Posts Tagged ‘ Atkins ’

New Atkins for a New You: The Ultimate Diet for Shedding Weight and Feeling Great.

February 16, 2011
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Atkins Diet Plan – It’s Really Not Easy

January 23, 2011
By
Atkins Diet Plan - It's Really Not EasyEnlarge Image

You can easily be bored with the limited carb choices but it does get better as you reach the last two stages. Your doctor can explain the possible health risk associated with the Atkins diet. The Atkins diet plan is not easy but if you stay with it the results will amaze you. An internet search for Atkins diet will yield hundreds of results.

The Atkins diet tries to trick your body into burning fat for energy rather than carbohydrates. If the Reactions are really troublesome you should seek treatment. You can find ways to ease these reactions on the internet and in books about low carb diets.

You might get dizzy, have cramps, and other physical effects because of the changes in your diet. It is possible to ease the dizziness and cramps. There are things that can be done to ease the discomfort of leg cramps and other symptoms. Remember minerals like Potassium, are flushed out of your system quickly.

Take a 90 milligram supplement instead of a banana to replace potassium. Relief from symptoms should be felt in about an hour. While on Atkins follow these suggestions for staying healthy. Listed below are some suggestions that might help you get through the time it takes your body to adjust to the diet.

If your weight loss slows or stops before you are close to goal weight, check how many calories you are taking in. Water is also necessary to your kidneys functioning properly. Drinking enough water to equal half your body weight will keep you out of the kitchen and in another room all day. Not drinking enough water can lead to buildup of ketones which can cause serious health problems.

Weighing yourself more than once a week will only frustrate yourself. If you don¡¯t see a drop in inches and pounds, check for hidden carbs and sugars. You will feel your best when you eat the right amount of carbs. Make sure the carbs you do eat are chock full of nutrients. Sugar is off limits on the Atkins diet. Regular exercise improves your general health.

Beware of promises that you will lose huge amounts of weight without exercise. Convert food into energy faster with exercise. Strive for a balance in exercise if you aren’t a little tired after a session, you probably aren’t doing enough and if you are too tired to move you probably did too much.

The doctor can tell if your post exercise aches and pains are normal or not. To gain maximum benefit from your exercise and dieting, slowly build your routine. Don’t take more than the recommended doses of any supplement without your doctor’s consent. If you are tempted to cheat, checking your journal will remind you what happened the last time you did that.

Some people overeat and some eat barely anything when under stress, recording what you eat will explain weight loss or gain. If you go off program, don¡¯t beat yourself up, just get back on track as soon as possible. Anything significant should be entered because good stuff affects you too.

Knowing you have to list everything is important especially for diabetics so they can see how foods affect them whether it’s negative or positive. Recording your blood sugar levels in the journal is an obvious fact. Doing this will teach you to recognize patterns such as when your levels are highest or lowest.

You and your doctor can use the journal to recognize what you have been doing right and to build on it. Try to choose foods made from whole grain flour. If your weight loss stalls or slows significantly, try eliminating all caffeine. Having short term goals will keep you motivated.

The amount you lose in a week or a month is not as important as a steady weight loss. Losing more weight than that is potentially dangerous. Yo-yo dieting , losing weight and gaining it back to get out of starvations mode, than losing, etc. may be as dangerous as being overweight.

With the Atkins diet, you have the maintenance phase to use for the rest of your life, so you don’t have to return to the old way. Only use diets that suggest a slow to moderate weight loss and possibly some nutrient supplements. So the element of a safe workable diet are balanced meals, exercise and supplements.

Not all supplements can do what they claim, so do your homework before you buy. All natural ingredients have one advantage. Supplements and medications often don’t mix well, it might be a good idea to take them separately a few hours apart. You won’t need supplements if your diet is well balanced.

Slimmer Sues Atkins Over Cholesterol

January 23, 2011
By

A man who claims his cholesterol level shot up after he went on the Atkins diet is suing the estate of Robert Atkins and the company promoting his diet, it emerged yesterday.

Jody Gorran, 53, says that after two years on the Atkins diet his arteries became so clogged he needed surgery.

Mr Gorran went on the Atkins diet, which recommends a low carbohydrate, high protein regime, when his weight rose by 8lbs. After two months his cholesterol levels rocketed from 148, which is normal, to 230, which is harmful.

