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.
Motivation is a factor often overlooked when it comes to... Read More
There are many factors that cause us to increase body... Read More
You've done everything right this time. You're eating lots of... Read More
America is in a health care crisis. More than 60... Read More
Contrary to common belief, your weight is not really the... Read More
Many of enjoy sitting down at Starbucks and enjoying a... Read More
You will be surprised to find out how many people... Read More
Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) is often viewed as a quick... Read More
In general, fast weight loss is not healthy. The faster... Read More
Losing weight quickly is not advisable as most of the... Read More
When it comes to our weight and the appearance of... Read More
Doctors prescribe Walking as the best medicine for weight loss.We... Read More
Every day you walk down the street it is becoming... Read More
Why Walking Could Be the Solution to Your Fitness Dilemma.Walk,... Read More
In 1994, I had a RNY surgery. At 350 lbs... Read More
Yes, you read it right?no diets!The first step in this... Read More
The South Beach Diet works, for most people. Its low... Read More
With millions of people aiming for successful weight loss, many... Read More
Understanding the theory of adaptation (see previous article, Adaptation I)... Read More
Losing fat in my opinion is not all that difficult.... Read More
Losing weight can make a significant and life altering change... Read More
Weight loss, diets and "carbs" are common household topics. There... Read More
How many meals do you eat in one day?Close study... Read More
Any food that we take into our bodies is composed... Read More
First of all we need to find out a reason... Read More
cleaning lady near Deerfield ..This is a layman marketer's observations on diets and weight... Read More
Search Yahoo for "papaya" and "kirstie" and you'll find at... Read More
Congratulations on waking up each morning and greeting the day... Read More
Life is extraordinary filled with wonderful people to show up... Read More
Visualizing and Declarations are today's topics.Visualize what you want as... Read More
Are you often overcome with an urge to splurge on... Read More
The rediscovery of the wealth of the wonder drug Hoodia... Read More
WOW!! Here we are on lesson #10. Hasn't it been... Read More
With all the excitement regarding high protein diets, one area... Read More
On a little island half way in between Guam and... Read More
WHAT DOES BEING FIT REALLY MEAN?The "INSIDE-OUT" approach to fitness... Read More
Burn fat while you sleep! Eat whatever you want and... Read More
Most people think of the Atkins diet when they hear... Read More
We have all heard of those new diets, Atkins, low... Read More
The Dr Atkins Diet has been around for ages, but... Read More
The problem isn't that you don't have enough will power... Read More
Contrary to common belief, your weight is not really the... Read More
I am not a diet and fitness guru or an... Read More
Have you been on a new diet for a couple... Read More
Notice, if you would, that every diet out there only... Read More
There are many books and internet articles written about weight... Read More
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, writing... Read More
You and I know that getting plenty of support from... Read More
The heated debate, within diet circles, that began a few... Read More
Frankly, I'm puzzled whenever I hear this from somebody who's... Read More
Weight Loss |