Low on carbs, and funds, Atkins files for bankruptcy
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NEW YORK (AFP) - Atkins Nutritionals Inc. (ANI), the company founded by the late, low-carb diet pioneer Robert Atkins, said it had filed for bankruptcy protection.
A company statement said Monday that the filing in US Bankruptcy Court in New York marked the final step in efforts to reorganise the business, which has been hit by waning interest in the once phenomenally popular, meat lovers' diet.
The company listed assets of 301 million dollars and liabilities of 325 million dollars.
The company said it had secured 25 million dollars in financing from creditors to operate during the bankruptcy proceedings, which it insisted would not impact day-to-day operations.
"In the past year we have adjusted our organisation to accommodate a smaller business and have begun to position the Atkins brand more broadly for consumers who are concerned about health and wellness," said ANI president Mark Rodriguez.
ANI, which sells its low-carb products in more than 30,000 stores across the United States and Canada, will focus its energy on its "core nutrition bar and shake portfolio," Rodriguez said.
"I am confident in our future," he said. "We expect to proceed quickly and will emerge from these proceedings with a significantly improved balance sheet and greater operating flexibility."
Atkins, who founded ANI in 1989, died in April 2003 after slipping on some ice on the way to work.
The New York medical examiner's report into Atkins's death said he had a history of congestive heart failure and hypertension -- a diagnosis that helped fuel criticism of his dietary theories.
First published in 1972, the Atkins diet advocated a counter-intuitive approach to dieting that stressed consumption of high-protein, fatty products, at the expense of carbohydrates.
According to Atkins's theories, eating virtually no carbohydrates causes the body to enter a state known as ketosis, in which it uses stored body fat as fuel.
The unique selling point was that if dieters stuck to certain types of foods, principally meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, they could theoretically eat as much as they want and yet still shed weight.
Initially, the concept had few takers. But ringing endorsements from high-profile Atkins adherents like Hollywood stars Rene Zellweger, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston helped transform a minority fad into am entrenched regimen.
Just a few years ago, ANI claimed that about 25 million Americans were on the Atkins diet and nearly 100 million were adhering to some sort of "controlled carbohydrate" diet.
While Atkins's detractors insisted those figure were inflated, the economic impact was undeniable.
While demand for meat products surged, consumption of grain staples slumped so badly that leaders of the US bread industry convened an emergency in 2003 to discuss strategy for countering the "Atkins effect."
In the past two years, however, the Atkins diet has begun to lose its popularity, as other dietary regimens have come into favour and concerns have grown over the long-term health impact of the Atkins method.
According to a review of scientific data published in The Lancet a year ago, the Atkins Diet lacked essential proof to show it is effective for more than a year and safe in the long term.
"There is no clear evidence that Atkins-style diets are better than any others for helping people to stay slim and despite the popularity and apparent success of the Atkins diet, evidence in support of its use lags behind," the report said. -
his methods sound so effective and all the claims.
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use his methods in the long run and you will die..
seriously -
I fear for diets....
The best is eat what you like, happily
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with adequate exercise as well.Originally posted by deathscythe99:I fear for diets....
The best is eat what you like, happily -
I often wonder how a low carb diet can work in the long run if one is on an Asian diet. Unless one keeps on eating western food, and don't mind the cholesterol, etc. but how to tahan not eating the mee pok, prata, nasi bryani, etc.
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You're absolutely right!Originally posted by Wanda:I often wonder how a low carb diet can work in the long run if one is on an Asian diet. Unless one keeps on eating western food, and don't mind the cholesterol, etc. but how to tahan not eating the mee pok, prata, nasi bryani, etc.
It's probably a good thing that they've gone bankrupt now, otherwise, I'm sure there'll be folks whose health had been damaged by this diet who'll surely start lawsuits on them.
