A typical breakfast consists of 3 or 4 strips of bacon, two or more eggs and coffee. A snack would maybe be chunks of cheese and a cup of coffee with cream. Dinner might be a huge steak fried in butter. Sounds really good right? It sounds so tempting but there is a trade-off. You will have to give up carbs such as breads, potatoes, pasta, rice, and other things like chocolate, cake, some fruits, veggies, and milk at least in the beginning.
The theory is that when you cut out carbs your body are forced into burning fat that your body has stored to give it energy. Your body burns more calories when burning fat than when it is burning carbohydrates and you will lose weight more quickly. Your blood sugars stabilize which prevents overeating.
The first phase of the Atkins Diet Plan is the Introduction Phase and must be followed for at least two weeks. You are only allowed to consume 20 grams of carbs a day. You can load up on as much red meat, chicken, fish, cheese, eggs, mayo, cream, and butter. It is during this phase that your body switches from the burning fat to burning carbs.
The second phase is the ongoing weight loss phase. During this phase you increase your carb intake by about 5 grams daily until you find your critical carbohydrate level for losing weight. The most carbs that you can eat and still lose between 1 and 3 pounds a week. Breads, pasta, potatoes, and rice are still off limits.
The third phase is the pre-maintenance phase that you enter when you have only five to ten pounds to go to meet your goal weight. Your carb intake increases by ten grams each day for a week in order to help your body adjust to the addition of carbs and the final phase of maintenance.
The fourth phase is called lifetime maintenance and intended to help you keep your motivation. Carbs are limited to less than 90 grams a day. Get used to it though because you will be on a low carb diet for the rest of your life.
There are some concerns about the long-term effects of the Atkins Diet Plan and other low carb plans. There is such a high consumption of fat, particularly saturated fats and this can cause an increase risk of heart disease.
The Atkins diet eliminates some nutrients and this could cause deficiencies and other health problems in the future. Since there is a limited intake of bone building calcium you could be at increased risk of Osteoporosis. A very limited intake of antioxidant nutrients could cause problems such as heart disease, cancer, and premature aging.
One drawback of the Atkins Diet is that it can become boring. Vegetarians have difficulty with this diet because veggies, seeds, and nuts are off limits in the first stages. The diet does present a view of healthy eater, which keeps us healthy and free from disease.
Other concerns are that the initial weight loss comes back quickly when you go off the Atkins plan and a lot of people drop out in the induction phase. The carbs are very low and ketosis can result which is dangerous for a diabetic or anyone else for that matter.
This diet is high in cholesterol and you can develop constipation and/or heart disease because of the high fat content. Since the diet is low in fruits and vegetables, it also lacks cancer-fighting antioxidants. The most serious drawbacks to the Atkins plan are that it is not intended for long term use and there are unsafe if not downright dangerous side effects.
A few positive notes about the Atkins Plan are that it works! You lose a lot of weight quickly and you can eat as much as you want of certain foods especially protein and fat.
The Atkins Diet eliminates to a great degree carbs from rice, pasta, potatoes, breads, some fruits and veggies. It also eliminates cancer-fighting antioxidants. It is a high fat and high protein diet that can increase the risk for certain diseases like high cholesterol and heart disease.
On the upside, this is one diet that actually works but it is not a diet that you can be on for an indefinite period of time. Once you go off the program and resume more 'normal' eating the initial weight loss will come back. Also, as with any diet plan check with your doctor to be sure you can safely do it.
To conclude let me give you a reminder. The Atkins diet is not for long term use and it has inherent health risks. If you need to lose weight you may already be at risk for heart disease and high cholesterol, the Atkins plan has the potential of actually increasing those risks.
(c) www.atkins-diet-plan-n-books.com
Reprint Rights feel free to publish this article on your website but you must agree to leave all active links contained within 'About The Author' intact and "as is" and NOT hidden behind a java or redirect script.
