Interesting discussion.

My position: Atkins never recommended living on protein shakes, with occasional real food a few times a week. Actually, *the exact opposite*.

On Atkins, convenience or "frankenfoods" are portrayed as an occasional indulgence, okay in moderation/when there's not a better choice available. (ie, a Atkins bar or shake is better than a twinkie if you're out and about without access to other low carb foods).

This doesn't make other plans bad or unhealthy or wrong---it just means that if you're sustaining yourself on protein shakes, you're certainly following a low carb plan, it's just not Atkin's plan.

I think many people have come to see "low carb" and "atkins" as nearly synonymous terms, since the Atkins WOE is probably the most popular/well known low carb plan.

Jen