BTW, please don't try this diet. You will see pretty drastic effects fast but long-term adherence to the Atkins diet can cause some serious, long-term and chronic health problems. Top on the list is Renal Failure (Kidney Failure). It is NOT normal to have elevated ketone levels in your body for a prolonged time. You're actually in quasi-starvation mode. Besides, you'll experience elevated Uric Acid levels in your body due to the drastically high proportion of protein in your diet.
What's the point of being slim if you're going to live a shorter life, or worse, a long life plagued with health problems? -
alot of health foods are on similiar nature...
those 1/few session(s) 2 inches or 5kg off....how good can it be for the body in the long run?
Newton law: There is a reaction to an action.....=> U gain something, u lose something(in some other way)
short term gain => long term lost
short term pain => long term gain
i dont mind going through short term puffing and panting for better health to enjoy quality of life in the future. -
If you read closely, on the packaging of most slimming products, and yes, that includes those on the recent ads aired on TV - you know which ones, there's always some fine print stating the side effects that are most commonly, diarrhoea. Xenical has that side effect on an even worse scale - fecal incontinence!
Prolonged and / or excessive diarrhoea can bring about dehydration and electrolyte imbalances in the body. Depending on the severity, the damage done can become a chronic issue.
Remember Slim 10? The liver is the body's 'safety mechanism' as that's where toxins are detoxified. The liver is also 'in charge' of dealing with excess lipids (fat). Therefore, if you consume any slimming tablets, it's bound to pass through your liver at some stage. Now, we won't know what sort of damage it does because remember - a lot of drug recalls happened only after the drug has been in use for a considerable amt of time. Remember Phenfen, the 'miracle' slimming drug that was quickly pulled off the shelves only months after it was approved, because it was causing cardiac episodes in users.
Ask kops how he lost weight - good ol' exercise and good ol' discipline. That is the toughest method, but it is also the safest method. -
In relation to this, a couple of questions pls, if anyone can enlighten:Originally posted by Rhonda:BTW, please don't try this diet. You will see pretty drastic effects fast but long-term adherence to the Atkins diet can cause some serious, long-term and chronic health problems. Top on the list is Renal Failure (Kidney Failure). It is NOT normal to have elevated ketone levels in your body for a prolonged time. You're actually in quasi-starvation mode. Besides, you'll experience elevated Uric Acid levels in your body due to the drastically high proportion of protein in your diet.
- I know ketone is produced when large amts of protein are being digested. Does it mean lower consumption of protein will not produce ketones? How much is too much?
- What is the minimum of carbo we need to eat to avoid potential problem?
I've read about such diets and cut down carbo at some point of time, but I can never forgo my noodles and pasta. The problem is if I eat full carbo for 3 meals, my weight goes up, negating the earlier weight loss from the low carbo diet, so I know such a diet cannot last. I do exercise regularly, but seems to have reach a plateau in weight loss, and can't seem to lose the love handles forever.
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indeed.. everyone is different and some diets work for others and some dont.. therefore.. i make necessary studies and make my own diet =D
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if you really wanna lose the love handles.. you have to cut down on carbs and fats, consume more protein, i stress on the word CUT DOWN because people think that none is better whenever i say cut down. go on a cutting diet that only gives you a SLIGHT energy deficit. cut down on all the soda and sugary drinks.. drink water, drinks might not seem as fattening as foods but thats not true.. you might even consume much more calories than you realise. aim for at least 15 mins of cardio that keeps your heart rate at a fat burning level, around 165 BPMOriginally posted by Wanda:In relation to this, a couple of questions pls, if anyone can enlighten:
- I know ketone is produced when large amts of protein are being digested. Does it mean lower consumption of protein will not produce ketones? How much is too much?
- What is the minimum of carbo we need to eat to avoid potential problem?
