The Anabolic Diet: Is It For You?
Aug 29th, 2007 by Mehdi
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Many readers contact me with the same questions. Should you get on the Anabolic Diet if:
- You want to lose weight
- You want to lose fat
If you’re overweight or fat, you don’t need a diet. You need a change of lifestyle. The Anabolic Diet is one approach to the problem: high protein/high fat/low carb. But there are many approaches you can choose from.
The questions you should ask are: will you like the Anabolic Diet? Is it something for you? Here are some cues to help you find the answer.
Carb Sensitivity. One reader’s experience: “The Anabolic Diet appeals to me. I want to follow this diet to a T. Avoiding sugars and carbohydrates.
I had a sandwich with a rice ball and a sugary drink. As I am typing this, I have a headache. I feel sluggish, out-of-breath, and generally lazy. I didn’t know carbs had this effect on me. Last time I felt this bad was when I had a stomach flu. Weak, tired, and sluggish.
I’m going to stick to the Anabolic Diet. I had a steak yesterday for lunch with spicy toppings and garlic. I never felt such energy. Dr. DiPasquale and you were right.
I am going to limit myself to 4 carb-rich meals during the whole week. And even then it better be at home before bed. I won’t have energy to do anything after eating carbs.”
Experience learned me I’m carb sensitive. Symptoms:
- Heaviness. Set stomach after eating carbs, you feel like napping.
- Laziness. Low energy. Sleepiness.
Simple carbs or whole grain carbs. To many it doesn’t make a difference.
Primitive Diet. I don’t believe in veganism & vegetarianism. Man has been a carnivore during 50 millions of years. Carbs agriculture started only 10 000 years ago. Before that we lived on animal flesh, fat, veggies & fruit. Diets like the Anabolic Diet or the Paleo Diet bring you closer to your real self.
Food Allergies. Dairy products often cause food allergies. So do carbs. This relates to the previous point.
It’s possible to do the Anabolic Diet without cheese & eggs. If you got acne, you’ll be amazed how much difference dropping all carbs & dairy products makes. Try it to believe it.
Be cautious. The Anabolic Diet is high in saturated fat. Mixing carbs + saturated fat opens the door obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc. Stick to the rules. No carbs on weekdays, carbs on weekends. Else, find another diet.
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Is there a health risk with high cholesterol on this diet? Any other “disadvantages”?
Good article! The best point you make (and this should be applied to any diet) is is it right for you! All diets, however, are a lifestyle change. No diet should be looked at as temporary as you will experience temporary results. I laugh when I see those statistics where they show how x% of diets fail. DUH! Of course they will fail if you don’t permanently change your habits. With the anabolic diet, remember to eat ALOT of veggies, or else you may have some vitamin deficincies.
Do you have anything for those of us who wish to follow a balanced diet?
I’m new to this whole anabolic diet thing … what does it say about alcohol? And as for carbs - is it no carbs during the week, whole-grains only on weekends, or are whole grains okay during the week?
1. Beer contains lots of carbs, so save it for the weekend.
2. No carbs during the week at all.
3. Whole grain is preferred over simple, but whatever you like. Remember to stop the carb load when you start to smooth out AKA swell.
i’ve finished my second week. had a dirty carb up but did not enjoy it. next week - clean[er] carb up - tomatoes, fruit, peas, carrots. yam. looking forward to it. i feel way better during the week - carbs make me sleepy, although by the end of the week being active is tiring.
should i count my veggies as carbs? i understand about tomatoes and carrots, but what about lettuce, pumpkin, pepper, sprouts, spinace, berries and the rest of the recommended veggies?
The Anabolic Diet is known to decrease cholesterol levels, Jon. Don’t pay attention to the cholesterol you’re consuming. Pay attention to carb consumption, total calorie intake, physical activity, ….
heck out this article on cholesterol.
One disadvantage would be raised acidity. Because of all the meat & cheese intake. That’s why you need to eat veggies, like with any other diet. Veggies (especially spinach) will alkalize your body.
Totally agree Eric. Diet should follow your lifestyle. One of the problems I have with diets (including classic Anabolic Diet) is eating every 3 hours. It isn’t practical. I’ll be experimenting something I haven’t done before when I get back from holiday. Yes, I’ll post about it.
A balanced diet would include:
-proteins: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, …
-veggies & fruits: especially broccoli, spinach, berries, …
-whole grain carbs: oats, rice, potatoes, breads, grains,…
-healthy fats: omega 3/6/9 (no transfats except junk food)
-low junk food consumption (one or two meals a week)
-lots of water
-for everything: try to eat things in their most natural state, unprocessed, avoid anything coming out of a box.
Dave said it all James. Thanks for helping out Dave, perfect advice!
Don’t count veggies Yeara. As long as you eat the veggies on the 101 Anabolic Diet food list, you’re safe.
Enjoy the dirty carb ups while you can. You’ll see, you’ll get fed up with the junk food as the week goes by. The less you eat junk food, the more adverse effects you get. The fact that you feel better by not eating carbs, is also adictive. I’ve been eating high carbs for 2 weeks here during my holiday. I’ve actually decreased my carb consumption the last 3 days, because I was fed up being sleepy/lazy.