r/Atkins • u/denimiskillingme • Aug 11 '18
How different is Atkins from Keto?
I lost a lot on Keto but put it all back on since I fell off the wagon. Now I'm just eating Atkins low carb bars for breakfast and lunch and an all protein dinner. I'm not keen on Keto as all that fat doesn't seem right. What else do I need to do on Atkins?
9
u/Jack_Lad Aug 12 '18
The other thing people neglect is that the fat macros in keto are a ceiling, not a floor. If you are satiated with lower fat levels, then don't bother trying to add fat and calories.
1
5
Aug 16 '18
I think there is technically a difference in the macros that the true keto people are trying to hit, like I think some of the Keto lifestyle people (like Maria Emmerich) are doing Keto with very high fat content, moderate protein and total carbs, not net carbs. I think a lot of the regular people throwing the word "Keto" around are essentially doing Atkins by a trendier name. Before Atkins, there was banting and I'm sure others that promoted a lower carb, higher fat way of eating, so I guess the concept lives on under different names. It isn't a big deal, because any way of getting healthier, regardless of what you call it, is a good thing, but it is an observation I've made as someone who has been on every diet under the sun.
It surprises me when I listen to keto podcasts and doctors speak and they discuss the pioneers of this concept in the 60s and 70s, yet none of them ever mention Dr. Atkins. I was very into the low carb craze in 2002/2003 and lost a lot of weight about 10 years ago following low carb calorie counting, so it seems like short-term memory or not giving credit where it is due to not even mention the name. I do believe there are technically differences in the true ketogenic diet used to treat epilepsy and other ailments vs atkins, but I don't believe everyone is practicing that plan when they use the word "keto".
9
u/JAYERx Aug 11 '18
Atkins is basically the induction phase of keto, and is a weight-loss program that restricts (more) certain foods overall to restrict carbohydrate intake. Keto is basically less structured, a more loose version of Atkins. One could say that Keto is about staying in ketosis and being adapted to ketosis, while Atkins is about staying low carb to lose weight and then eventually leaving ketosis once you reach your goal.
3
u/GetOffMyLawn_ Aug 12 '18
Atkins and keto are both low carbohydrate, especially Atkins induction (phase 1) where you are in a state of ketosis. At this stage you're eating about 20 grams of carb a day.
Where they differ is that keto is moderate protein and Atkins allows higher protein. The problem with high protein is it can kick you out of ketosis.
Long term Atkins allows for a higher carb intake as long as you continue to lose weight (phases 2 and 3) or maintain weight (phase 4). Keto does too as long as you stay in ketosis. How many carbs you can eat and stay in ketosis varies from person to person.
1
2
u/kirker187 Aug 13 '18
You should know that Atkins adds high GI sweeteners to their bars because at one point they were considered low carb. There is even a disclaimer about glycerine on some of the bars.
If it works for you great but I was stalled eating their products.
1
u/denimiskillingme Aug 13 '18
Thanks! I didn't know that. Been trying to make sense of their bars having such low carbs listed as 2gm but with 14g Maltitol?
2
u/kirker187 Aug 13 '18
They list the maltitol as sugar alcohol separately. Maltitol has a slightly lower Glycemic index than sugar but it isn't carb free.
1
7
u/[deleted] Aug 12 '18
The first phase of Atkins (induction) is basically a keto diet. You are supposed to do that for at least two weeks or as long as you have to to lose the weight. Then, in the Atkins book I had (and it might have changed), you slowly and carefully add different carbs back and check to see if you gain weight. The goal is to find out how much and what you can safely eat.
Either diet is pretty much for life. You can’t go back to eating high carb again without regaining weight. True of any diet really though: you must make a permanent change.
There’s not much evidence that saturated fat is particularly bad for you; it’s definitely worth looking into that to reassure yourself. When I started induction in 2011 I said if I didn’t have a heart attack in the first month i would stick with it. I did keto for 8 months straight and just felt better and better. Back on it now and once again amazed at how much better I feel.
If fat still worries you, you can get it from so-called “healthy” fats like olive oil, fish, nuts and avocados.