extreme,
it's a fad diet. Take extending Atkins Induction for years on end
for example. If it lacks a Maintenance phase it's a fad diet. Take
that rotation scheme with the cabbage soup for example. If it is
not based on comparative studies it's a fad diet. Take the grapefruit
diet for example.

Using the above any type of system can be made into a fad diet.
For that matter ones that work well but were never studied count.

There's also an even more subjective definition - If the speaker or
writer disagrees with it it's a fad diet. Low carb only folks tend to
call low fat a fad and vice versa.
 
"I offer a different definition for a fad diet: If it recommends an
extreme, it's a fad diet. Take extending Atkins Induction for years on
end
for example. If it lacks a Maintenance phase it's a fad diet. Take
that rotation scheme with the cabbage soup for example. If it is
not based on comparative studies it's a fad diet. Take the grapefruit
diet for example. "

None of this has anything to do with the definition of fad, which is
simply anything that suddenly becomes popular with the public and
attains a large number of people following it, usually for a short
period. For example, hoola hoops were a fad and they had nothing to do
with extremes.
 
[email protected] wrote:
> "I offer a different definition for a fad diet: If it recommends an
> extreme, it's a fad diet. Take extending Atkins Induction for years on
> end
> for example. If it lacks a Maintenance phase it's a fad diet. Take
> that rotation scheme with the cabbage soup for example. If it is
> not based on comparative studies it's a fad diet. Take the grapefruit
> diet for example. "
>
> None of this has anything to do with the definition of fad, which is
> simply anything that suddenly becomes popular with the public and
> attains a large number of people following it, usually for a short
> period. For example, hoola hoops were a fad and they had nothing to do
> with extremes.

fad ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fd)
n.
A fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of
time; a craze.


Now define brief period of time. In the greater perspective of human
life on earth, 100 years of low fat is a fad. In the lesser
perspective, the last couple of years of low carb appears to have been
a fad.

Either way, it does not take away form the fact that too many refined
carbs in the diet is killing us thru diabetes, obesity, heart disease,
etc.

TC
 
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> [email protected] wrote:
>> "I offer a different definition for a fad diet: If it recommends an
>> extreme, it's a fad diet. Take extending Atkins Induction for years on
>> end
>> for example. If it lacks a Maintenance phase it's a fad diet. Take
>> that rotation scheme with the cabbage soup for example. If it is
>> not based on comparative studies it's a fad diet. Take the grapefruit
>> diet for example. "
>>
>> None of this has anything to do with the definition of fad, which is
>> simply anything that suddenly becomes popular with the public and
>> attains a large number of people following it, usually for a short
>> period. For example, hoola hoops were a fad and they had nothing to do
>> with extremes.
>
> fad ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fd)
> n.
> A fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of
> time; a craze.
>
>
> Now define brief period of time. In the greater perspective of human
> life on earth, 100 years of low fat is a fad. In the lesser
> perspective, the last couple of years of low carb appears to have been
> a fad.

Low fat has only been de riguer since the late 1970's or so.

> Either way, it does not take away form the fact that too many refined
> carbs in the diet is killing us thru diabetes, obesity, heart disease,
> etc.
>
> TC
>
 
Joe the Aroma wrote:
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > [email protected] wrote:
> >> "I offer a different definition for a fad diet: If it recommends an
> >> extreme, it's a fad diet. Take extending Atkins Induction for years on
> >> end
> >> for example. If it lacks a Maintenance phase it's a fad diet. Take
> >> that rotation scheme with the cabbage soup for example. If it is
> >> not based on comparative studies it's a fad diet. Take the grapefruit
> >> diet for example. "
> >>
> >> None of this has anything to do with the definition of fad, which is
> >> simply anything that suddenly becomes popular with the public and
> >> attains a large number of people following it, usually for a short
> >> period. For example, hoola hoops were a fad and they had nothing to do
> >> with extremes.
> >
> > fad ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fd)
> > n.
> > A fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of
> > time; a craze.
> >
> >
> > Now define brief period of time. In the greater perspective of human
> > life on earth, 100 years of low fat is a fad. In the lesser
> > perspective, the last couple of years of low carb appears to have been
> > a fad.
>
> Low fat has only been de riguer since the late 1970's or so.

Low fat started by the 1920's when someone (still don't know who
exactly) decided that calories can be directly applied to weight
management in humans. And fat being 9 cal/gram became the big target to
reduce calories consumed.