After three bouts of chest pain his doctors discovered that he had a 99% blockage in a major artery and had to perform an angioplasty and insert a stent – a small wire mesh tube – to keep it open.

“I came very close to dying and this is from a diet I thought was marvellous,” said Mr Gorran yesterday. “For two-and-a-half years, I extolled the virtues of this diet to anyone who listened because I was losing weight and I felt great. But when I started, I had no idea I was making a deal with the devil for trying to keep a 32-inch waistline.”

Mr Gorran, who is being backed by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which supports a vegan diet, is seeking $28,000 (£15,200).

“I contend there ought to be a warning on this diet,” Mr Gorran told the New York Times. “I’m seeking an injunction to prevent them from selling their products, books, or having their website without a warning because they know one-third of the people on the diet will have what Atkins referred to as ‘less than favourable cholesterol’.”

Referring to the lawsuit, Mr Gorran said: “The whole thing is based on getting the word out. Even if the suit never gets anywhere, we’ll be out there and people will start to think.”

A representative for Atkins Nutritionals and Dr Atkins’s estate said they continued to back the “science that has repeatedly reaffirmed the safety and health benefits of Atkins”.

“We should not let the real issue – providing people with a scientifically validated nutritional choice in the face of worldwide obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemic – be manipulated by this extremist animal rights vegan group.”

Dr Atkins, whose book Dr Atkins’ New Diet Revolution sold 15m copies and attracted a huge following, died last year after a fall. But a medical report, leaked in February, indicated that, at 258lbs, he was obese when he died.

The diet, which allows you to eat fatty foods and advocates meat, eggs and cheese while frowning on bread, rice and fruit, has proved popular in the US. But experts have derided it as “pseudo-science”.

Dr Frank Sacks, a professor of cardiovascular disease prevention at the Harvard School of Public Health, said of the hike in Mr Gorran’s cholesterol: “It could happen in two weeks. There are definitely people that happens to, though it is not a majority.”

Atkins Diet Foods – A Guide To Low Carb Food Products

January 2, 2011
By
Atkins Diet Foods – A Guide To Low Carb Food ProductsEnlarge Image

Atkins diet foods are many and varied, so much so that many people are surprised at just how many different kinds of foods are allowed on the Atkins diet food plan. You still have the responsibility to select appropriately and double check the actual carb content of different foods, but you will quickly learn just how varied and interesting a low carb lifestyle can be.

The Basics of the Atkins Diet Plan
The basic philosophy behind the Atkins diet plan is that if you switch to a low carb diet your body’s metabolism will adjust and start to burn stores of fat. The process starts during the induction phase when you change your eating habits substantially so that you only consume 20 grams of net carbohydrates per day. Net carbs are determined by taking the total grams of carbs in a food and subtracting the amount of fiber grams.

Once you are past the 14 day induction phase you then start to increase your daily net carb intake a little bit each week – starting at 25 grams per day, then the next week going to 30 grams per day, and so forth. As you raise your intake gradually, you pay attention to how much weight you continue to lose, until you find a level at which weight loss slows significantly or stops altogether. When you get close to your goal weight, you move into pre-maintenance and maintenance phases so that low carb choices become part of your everyday lifestyle.

Defining Low Carb Foods
Low carb foods are those that have low enough levels of carbohydrates that they are considered Atkins diet foods. In general, meats, poultry, fish, leafy green vegetables, eggs and butter form the core assortment of your low carb food choices. Some cheeses and other dairy products are relatively low carb but typically are not allowed in huge quantities while on the Atkins low carb diet plan.

Remember, though, a food which is high in carbs but also high in fiber can be eaten as part of a low carb lifestyle because the goal is to keep net carbs low, not just carbs as a whole. Make sure you read the labels of the foods you buy to determine the net carbs, and consider carrying a pocket sized carb counter with you to double check the net carb counts in fresh foods.

As the Atkins diet plan exploded in popularity over the last few years, many food producers have tried to get in on the phenomenon by promoting their products as low carb. The problem is, though, that many of these foods are not really low carb. With the exceptions of certified Atkins diet foods, you should never just believe the large print on the front that says low carb. Always, always read the nutrition label and confirm for yourself whether or not the food is really low carb.

