Question on ratios of various diet plans ...

[2BlackCats]

Hi everyone! Newbie here! I hope someone can answer this question for me. I am curious about the ratios of protein/carbs/fats of the various low-carb plans. Any idea where I can find this information (I've Googled like crazy and not been able to really pinpoint what I need).

I'm interested in a comparison of Protein Power protein/carb/fats ratios to Atkins and the South Beach Diet. I saw my endocrinologist this past week (third office visit with this new doctor) and he says that my cholesterol, blood pressure, etc., are all elevated and my glucose/insulin balance is way off. :frown: He actually put me on BP meds which I do not want to take as a side-effect is tachycardia and I already HAVE tachycardia! :eek:

I know doing PP will drop the BP within several weeks, right? The doctor did tell me that I am really VERY carb-sensitive and basically need to be on a diet that is way over on the protein side of things, and he really wants me on South Beach. I have a couple of the PP books at home and really want to do this plan. A friend of mine tells me I really need to do Atkins. I am confused, so would like a comparison of the ratios of these 3 plans.

HELP? Thanks in advance for any that you can provide me! :)

[Mitra]

Welcome. Protein Power specifies actual numbers of grams of carbohydrate rather than a proportion, so there isn't a single recommended percentage. To lose weight or correct various health issues, there's a limit of about 40g carb per day, giving 160 kcals per day from carbs. For a small woman like me, that would be maybe 10% of a day's calories. For a larger, more active person, it could be just 5% of their calories. Once you get to maintenance, it's a question of determining what carb intake suits you, and whether you increase carbs, or just eat more fat to stop losing weight is a very individual thing. There isn't a single set of figures or ratios that will suit everybody. Since PP doesn't specify how much fat you should eat, or how many calories, it can't specify the ratio either.

Most people find that their blood pressure drops fairly soon when they start to eat low carb, but there are a few for whom diet alone does not bring it back down to normal. Blood sugar and triglycerides usually show some changes fairly soon, too, but can carry on changing for a long time.

[2BlackCats]

Thank you, Mitra, for your input. I need to re-read my PP books as I think I recall it has a "sliding scale" (best way I can put it) of ratios depending on height/weight/level of activity.

I am 45 years old, 5 ft. 8 in. tall woman, 254 lbs. at last weight check, and am completely sedentary. As I said, blood pressure is way up, cholestrol is up, blood sugar is up. :( I was clinically anorexic around age 23-25 (which of course caused a lot of health problems and rebounded into a ton of fat gain over the years, obviously) and at one point weighed less than 98 pounds. :jawDrop: Obviously, my stats all need to change (well, can't do anything about the age and height!).

I wish I could find my PP books - I'm pretty sure they are still in a box somewhere from moving ...

[maxlharris]

Hi everyone! Newbie here! I hope someone can answer this question for me. I am curious about the ratios of protein/carbs/fats of the various low-carb plans. Any idea where I can find this information (I've Googled like crazy and not been able to really pinpoint what I need).

I'm interested in a comparison of Protein Power protein/carb/fats ratios to Atkins and the South Beach Diet. I saw my endocrinologist this past week (third office visit with this new doctor) and he says that my cholesterol, blood pressure, etc., are all elevated and my glucose/insulin balance is way off. :frown: He actually put me on BP meds which I do not want to take as a side-effect is tachycardia and I already HAVE tachycardia! :eek:

I know doing PP will drop the BP within several weeks, right? The doctor did tell me that I am really VERY carb-sensitive and basically need to be on a diet that is way over on the protein side of things, and he really wants me on South Beach. I have a couple of the PP books at home and really want to do this plan. A friend of mine tells me I really need to do Atkins. I am confused, so would like a comparison of the ratios of these 3 plans.

HELP? Thanks in advance for any that you can provide me! :)
Hard to say for Atkins, since carbs increase with time and are individualized.

Cannot say for South Beach. I would suggest that it has the most carbs of any of the plans.

For Protein power, it is again, hard to say. There is no hard calorie cap in PP (or Atkins, for that matter). So, you can get your protein (figure 60-200 grams depending on lean body mass and activity level) and your carbs (30-55, depending on goals, meals, etc), and be free to eat as much fat as you like.

All that said, the typical ratios for a ketogenic diet (Atkins, PP) would run something like:
0-10% carb
30-40% protein
50-70% fat

Atkins induction at the more extreme end of that (lower carb, generally higher fat), PP generally around there. SB, from my reading (not extensive) is not ketogenic, and would probably look more like 20-30/30-40/30-40, kind of like the Zone.

[2BlackCats]

Thank you, maxlharris, for your response, I really appreciate it!

I'm thinking I may just go ahead with Atkins because it IS the most restrictive, but I still need to do some research. I suppose I could start out on Atkins and switch over to PP when things get rolling for me and the fat starts coming off and I can increase my carbs. Still undecided, but am leaning towards Atkins and definitely away from South Beach.

Anyhow, thanks again for your input!

[nrobles]

As soon as I started low carb my BP and BS came down really fast. Just start low carb and check out the tremendous variety of food options available to us. The carb count may vary from one individual to another but you should just start and tweak along the way. Atkins is ok but the ketosis caused some tachycardia initially when I did it. You'll want to check on that. I understand PP is much more rational on fats than Atkins. Also, get a copy of your initial labs and refer to them and compare along the way. Get ready for shopping as you'll soon need new clothes!
Also you may want to rethink you sedentarism. You need to move and have fun doing it. I've los 60lbs and really enjoy the freedom I've found.

[maxlharris]

Thank you, maxlharris, for your response, I really appreciate it!

I'm thinking I may just go ahead with Atkins because it IS the most restrictive, but I still need to do some research. I suppose I could start out on Atkins and switch over to PP when things get rolling for me and the fat starts coming off and I can increase my carbs. Still undecided, but am leaning towards Atkins and definitely away from South Beach.

Anyhow, thanks again for your input!
I might not have been clear.
Atkins is the most restrictive in the first period of the program. If you work the program as it is actually described, it basically becomes protein power without a protein minimum. It's only as restrictive as you are able to tolerate. That is, you add foods back and you are eventually only restricted from foods that are problematic for you. If you have a wheat problem, then wheat is out. But if you can tolerate fruits, you are welcome to fruits.

Last thing: I think the protein involved in PP is highly important, so I think it is worth the time to figure out your protein requirement (per PP), even if you want to work Atkins.

[SandyHanson]

Last thing: I think the protein involved in PP is highly important, so I think it is worth the time to figure out your protein requirement (per PP), even if you want to work Atkins.

I second this. I found the empasis on protein to be the primary difference between Atkins and PP. And making sure I met my minimum protein requirement made a huge difference in how I felt and in reducing mid-meal cravings. I especially found that having enough protein and calories for breakfast (perhaps 40% of my daily total of each) made the rest of the day go much better.

Good Luck!