The Atkins Diet Plan is a weight loss plan that prevents
the absorption of carbohydrates into the body because it
regulates against the intake of carbohydrates. In other words,
you can’t include carbohydrates as part of your diet
if you opt for The Atkins Diet Plan. Where the Phentermine
diet drug suppresses the desire to eat by manipulating the
main appetite centers in the brain and the Xenical diet drug
is a fat blocker, the Atkins Diet Plan does not involve diet
drugs of any kind. It simply is a weight loss plan that chooses
to eliminate carbohydrates of any kind from the daily diet.
Basic Principles of The Atkins Diet Plan
The Atkins Diet Plan maintains four principles that serve
as its foundation as set forth by Dr. Atkins. By “permanently
adopting the Atkins Diet Nutritional Approach”* you
will achieve the following:
- Weight loss – by eliminating carbohydrates, the
body burns fat instead. Normally, carbohydrates are the
first to be metabolized. In their absence, the body moves
to that which it typically metabolizes second: fat. Fat
is burned as the primary energy source thus resulting in
weight loss.
- Weight maintenance – every person possesses a
specific carbohydrate intake level where weight is neither
gained nor lost. Basically more calories can be consumed
on a low carbohydrate diet plan than on a low fat diet
plan.
- Good health – The Atkins Diet Plan is a controlled
carbohydrate nutritional approach that combines food sources
with vitamin and mineral supplements thus achieving a nutritionally
complete diet. Specifically, people are more at risk when
following low fat, calorie-restricted diet plans than they
are adhering to diet plans rich in nutrient-dense foods.
- Disease prevention – people at risk for or diagnosed
with chronic diseases will experience improvements in their
conditions if they lower their carbohydrate and insulin
levels. The Atkins Diet Plan promotes the decrease of carbohydrate
and insulin levels.
Four Phases of The Atkins Diet Plan
The Atkins Diet Plan is a four–phase eating plan that
achieves a balanced nutritional approach if employed in conjunction
with vitamin and mineral supplements and regular exercise.
The Atkins Diet Plan rebalances a person’s nutrition
so that a heightened energy level, better appearance and
a better sense of well-being are achieved. Dr. Atkins promulgates
the fact that following The Atkins Diet Plan lays the foundation
for a lifetime of better and improved health.
The Atkins Diet Plan is individualized and allows a person
to choose the foods to eat based on weight loss and weight
maintenance goals. Food selection in The Atkins Diet Plan
differs according to the individual’s metabolism and
the particular phase entered.
Basically, though, The Atkins Diet Plan restricts the consumption
of processed/refined carbohydrates such as high-sugar foods,
bread, pasta, cereal and starch-laden vegetables. To supplant
the loss of natural nutrients found in these carbohydrate-laden
foods, Dr. Atkins promotes a regimen of vitamin supplements – a “full-spectrum” multi-vitamin
as well as an essential oils/fatty acid formula that is composed
of polyunsaturated acids. Polyunsaturated acids, essential
to any diet plan, are composed of linolenic (omega-3) and
linoleic acid (omega-6).
The Atkins Diet Plan is separated into four phases:
- Induction – carbohydrate consumption is reduced
to or established at 20 grams per day. Carbohydrate consumption
is reserved for salads and non-starch vegetables. A carbohydrate
is a nutrient that supplies energy, in the form of calories,
to the body. It is composed of monosaccharides (simple
sugars) and polysaccharides whose sources are grains, vegetables,
fruits, nuts, legumes (beans and peas) and other plant
foods. When completely digested, 1 carbohydrate gram yields
4 calories.
- Ongoing Weight Loss – Dr.
Atkins stipulates that carbohydrates are added to
the diet by increasing the first weeks intake to 25 grams,
to 30 grams in the 2nd week, 35 grams in the 3rd week
if necessary and so on until the weight loss stops. That’s
correct, add to your carbohydrate level through The Atkins
Diet Plan until you stop losing weight. Weight loss occurs
by including nutrient dense (nutrient measurement:calories
dispensed) and fiber-rich foods into the diet. To maintain
that specific amount of weight lost, reduce your daily
carbohydrate intake by 5 grams.
- Pre-maintenance – this is the phase in The Atkins
Diet Plan where weight loss transitions to weight maintenance.
Weight maintenance is achieved by increasing the intake
of carbohydrates in 10 gram increments each week as long
as gradual weight loss is maintained.
- Lifetime maintenance – the Dr.
Atkins Diet recommends that you choose from a wider
variety of foods as long as you are mindful of your carbohydrate
intake. Dr. Atkins suggests employing carbohydrates to
maintain and regulate weight loss whose end goal is a
healthier lifestyle.
Alternatives to The Atkins Diet Plan
There are many ways to achieve your ideal weight. Some feel
that a diet plan like The Atkins Diet Plan is too restrictive,
emphasizes fat and reduces the essential daily intake of
phytonutrients. If you are one of these people and do not
like this restrictive type of diet plan, then consider The
Fit For Life Program that offers you the ability to
eat anything you desire as long as your food is eaten in
proper combinations.
* http://atkins.com/Archive/2001/12/15-217072.html |
