I started replying to this thread a few times and stooped in the middle.. I hate getting flamed..
Talking about diets is like talking about religion, people buy in to a way of eating and take the position that it is a god given truth. It is very interesting to hear a 25 year old kid who weighs 149lb and rides a century for lunch every day, telling an over weight old fart that low carb diet is bogus, cause he (the 25 yrs old) is eating a ton of pasta every day and is doing GREAT!

so let me tell you my perspective, out of my own experience, and what had worked for me, and why do I think it worked.

in January 2001 I weighed 305lb or maybe more, my scale didn't go more then that. I started working out doing weights and cardio in the gym, and after 2 years lost 40lb. I also bought a road bike at the end of '01 (my Giant OCR1) and started riding. Not easy to go up hills dragging 265lb with you. Oh plus the 23lb of the bike...
In May of '03 I started Atkins. I lost 55 lb, my cholesterol dropped from 210 to 165, my blood pressure dropped from 150/95 to 120/something (cant remember but its good), and my general well being (mood, alertness) is better that it is ever been in years..
I am still on Atkins today and will try to drop 20 more lb. I ride centuries now and put between 60 and 100 miles a week.

Some misconceptions about Atkins:
- you can eat a ton of meat and bacon and lose weight. With Atkins I am less hungry and I eat less calories while eating as much as I want. I just want less.. Very simple, and it works for me. Obese people have screwed up glucose levels and their insulin levels go crazy. Obese people are hungrier then thin people (duh!).. eating Less carbs and more fat makes you less hungry, and you end up eating less calories then you would have if you eat lots of carbs... (confusing and counter intuitive right?)

- you cant eat veggies and fruits at all! - you can eat carbs, but less then the food pyramid leads you to eat. You can eat veggies, and some fruits..

- it is not healthy - I hear it allot, and I still don't understand how is it not healthy... if all my vitals are better on this diet how is it not healthy? Is it healthier to be 305lb?


Riding a bike on Atkins

First let me define "riding". are you going on a leisure ride for an hour or two? or are you going on a 60 mile ride with 3000' climbs and average speeds of 17 mph?
Second, let define Atkins. Atkins is made of phases and they differ by the amount of carbs you consume.

In my PERSONAL experience, I can not ride a 60 mile ride with climbs while of Atkins Induction phase. I find that I bonk hard after 2 hours.. I also found out that on a century ride I need to eat carbs like any one else, or Ill bonk.

today I am on the maintenance phase of Atkins and I ride just fine long distances. I take in approx 150g of carbs a day, and on a ride day I take it all before I go out riding. I also use a sports drink cut in half with water..

Once winter comes I plan to go back to a more strict phase of the diet to lose those 10-20 lb..

Some stats: I'm 51 years old, 5'11" and now weigh 208lb. I work out 4 times a week at the gym, and ride my bike. and that's how I look today..