Why did I get ill with Atkins?-Advice/help

[adamuk]

Hi All,

I havent written in for a while now.

I am from the UK, and at the start of January 2009, i began weighing 16stones 2.4pounds (about 227.36 pounds). My ideal weight im not sure of but my initial goal was to bring the weight down to 12 stones (168 pounds). I feel my ideal my be in the region of 10-11 stones (140 - 154 pounds).

I began atkins induction and because I knew i had alot to lose (without exercise due to leg injuries), and also because I knew i wanted it to be a steady weightloss of 1-3pounds a week to be healthy and steady allowing any excess skin to re-assess itself calmly, I wasnt too pushy, i merely remained on induction eating my carbs only from vegetables and eating protein (mainly lamb and chicken curries with the ocasional fish) but always until i was atleast satisfied and never left myself feeling deprived or hungry.

I also included healthy protein shakes that athletes use to get used to these for when I do eventually hit the gyms and also to allow myself enough variety of proteins to overcome boredom etc.

I also took vitamins and mineral supplements and healthy essential fats/oils and on occasion enzymes and probiotic bacteria as my emphasis wasnt only on weightloss but on healthy lifestyle too.

I was doing is on and off from january to may getting from the above weight to 13 stones 13pounds (195 pounds) equating to a weekly loss on average of 2 pounds overall which i was really happy about.

I knew once i had reached my ideal weight i would begin to then incorporate more carbs as necessary.

However in May i began having odd bowel movements and severe tummy/upper and mainly lower ab pains. This lasted approximately 1-1.5 months. The doctors believe it is possible IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) even though I have NEVER ever had this problem before.

I am not sure why this occurred especially since ive never had such an experience ever before, my only review of this is that i had run out of essential oils and enzymes and probiotics but surely that couldnt have caused such a condition could it?

The doctors put me on psyllium husk drinks and some anti-tummy pain tablets. Its taken almost 2 months to stabilise and basically eliminate the pain etc and hopefully the condition.

I had wondered at the very start was it because of the atkins so immediatly began eating carbs again as I used and yes the weight is almost all back on however i didnt know what to do and am now afraid of venturing back onto atkins without seeing if anybody here can please offer some insight advice etc.

Please help in anyway possible.

Ps: do you during atkins take psyllium daily even if your bowels seem to be running fine and is this safe, because I have heard that either you will get used to psyllium husk or it can get lodged within the bowels causing further upsets. I just dont know.

I am deeply concerned that even with all my efforts of healthy eating this has occurred. According to the doctors if it is IBS, well why it occurs western science still doesnt know--not much of a help there

Thank you

Adam-UK

[neutronnorman]

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Information

Introduction

There are many conditions in Western industrialised societies today that were unheard of, or at least very rare, just a century ago. The same conditions are still unheard of in primitive peoples who do not have the 'benefits' of our knowledge. There is a very good reason for this: They eat what Nature intended; we don't. The diseases caused by our incorrect and unnatural diets are those featured on these pages.


Dietary causes:

Bran, wholemeal bread and wholemeal cereals, and the fruit sugar, fructose.


Introduction

IBS is a common but poorly understood disorder that causes a variety of bowel symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhoea and/or constipation, bloating, gassiness and cramping. While these symptoms may be caused by a number of different bowel diseases, IBS is usually diagnosed only after your doctor has ruled out the possibility of a more serious problem. Its severity varies from person to person. Some IBS patients experience intermittent symptoms that are just mildly annoying, while others may have such severe daily bowel problems that IBS affects their ability to work, sleep and enjoy life. In addition, IBS symptoms may change over time, such that an individual may have severe symptoms for several weeks and then feel well for months, or even years. Under normal circumstances, most people are never cured of IBS but, again, all that may be needed is that you reduce your intake of carbs. It is amazing how quickly this can work.

