Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet isn’t the first low carb diet. As a matter of fact, a low carb diet can be traced back to 1825 when Jean Brillat-Savarin wrote the book The Philosophy of Taste and prescribed a low carb diet. The popularity of the Atkins diet plan ebbs and flows with every new Atkins recipes book that is published. As well, numerous knock-offs of the plan exist with slightly different rules such as The Zone or Suzanne Somer’s diet.
The Plan
The Atkins Diet plan has four phases:
Induction phase – For the first two weeks a very strict diet will kick off the plan. There’s a list of acceptable foods that consists of protein, fats and vegetables. Foods can be eaten liberally from this list so long as the “rules” are followed.
During this phase, weight loss will be at its peak due to the extremely low calories consumed.
Ongoing weight loss – During this phase, certain carbohydrates are allowed. Five more grams of carbohydrate can be consumed than the stricter 20 allowed in phase 1. After a week, if weight loss has continued, you may increase it another 5 grams.
The carbohydrate choices remain the same, you’re just allowed a few more. Weight loss will continue, but at a slightly slower rate.
Pre-maintenance – This phase is a preliminary step to learning how to eat healthfully for life. Weight loss is slowed and this phase gears the dieter towards maintaining a healthful weight for life.
Life-time maintenance – In the last phase, the dieter will be eating normally with the idea that normal now means a much more healthful diet. Read More
