How To Start Losing Weight Easily by following the Atkins or other Low Carb Diets

The Atkins Diet and most low carb diets work by strictly limiting carbohydrate intake and increasing protein and fats in the diet. By taking this advance, the body does not have the carbohydrates to burn first, so it burns fat instead. Dieters have a number of food choices available to them and the amount of food eaten is not restricted, only the types of foods. Meats, cheeses, fats, and proteins are all suitable food options on the Atkins Diet. No polished sugars are allowed, or white potatoes, white rice, or white flour.

The first two weeks on the Atkins Diet are the most restricted, in which only twenty grams of carbohydrates are allowed (carbs less grams of fiber). Fruits are not permitted and only a few leafy green vegetables. All through this phase, the change in biochemical activity is supposed to jump start the weight loss mechanism.

It may seem crazy to some to consume butter and other fats on a diet, but it is really the carbohydrates that keep people from reaching their weight loss goals. The Atkins Diet isn’t just a fad diet scam. A lot of people see significant results during this time frame, which gives them the added encouragement dieters need to continue with the diet and meet their weight loss goals. It has been around since the early 1970s and even though it is controversial, Atkins Diet books have been and remain to be extraordinary best sellers. In addition to the large number of weight loss success stories, the Atkins Diet is great for disease avoidance, weight loss maintenance, and good health. Many people have had great results with the Atkins Diet, but it isn’t for everyone. If you have any concerns consult your health care provider before starting this or any restricted diet.

How does it work?

The Atkins diet plan consists of three main phases. Phase 1 is called the Induction phase and is the introductory two-week period of the diet. During these two weeks, you must limit your intake of carbohydrates to 20 per day. This helps your body to readjust the way it produces energy and forces it to switch to the stores of fat instead of depending on the carbohydrates in your diet. You must consume liberal amounts of protein through eating meat, fish and poultry as well as fat.

The next phase of the Atkins diet plan is called the Ongoing Weight loss phase, often called the OWL phase. In this phase you continue to eat high amounts of protein, but you can gradually increase the number of carbohydrates by 5 per week, until you notice that you have reached a plateau in your weight loss. When this happens you can decrease the number of carbohydrates until you start losing weight again.

One thing you have to remember in the ongoing phase of the Atkins diet plan is not to undo all the weight loss you have experienced. You will obtain most of your carbs during this stage through vegetables that contain low amounts of carbohydrates so you are gradually increasing more foods into your diet. You will slowly be changing the ratio of carbs to that of fat and protein. This stage sets the parameters of the lifetime of change you want to bring to your diet and your weight. While it is not as strict as the Induction phase, you still have to watch what you eat.

Once you have reached your ideal weight using the Atkins diet plan, you can resume eating your normal foods. If you notice that the weight is starting to creep back on, you can simply go on the diet for a day or two until your shed those unwanted pounds. You also have to remember to drink lots of water because this contributes to the weight loss in a big way.