Atkins Diet – A Low-Carb Weight Loss Plan

Atkins – Low-Carb and High Protein Diet

There are so many diet regimens offered in the market today. Each one has its own unique characteristics. Some of them work and others don’t. The Atkins Diet is not actually new. In fact, it has been around for many years now and you can say it is not the “in” thing anymore. The idea behind this weight loss diet is that you reduce your carbohydrate intake to the barest minimum.

There are various stages in the diet. The first one is called the induction stage. This stage is where you practically starve yourself of any carbohydrate-containing food. The first day that I tried this, I felt myself shaking all over and I couldn’t do much anything else but sit down on the sofa! You get used to it though. Gradually, your body gets used to the decreased carbohydrate intake. After a couple of weeks, you can gradually increase your carbohydrate intake. You must be very patient and disciplined in order for this diet to work for you and help you lose weight. I had to learn the carbohydrate content of almost all food items while I was on this diet. You might also need to come up with a journal wherein you can list down everything that goes into your mouth – everything. That way you can keep track of your carbohydrate consumption for the day.

It is not as bad as it sounds because this weight loss diet focuses on high protein intake. That means you get to eat a lot of meat, eggs, and other such food. If you are a meat lover, then this diet might work out for you. You might end up spending a lot more on your food though, as meat products and other high protein foods are more expensive than carbohydrate-rich foods such as rice and bread. Another disadvantage is that you might experience stomach and kidney problems. From my experience, I lost weight continuously and quickly as long as I stuck to my diet.

However, after several months of being on it, I easily got sick and my stomach gave me problems. The doctor said that this is due to the lack of vitamins and minerals. So if you are going to try this out, make sure you have enough nutritional supplements to give you nutrients. Another very important thing – Atkins works while you are on it. If you suddenly revert to your old eating habits, then expect to gain all the weight you lost back. As our doctors always say, a balanced diet, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle is the best way to help you lose weight and keep the extra pounds away.

What Do Critics Say about Atkins

There are thousands of individuals though who have found success with the Atkins diet. They can speak from personal experience and know that the diet works and it is an effective means of keeping weight off. There are thousands of testimonials that tout the benefits of the low carb way of living.

There are many typical criticisms of the Atkins diet. One of the first is that the diet it too high in fat. The butter, oil and fatty meats that are used in the Atkins diet are a far cry from the low-fat diet fad that recently swept the nation. For many people, the low fat mindset has prevailed and they cannot fathom eating real butter or cream with their meals. It seems like too much fat at first glance. However, those that pay close attention to Dr. Atkins guidelines and follow the program closely know that the diet focuses on good fats (properly called oils). Extra virgin olive oil and other helpful fats are emphasized. The proper use of these oils is important to brain function and mood management.

Another popular Atkins criticism is that it focuses too much on food and not enough on exercise. This is an unfair claim because the Atkins books clearly spell out a need for exercise. There is a lot of attention paid to food choices because they are an integral part of the program, and they are different foods than what people are normally used to eating. However, this does not mean that exercise is not an integral part of the Atkins program. Aerobic and anaerobic exercise regimens are encouraged, and both will greatly increase your weight loss efforts.

Many Atkins critics feel that the diet is hard too keep up in the long term. Critics in this category will admit that Atkins is effective in short-term weight loss efforts, but point out that the lifestyle is hard to maintain over time. However, people who have had long term success with Atkins claim it is one of the easiest diets to follow for significant periods of time. The Atkins plan has rich food that is forbidden on other programs, and it has appetite-suppressing effects. When you combine this with the quick weight loss, a motivating factor for many people, Atkins is easy to stick to long term.

The side effects of Atkins, like constipation and bad breath, have also been a topic that Atkins critics are quick to point out. However, these side effects are not as common as critics make them out to be. If they do occur these side effects normal only last through the first phase of the diet. Additionally, drinking a lot of water will normally take care of both problems rather quickly.

There are pros and cons to many diets. If you don’t particularly enjoy preparing and eating meat, then Atkins is probably not for you. But if you are considering Atkins, make sure to look beyond the common criticisms for the truth about the diet.