Atkins Diet
Atkins diet plan is a long term plan that offers high fat, low carbohydrate meal plan which is helpful for fast weight loss. Dr. Atkins Diet Plan was introduced in 1972 to assist people suffering from obesity and heart disease. The diet provides fast weight loss and Atkins believed that up to two thirds of calories could come from fat. Those who go for Atkins diet, change their food intake lifetime i.e. the restriction of processed and refined carbohydrates. In Atkins diet, dieters are encouraged to have nutrient-rich unprocessed food. e.g. meat.
Due to atkins diet body's metabolism rate changes. The body burns fats and carbohydrates and provide energy for body functions. Carbohydrates are turned into glucose and used before fats. If our body reduce carbohydrate intake then body will burn fats and used as fuel and which causes weightloss. This burning of fats affect production of insulin in our body which in turn prevent more fats from being formed.
There are four phases in the Atkins Plan:
- Phase 1 - the Induction Phase - carbohydrate consumption is restricted to 20 grams per day.
- Phase 2 - Ongoing Weight Loss - you increase carbohydrates to 25 grams daily the first week, 30 grams daily the next week and so on until your weight loss stops and then cut back 5 grams to continue moderate weight loss.
- Phase 3 - Pre-Maintenance - helps you change from weight loss to weight maintenance by increasing the daily carbohydrate intake in 10 gram increments each week.
- Phase 4 - Lifetime Maintenance - you select from a wide variety of foods while controlling carbohydrate intake.
Foods like potato, sweets, pasta etc. are completely eliminated from dieters.