Atkins Diet

The main point of the Atkins diet is to restrict the consumption of carbohydrates, especially the processed or refined carbohydrates. In exchange you would increase the consumption of proteins and fats. The Atkins diet unprocessed and nutrient rich foods that are unprocessed and vitamin supplements are often used.

The Atkins diet states that the problem of weight gain and obesity is due to over eating of carbohydrates. Whatever carbohydrates are not burned as energy in the body are stored as fat for later consumption. One of the main problems with this diet is that bread, pasta, starchy foods and foods with high sugar content are usually more affordable than the options.

These are the four stages of the Atkins diet.

Induction - Cut out from your diet pasta, cereal, refined breads and other starchy foods. To encourage the body to start burning fat (weight loss) carbohydrate consumption is reduced to about 20 grams a day.

On going weight loss - After enough weight has been lost you still have more weight to loose and you carbohydrate consumption is usually adjusted. This diet states that there is a carbohydrate threshold or a point where you are burning fat (weight loss) or carbohydrates (weight gain).

Pre-Maintenance - Your carbohydrate consumption is raised and lowered to a point where it is a more gradual weight loss. This is done near the point where you reach your target weight.

Lifetime Maintenance - You make further adjustments to your diet and carbohydrate intake to maintain the target weight you have reached. You continue this and may need to make alterations at different times to reflect your level of physical activity.

No diet in and of itself should be the complete solution to weight loss and maintaining an ideal weight. In order to your body to work as it should you need a certain amount of physical exercise.