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 www.atkins-diet-plan-n-books.com or www.atkins-diet-plan-n-books.com, drop by the website. His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.
I thought I could avoid this when we moved to... Read More
* Not walking on a treadmill everyday for 45 minutes... Read More
The Government of the Australian state of Victoria has started... Read More
The safe way to lose weight begins with a thorough... Read More
Cellulite is probably one of the most embarrassing of all... Read More
Well we're at it again, trying to honor our promise... Read More
Why have I allowed myself to get into this shape?... Read More
I was at the grocery store the other day, doing... Read More
It's one thing to stick with your diet regimen when... Read More
Are you one of the many people who feel frustrated... Read More
If you have been watching your weight all year, you... Read More
Developed by Dr. Arthur Agatston, The South Beach Diet touts... Read More
Dieting doesn't have to be a chore. Actually, you can... Read More
"The kind of thoughts that you plant in your mind,... Read More
Have you ever worried about something so much it paralyzed... Read More
For years we heard that a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet would... Read More
What's a Low Carb Diet Really Mean?When I hear low... Read More
Ok... If you are reading this is because you do... Read More
First? establish realistic goals. Start with a target you can... Read More
The difference between weight loss, and steady or weight gain,... Read More
A new survey has found that heel pain caused by... Read More
It can be intimidating to follow a weight loss plan,... Read More
We've entered the Twilight Zone when it comes to the... Read More
The percentage of Americans who are overweight and obese is... Read More
When losing weight, most of us don't have the time... Read More
custom home cleaning Mundelein ..One of the most popular diets is the low carb... Read More
With obesity and disease increasing dramatically, many fitness experts are... Read More
Barriers to healthy diets are placed into four broad categories:... Read More
Have you ever wondered where destiny would lead you? Have... Read More
In this series of articles, you will learn exactly how... Read More
If you are fighting the battle of the bulge (overweight... Read More
It can be intimidating to follow a weight loss plan,... Read More
A question from one of our readers:Dr. Mericle,With respect to... Read More
Whether coming from a close friend, the nightly news or... Read More
Among the most popular forms of dieting is the South... Read More
Foods that are high in fiber and protein are the... Read More
Name a diet...any diet. It doesn't work. Try to name... Read More
Please feel free to comment, to provide good information and... Read More
There are many factors that cause us to increase body... Read More
Drink plenty of water. Our body needs a lot of... Read More
I know how difficult it can be do stick to... Read More
Looking for Diet Programs on net is like looking for... Read More
All Diets Are Based on the Same Premise: Eat Less... Read More
Remember there's more to you than meets the eye. You've... Read More
Ephedra has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of... Read More
If you have been trying to lose weight permanently, then... Read More
As a low carb dieter, you have probably been bombarded... Read More
With millions of people aiming for successful weight loss, many... Read More
Losing weight is a lifelong commitment. It takes patience and... Read More
We all encounter those hosts and hostesses who feel it... Read More
Weight Loss |