Atkins eating couple booted from buffet for eating too much meat

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/04/23/booted.from.buffet.ap/

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (AP) -- A couple on a low-carb diet were kicked out of a buffet restaurant after the manager said they'd eaten too much roast beef.

Sui Amaama, who along with his wife have been on the Atkins Diet for two weeks, was asked to leave after he went up to the buffet at the Chuck-A-Rama in suburban Taylorsville for his 12th slice of roast beef.

"It's so embarrassing actually," said Isabelle Leota, Amaama's wife. "We went in to have dinner, we were under the impression Chuck-A-Rama was an all-you-can-eat establishment."

Not so, said Jack Johanson, the restaurant chain's district manager.

"We've never claimed to be an all-you-can-eat establishment," said Johanson. "Our understanding is a buffet is just a style of eating."

The general manager who was carving the meat Tuesday became concerned about having enough for other patrons and asked Amaama to stop, Johanson said.

Offended, the couple asked for a refund. The manager refused and called police when they would not leave.

The couple said they have eaten at Chuck-A-Rama's $8.99 buffet at least twice a week, but did not plan to return.

Just wanted to also add in what I think is the "Funniest post ever"

From a while back:

http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77963&page=1&pp=25

Atkins diet. What a bunch of bullshit. It's just a trendy-ass fad. Everybody knows diets never work. It's human nature to stuff your face with sugar, salt, and other shit that tastes good but isn't good for you. I say hawg down, life is too short, but please god, don't overdo it.

That reminds me, what do you all think of that new documentary that's coming out called Super Size Me ??

this is a joke news story right?? god i hope so....

Injustice! Let them have their roast beef, I say!

GregN. said:

Atkins diet. What a bunch of bullshit. It's just a trendy-ass fad. Everybody knows diets never work. It's human nature to stuff your face with sugar, salt, and other shit that tastes good but isn't good for you. I say hawg down, life is too short, but please god, don't overdo it.

That reminds me, what do you all think of that new documentary that's coming out called Super Size Me ??

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Spoken with ignorance. I know two people that have lost quite a bit because of this "atkins" thing. So.....

Spike

I thought the purpose of the Atkins diet was to cut down on carbs, not gorge yourself with meat. I think these people have it mixed up with the triple bypass diet.

galfordo said:

I thought the purpose of the Atkins diet was to cut down on carbs, not gorge yourself with meat. I think these people have it mixed up with the triple bypass diet.

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Same thing, really. I guess it takes more energy to digest meat. But, I find the atkins folks do just pig out on meat and nothing else. If you think about it, just eating meat in the same amount as you would with everything else really isn't all that much. Bread, potatos, deserts... these things fill up more room that you'd think. Eating one bunless hotdog doens't exaclty "hit the spot", I would assume.

Spike

Spike Spiegel said:

Spoken with ignorance. I know two people that have lost quite a bit because of this "atkins" thing. So.....

Spike

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Remember though, Atkins diet really isn't that healthy. One can do it for a couple of weeks at a time, but anymore than that a person's kidneys will be punished.

If done correctly, the atkins diet isn't that hard on your heart. If people eat lots of chicken (skinless and not fried) and fish (again, not fried), the whole high cholesterol argument goes right out the window and it's perfectly fine for your heart. Also, I haven't seen any real evidence about how this damages the kidneys (not saying this isn't true. If someone can cite a real medical journal or something of that nature that can prove this, please link me), and I've asked a couple different doctors and nutritionists about it.

The thing is, most people are too stupid to do this diet right. They'll go and eat 10 pounds of red meat a day and not take supplements correctly, or at all. They end up with messed up electrolytes, fluid imbalances, and malnutrition.

But at least this fad is keeping me in business. It's funny as hell watching someone eat 32 oz (2 lbs!) of ribeye (the fattiest cut of meat on the cow) in one meal and say they're eating healthy. I just smile and nod and know their insurance will be paying my paycheck in 10 years

Matt

‘Vegetarians are supposed to be healthier than anyone else – and our diet is low in animal fat and high in fibre. I was brought up eating loads of vegetables, soya and brown rice, so I’d never consider trying the Atkins Diet – I’d rather give up booze first! All that fat must be bad for your internal organs.’ Sarah Owen, 29



Experts in Britain tend to agree. In a recent interview, Catherine Collins of the British Dietetic Association, said ‘A high-protein diet can create nutritional deficiencies and it’s not very good for bone health. High-protein loads and ketosis can increase the risk of kidney problems, especially in those people who have an underlying kidney problem. You may not know about a kidney disorder at the time.’


