Seniors on Atkins

[Keetje]

Hello Everyone,

It will be a few years before I qualify for this board, so I hope nobody minds me posting.

My father has been impressed by my weight loss so far. He is very keen to lose weight and wants to try the Atkins. He is 75 and about 220 pounds (he is about 5ft1, we are little in my family).

He is presently post op after having his hip replaced, so will not be embarking on any new eating plans immediately.

Has anyone here got any experience of seniors on Atkins?

He LOVES the idea of eggs and bacon every morning! But he is also totally addicted to sweets and has been since giving up smoking at the age of 58.

Thank you,

Keetje

[Creek]

My Dad first tried Atkins when he was 75. He'd had one heart attack that put him in the hospital for two weeks. He was a type 2 diabetic on medication and headed for insulin. His cholesterol was 412 and he had high blood pressure and was taking medication for that and the cholesterol. He had all his blood tests done prior to starting, and was under a doctor's supervision (a doctor that supported low carb eating). After six months, his blood sugar was between 80 and 120 without any medication at all. His cholesterol dropped to 170 and he was taken off that medication. His blood pressure was normal and he was taken off that also.

Atkins, when done by the book, and under a doctor's supervision, is just as healthy for the elderly as the younger folks. My Dad is now 82 and in excellent health, and he's maintained his weight loss all these years.

You're Dad is a lucky guy to have someone like you that cares about him and can help him understand the program. Talk with his doctor to see if he could benefit from Atkins.

[Keetje]

Hello Creek,

Thank you very much for your encouraging reply. I am delighted to hear how well your Dad did on Atkins and those results are amazing! He, too, is lucky to have such a supportive daughter (we're complete DOLLS aren't we?).

Sadly, British doctors are still quite suspicious of low-carb eating, so my father may not get such a supportive response from his doctor as yours did.

My father, as a complete sugar addict, just cannot do low-calorie/low-fat eating plans - he loses a few pounds and then falls off the wagon (again, this runs in the family!). It is very discouraging for him.

My father has some breathing problems, which are not being helped by carrying so much weight around his middle. His hospital doctor told him to lose some weight as soon as possible.

All the same, I agree that some form of medical supervision would be appropriate - perhaps that may make his doctor feel a little suspicious.

Thank you again

Keetje