Atkins Diet Review

The Atkins Diet is probably the most controversial diet there is. In the years before the Atkins diet was created it was common for doctors to advise you that a high carbohydrate as well as low fat diet was the only way to lose weight. Then comes Dr Atkins who says that a LOW carbohydrate diet is the way to lose weight - the opposite of what was said before. To be fair it seems that there are other doctors that also said this but Dr Atkins was the first bring it to a wide audience and make it popular.

Now the Atkins Diet is well known and there are other low-carb diets out there as well. Lots of people follow this type of diet and report that they are very successful. However it appears that you have to stick to this type of diet for life.

A complete explanation here in this review of how this diet works would not be possible as it can be quite involved. However if you read the Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution book it explains it fully.

In a nutshell, however, the idea is that your body's first choice for energy is carbohydrates. If you consume a diet which is high in carbohydrates then your most has almost an endless source of energy. The energy that your body doesn't use is then stored as fat. It is difficult to get your body to use stored fat as a source for energy. The low-carb diet says that if you eat a diet low in carbs, your body will not then have its carbohydrate energy source and will have to begin using the fat that is stored on your body.

The diet consists of three phases. The first phase can be quite restrictive but as time goes on and you get closer to your goal, the diet loosens up a little bit.

Atkins receives a lot of criticism, but I feel this criticism is primarily aimed at the first phase of the diet - the induction phase - which people seem to think encompasses the whole diet.

The induction phase should last for 2 weeks. During this time you should keep your carbohydrate intake to 20g or less per day. This means that you would primarily be eating meats. This will "kick-start" your body into ketosis, and most people start losing weight very quickly.

After 2 weeks you move into the Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) phase. During this time, you can add 5g carbohydrates per day, until you reach a number where you stop losing weight. You continue in this phase until you have lost the weight that you want to lose.

After that you go into the maintenance phase. This has an increased level of carbohydrates, but it is still low by "normal" standards.

Some people have found great success through this way of eating and if it's something that works for you, then it's probably OK. Always check with your doctor before drastically changing your eating plan.

Be aware that this diet can be very high in saturated fat. This may be an issue for you and you should try to eat foods that are Atkins-friendly while being lower in saturated fat.

The Atkins Diet is very difficult for vegetarians to follow, particularly the first phase. The first phase is so carb-restrictive that meat is one of the only things that you can eat. All vegetables have some carbohydrates and these should be limited on the Atkins Diet.

If you choose to lose weight on the Atkins Diet, you should make it a lifelong change to your way of eating. Dieters who have tried to return to a high carb lifestyle have found that they quickly regain their weight. But if you are ready to make this commitment, then it could be the right diet for you.