BACKGROUND
Formally called the Atkins Nutritional approach, the Atkins diet is not as new as some people might think. The diet is a low carbohydrate way of eating, that was created by Dr. Robert Atkins, after he read a research paper on the subject of diet and losing weight. He credits this publication as the catalyst for his own weight loss, as well as the basis for his series of books on the subject. Atkins’ first book, Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution, was first printed in 1972. He followed with another offering in 2002, Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, which further outlined the diet without changing the basic principles.
HOW IT WORKS
The theory behind the Atkins diet is a fairly simple one. Dr. Atkins, a cardiologist, became convinced that excess carbohydrates were having a negative effect on both his own, and his patients, weight and overall health. Being convinced of this, Dr. Atkins developed a diet that would limit the intake of carbohydrates. This would cause the body to switch from metabolizing glucose as energy, to converting stored body fat to energy. This process, known as ketosis, begins when a person’s blood sugar is low. Normally, a person’s blood sugar is low shortly before eating.
DIET PHASES
The Atkins diet itself is broken down into four phases: induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenence, and lifetime maintenence. During the induction phase the diet is at its most strict. It is recommended that this phase last two weeks, and the dieter is to ingest no more than twenty net carbs per day. Most of these carbs are to be ingested via salad greens, or other fruits and vegetables. A dieter]s nourishment comes from the meats they are allowed to eat. During the ongoing weight loss phase the amount of net carbs is allowed to increase by five per day, per week. In this phase the person dieting is encouraged to find the amount of carbs they can have per day while still losing weight. This phase lasts until the person is within ten pounds of their target weight. The third step is pre-maintenence, and during this level of the diet a person is encouraged to find the level of carbohydrate that can be consumed without gaining, or losing, weight. Lifetime maintenence is the final phase of the diet, and it is intended to keep the patient on track for the rest of their life, not reverting to old eating habits.
CONCLUSION
The Atkins diet is a popular diet, and although it has detractors, has helped, and will help, many people.
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