The Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet was actually called Atkins Nutritional approach, reflecting lifestyle changes that the dieter must make and stick to, in order to achieve weight loss and get the desired results.
Even though this diet was originally published in 1972, it only became popular fifteen years later when people started following it. The phenomenon called “low carb” actually started developing then and many companies are now actively including the ingredient in their diets, calling it “Atkins friendly approach”.
Description of the diet
The diet includes four phases, and you can start by opting for any of the first three phases. Each phase is designed for a specific goal. But keep in mind that the diet is actually designed to be followed during your lifetime, in a timely manner. For many, the first phase, called the induction one, represents the most difficult step to make because of the efforts required to do so.
Induction phase
This phase is essential to ensure that, the body does not need to ingest carbs anymore, so that one can induce the process of ketosis into the system. Ketosis is a process in which fats from the body are utilized for energy production, as opposed to the glucose utilization. It ensures that your body does not extract the glucose from the carbs in your diet.
The body is then forced to resort to the stocks of glucose for further metabolic functions. This is important, because your brain needs the glucose in order to function. Mainly, this is how you would lose weight by following the Atkins diet.
This phase runs for two weeks and you need to cut down the amount of carbs you are eating in a considerable manner, otherwise you will never get to the next step.
Ongoing weight loss
This phase is something you decide upon. People, who have consulted nutritionists in the past, have said that you should keep following this stage for as long as you like. If you want to attain a certain weight, then you should keep following this phase until you reach the targeted weight. The phase allows you to pass through nine food levels, which include meals as well as drinks.