LOW CARB ATKINS
The
Atkins Diet
is the most successful weight loss diet and
weight maintenance program of the last quarter of the twentieth century." That statement by the late Dr. Robert Atkins
was often ridiculed by the medical community and mainstream society. In 2003, the attitudes toward the Low Carb Atkins Diet
started to change and the research started to support Dr. Atkins claims.
According to Dr. Atkins, this low carb diet can positively impact the lives of people facing the risk factors associated with diabetes,
heart disease, and hypertension. With the Atkins Nutritional Approach, it isn't really a diet per se, as a way of "way
of life" (WOL). The problem with most diets is that you cannot stay on them forever. Usually, when a person quits dieting,
they go back to their old habits and gain all the weight back. With Atkins, your eating decisions will constitute a "way
of life" and you will want to continue this WOL because it makes you happy, the food is good and you are healthy.
The Four Principles of the Atkins Nutritional Approach
1. You Will Lose Weight on the
Atkins Diet
You will lose weight even though you may eat more than you ever did. Why will lose weight on the Adkins Diet is because it targets our stored
body fat. Fat is used as a backup system to generate energy. Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy. So, if we limit
the carbohydrates, the body will efficiently switch to a fat burning source of energy.
2. You Will Maintain Your Weight Loss
This is a key point. As stated, the problem will most diets is that you invariably end them and go back to your old eating
habits. Most diets cause you to eat foods you don't like and to eat less. This causes you to be
hungry. We all can tolerate hunger for a while but no one can tolerate for a lifetime. You can be guaranteed, you
will not be hungry on the Atkins diet. This low carb diet is commonly referred to as "Atkins For Life".
3. You Will Achieve Good Health
The mental and physical changes will be readily apparent once you achieve your desired weight. You will feel more energized,
look so much better, and achieved a more healthy body. Today's Atkins diet of simple sugars and refined carbohydrates is evident in
all the fast food restaurants throughout America. The United States have the fattest people in the world and it is because
of our consumption of junk food and refined carbohydrates.
4. You Will Lay The Groundwork For Disease Prevention
You will change your eating habits which will change your body chemistry for the better. You will learn to eliminate the high
glycemic carbohydrates which have a dramatic effect on blood sugar levels. Your cholesterol levels will improve and your
insulin levels will decrease. You won't just look better, you will feel better and your blood work will be the evidence behind
the science of
"Atkins for Life"
.
Summary
At this point, you are probably raring to go and ready to plow ahead. Stop, if you are serious about Atkins, you need to get
some blood work done and a complete physical. This is important because you will be able to gauge your blood and cholesterol
levels before you start and compare it while you are on the Atkins Diet.
Also, anyone with kidney disease should not do Atkins. Pregnant and nursing mothers should only do the Lifetime Maintenance
Phase on this low carb diet.
Whether you call it the Atkins Diet or the
Low Carb Atkins
, you are now ready to learn about the
four phases
and what the Atkins Nutritional Approach can do for you.