I've read about such diets and cut down carbo at some point of time, but I can never forgo my noodles and pasta. The problem is if I eat full carbo for 3 meals, my weight goes up, negating the earlier weight loss from the low carbo diet, so I know such a diet cannot last. I do exercise regularly, but seems to have reach a plateau in weight loss, and can't seem to lose the love handles forever. -
If by love handles you mean loose skin around the belly area, I think some faults can never be remedied by diets and exercise alone. Loose skin that remain after significant weight loss has to be cut off. But please don't think I'm advocating surgery here, this is just what I read and watched on TVOriginally posted by Wanda:I do exercise regularly, but seems to have reach a plateau in weight loss, and can't seem to lose the love handles forever.
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Oh, I don't mean the loose skin - it's a layer of fat which can be held/pinch easily.Originally posted by choco B:If by love handles you mean loose skin around the belly area, I think some faults can never be remedied by diets and exercise alone. Loose skin that remain after significant weight loss has to be cut off. But please don't think I'm advocating surgery here, this is just what I read and watched on TV
I believe you could be right that some faults can't be remedied by exercise and diet, coz I see this very fit lady fitness instructor at the gym, and she is super fit in terms of cardio and strength (can do push up on 1 foot easily...waaa, my jaw dropped), and yet, if you observe closely, there is a thin layer of love handle or whatever around her tummy. Guess it could be related to one's body type/shape which cannot be changed. -
Thanks for the tip. Food for thought for me.Originally posted by coffeeortea:if you really wanna lose the love handles.. you have to cut down on carbs and fats, consume more protein, i stress on the word CUT DOWN because people think that none is better whenever i say cut down. go on a cutting diet that only gives you a SLIGHT energy deficit. cut down on all the soda and sugary drinks.. drink water, drinks might not seem as fattening as foods but thats not true.. you might even consume much more calories than you realise. aim for at least 15 mins of cardio that keeps your heart rate at a fat burning level, around 165 BPM
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np =), you can pm if you have any more queries and i will do my best to answer ur questionsOriginally posted by Wanda:Thanks for the tip. Food for thought for me. -
she worked on her limbs but not her tummyOriginally posted by Wanda:Oh, I don't mean the loose skin - it's a layer of fat which can be held/pinch easily.
I believe you could be right that some faults can't be remedied by exercise and diet, coz I see this very fit lady fitness instructor at the gym, and she is super fit in terms of cardio and strength (can do push up on 1 foot easily...waaa, my jaw dropped), and yet, if you observe closely, there is a thin layer of love handle or whatever around her tummy. Guess it could be related to one's body type/shape which cannot be changed. -
exercise will help you slim down. It is also the hardest, bcos it take time/discipline & panting/puffing to get it down.
Exercise can be enjoyable and easy if you do it correctly. Alas most human lack discipline. 
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To me, there's a simple and effective way to keep fit:
Eat a decent, well-balanced diet. Exercise regularly.
It will take a while for you to lose weight, but hey, you didn't gain all that weight all of a sudden either.
I have always been one of the critics of the Atkins diet. Theoretically it may make sense. From what I can figure, by cutting down on the carbs, you force your body to go into ketosis, forcing it to burn fat instead as its source of fuel. The high-protein diet would in turn help to build up muscle, thereby stoking your metabolic furnace (causing you to burn fat faster).
When you really think about it, though, it has all the makings of a disaster in the long run. For starters, by depriving yourself of carbs, you end up depriving yourself of one major source of energy. Fats don't burn as efficiently as carbs do. You will end up feeling lethargic much of the time. As Bear (was it Bear?) said, you're in quasi-starvation mode.
The Atkins diet has also been linked to increased risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and kidney failures.
Come on.... we're Asians. We've been eating rice for hundreds of years, and has it really brought about huge numbers of fat people around? -
wasn't me
our friendly neighbourhood nurse said that
i need to lose weight.. looks like i gotta either exercise or go for liposuction
or heck.. i'll just be fat -
Thanks so much. I'm guessing you into fitness and weight training to have amassed so much knowledge. Or are you a fitness instructor?Originally posted by coffeeortea:np =), you can pm if you have any more queries and i will do my best to answer ur questions