The idea that unrefined foods have an important influence on health goes back at least to Hippocrates. Writing in 1585, Stubs asked pointedly: 'Doe we not see the poore man that eateth browne bread health fuller, stronger, fayrer complectioned and longer living than the other that fare daintelie every day?'[1]

Prior to the mid twentieth century dietary fibre, which was then called 'roughage', was regarded as harmful. In people with gut disorders such as diverticular disease, the advice was to avoid bran and adopt a low-fibre diet. Later, the notion that constipation was central to human disease gave rise to some quaint practices and a huge breakfast-cereal industry. Population studies in East Africa seemed to show a protective effect of fibre[2] and high-fibre diets became the fashion. Dr Dennis Burkitt and colleagues were concerned with colon cancer, diverticular disease and constipation. By implication IBS was also included in this group. And so high-fibre diets became the standard treatment for IBS, even though the effectiveness of this treatment on IBS had never been tested.
Fibre causes IBS

So by the 1980s, fibre had been a popular way to treat IBS for about ten years, and despite there being several studies between 1976 and 1985, they showed no convincing effect of bran on overall symptom patterns in IBS. In addition doctors noticed that there seemed to be little evidence that the practice helped IBS patients. In 1987, doctors at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, set out to rectify this by conducting a trial of bran in IBS.[3] Two groups of IBS patients were fed either high-bran biscuits or low-bran biscuits as a placebo for three month periods, and then the two groups were swapped for a second three months. Naturally the IBS patients weren't told which biscuits they were getting, although some may have guessed. The overall responses indicated that bran was not helpful, as IBS in both groups improved significantly with both the bran biscuits and the placebo biscuits with no significant difference in IBS symptoms between the two groups. In 1994, doctors at the University Hospital of South Manchester, looking at the weight of evidence so far, say 'we got the impression that wholemeal wheat and bran products made people with the condition worse rather than better'. So they did a trial — and proved that their impressions were correct. They conclude that their evidence 'suggest that the use of bran in irritable bowel syndrome should be reconsidered' as there was a 'possibility that excessive consumption of bran in the community may actually be creating patients with irritable bowel syndrome by exacerbating mild, non-complaining cases'.[4]

The weight of all the evidence suggests that bran, wholemeal bread and wholemeal cereals are more likely to cause IBS than they are to cure it. Also, because it is indigestible, bran ferments in the gut and can induce or exacerbate flatulence, distension and abdominal pain.[5] And it is the same story with diverticular disease.
Fruit may also cause IBS

A study presented by Young Choi and colleagues from the University of Iowa to the American College of Gastroenterology, built on previous research showing that between one third and one half of patients suffering from IBS symptoms are fructose intolerant.[6] Fructose is the sugar found in fruit.

The team initially tested 80 patients suspected of having IBS for fructose intolerance, and confirmed IBS in 30 (37.5%). The IBS patients were then instructed on how to eliminate fructose from their diet and, after a year, 26 were interviewed to assess their IBS symptoms. The team also reported that in 13 IBS patients who complied with the fructose-restricted diet, IBS symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea were significantly reduced, as was the prevalence of IBS itself. IBS symptoms remained unchanged in patients who did not comply with the diet.

AJ came to a weight-loss class I was running, although she wasn't really overweight. The diet was low-carb, high fat, as I advocate on this website. Two weeks in, she hadn't lost any weight. But, she told, she was still delighted because 'My IBS, which I have had for years, has cleared up'.
References

[1]. Stubs P. The anatomie of abuses. London, 1585, p61.
[2]. Burkitt DP, et al. Effect of dietary fibre on stools and transit times, and its role in the causation of disease. Lancet 1972; ii: 1408-11.
[3]. Lucey MR, et al. Is bran efficacious in irritable bowel syndrome? A double-blind placebo controlled cross-over study. Gut 1987; 28: 221-5.
[4]. Francis CY, Whorwell PJ. Bran and irritable bowel syndrome: time for reappraisal. Lancet 1994; 344: 39-40.
[5]. Editorial. The Bran Wagon. Lancet. 1987; i: 782-3.
[6]. 68th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, October 2003

[Georgiana]

Originally Posted by adamuk

However in May i began having odd bowel movements and severe tummy/upper and mainly lower ab pains. This lasted approximately 1-1.5 months. The doctors believe it is possible IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) even though I have NEVER ever had this problem before.