Finding Low Carb Foods
Finding low carb foods is as easy as going to the grocery store, dropping into the convenience store located at your neighborhood gas station, or going to your favorite restaurant. Of course, some places will have a better selection of Atkins diet foods than others will, and some will also have more high carb temptations, but there is no reason for you to visit a specialty store in order to get the low carb foods you need.

Atkins Diet Foods from the Grocery Store
In the grocery store you have a huge selection of foods, ranging from fresh to processed, all of which you can check for net carb count. Processed foods will have nutrition information printed on the outside box or label, making it easy to determine net carbs. Fresh foods are a bit more difficult because that information is not printed on the food item and usually not on the shelf label. You can certainly remember a few core fresh foods that are allowable, but a really good tool is to carry a carb counter in your purse or pocket so that you can check it if you have any questions.

Convenience Store
In a convenience store, you have to search a bit more for the low carb Atkins diet plan foods. The big display of chips, candy, cookies and more is not a place you are likely find low carb choices, but if you go a little further in you can usually find official Atkins snack bars, liquid shakes or even some fresh foods that are low carb.

Restaurants
Restaurants can be a bit tricky because you do not always know what is in that great tasting gravy or sauce, but most eating establishments now offer designated low carb choices. If in doubt, order your meal without sauces and other add-ons that may have hidden carbs. When you find a restaurant that serves a good selection of low carb foods that you enjoy, be sure to give the manager or owner positive feedback and make that establishment a primary choice whenever you want to dine out.

Atkins Diet Plan Meals
Atkins diet foods are much more than individual foods. They can be combined in many ways to create tasty and interesting meals, but even the most dedicated low carb follower can get tired of the same old thing. The best way to keep your low carb meals interesting is to seek out a variety of Atkins diet plan meals.

There are many cookbooks and recipe books available that are filled with low carb meal choices using approved Atkins diet foods. All you have to do is mix and match each day or each week to keep a variety of meals on the table. Another reason to have a good cookbook or recipe book on hand is for those times when you are tired, running late or otherwise need to come up with something low carb to eat when maybe you do not feel like putting a lot of effort into it. These are the times when you will be most tempted to grab something that is not low carb, so having a collection of Atkins diet food recipes close by can help get rid of that temptation.

About the Author:
Kevin Urban is the editor at Atkins-Diet-Advisor.com, an easy-to-use resource on the Atkins Diet Plan. Let me show you where to find 1000s of
Atkins diet recipes and how to design your Atkins diet menu plan.

Copyright 2006 Atkins-Diet-Advisor.com

Atkins Diet Turns Low Carbs Into Big Debts

November 19, 2010
By

Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., the company founded in 1989 by cardiologist Dr. Robert Atkins, is over $300 million in debt and has filed for bankruptcy. Despite the fact that the diet has become one of the most popular in the history of the United States, the Atkins craze began a steady decline in popularity in recent months due to harsh criticism worldwide from experts in nutrition. A hearing on the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing was held last week in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, according to spokesman Richard Rothstein.

By way of explanation for the handful of Americans who may not have heard of the Atkins diet, the eating regimen focuses on the elimination of carbohydrates such as rice, bread, and pasta, in order to shed weight quickly. Because of the widespread popularity of the diet, the landscape of the American food market changed dramatically, with increasing numbers of low-carb products cramming grocery store shelves, from low-carb breakfast cereal to low-carb juices and muffins. Packaging labels on foods like green beans and beef jerky, which are low in carbs anyway, suddenly had labels that shouted out “low in carbs!” to consumers who didn’t know any better anyway. Dieters everywhere eagerly latched onto the diet, since they could suddenly slather as much butter as they wanted to on the biggest steak in the meat market. It didn’t matter that they couldn’t have a baked potato with it—they were happy that they could eat as much as they wanted to without having to cut back, as long as what they ate was low in carbohydrates.

Nutritional experts didn’t take long to cry foul, because of the diet’s focus on fatty foods and its advice to avoid consumption of fruits and vegetables. Although the criticism didn’t seem to affect the diet’s popularity at first, people gradually began to wonder whether the criticism was well placed, particularly after the death of Dr. Robert Atkins himself after a bad fall put him into a coma. Interestingly, the news reports of his accident also included mention of the fact that Atkins had suffered a cardiac arrest himself the previous year, news that might have given some of his low-carb followers pause. As the popularity of the diet began to slip, breadmakers and bakers began to cheer as their businesses picked back up. Although sales had dropped during the high point of the low-carb craze, businesses starting swinging upward again as dieters’ attitudes began to shift.

