In the past ten or so years the word fat has become such a word in our society. Just go into any bookstore and look up hundreds of books on weight loss and diet. After reading hundreds of books on the subject, I now have a formal investigation to report on one specific diet – the Atkins Diet – to understand if Atkins was really such a great diet for losing weight… or if it was plain old self-delusion.
It’s January first and by the time you read this, the New Year will be upon us. There will be a mass hash blameumbaughter on the biggest loser, “The Weight Loss Show” and millions of diet related programs will be sold all over television. How are you going to avoid being one of them? Stay out of the public eye and pretend to be thinking about these fat cats once more.
Atkins Diet essentials:
Atkins Diet is an American weight loss program, focuses on low carbohydrate, high protein and fat. You can eat all the meat, eggs, and cheese you want as long as you don’t have sugar.
There is a four phase to the Atkins Diet program. Each phase adds various increases your carbohydrate level, followed by a period of increased protein and reduced fat.
The Atkins Diet has been controversial from the start, with some diets going completely against the diet and claiming it to be a starvation diet. Thankfully, the diet program has been altered and enhanced since its conception by experts in order to enable long term weight loss and maintenance.
Genuinely, Atkins is an excellent diet for losing weight. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people on this diet lose literally twice the weight of people who haven’t been on the diet. So I totally understand if you wouldn’t want to be on the diet but would prefer to have a normal life.
The Atkins Diet is one of the latest in diet programs and is a high protein, high fat diet plan. The main source of protein in the diet is the use of fatty cuts of meat. Being a meat eater myself, I find it difficult justifying against Atkins meat, as it does seem fair to me.
Phase 1 – Induction
This is where you start your diet and is the most restrictive phase of the entire program. You are limited to an unlimited amount of salad and vegetables.Rule 1 prohibits you from having more than 20 grams of net carbs per day, which translates to an almost equal balance of protein and fat.
Phase 2 – Ongoing Weight Loss
In phase 2 you add carbs in limited amounts at various scheduled times. You also start to introduce fruits and “sugary fruits” such as raisins and pineapple. You can eat up to 75 grams of carbs per day, but must stay below 20 grams of net carbs.
Phase 3 – Pre-Maintenance
In phase 3, the purpose of this phase is to find out your metabolic needs for maintaining your goal weight. You’re allowed to eat carbohygrates, but the diet becomes more of a lifestyle. You’re allowed 20 grams of carbs, but a diet of mainly protein is advised.
Phase 4 – Lifetime Maintenance
This phase is pretty much like Phase 2, but will allow you to keep a balance between carbs and protein and almost no fat. You are allowed unlimited amounts of rice, bread, pasta and vegetables (except potatoes). The diet will become a maintenance phase which helps you avoid gaining the weight back.
The Atkins Diet certainly works for me (I lost 55 lbs in six months) and it’s a great way to lose weight quickly if you’re looking to drop a dress or jeans size in a hurry.