About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice on a variety of subjects. For more information on Atkins diet plan or Low carb diet plans, drop by the website. His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.
How's this for a diet: Take in fewer calories than... Read More
Diet tips for losing weight abound. Some are good, some... Read More
Diet drop out, a significant problem for all types of... Read More
Diet Fads-Forget about 'EmAnother fad "best diet" bites the dust.... Read More
Diet advice ? a million "experts", hundreds of snake-oil miracle... Read More
What is a mini tummy tuck? Officially called a partial... Read More
I really like Dr. Phil, so I wanted to like... Read More
What is "too young" to begin a weight loss program... Read More
What's a Low Carb Diet Really Mean?When I hear low... Read More
1. Increase your fiber intake. The body needs a lot... Read More
If anyone knows anything about fitness, it's that a low... Read More
As of the writing of this article, May 16, 2005,... Read More
You've decided it's time to lose some weight. A lot... Read More
You won't believe what happened to me today!I was getting... Read More
Some of you will not like what I'm going to... Read More
Before you even think of taking diet pills to lose... Read More
Information About Weight Training Routines For BeginnersSo you need to... Read More
The holidays are definitely a special time of year. These... Read More
If you are into herbs and natural cures, you've undoubtedly... Read More
Are you one of the many people who feel frustrated... Read More
Any doctor worth their salt will tell you diets don't... Read More
I learned about gaining weight when I heard the question... Read More
As a Master swimmer I am made painfully aware, each... Read More
You may be considering a low carb diet program, but... Read More
What to Do with the Leftovers?Okay, tell me if you've... Read More
Frankie saddled up to the bar at the We-Stuff-Em-All Diner,... Read More
20 WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT1. Take it one step at... Read More
I've worked with hundreds of people who were interested in... Read More
Holidays and special events should be a time of great... Read More
Patrick Henry once said, "I have but one lamp by... Read More
Addicted to Restaurants Are you addicted to restaurants? So are... Read More
Thinking about weight loss surgery? You're not alone. Over two-thirds... Read More
Your pants are a bit tight, you can't seem to... Read More
With all the excitement regarding high protein diets, one area... Read More
Many people (especially on the net) claim that you can... Read More
Yes, you must be aware of the following 7 points... Read More
"Life would be perfect if only I was thin." That... Read More
The cost of gastric bypass surgery and other bariatric surgical... Read More
These days more and more people are getting intellectual instead... Read More
An Interview with Success Story, Caitlin JohnsonIf you don't know... Read More
Here are 7 simple habits that can help anyone enjoy... Read More
It's one thing to stick with your diet regimen when... Read More
Quick weight loss is promised by diets all the time.... Read More
My last article, Make Diets Work, concluded that dieting the... Read More
As a weight loss mentor it never ceases to amaze... Read More
Are you trying to lose weight?If you are, STOP!Funny thing... Read More
Most men and women that I have trained over the... Read More
Well we're at it again, trying to honor our promise... Read More
The purpose of this article is not to scrutinize, vilify,... Read More
In this issue, I am going to focus more on... Read More
In the early nineties doctors were beginning to see the... Read More
This Article was originally Published in The July 2004 Issue... Read More
Water is an essential component of the human body and... Read More
I was thinking about diets and such and it occurred... Read More
The Dr Atkins Diet has been around for ages, but... Read More
One pound of fat equals 3500 calories. Want to lose... Read More
This is the second article in the series, Weight Loss... Read More
Many women want to be slim. Maybe you're one of... Read More
Having just returned from a week of basking on a... Read More
How many meals do you eat in one day?Close study... Read More
If you have been dieting, there is a good chance... Read More
Lose a pound of fat? what does it take? Not... Read More
Getting Kids Moving - Help for Overweight TeensA residential school... Read More
As many of us know, it's the first few days... Read More
Success stories on the gastric bypass are everywhere, but how... Read More
The holidays are now officially over and it's time to... Read More
Weight Loss |