I am not sure why this occurred especially since ive never had such an experience ever before, my only review of this is that i had run out of essential oils and enzymes and probiotics but surely that couldnt have caused such a condition could it?

You are asking us what might be the cause of IBS (if that's your diagnostic)......

According to the doctors if it is IBS, well why it occurs western science still doesnt know--not much of a help there

but this is a question even doctors can't answer, as you've been told. So I doubt any of the ADBB members knows, or he/she would be pretty famous by now.

I had wondered at the very start was it because of the atkins so immediatly began eating carbs again as I used and yes the weight is almost all back on however i didnt know what to do and am now afraid of venturing back onto atkins without seeing if anybody here can please offer some insight advice etc.

And since the causes of IBS are unknown and IBS develops without a known cause in folks following no diet, I believe assuming Atkins is the cause for your IBS is simply hand-waving. If Atkins would predispose one to IBS, you would see a lot of guys on the Board feeling "pooey"... which is not the case, I hope (now we'll suddenly see a bunch of diarrhea threads popping up in the forums ).

There is little research done on the way low carbohydrate diets affect IBS. This is the only one I am aware of: Elsevier . It had only 13 subjects; for 10 out of these 13 subjects the IBS symptoms improved when following a very low carbohydrate diet (<20 g/day).

Probiotics are effective in IBS, so it's possible that symptoms became evident only when you stopped taking the probiotics.

In any case, your condition and the best treatment approach to IBS is something that should be discussed with your doctor. The only thing I can tell you about IBS and Atkins is that we had members with IBS who were/are successful in following this "diet".

I can tell you more about the diet you have followed though.

I began atkins induction and because I knew i had alot to lose (without exercise due to leg injuries)

Since you had a leg injury, you did only upper body exercises, right? What was your exercise routine?

and also because I knew i wanted it to be a steady weightloss of 1-3pounds a week to be healthy and steady allowing any excess skin to re-assess itself calmly, I wasnt too pushy

If you weren't in a hurry, why did you decide to stay in Induction for 5 months? Why not move to OWL instead? Besides, those 5 g veggie net carbs you add when moving to OWL Rung 1 are likely not to slow down your weight loss. In fact, many folks see their weight loss accelerating after adding a little more of those nutritious veggies.

I also included healthy protein shakes that athletes use to get used to these for when I do eventually hit the gyms and also to allow myself enough variety of proteins to overcome boredom etc.

You can overcome boredom by cooking real meat (and food in general) in different ways, using different spices... You don't have to drink "healthy protein shakes" to jazz up your menus. Furthermore, if you are bored with the Induction food choices, you should move to OWL---this is actually one of the four questions in Chapter 13 of DANDR, chapter which is meant to help you decide whether to move to OWL or extend Induction.

I was doing is on and off from january to may getting from the above weight to 13 stones 13pounds (195 pounds) equating to a weekly loss on average of 2 pounds overall which i was really happy about.

On and off? Dr. Atkins clearly wrote in the book that from a health point of view, one should not do Atkins on and off. How often were you off? And were you off by a handful of nuts or by something like fish & chips?

I knew once i had reached my ideal weight i would begin to then incorporate more carbs as necessary.

This is one of the ways Atkins should NOT be done. From DANDR, Chapter 17, "The Wrong Way to Do Atkins":

6. MISCONCEPTION: You can just continue to do Induction until you lose all your weight.
REALITY: You will lose weight more quicky if you continue doing Induction, but you won't learn how to keep that weight off permanently if you don't move through the four phases. More importantly, you will miss out on the benefits of teh phytochemicals present in health-promoting carbohydrate foods.