The privately held company, based in Ronkonkoma, NY, has reached an agreement with most of its lenders to give them equity in exchange for lowered amounts of debt. The company has received $25 million in financing to operate during the bankruptcy proceedings, which is has said would not affect the day-to-day operations of the business. The private equity firm Parthenon Capital LLC acquired a majority stake in Atkins nearly two years ago. Goldman Sachs Capital Partners owns a smaller stake in the company, as does the estate of Robert Atkins. Mark S. Rodriguez, President and CEO of Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., says that in the past year the company has “adjusted our organization to accommodate a smaller business” and will promote its brands “more broadly for consumers who are concerned about heath and wellness.” After the bankruptcy proceedings are concluded, the company will shift its focus to nutrition bars and shakes rather than low-carb products, Rodriguez said in a statement.

Atkins Diet Menu Ideas

November 14, 2010
By

Who isn’t aware of the very famous Atkins diet which is a high fat, high protein and a low carbohydrate diet for weight loss. This diet was developed by Robert C. Atkins and like all the other crash diets, this is also based on the concept to help reduce weight through the consumption of certain menu ideas. The Atkins diet is a low carb diet because it is believed that foods which are rich in sugar and other refined carbohydrates tend to increase the production of insulin (a hormone which has the ability to stimulate the storage of calories in the form of fat). The whole point of these Atkins diet menu idea is to include foods which are not only low in sugar content, but also help in weight loss. Therefore this diet is not advised for pregnant women, children, kidney patients and athletes as there are not enough nutrients which are provided by these kind of food. Given in the following article are some diabetic diet menu ideas which can also be used as Atkins diet foods, take a look.

Atkins Diet Menu List

Since the Atkins diet menu ideas don’t include foods which are rich in sugar, they are useful for the Type 2 diabetes patients. These menu ideas are different for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as there has to be variety in the foods you eat for a particular time period. The Atkins diet menu plan is also a very useful plan for those people who are looking for a filling weight loss diet which is not based on starvation like some fad diets. This is an advantage of the Atkins diet, as it is a high protein diet and therefore, you don’t have to compromise on shedding your muscle weight. But you have to follow a good exercise routine if you don’t want to put on an extra few pounds because of these foods. These menu ideas are mentioned below in categories, so find out, what the Atkins diet is all about!

Induction Menu Ideas
When it comes to the Atkins diet menu ideas, there are three phases this diet is carried out in. The first of which is the induction, which means, that the body has to get used to the new diet food in its training period. The Atkins diet, foods to eat in the induction menu consist of not more than 20 gms of net carbohydrate a day and this triggers a condition known as ketosis. The ketosis process starts to burn fat to produce energy and thus results in a rapid weight loss condition. The menu ideas for this phase are;

Breakfast

Eggs, scrambled or fried, with ham or bacon
Decaffeinated coffee or tea
Lunch
Bacon cheeseburger without bun
Tossed salad
Seltzer water
Dinner
Shrimp cocktail with mustard and mayonnaise
Steak, roast, chops, fish or fowl
Clear consomme
Diet Jello with a spoonful of unsweetened whipped cream
Tossed salad
Ongoing Weight Loss Menu Ideas
This is the second phase of the Atkins diet, in which the body is accustomed to burning the extra fat in the body to produce energy through ketosis. Hence, you need more portions of vegetables and nuts, depending on the weight loss achieved until now. In this phase you have to slowly increase the content of carbohydrates, which you weren’t consuming earlier, with fat and protein. This is to be done to stay away from deficiencies of carbohydrates, as it is one of the most essential nutrients in metabolism.

