28 Spreading the Word

The great-granddaddy of the book you're holding in your hands right now became a bestseller way back in 1972. Between then and the original publication of Dr. Atkins'New Diet Revolution in 1992, controlled carbohydrate weight loss plans suffered a long, dry spell. Personally, that twenty year stretch was deeply frustrating. I knew what this nutritional approach could do for overweight people as well as for people with blood-sugar imbalances, I had certainly witnessed permanent improvements in my patients' health and energy levels. Their successful weight loss efforts were equally real and long tenn. And the countless letters and phone calls I continue to receive from readers of my books confirm my clinical observations.

During those two decades-when low-fat diets were hawked as the only way to go, and high-carbohydrate foods such as pasta and bagels dominated the "health" land-scape—the rate at which our population grew heavier and heavier accelerated. At the risk of sounding like a know-it-all, I have to tell you that this turn of events was no surprise to me. If you set out to become fat, there would be no better way to achieve it than with the diet of refined carbohydrates and starches so common hi' .the_United States..

Nowadays, the tide is flowing strongly in my direction. I only hope that it will continue long enough for the advantages of controlled carbohydrate eating to become apparent to tens of millions more people. Unfortunately, tides ebb and flow. There are still plenty of loyal followers of the low-fat doctrine who sincerely believe that their approach will ensure good health. And there arc still plenty of food congiomerates committed to selling carb-laden junk food to Americans—and, increasingly, throughout the world.

What the Success of Atkins Will Mean

The best thing you can do for yourself and for the millions of others whose excess weight causes them both physical and psychological suffering is to tell them what has worked for you. Many people delude themselves about weight loss. They like to think they can lose those excess pounds by some magical burst of willpower, or they're waiting for the perfect drug to come along: Fen-Phen H without the deadly side effects. Your example can make them realize that instead of magic or drugs, the answer to lifetime weight control is simply a matter of a change in lifestyle.

The louder the voice of the controlled carbohydrate revolution, the better it will be for all of us. It's your voice that will help others understand that those boxes of junk food in the supermarket—and even in the health food store—proudly labeled "low fat" are to be avoided. It's your voice that will ensure that more and more restaurants, hotels and airlines offer controlled carbohydrate meal choices. It's your voice that will bring controlled carbohydrate products into your local supermarket so that you can enjoy ice cream made with controlled cart) sweeteners, as well as tasty bread, muffins, bagels, chips and cookies—to name but a few. It is the people who have championed Atkins before you and raised their voices to create this demand that led to the development of such products which make doing Atkins easier than ever before. Now it's your turn to spread the word.

Calling All Revolutionaries

I dedicated my first book to the "diet revolutionaries" who would make a difference in the world. That term was then just n vague concept, but now it has real meaning. The world does indeed need diet revolutionaries, people who will organize into groups with meeti'ngs and membership rosters. While this book has focused on issues specific to your needs, you may want to get involved in the larger picture.

According to*the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, childhood obesity has increased three-fold in the last twenty years) Need I remind you that these are the same years in which carbohydrates have become a larger and larger component of the American diet and the period in which junk food has d0minated the food industry? The point is that this is really more than just a matter of personal weight control and health objectives. It is a matter of concern for the health and longevity of our children and future generations.

I applaud the fact that so many Atkins followers have joined together in local groups and have participated in Internet chats and bulletin boards. Such activities not only enable people to help themselves, but also allow them to assist, motivate and inspire others to succeed in doing Atkins. In a more global way, those individuals who reach out to others by whatever means make the world understand that there are health choices far different from the ones that most people have been offered so far. If these words strike a responsive chord, you may wish to become a member of an existing group or help to form a new one.

If you are involved in groups that are determined to spread the word about the controlled carbohydrate lifestyle, Vd love for you to stay in touch. Keep me and my staff abreast of who you are, w,here you are based and what you are doing. See the end of this chapter for ways to get in touch with us. For those of you who are content merely to make your personal nutritional and weight loss experience as fulfilling and permanent as possible, the message is not very different: Keep in touch with us! Let us know of your progress, send us before-and-after pictures, tell us your story. My staff and I love to hear about experiences of men and women doing Atkins throughout the country and around the world.

There is no better way to stay in touch with all of our current activities and key nutritional and medical information updates than through our website (www.atkinscenter.com). As the number of people who visit our site has mushroomed well into the millions, we have recently upgraded it so that it offers the optimum in information and support to the growing contingent of Intemet-savvy Atkins followers.

Visitors to our site will find a wealth of information about the AtkJns Nutritional Approach, including:

· Atkins recipes and seasonal menus.

· A carb gram counter for printing out or for your Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

· Tips from Atkins staff and others like you.

· Inspirational success stories.

· The latest scientific support of Atkins.

· Interaction with Atkins experts.

· Easy-to-find answers to your questions.

· Recent controlled carb news.

· A large selection of Atkins and other controlled carb products.

· An events calender of my upcoming media events and personal appearances.

· Updates on other Atkins events.

· Information on our increasingly popular "Atkins" cruises on Costa Cruise Lines NV.

On our website, you will also be able to sign up for a personalized area called "My Atkins," and participate in additional activities, including:

· A daily and weekly journal to track your progress and document your success.

· Customized controlled carb information and a "file cabinet" in which to save article clippings.

· Your own controlled carb recipe box.

· Shopping lists for Atkins recipes.

· The opportunity to inspire others by sharing your success story.

· Personal encouragement and reminders from Atkins.

· Simplified management of your product orders.

· Special discounts on Atkins products.

There are, of course, other ways in which you can make a difference in spreading the word about the value of a controlled carbohydrate approach to nutrition. Here are just a few ideas:

· Demonstrate with your purchasing power, demanding your local supermarkets and health food stores offer controlled carbohydrate alternatives.

· Let the restaurants you eat in know that you want more dishes that meet your needs or take your business elsewhere.

· Lobby your elected officials at both the national and local level to pressure them into enacting appropriate food-labeling requirements.

· Contact your local school administration to pressure' them to improve the nutritional quality of school lunches.

· Press for the removal of sugar-filled snacks and other junk food from school and office vending machines.

· Register with the National Weight Loss Registry at 1-800-606-NWLR so that a formal record of your weight loss success doing Atkins can be added to that database.

· Make your physician aware of your commitment to Atkins and share this book with him or her. Or if your doctor is unwilling to accept this approach to health and weight control, find another doctor who is.

· Support FAIM (Foundation for the Advancement of Innovative Medicine), an organization whose main purpose is to secure more health options—-both procedures and nutrients—for you and the doctors who treat you. FAIM can be reached at the following address:

FAIM

P.O. Box 7016

Albany, New York 12225-0016

· Contact the Dr. Robert C. Atkins Foundation to learn more about ongoing scientific research on controlled carbohydrate nutrition and to support its efforts in underwriting additional research through our website at www. atkinscenter, com.

These are just a few of the proactive steps you can take as an "Atkins revolutionary." We will continue to share ideas that can benefit from your involvement on our website and encourage you to do the same.

Here are the various ways to reach me:

1. Visit our website at www. atkinscenter, com.

2. Make an appointment for a telephone nutritional consultation or schedule an appointment to see us in person as a new patient (which includes a follow-up in person or via telephone) by calling 1-888-ATKINS-8.

3. Write or send photos to:

Robert C. Atkins, MD

Atkins Health and Medical Information Services

150 East 50th Street

New York, New York 10022