Other popular diets have also come in for criticism from the medical profession. Most fad diets encourage cutting out one specific food group and can put a strain on the body. The Zone Diet, for example, advocates eating fatty foods in place of complex carbohydrates. But nutritionists argue most of the weight loss from this type of diet is due to dehydration. Overworked kidneys lose water as they work hard to excrete waste products – water that is vital to good kidney function. What’s more, any diet that cuts out one particular food group tricks the body into thinking it’s in starvation mode. That makes it more likely you’ll pile even more weight back on once you start eating normally

http://www.nkrf.org.uk/pages/news/atkins.htm

Lower your fat intake (particularly saturated fats), monitor your caloric intake, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, eat a modest amount of lean meat (fish is a particularly smart choice), and GET OFF YOUR ASS AND GET TO THE GYM. That's how you lose wieght. Trying magical diets will get you in trouble (healthwise) and leave you disappointed.

what kind of diet allows you to eat 12 slabs of roast beef?

that couple must be whithering away into sin and bones by now. RIP.

FeelGood said:

what kind of diet allows you to eat 12 slabs of roast beef

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The Fatkins diet .... ok yeah, that was a little cheesy but fuck it.

Force said:

If done correctly, the atkins diet isn't that hard on your heart. If people eat lots of chicken (skinless and not fried) and fish (again, not fried), the whole high cholesterol argument goes right out the window and it's perfectly fine for your heart. Also, I haven't seen any real evidence about how this damages the kidneys (not saying this isn't true. If someone can cite a real medical journal or something of that nature that can prove this, please link me), and I've asked a couple different doctors and nutritionists about it.

The thing is, most people are too stupid to do this diet right. They'll go and eat 10 pounds of red meat a day and not take supplements correctly, or at all. They end up with messed up electrolytes, fluid imbalances, and malnutrition.

But at least this fad is keeping me in business. It's funny as hell watching someone eat 32 oz (2 lbs!) of ribeye (the fattiest cut of meat on the cow) in one meal and say they're eating healthy. I just smile and nod and know their insurance will be paying my paycheck in 10 years

Matt

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Word.

I went Atkins in 2002 and lost 60lbs (with lots of running tossed in) and I ate mostly fish and vegetables and absolutely no junk food. In fact, I think if most people would cut backon their daily Snickers, ice creams, and chips, they'd notice a change with out going full blown Atkins.

But anyone who tries to turn fullblown Atkins into a lifestyle, or gorges on red meat is a tard. You can eat the rice, bread, treats, etc if you'd GET OFF YA ASS.

I work at an italian restaurant and we have Atkins junkies come in from time to time. Once a guy ordered 9 meatballs with no pasta because he was on it. Those are the type of people who give Atkins an even worse name. Anyway, it does work, but once your on it, you need to stay strict because I know a few people who've lost around 20 pounds, but once they eat anymore bread or stuff loaded with carbs they balloon back up.

Diets aren't that necessary if you control yourself and eat reasonably healthy. Stop snacking between meals, don't eat before bed, and give up the McDonalds and you'll cut some weight just by doing that.

I've lost 50 pounds last year. The key to losing that much weight for me was just to watch what I was eating and what made that so easy to do was to use www.fitday.com

It's a great program which will track what you eat and how much exercise.

Lets Gekiga In said:

?Vegetarians are supposed to be healthier than anyone else ? and our diet is low in animal fat and high in fibre. I was brought up eating loads of vegetables, soya and brown rice, so I?d never consider trying the Atkins Diet ? I?d rather give up booze first! All that fat must be bad for your internal organs.? Sarah Owen, 29



Experts in Britain tend to agree. In a recent interview, Catherine Collins of the British Dietetic Association, said ?A high-protein diet can create nutritional deficiencies and it?s not very good for bone health. High-protein loads and ketosis can increase the risk of kidney problems, especially in those people who have an underlying kidney problem. You may not know about a kidney disorder at the time.?


