I tell them that heart health and cholesterol is the biggest reason why I chose this lifestyle and that I carefully monitor it: 145 LDL (measured), 55 HDL, 70 triglycerides, low Lp(a), improving particle size, etc.

The strange thing is: they don’t seem to hear the statement that the reason I chose the diet is for heart health. They only seem to hear that I’m keeping a close eye on my cholesterol and assume that I’m watching it closely because I expect it to be a problem. Most of them assume that it’s only a matter of time before my cholesterol levels go completely off the charts.

It’s very interesting (if a little depressing) to understand what people choose to hear and what they choose not to hear.

That stated, with over a decade of controlled carbohydrate consumption in my background, I will admit that I will add in elements from other controlled carbohydrate plans, and fabricate my own diet from a broad range of controlled carbohydrate research. But, if I were to start having issues, I would try to drop back to one plan or another, and then tweak from there.

A few years ago, I had been on a very low carbohydrate plan, and I accidentally discovered that it gave great control for some chronic medical conditions that I suffer with. (Menieres disease, and migraines) When I went in to my doctor, and mentioned that I had achieved greater symptom control from my disease with a diet other than what was prescribed, he looked at me strangely. Then he mentioned that there is a doctor in Detroit Michigan researching low carbohydrate diet to control Menieres disease. Obviously, some other people experienced the same thing that I did!

As a doctor who is a popular author with what, to the medical establishment, is renegade teachings, how do you take the pressure? I KNOW that what is published as reviews is usually just outright lies from people who never bothered to read the book to begin with. I’ve actually been forward enough to get a doctor who did a review of a popular diet book to print a retraction, and an apology for having not read the book before reviewing it… That experience made me really question much of the review process among “Respected professionals” What is the biggest misinformation that is spread about your plan? I KNOW the most common misinformation spread about the Atkins and Carbohydrate Addicts plans.

Probably the biggest misinformation spread about our regimen is the same as that for Atkins: it will damage your kidneys and clog your arteries. Those seem to be the ones thrown up to me the most. And most of the time these accusations are made by twits.

My then new health insurance company pays for an annual exam. I’d not had one in years, so I presented to the doctor I’d chosen as my Primary Care Physician (primarily out of geographic convenience.) He examined me and as we were concluding he asked, “So how is your diet?” “uhh…O.K.”, I replied, not quite sure what he meant or what he was really asking. “Good then.” He responded, seeming, to me, to be relieved that I’d given a reply that could be briefly and favorably summarized in his notes and that would not extend the length of my visit. He then said a quick goodbye and left the room. I might have asked him about his suggestions, but his body language made clear to me that he wanted no part of that and that he had merely asked the question out of “obligation”.

I have always thought of that brief exchage;
“So how is your diet?”
“Uh…O.K.”
“Good then,”
as speaking volumes with respect to the level of care and prevention.

Here’s a suggestion for your next book, or if you don’t want it maybe I’ll try it!

Title: Cheat on your diet and lose! Lose weight by planning to eat donuts for breakfast, pie for lunch and cake and ice cream for dinner! And cheat! When no one is looking, flush the pie and grab a chicken leg.

By simply cheating on the donut and pie diet you will lose weight. And no one will suspect you of cheating if you simply dab some donut crumbs on your face. A little reverse psychology perhaps?

Great idea. I’ll get the proposal together ASAP.

MRE

cheers! dr mike thanks again for writing the book

Marly

Tune in to Bloomberg Night Talk tomorrow, July 3, at 10 pm to see Dr. Agatston discuss his new bestseller The South Beach Diet Supercharged, as well as The South Beach Heart Health Revolution and the tragic death of Tim Russert.

I haven’t read his Supercharged book yet so maybe I’ll watch.

Dr Eades, what do you think of the South Beach approach? I wonder if anyone gives his books less stars b/c they fail at it

In my opinion the South Beach approach is okay, but it’s got some problems. First, (at least in the first book – I haven’t read the second) Dr. Agatston recommends fructose since it doesn’t raise insulin. Bad idea. And he has people avoid saturated fat. Another bad idea. Finally, he declares that what is obviously a low-carb diet not to be a low-carb diet while bashing low-carb diets.