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Atkins diet was unknown 35 years ago. Though it seems
that ancient people - athletes particularly - followed a strict diet
which is likewise Atkins basic.

Strict diet and severe exercises for Ancient Greeks

Long before dr Atkins finished his theory about ketosis
and established his famous diet, ancient people had undertaken it,
without any clue at all. Not only they were eating Atkins-style, but
also they were strongly practicing regular exercise, as dr Atkins now
recommends. Ancient Greeks spent a lot of time educating their bodies.
Gymnastic exercises were very appreciated, children were trained and
directed to follow a daily training program. After years of strict diet
and heavy gymnastics, Greeks finally admitted that "too much and too
strict" is not good for health, because this regimen exhausted the
human constitution.

Greek Olympians followed meat-only diet

In fact, we talk about Greek people who ate fruits,
vegetables, a lot of fish, breads. This was a regular eating regimen
for ordinary Greeks, with the amendment that fish was the most common
meat eaten in that seafaring region. Quite interesting is the fact that
Greek olympians had a bit different eating regimen, a meat-heavy
regimen, like the low-carb Atkins's (not so refined, of course, no
phases at all). The goal was to develop a lot of muscles and meat was
enormously necessary. But not any Greek could daily afford meat on the
table. Only upper social strata from Greece could afford it. The
olympians also ate more rich-protein legumes which their bodies needed
to keep a boost of energy.

Moreover, according to food historian Francine Segan, an
ancient Olympic runner was put to undertake a meat-only diet. It seems
that this tough exclusive diet was a must to win a competition. That
works for runners. The fact that runners ate only meat started a sort
of meat diet craze, pointed out the historian. Another condition to
complete athletes' diet was to expel bread right before competition,
eating dried figs instead. Francine Segan admitted that he discovered
that while he was searching information about famous Mediteranean
cuisine.

Their diet was directed according to Pausanias. Those
practicing heavy exercise ate pork and a particular kind of bread.
Also, it seems that beef was later introduced in the ordinary diet of
the athletes. Goat meat is mentioned, too, in "A Dictionary of Greek
and Roman Antiquities". Meat consumption was highly encouraged, as on
the Atkins diet plan. Fats, too, since pork, is a fat meat.

Ancient preoccupation with health, diet and exercise is
praiseworthy. A low-carbohydrate daily regimen, along with regular
exercise are a simple and efficient scheme for losing weight and
shaping the body. The ancient people knew it by trying it only. No
theories, no calories, no ketosis, no debates around. Maybe they didn't
need to know how it works. "Mens sana in corpore sana" worked best for
them.