Breakfast
Cheese omelet
Bran Crisp bread (amount containing 2 grams of carbohydrate)
3 ounces of tomato juice
Decaffeinated coffee or tea
Lunch
Salad with ham, cheese, chicken, egg and oil and vinegar dressing
Iced herbal tea
Dinner
Poached salmon
Seafood salad
½ cup of strawberries (in heavy, unsweetened cream)
2/3 cup of vegetables
Maintenance Menu Ideas
In this phase there are two sections, which are the pre maintenance and the lifetime maintenance. In the pre maintenance phase, the body has to slowly get used to the weight loss which is achieved and in the lifetime maintenance one, you have to keep a goal to maintain your weight. There is a balanced ratio between the carbohydrate, fats and proteins consumed in this plan along with a daily exercise routine. Thus, your weight will surely be balanced and maintained. Therefore the Atkins diet food list for this phase is;

Breakfast
Cheese and spinach omelet
Bran Crisp bread (amount containing 4 grams of carbohydrate) with butter
½ cantaloupe
Decaffeinated coffee or tea
Lunch
2/3 cups of vegetables
Roast chicken
Green salad with creamy garlic dressing
Dinner
Salad with tomatoes, onions and carrots with any no-carbohydrate dressing
French onion soup
1 cup fresh fruit compote
Lightly breaded veal chops
1 cup vegetables
½ small baked potato with sour cream and chives
Glass of dry wine
With these Atkins diet menu ideas, you can surely achieve a little amount of weight loss, if followed regularly and honestly, with exercise. You should consult a dietitian if you want to take up any weight loss diet as these diets are very unhealthy if not prescribed.

Atkins Diet Plan – What’s The Catch

October 25, 2010
By
Atkins Diet Plan – What’s The Catch

The Atkins diet Plan breakfast can usually composed of eggs strips of bacon and coffee. A snack might include coffee with cream, and chunks of cheese. A huge steak fried in butter could be dinner. Doesn’t this sound really good? It seems very tempting but there is a catch.

In the beginning you will have to give up most carbs, such as breads, potatoes, pasta, rice and other things like chocolate, cake, some fruits. In theory, when carbs are eliminated from the diet, the body burns stored fat. Weight loss is quicker because fat burns more calories than carbs.

Stable blood sugar levels help you to feel fuller thereby damping your appetite. The Induction is the first phase of the Atkins diet, which you follow for at least two weeks. Only 20 grams of carbs a day, but you can eat lots of red meat, chicken, fish, eggs cream and butter. That you want.

During this phase, your body learns to burn fat and not carbs. The ongoing weight loss phase is the second stage. Add 5 grams of carbs a day until you get to your critical carbohydrate level for losing weight. How many carbs can YOU eat and still lose between 1 and 3 pounds a week? Bread, pasta rice and potatoes are still taboo.

The pre-maintenance or third phase is started when you have only 5-10 pounds left to lose in order to reach your goal weight. Yes! Now you get to add 10 grams a day for one week, to your carb intake, to help your body adjust to the addition of carbs to your diet, and to the final phase of the diet.

Lifetime maintenance, phase 4, teaches you ways to stay motivated. Your carb intake is limited to 90 grams in a day. You will be eating low carbs for the rest of your life. Some doctors have expressed concern about the long tern effects of the Atkins and other low carb plans.

High saturated fat consumption may cause an increased risk of heart disease. The lack of certain nutrients in this diet could cause future health problems. The limited intake of calcium could possibly put you at risk for Osteoporosis. The low antioxidant nutrients could lead to cancer, heart disease and premature aging.

The Atkins diet is boring in the Induction phase. Vegetarians have a hard time with Atkins, particularly in the early stages, due to the limited amount of vegetables, nuts seeds and beans. The Atkins diet presents an image of good health from a proper diet. Some are concerned that once you go off the diet the weight comes back quickly.

The very low carbs in this diet could cause ketosis which can be dangerous for diabetics. The high cholesterol of this diet may cause constipation and heart disease because of the high fat content. This diet, low in fruits and veggies is consequently low in antioxidants that fight cancer. The Atkins plan is that it’s not intended for long term use and has serious side effects.

The Atkins Plan works, it is that simple. Weight loss is rapid and you can eat as much protein and fat, as you would like. The carbs eliminated by the Atkins diet can cause a loss of antioxidants which are known to prevent some cancers.

This high fat, high protein diet can increase the risk of elevated cholesterol and heart disease. This Diet really works, although some believe you can’t stay on it long term. If you go off the diet or cheat, you will begin to re-gain the weight. Once you start eating a more normal diet the initial weight loss will return.

