Weight Loss - Atkins Diet Plans

Atkins Diet Menu

By Victoria Adler

Below is a discussion of the concepts of "Atkins diet plans" (also known as "Atkins Nutritional Approach" or simply Atkins) by Dr. Robert C. Atkins. Over the past few decades, this has become the most widely marketed and well-known low-carbohydrate diet: in 2003 and 2004 almost 10% of North-American adults were on this diet.

According to Dr. Atkins' concept, if we want to lose weight, we need to be concerned with the carbohydrates we eat, not the fat. Many people achieved great success using the Atkins diet. But practice shows that, like any diet, Atkins' diet plan is not the panacea for everyone. So before starting on the Atkins diet, you will have to consult your physician to make sure this is a good method for you.

When you are on the Atkins diet plan:

• You say good-bye to junk foods and processed foods.


• You eat few carbohydrates.


• You eat many foods high in protein.


The theory behind the low-carb Atkins diet is that by reducing your consumption of carbohydrates, your body will enter a phase called ketosis. And during ketosis, the body will burn its fat for fuel, instead of using the foods in your diet, which will in turn slow insulin production, which will in turn prevent more fat from being stored.

There are four main stages in the Atkins diet:

• Induction,


• Ongoing weight loss,


• Pre-maintenance,


• Maintenance.


During the first two weeks, the subject is in the induction stage. During this time, many people report losing 15 pounds or more, simply because carbohydrate intake is cut down to 20 grams every day. The only carbs you can have are low-carb vegetables, and even then they are very limited. The second stage,
known as the ongoing weight loss, will let you have 25 grams every day. You will then move on to pre-maintenance, in which you can try out other foods to see what carbohydrates you can add to your diet. After you have reached your weight loss goals, you may eat all the good carbs, but the premise behind the diet plan is that you won’t want to eat these foods. Choosing healthy carbs will become a way of life.

There is a rumor that Atkins diet recommends eating unlimited amounts of fatty meats and cheeses. This is not true. As Dr. Atkins wrote, his plan is "not a license to gorge." Atkins diet plans include exact recommendations about the quality and quantity of foods you eat. So you have to thoroughly follow these
recommendations. And of course, a healthy lifestyle is also very important for the success of weight loss using Atkins diet plans: physical exercise, quitting smoking, moderate alcohol consumption.

Victoria Adler. Editor of [http://www.readerspot.com/ target=_blank]www.readerspot.com.

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Atkins Diet Menu