Other popular diets have also come in for criticism from the medical profession. Most fad diets encourage cutting out one specific food group and can put a strain on the body. The Zone Diet, for example, advocates eating fatty foods in place of complex carbohydrates. But nutritionists argue most of the weight loss from this type of diet is due to dehydration. Overworked kidneys lose water as they work hard to excrete waste products ? water that is vital to good kidney function. What?s more, any diet that cuts out one particular food group tricks the body into thinking it?s in starvation mode. That makes it more likely you?ll pile even more weight back on once you start eating normally

http://www.nkrf.org.uk/pages/news/atkins.htm

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The first and last paragraphs don't really apply here. Hell, the last one was referring to a totally different diet altogether, and the first was referring to the fat content, which I already stated is easy enough to control.

Meh. I wrote a long reply here, and didn't like the way it turned out so I deleted it. Anyways, the nephrologists I've asked say the risk for kidney damage from ketosis is small if you're taking in enough protein to break down into sugars, although a small ammount will always occur because in the absense of carbs your body will break down fats. This leads me to beleive that maybe over the coarse of several years this would do some measurable damage, but the will of dieters usually doesn't last this long anyways.

Anyways, I was more or less looking for some clinical studies with some controlled conditions. I'm sure many neprologists have different opinions on this, but I'd really like to see some definative data on it.

Matt

Out of all the fads, stupid diets and rituals the world’s populous uses to deal with obesity, it is amazing the one thing that actually works, exercise, is always completely ignored... There is no magic pill, there is no secret diet. If you get out, run, swim, plays some basketball, bike... do something for 30-60 mins a day you will be on the right track to not only looking better... but being better. People are stupid, people are ignorant... I have little sympathy for the masses,

-Nick

Force said:

The first and last paragraphs don't really apply here. Hell, the last one was referring to a totally different diet altogether, and the first was referring to the fat content, which I already stated is easy enough to control.

Meh. I wrote a long reply here, and didn't like the way it turned out so I deleted it. Anyways, the nephrologists I've asked say the risk for kidney damage from ketosis is small if you're taking in enough protein to break down into sugars, although a small ammount will always occur because in the absense of carbs your body will break down fats. This leads me to beleive that maybe over the coarse of several years this would do some measurable damage, but the will of dieters usually doesn't last this long anyways.

Anyways, I was more or less looking for some clinical studies with some controlled conditions. I'm sure many neprologists have different opinions on this, but I'd really like to see some definative data on it.

Matt

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Yeah, there's not that much information on the Internet about it. The only other information really that I found was about Atkins was on the Atkins website, like that's not going to be biased.

The Fatkins diet is a joke. The whole thing can work, but only because by cutting out carbs you miss the blood sugar-rush they give. However, the only reason tihs is causing so many americans to be obese is that Americans suffer from having WAY TOO MUCH blood sugar. If people just switched to eating more wheat bread, and fewer sugary foods, the Fatkins diet wouldn't be necessary, because at heart it advocates high calorie (at least, int he eyes of most of its users) which really isn't especially good.

I totally agree with you Nick. Food tastes its best when you've earned it by sweating your ass off climbing that mountain, or playing that 5th set in tennis.

You can tell which people haven't read the Atkin's book simply by what they say. Most of the arguments posted here are tackled in his book. The lifestyle does work, but it is also severe. Plus it costs more money to eat meat than to eat white flour.

One thing I always think about is.... Several thousands of years ago, humans didn't have the technology to refine their foods. All of their food was freshly picked from the ground or recently captured and cooked over a fire. #1 they exercised by going out to the fields and gathering food, or chasing after that crazy rabbit. #2 They didn't have a super sized sugary beverage on the side (alcohol is a sugar, but it is the first thing that gets burnt).

Also, I've heard people say that vegetarians and vegans are supposed to be the healthiest humans out there. I don't agree, but I don't totally disagree either. But I do know that I have never met a super-ripped athletic vegetarian that can outrun me in neither speed nor distance.

Most diabetics I've met are in good shape fat percentage-wise. Mary Tyler Moore was a diabetic who never took insulin. Instead she had a somewhat Atkin's style diet.

Is it natural for people to lose their ability to break down lactose as they get older and don't have to suck of mommy's meal bags?

Then is it also natural for people to lose their ability to break down sugars, but have to take thousands of shots over a lifetime to continue eating "normally"?

I think the main reason most people think Atkin's is insane is because we all (in the US) grew up with a contorted food pyramid guide. According to the old one, we had to eat mostly flour, pasta and bread. It was not justified health-wise, but the government had o find a way to get people to eat all of the flour that they subsidized farmers to grow.

