Hi RoseTattoo,

There was a program on the BBC recently here in the UK called Horizon (it is a documentary/investigatory type program), they did a study into the Atkins diet.

They did a lot of research into why Atkins causes weight loss, now some of the stuff I am about to say may cause an uproar, but was a result of the study and I am always willing to keep an open mind about things.

They tested the Ketosis angle, they placed identical male (35ish) twins in isolation over a 24 hour period, fed one the atkins diet and the other a normal diet. They found that the twin on the Atkins diet had not burnt any significant amounts of calories more than his twin (about 3 calories difference), so they ruled out Keytosis.

They then went on to look at fat.

Put four people in an environment, feed them extactly the same meals but 2 had higher fat content (about 50% higher) and 2 had normal fat content, the people being tested had no idea who had what. They found that the 2 on the high fat actually ate more than those on the normal and put on more weight over the course of the 4 week period they were locked up, basically the fat gave them a craving to eat more.

So the only thing left to look at was the protein, and they believe this is the answer. Protein suppresses appetite.

They had hundreds of people on various diets (some Atkins, some normal) keep food diaries over time (can't remember how long). They discovered that those on the Atkins lost weight and couldn't understand why. Here we have a diet where you can eat as much of the approved food stuffs as you like and still lose weight. They found from the diaries that people on Atkins were actually eating less, taking in less calories therefore losing weight. From their research the only thing that could possibly do this is the protein. They have still to carry out more research but this looks like the key to it all.

So it is maybe worth considering upping your protein, in small increments to see if that could be a possible solution. You should also think about having another bash at HIIT, do you do this in the morning before you have had anything to eat? and how soon after you do it do you eat something?

Mike