Ps: do you during atkins take psyllium daily even if your bowels seem to be running fine and is this safe, because I have heard that either you will get used to psyllium husk or it can get lodged within the bowels causing further upsets. I just dont know.

No, I do not take any fiber supplement unless I really need it, and even then the first thing I try is eating veggies richer in fiber.

Psyllium husks are mainly soluble fiber, so they will absorb water and add bulk to the stool. Like other fiber supplements (e.g. flaxseed meal), they should be taken with a lot of water in order to avoid getting constipated from them.

I am deeply concerned that even with all my efforts of healthy eating this has occurred.

Some medical conditions develop independent of your diet, Adam. You just have to accept this and find the best way to handle them.

[ziggy]

did you remember to eat lots of fat? your diet should be atleast 60% fat i see no eggs in your diet or butter i just see protein drinks and meat

an egg is 61% fat

eating a diet of low carb , no fat , high protein will make you very very sick and cause gut problems protein burning metabolism = bad

eating a diet of low carb , high fat , medium protein , and next to no fiber will make you healthy and heal your gut problems

but also do not cut meat out of your diet meat like white meat red meat any meat Cures IBS as long as you eat fat in your diet too and try to eat with in the ranges of 65-80% Fat , 20-30% protein , 2-5% carbs


also if you dont got any constipation then eat next to no fiber
try to limmit fiber too 3 grams per day when you got gut illnesses
an example try cutting off the stems of broccoli real close to the flower and just eating the top flower parts i think that gives way less fiber and is alot easier on your gut

also remember to cook broccoli for 1 - 2 mins its not that good to eat raw

also untill your IBS is fully cured avoid these foods as well

White and black pepper, vinegar, capers, cinnamon, Cornstarch, Corn syrup, Nutmeg, Vanilla , Ketchup, pickles, mayonnaise, mustard, relish Coffee, Distilled liquor, Black Tea and maybe coconut and coconut-containing products

but some of these foods you cant eat ever again to this day i still cant eat mayo vinegar mustard etc

i used to suffer from IBS and who knows what other gut illnesses but the Atkins diet cured it it took 6 months to cure it and it basically saved my life

your gut heals slowly but at that time i was eating mayo and mustard which were big time irritants to my gut so i think it could have healed alot faster if i never ate them but non the less healing your gut takes time so your gut will still hurt for awhile but over the months it will get better

also even if you got leg problems dont worry you still can do great exercise remember short and hard core intense workouts like weight lifting is the best way to drain the glucose from your muscles and when you drain the glucose from your muscles you loss much more fat off your body

so for example lift as much weight as you can and force your muscle to the max thats how you big time drain the glucose but also remember to learn how to lift the weights and such properly you dont want to hurt yourself take it light when your doing a exercise for the first time to learn how to do it and get people to help you and show you how to do it properly also dont work the same muscle everyday once its draind of glucose the effect is good for a week


and here is useful links

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, IBD, IBS, Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis, Celiac, & Candida Diet Program.

Bible Life Ministries - Leaky Gut Syndrome - News You Can Use.

Top Ten Nutritional Myths, Distortions, and Lies That Will Destroy Your Health.



these 2 videos are short but you really gotta pay attention to what hes saying also theres more videos on utube to the workouts he does he only worksout 12 mins a week but its enough ( for him ) to drain enough glucose but id recommend more than just 12 mins a week

YouTube - BODY BY SCIENCE 5 (The Science Of Fat Loss -- Part 1)

YouTube - BODY BY SCIENCE 5 (The Science Of Fat Loss -- Part 2)

[neutronnorman]

I just want to add a little something to the above. I use a whey protein drink mixed in water, chased by a tablespoon of olive oil only after my weight training sessions. I feel that the use of a whey protein isolate is beneficial only after pumping iron because the amino acids enter the blood stream rapidly. Protein can be glycogenic, especially as delivered in a whey protein shake.

P.S. I thought I was the only nut that perused through "The Bible Ministries" web site.

Cheez...Georgiana, I wish I had you on my research team. What do you know about statistical thermodynamics?