Basically I'm saying that Atkin's isn't totally wrong or right, but it is extreme and it does work. I know people who have been on it for years. The whole kidney failure is not proven. There are people who only have one kidney, others with one lung. They live their life well. So why do we have 2 of them if only one is needed? Perhaps we aren't using them as much as we should be? Maybe our lungs were meant to take in an increased volume air as a result of aerobic activity? Maybe our kidneys were designed to process the proteins we get from fresh meats?

Wrong or right is relative. All I know is that I earn what I eat, and to me that's right.

Originally Posted by jethrek However, the only reason tihs is causing so many americans to be obese is that Americans suffer from having WAY TOO MUCH blood sugar. If people just switched to eating more wheat bread, and fewer sugary foods, the Fatkins diet wouldn't be necessary, because at heart it advocates high calorie (at least, int he eyes of most of its users) which really isn't especially good.

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Well, you're right in that the problem is with the amount of sugar influx into the blood. However, because the pancreas produces the insulin to take the sugar into the blood for energy, the amount of sugar is limited and regulated to around 70-140 mg/dl. Meaning the rest of the sugar is either stored in the liver as glucagon or stored as fat.

However, switching to wheats doesn't really change anything. There's less of the flour in it...but there's also more celllulose, which is why the wheat and fiber 'keeps ya' regular."

Originally Posted by CarlDMC
Several thousands of years ago, humans didn't have the technology to refine their foods.

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Um...salting and seasoning their meats and letting them dry in the sun for prolonged shelf-life wasn't refinement?

Most diabetics I've met are in good shape fat percentage-wise. Mary Tyler Moore was a diabetic who never took insulin. Instead she had a somewhat Atkin's style diet.

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Mary Tyler Moore is a type 2 diabetic. Her pancreas still produces insulin, but her body's built a resistance to it. She more than likely takes a type of inhibitor pill to allow her body to accept the insulin it produces. All people should use a diet regulation based on their current height and weight--usually accounted for on that 2000calorie/day label on the back of the nutrition ingredients on food stuffs. It's Atkins-like, but not what the majority of people call "Atkins."

Is it natural for people to lose their ability to break down lactose as they get older and don't have to suck of mommy's meal bags?

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Yes. As most mamals grow older, the ability to break down lactose fades off, and the body tends to respond more to better available sources of sugar, such as maltose.

The reason for lactose for early development is mostly for the fat content, to help stimulate the baby and help in the development of brain tissue. It really isn't condusive to anything later on in life, which is why most mammals switch to finding alternate sourses of sugar.

Then is it also natural for people to lose their ability to break down sugars, but have to take thousands of shots over a lifetime to continue eating "normally"?

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Again, in a minority of people, yes. Either through obesity or through illness the body's white blood cells will attack the islets of langerhands (The cells in the pancreas that produce insulin). Once the ability to produce insulin dissapears, the body relies on breaking down fat through keitoacidosis to function. It results in frequent urination and rapid loss of weight, and can lead to comatose states and possible brain damage.

I think the main reason most people think Atkin's is insane is because we all (in the US) grew up with a contorted food pyramid guide. According to the old one, we had to eat mostly flour, pasta and bread. It was not justified healthwise, but the government had o find a way to get poeple to eat all of the flour that they subsidized farmers to grow.

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Not entirely true. The main reason for the increase in carbohydrates (as well as state provided lunch in public schools) was due to the results of the draft for World War 2. There were several draft attendees that were malnourished or underfed. What better way to push up mass than carboload, eh?

--KagerouSama

Note: Geesh...this must be my longest post yet....
Edit Note: Added and corrected typos....Homonyms!

Spike Spiegel said:

Spoken with ignorance. I know two people that have lost quite a bit because of this "atkins" thing. So.....

Spike

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You are right, but does any diet address the issue of keeping it off? No. The only thing that addresses that is YOU. Diets are a lifestyle, and most people won't have the perserverance to conform to that.

The Atkins diet is so dangerous OMG OMG OMG!!! Fuck that. If it works, who cares. For all I know it's less dangerous than taking roids and taking roids for a year isn't even dangerous...

Like someone said here, most people who are saying dumb things about the diet haven't read the books and only listen to the media. It's clearly stated in the books to eat until your stuffed not full which means that nobody in their right minds should eat 10 pounds of meat a day on Atkins anyway.

About the fad, it makes me laugh, it's been around for 30+ years... Bodybuilders do it to cut... A lot of athletes do it...