Atkins Diet Plan

The Atkins diet plan is a four phase eating plan in addition to vitamin and mineral supplementation and regular exercise. The four-phase individualized eating plan allows you to knowledgeably select which foods to eat based on your need to achieve weight loss and weight maintenance. The Atkins diet promises that not only lose weight and not be hungry with a low carbohydrate diet, but you will also be on the road to better heart health and memory function, as well as other wellness benefits. The Four phases are as follows:

• Phase 1 - Induction

  The diet is based on the theory that overweight people eat too many carbohydrates. Our bodies burn both fat and carbohydrates for energy, but carbohydrates are used first. By drastically reducing carbs and eating more protein and fat, our bodies naturally lose weight by burning stored body fat more efficiently. Thus in the first phase restrict carbohydrate consumption to 20 grams each day by obtaining carbohydrate primarily from salad and other non-starchy vegetables.

• Phase 2 - Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL)

  Carbohydrates are added in the form of nutrient-dense and fiber-rich foods, by increasing to 25 grams daily the first week, 30 grams daily the next week and so on until weight loss stops. Then subtract 5 grams of carbohydrate from your daily intake so that you continue sustained, moderate weight loss.

• Phase 3 - Pre-Maintenance

  Transition from weight loss to weight maintenanc is made by increasing the daily carbohydrate intake in 10-gram increments each week so long as very gradual weight loss is maintained.

• Phase 4 - Lifetime Maintenance

  While controlling carbohydrate intake select your diet from a wide variety of foods to ensure weight maintenance and a sense of well-being. This lifestyle is the foundation for a lifetime of better health.

For the most part, successful followers of the Atkins diet must fundamentally change the way they eat on a long-term basis. This means eliminating foods like cake, potatoes, pasta, pancakes and pie from their diets, permanently. Fruit and dairy products are also extremely limited.

The Atkins diet places no limit on the amount of saturated-fat-laden products one can have each day. Large portions of foods like butter, red meat and bacon are advocated and encouraged. A limited amount of carbohydrates can be introduced in the maintenance phase. For the most part, exercise is not strongly emphasized in the Atkins diet.

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