TC

>
> > Either way, it does not take away form the fact that too many refined
> > carbs in the diet is killing us thru diabetes, obesity, heart disease,
> > etc.
> >
> > TC
> >
 
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Low fat started by the 1920's when someone (still don't know who
> exactly) decided that calories can be directly applied to weight
> management in humans. And fat being 9 cal/gram became the big target to
> reduce calories consumed.

I don't believe low fat diets attained anything like fad status, however,
until the low-fat/Snackwell/Susan Powter era. I recall dieting fads from the
50s, and they were not low fat, as a rule. Well, other than a few *very*
wierd monofood diets intended to take off "5 pounds in 3 days" or something
like that... all bananas, with maybe a glass of milk or egg thrown in.

Most of the diets of that era were actually closer to low-carb than low fat.
A common denominator was elimination or severe reduction in starches and
sugars - bread, potatoes, pasta, sweet desserts - with lots of steak,
chicken, salads with oil & vinegar dressings, and of course grapefruit. You
might have boiled eggs rather than fried with bacon, and some limitation on
the butter slathered on your little squares of melba toast... but they
weren't low-fat diets on the whole. Common "diet wisdom" in those days was
to just cut out desserts, potatoes, and bread.

Then in the '60s, when I was a teenager, dieting started to get more
"scientific." Doctors handed out printed sheets with low-calorie "balanced"
reducing diets. Along with diet pills... I tried some from a friend, but
couldn't concentrate to read (the horror!), so quickly gave them up. And the
first diet soft drink... Tab.. Little pink, zero-calorie cans of sweetness.
I still love that stuff.

HG
 
Hannah Gruen wrote:

:: quickly gave them up. And the first diet soft drink... Tab.. Little
:: pink, zero-calorie cans of sweetness. I still love that stuff.

Tab was, and is, nasty. Sorry. :)
 
[email protected] wrote:
>
> fad ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fd)
> n.
> A fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of
> time; a craze.
>
> Now define brief period of time. In the greater perspective of human
> life on earth, 100 years of low fat is a fad. In the lesser
> perspective, the last couple of years of low carb appears to have been
> a fad.

On an evolutionairy time scale the 20K years humans have
been growing grain could be called a fad in that view. Or
neither low carb nor low fat are fads because they have been
in use for decades.
 
[email protected] wrote:
> Doug Freyburger wrote:
>
> > I offer a different definition for a fad diet: If it recommends an
> > extreme, it's a fad diet. Take extending Atkins Induction for years on
> > end
> > for example. If it lacks a Maintenance phase it's a fad diet. Take
> > that rotation scheme with the cabbage soup for example. If it is
> > not based on comparative studies it's a fad diet. Take the grapefruit
> > diet for example.
>
> None of this has anything to do with the definition of fad, which is
> simply anything that suddenly becomes popular with the public and
> attains a large number of people following it, usually for a short
> period. For example, hoola hoops were a fad and they had nothing to do
> with extremes.

Trader4 disagrees with Doug. What a shock. I'd expect
nothing less, of course. It makes me go back and examine
my stances from other perspectives and that's always good.
So thanks. Seriously.

Sure, I'm aware that the definition for the one word "fad" has
little correlation with my suggested definition for the two word
expression "fad diet". But it never seems to me that folks
who call low fat or low carb or whatever really only mean that
it is temporary or short lived. The educated ones can hardly
be unaware of its history since the 1860s and the ignorant
ones never appear to be focused on the short life. They always
seem to me to point at what they believe to be weaknesses
or failings. And so I tried to express what I think folks are
trying to do with the term "fad diet".

Miniskirts are "fad clothing". I don't ever recall miniskirts
getting the sort of severe bashing that "fad diets" get. I do
recall some disparaging remarks (somehow never by men :)
but nothing on the level of comments towards fad diets.
Hoola hoops are "fad toys". I don't recall hoola hoops
getting much other than laughter. Yet fad diets get trolls
and idiots in a regular stream.

Fads often come and go without bashing. Fad diets
regularly get bashed, and non-fad diets like low fat or low
carb regularly get called fad diets even though they aren't.
 
"Fads often come and go without bashing. Fad diets
regularly get bashed, and non-fad diets like low fat or low
carb regularly get called fad diets even though they aren't."

Apparently you stil don't understand the defintion of fad.
 
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