Atkins Diet
The legendary low-carb weight loss diet
Full Name: Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution
Origin: Dr. Robert Atkins, who is one of the founders of the low-carb dieting revolution
Description: Carb-restricted diet with moderate amounts of protein and fat
Likes: Red meat, fish, chicken, regular cheese, butter, mayo, olive oil, eggs
Dislikes: Carbohydrates; that means no rice, pasta, potatoes or bread
Looking for: Dieter who is ready for an extreme diet without carbs, and is willing to succumb to a life of meat and eggs
Works Well With: Atkins baking powders, pancake mix and line of supplements
The Atkins diet is one of the most popular weight loss diets on the market today. The premise behind the Atkins plan is to follow a diet that's low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fat. Many low-fat and lighter versions of food replace the fat content with carbs or sugar, so this diet promotes the use of high fat cheeses and real butter.
The theory behind the Atkins weight loss diet is that when carbohydrates are restricted, the body no longer relies on glucose (the primary and preferred source of energy) as a source of fuel. Instead, the body uses fat as its back-up source of energy. According to Atkins, when carbs are reduced, the body will begin to burn stored fat more efficiently, causing weight loss. When the body begins to break down fat stores, it is known to be in a state called ketosis. During this phase, the dieter begins to feel less hungry and won't have as many cravings.
The first two weeks of the Atkins diet are called the 'induction' phase. During this time, the dieter is instructed to restrict their carb intake to no more than 20 grams a day. They can eat unlimited amounts of protein and fats (any type), but must limit their carb intake. After induction, the dieter enters the 'maintenance' phase which is considered the lifestyle phase of the diet. The dieter should never consume more than 90 grams of carbs and should continue to limit their consumption of high glycemic carbs such as bread, rice and pasta.
The low-carb trend has taken the dieting market by storm for the past couple of years; breads, pastas, and potatoes were put on the back burner for meat and chicken. However, many find this type of weight loss diet to be difficult to follow, and find themselves turning back to carbs. History shows that this low-carb / low-fat diet trend flips every couple of years, so while it seems Atkins is on its way out, you can be assured that this diet will re-surface sometime in the future.