[adamuk]

I can tell you more about the diet you have followed though.

Since you had a leg injury, you did only upper body exercises, right? What was your exercise routine?

I did no exercise at all during the January - May I was on the diet. I simply made sure I ate protein, vegetables, drank 2-3 litres water daily, ate good fats/essential oils and kept up with vitamins etc and happily was losing 1-3 pounds a week.

If you weren't in a hurry, why did you decide to stay in Induction for 5 months? Why not move to OWL instead? Besides, those 5 g veggie net carbs you add when moving to OWL Rung 1 are likely not to slow down your weight loss. In fact, many folks see their weight loss accelerating after adding a little more of those nutritious veggies.

I hadnt really thought about it, since the weightloss was steady at 1-3 pounds a week and I wasnt missing any carbs or caffeine I didnt feel the desire or need to add any carbs to my diet. The vegetables I ate were either salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce etc) or frozen bagged broccoli, cauliflower that I simply steamed. I tried avoiding mixed vegetable bags because of carrots etc but in hindsight feel I can use them also. I prefer fresher frozen veg as buying perishable veg and not using them before they expire will be costly for me.

You can overcome boredom by cooking real meat (and food in general) in different ways, using different spices... You don't have to drink "healthy protein shakes" to jazz up your menus. Furthermore, if you are bored with the Induction food choices, you should move to OWL---this is actually one of the four questions in Chapter 13 of DANDR, chapter which is meant to help you decide whether to move to OWL or extend Induction.

I wasnt bored with the induction at all, my main aim was to fat burn which im very happy occurred, next it was to make sure it wasnt more than 3pounds a week...which isnt healthy at all, my other aim was to maintain my intake of supplements. The protein shake was to add an extra kind of protein to my list that was also fast to prepare and also get me into the correct habit of mindsight for when I wanted to exercise and weightrain. The 2ndary aim was to loss the fat until I got to a stage where I was happy ie slim/healthy and then to move on to OWL etc and incorporate carbs, but in all honesty i was really happy and comfortable without any carbs and that surprised me so much The other thing is, that I feel it is far easier to find protein and fat than healthy carbs, sure you can buy berries from the supermarket but how sweet and tasty they are is another deal also same goes for grains etc, and millet and quinoa etc arent really exciting for me, however I know I should re-read the chapter on OWl again especially from your answers above incase I am missing the point.

On and off? Dr. Atkins clearly wrote in the book that from a health point of view, one should not do Atkins on and off. How often were you off? And were you off by a handful of nuts or by something like fish & chips?

I apologise I was always in induction, i meant that I was on & off with perhaps the supplements here and there or missing a veg to a meal here and there. I add a green powder supplement to the breakfast shake in the morning and then its simply veg/salad to all other meals and protein and finally a shake or 2 boiled eggs at night at time (maybe with some salad) however some breakfasts were also cheesy ommlettes too.


This is one of the ways Atkins should NOT be done. From DANDR, Chapter 17, "The Wrong Way to Do Atkins":

6. MISCONCEPTION: You can just continue to do Induction until you lose all your weight.
REALITY: You will lose weight more quicky if you continue doing Induction, but you won't learn how to keep that weight off permanently if you don't move through the four phases. More importantly, you will miss out on the benefits of teh phytochemicals present in health-promoting carbohydrate foods.

No, I do not take any fiber supplement unless I really need it, and even then the first thing I try is eating veggies richer in fiber.

Psyllium husks are mainly soluble fiber, so they will absorb water and add bulk to the stool. Like other fiber supplements (e.g. flaxseed meal), they should be taken with a lot of water in order to avoid getting constipated from them.

Some medical conditions develop independent of your diet, Adam. You just have to accept this and find the best way to handle them. [/QUOTE]

[not2late]

You know adam....this is a question you should email to the people at Atkins.com. I'm sure they would be able to give you better insight to this problem than we would....afterall, none of us are physicians, nutritionists, etc.