Is Atkins For You? Low-Carb Diet Answers By Charles Volcalatte At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Raspberries with whipped cream, steak, bacon and eggs, lobster, coffee with cream…diet foods they’re not, right?

Wrong. The foods listed above are actually part of an effective low carbohydrate diet regimen leading to permanent weight loss.
Weight loss without deprivation is what the Atkins Diet is all about and unsurprisingly, this very attractive concept is what has made it such a hugely popular diet plan.

Advocates of the Atkins Diet say that the key to saying goodbye to fat for good is in doing the low-carb diet the way it should be. Going back to one’s old eating habits will bring back all the pounds pronto! It is essential that dieters master the four phases of the Atkins Nutritional Approach which include: the Induction Phase, Ongoing Weight Loss, Pre-Maintenance and Lifetime Maintenance.

Aside from the fact that good foods are not disallowed in the diet, the other great thing about the Atkins plan is that it does not focus on calorie counting. This diet proclaims that keeping track of one’s carbohydrate intake is the key to lasting weight loss. The Atkins diet considers white flour and white sugar as public enemies No. 1 and No. 2 respectively. These substances are also believed to be the two major causes of the epidemic of obesity in America. In fact, according to most experts, as many as six in ten Americans are overweight.

Dr. Robert Atkins, creator of this famous diet, first made his presence known in the field of weight loss in 1972 with the release of his book, Diet Revolution, which became a bestseller. As expected, he received a barrage of criticisms with his innovative diet approach, but in the end his plan not only survived, it thrived. Studies show that people who follow the Atkins philosophy may be able to lose from 6 to 20 pounds over the first two weeks eating foods that are normally excluded from most weight loss diet plans.

Atkins stated that most people mistakenly assume the plan to be meat-based. Actually, the diet also includes cheeses, whole grains, fresh fish, poultry, fruits, and vegetables. In other words, the Atkins approach can be easily adapted to one’s low carb diet lifestyle. What's great about the program is that you can enjoy your diet by simply eating around the carbs. You don't have to count calories. You only have to count carbohydrates.

Atkins advocates claim their appetite is much more under control because they lose that craving for sweets and carbohydrates. Their energy is better because they avoid the roller coaster ride of high/low blood sugars, which happens when excessive carbs are taken in. Their body composition changes. Their clothes fit them better. They lose inches. The majority of weight lost is fat mass.

The Atkins Diet clearly makes a distinction between the two types of carbohydrates lest people start thinking that following the Atkins plan means they would have to forego carbs for the rest of their lives. She says that it is only the unhealthy carbs (foods made from white flour and white sugar) that need to go. These should then be replaced with low-calorie healthy carbs (some fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts). This is the most direct way of burning fat. When there are not enough carbohydrates available to be converted into energy, the body uses fat instead. Thus, by following the Atkins Nutritional Approach, the body is made to burn fat for fuel before they get the chance to accumulate in the arteries or fat cells. For this reason, the Atkins plan reduces dieters’ risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

The Atkins Nutritional Approach works for people, for people who suffer from carbohydrate addiction, for people who are overweight and for those not as physically active.

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