Atkins Diet Information – An Overview of Revolutionary Weight Loss

Atkins Diet information can be found just about everywhere these days because the weight loss program is so popular. I know because I checked out dozens of sites looking for useful Atkins diet information.

There are sites that offer free Atkins Diet information and sites that have links to sign up for detailed meal plans, online stores where you can buy prepared foods and supplements and even sites with links to doctors who can help you with the program. Be cautious when you begin looking into the Atkins diet on the web – make sure you are looking at sites that are genuinely giving you Dr. Atkins diet information. There are lots of low carb programs, but only one advocated by the late Dr. Atkins.

The original Dr. Atkins diet plan was developed decades ago and became popular in the 70’s after the doctor’s original book was published in 1972. The book sold more than 2 million copies, proving just how many people were looking for a new way to lose weight.

In the 1990’s, he revised the diet to make it less restrictive and emphasize leaner meats and more fish and chicken. He also suggested a wider range of protein sources like tofu and nuts for added variety. The popularity of the Atkins Diet peaked in 2004, but it is still one of the most popular weight loss programs around. It doesn’t look like this will change any time soon.

I’ve put together some Atkins diet starter information for you below:

Atkins Induction Phase

The Induction Phase is a two week period of eating almost pure protein and some fats. This part of the diet is designed to begin the process of “Ketosis” in you body. According to Atkins diet plan information, this is a natural body process where you burn off the fats stored in your own body instead of using carbohydrates for fuel. It also uses more energy to burn the fuel from your own body, speeding weight loss.

You will lose weight quickly during this phase, but it isn’t practical for the long term because it is so limited. You will be mostly eating meats, cheese and a few green, non-starchy vegetables.

Ongoing Weight Loss Phase

The Weight Loss Phase, sometimes called OWL, is for the long haul. This adds some carbohydrates to your diet, but not much (about 25 grams at first). You will keep losing weight, but at a slower rate. This phase is the one you will stay on for the longest time while still losing weight.

You can add carbs, but will want it to remain in the form of complex carbohydrates and not simple starches like pasta or white breads. You have to continue avoiding sugars and sweets.

Pre-Maintenance Phase

During The Pre-Maintenance Phase, over a period of weeks you can add more carbohydrates until you reach a plateau that tells you you’ve reached your own carb threshold. This is the level at which you can eat carbohydrates without gaining weight, but may not be losing any longer.

Lifetime Maintenance Phase

The Maintenance Phase is more of an eating style for your life than a part of the diet. It is designed around the level of carbs that works for you that you determined in the Pre-Maintenance Phase. If you continue eating at that carb level and follow the Atkins diet guidelines for protein and fat intake, you should be able to keep your weight steady for life.

I Treat Myself Occasionally

And occasionally, you can even treat yourself. I will have refined sugar in cookies or cakes on special occasions. I just know that I need to cut back on my complex carbohydrates from other sources for a few days to keep me on track.

My Appetite Changed

What I noticed during the Maintenance Phase was that I didn’t really want sweets much anymore – my appetite had changed while using the Atkins program and cravings were a thing of the past. In fact, my energy levels increased and I became more interested in doing things like taking walks and exercising because I know longer had that full, heavy feeling I used to get when I ate lots of carbs every day.

Here is What I Did

If you aren’t sure you can follow the strict outlines of what you can and can’t eat, do what I did. I downloaded free information on the Atkins diet from the Internet that included lists of all the food you can and can’t eat for each phase. I kept a copy of all this Atkins diet information taped to the inside of a cabinet door in my kitchen for easy reference. I also made a short, easy “cheat sheet” with the main things I should avoid and what I could eat that I really loved and kept it in my wallet. That way, when I was out in restaurants I could easily decide what to order.