Atkins Diet

Question
QUESTION: I am 5ft 11inches tall and weigh 210lbs. I am 46 years old and to be honest my entire body is thin except that I have a pot belly. My arms, legs and torso and small, which almost everyone who knows me tells me.

About 4 weeks ago I heard about the Atkins diet and have tried it. Even though I used to eat alot of bread, spaghetti, rice and sweets, to be honest I have had no trouble staying away from those foods because avoiding carbohydartes seems to be the main part of his diet.  I have lost some weight and my waist size is smaller but I still have a pot belly. I know that the fact that I have only been on it for about a month is not long and that in that short time I have lost weight but what do you think about the Atkins Diet and do you think given more time I will also loose my pot belly and do you have any tips on loosing a pot belly in general?

Also up until the age of 35 years old I had been skinny. Even before I tried the Atkins diet to try and get rid of my pot belly I was eating about 5000 calories a day. My doctor said that I should have been weighing 500lb then but I was not, which she said is because I have always had a very fast metabolism. I even had her check me for a tape worm because I would eat so much yet not get fat and when she did along with my yearly physical she always finds nothing wrong and that I am very healthy.

Any help or advice you can give is greatly appreciated.

Murphy

ANSWER: ANY reduced-calorie diet will help you lose weight if you also exercise. My problem with the Atkins diet is that it allows foods that are NOT good for you (like bacon and ground beef) when they should emphasize HEALTHY lean meats like turkey and chicken.

As far as the "pot belly" goes?br>
I get asked this question all the time.  The bottom line is: you can't spot reduce belly fat.  Just like you can't drain the deep end of a pool first, you can't reduce belly fat until all of the rest of the fat is off your body.

See this article for specifics:

http://ricksweightloss.com/blog/display-article.asp?ID=38&Key=AllExperts

For specific information and step-by-step guidelines on how to lose weight and be healthy, visit my web site for all kinds of details about proper diet, nutrition, exercise, weight-lifting routines, and more.

Most importantly, make sure to download my FREE eBook, "Rick's 18 Tips for Healthy Weight Loss."

Richard Rost
http://www.RicksWeightLoss.com

P.S. As a disclaimer, I'm not a doctor or health professional. Please seek the advice of your doctor before implementing any of my recommendations.

Out of work? Know someone who is? Get a FREE copy of my Computer Job Skills CD at http://www.599cd.com/JobSkills?key=AllExperts

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Rick:

Thank you for answering my question. I am going to go to your website to learn more about and download your 18 tips for healthy weight loss. My follow up question is that although you said I cannot just loose a pot belly the only part of me that is big is my stomach. I have have very skinny arms, legs, chest etc?

Answer
Again?bottom end of the pool. If your arms and legs are skinny, then don't worry, you might have no more fat to lose on them. Your belly is the first place your body stores fat, and the last place it comes off.

For specific information and step-by-step guidelines on how to lose weight and be healthy, visit my web site for all kinds of details about proper diet, nutrition, exercise, weight-lifting routines, and more.

Most importantly, make sure to download my FREE eBook, "Rick's 18 Tips for Healthy Weight Loss."

Richard Rost
http://www.RicksWeightLoss.com

P.S. As a disclaimer, I'm not a doctor or health professional. Please seek the advice of your doctor before implementing any of my recommendations.

Out of work? Know someone who is? Get a FREE copy of my Computer Job Skills CD at http://www.599cd.com/JobSkills?key=AllExperts

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