Atkins Diet

The Atkins Diet plan was first created thirty years ago by Dr. Robert Atkins. His low-carb, high-fat/high-protein weight loss approach, which has been used by over 15 million people, switches your metabolism to a primarily fat-burning system. With this approach, you quickly lose pounds - and learn how to keep them off. The diet works by not unduly limiting food intake. This will cause people to be less obsessed with food.

Phases in the Atkins Diet

Atkins diet can generally be divided in to 4 phases. The first phase of the diet is the induction phase which last for 14 days and with strict restriction on particular foods for the body to trigger ketosis. During this 14 days of atkins diet your consumption of carbohydrates is restricted to below 20 grams a day your body is taught to burn fate instead of carbohydrates.

The second phase of the atkins low carb diet is \"Ongoing Weight Loss\", to be followed until your target weight is almost achieved. During this phase of atkins diet weight loss is slower, and some foods are allowed back into the diet. When you are between five and ten pounds away from your target weight, the \"Pre-Maintenance\" of atkins diet phase begins. The weight loss is very slow. More foods are re-introduced into your diet.

The final phase of atkins diet is the \"Maintenance Diet\". This phase of atkins diet is designed to maintain your target weight. Dieters following this low carbohydrate diet are encouraged to stick with the fourth phase diet for life, to remain healthy and avoid gaining weight. For the maintainance phase, we have included here a list of food that you are free to consume and also a list of some food with their approximate carb content in the food list section.

The Science Behind Atkins Diet 

1. The food you eat (e.g. meat, fish, cheese, nuts, eggs, low sugar/starch vegetables and fruit, etc.) in atkins diet plan is less processed and more nutritious. They contain protein and complex carbohydrates that make you less likely to feel hungry or have food cravings.
2. Restriction on carbohydrate during atkins diet plan would lower the body\'s stored carbohydrate (glycogen), thus resulting ketosis. During ketosis, the fuel for metabolism comes from the very source you hope to burn up - fat. This biologically zero-carbohydrate diet that triggers ketosis is also known as ketogenic diet.
3. Carbohydrate being taken in excessively stimulates the overproduction of insulin which convert glucose into fat and prevent the breakdown of fat in the body. The atkins diet plan with it near zero carbohydrate content is therefore geared towards diminishing excessive insulin response which is the hallmark of overweight.

Atkins Diet Review

One of the most popular diet types – other than simple starvation – ever to be developed is the Atkins diet. Not only are the odds very good that you’ve heard of this diet, but the odds are also very high that you actually know someone who has given it a go or that you’ve even tried a version of it yourself. It does, after all, sound too good to be true when you think about its foundational points. It’s a diet that doesn’t stop you from enjoying foods such as bacon, butter, meats, cheeses, snacking, and other foods that are traditionally banned in weight loss diets.

The low-fat craze has been so strong for so long that it seems almost shocking to think that there may be a way to lose weight without cutting fats exclusively. Instead, the Atkins diet says that you can eat fatty foods that will fill you up, but you will, instead, need to give up the majority of the carbohydrates in your diet. Carbs include pasta, cereals, breads, potatoes, chips, cookies, cakes, chocolate, rice, and even some fruits and dairy products in the earliest parts of the diet.

The diet was drawing lots of attention all on its own from the start, but when it started to be the weight loss solution of choice for many very popular celebrities, it became the one diet that into which everyone suddenly placed all of their faith. That being said, the Atkins diet has not been without its controversy. In fact, there are just about as many specialists, doctors, nutritionists, and dieticians saying that it is not the right way to lose weight as there are people toting it as a miracle plan.

The theory is that when carbohydrates – a form of energy that is quick to metabolize and therefore very easy for the body to readily use – are cut from the diet (or at least dramatically reduced), and are replaced with high-protein foods. This way forces the body to burn its stored fat in order to obtain all of the energy it needs to maintain its functioning. Therefore, when you’re eating a diet made up primarily of proteins with some fats included, you’ll actually burn more calories than you would in a calorie reduced diet higher in carbohydrates. Furthermore, because proteins take longer to digest, the blood sugar levels remain consistent throughout the day, reducing the urge to overeat.

It’s up to you and your doctor to decide if Atkins is the right choice for you and the lifestyle you’d like to maintain. Speak with your healthcare professional about your diet and exercise needs and find out if Atkins can work in your favor for healthy weight loss.