As with any diet check with a physician-to make sure you are healthy to begin with. The Atkins diet, some believe, is not for long term use and that it poses some serous health risks. If you are overweight, you are already at risk for heart disease and other health problems, and Atkins could increase those risks.

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice on a variety of subjects. For more information on Atkins diet plan or Low carb diet plans, drop by the website. His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

Atkins Diet Plan – What’s The Catch

October 25, 2010
By
Atkins Diet Plan – What’s The Catch

The Atkins diet Plan breakfast can usually composed of eggs strips of bacon and coffee. A snack might include coffee with cream, and chunks of cheese. A huge steak fried in butter could be dinner. Doesn’t this sound really good? It seems very tempting but there is a catch.

In the beginning you will have to give up most carbs, such as breads, potatoes, pasta, rice and other things like chocolate, cake, some fruits. In theory, when carbs are eliminated from the diet, the body burns stored fat. Weight loss is quicker because fat burns more calories than carbs.

Stable blood sugar levels help you to feel fuller thereby damping your appetite. The Induction is the first phase of the Atkins diet, which you follow for at least two weeks. Only 20 grams of carbs a day, but you can eat lots of red meat, chicken, fish, eggs cream and butter. That you want.

During this phase, your body learns to burn fat and not carbs. The ongoing weight loss phase is the second stage. Add 5 grams of carbs a day until you get to your critical carbohydrate level for losing weight. How many carbs can YOU eat and still lose between 1 and 3 pounds a week? Bread, pasta rice and potatoes are still taboo.

The pre-maintenance or third phase is started when you have only 5-10 pounds left to lose in order to reach your goal weight. Yes! Now you get to add 10 grams a day for one week, to your carb intake, to help your body adjust to the addition of carbs to your diet, and to the final phase of the diet.

Lifetime maintenance, phase 4, teaches you ways to stay motivated. Your carb intake is limited to 90 grams in a day. You will be eating low carbs for the rest of your life. Some doctors have expressed concern about the long tern effects of the Atkins and other low carb plans.

High saturated fat consumption may cause an increased risk of heart disease. The lack of certain nutrients in this diet could cause future health problems. The limited intake of calcium could possibly put you at risk for Osteoporosis. The low antioxidant nutrients could lead to cancer, heart disease and premature aging.

The Atkins diet is boring in the Induction phase. Vegetarians have a hard time with Atkins, particularly in the early stages, due to the limited amount of vegetables, nuts seeds and beans. The Atkins diet presents an image of good health from a proper diet. Some are concerned that once you go off the diet the weight comes back quickly.

The very low carbs in this diet could cause ketosis which can be dangerous for diabetics. The high cholesterol of this diet may cause constipation and heart disease because of the high fat content. This diet, low in fruits and veggies is consequently low in antioxidants that fight cancer. The Atkins plan is that it’s not intended for long term use and has serious side effects.

The Atkins Plan works, it is that simple. Weight loss is rapid and you can eat as much protein and fat, as you would like. The carbs eliminated by the Atkins diet can cause a loss of antioxidants which are known to prevent some cancers.

This high fat, high protein diet can increase the risk of elevated cholesterol and heart disease. This Diet really works, although some believe you can’t stay on it long term. If you go off the diet or cheat, you will begin to re-gain the weight. Once you start eating a more normal diet the initial weight loss will return.

As with any diet check with a physician-to make sure you are healthy to begin with. The Atkins diet, some believe, is not for long term use and that it poses some serous health risks. If you are overweight, you are already at risk for heart disease and other health problems, and Atkins could increase those risks.

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice on a variety of subjects. For more information on Atkins diet plan or Low carb diet plans, drop by the website. His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

Atkins Diet Plan – What’s The Catch

October 13, 2010
By
Atkins Diet Plan – What’s The Catch

The Atkins diet Plan breakfast can usually composed of eggs strips of bacon and coffee. A snack might include coffee with cream, and chunks of cheese. A huge steak fried in butter could be dinner. Doesn’t this sound really good? It seems very tempting but there is a catch.

In the beginning you will have to give up most carbs, such as breads, potatoes, pasta, rice and other things like chocolate, cake, some fruits. In theory, when carbs are eliminated from the diet, the body burns stored fat. Weight loss is quicker because fat burns more calories than carbs.

Stable blood sugar levels help you to feel fuller thereby damping your appetite. The Induction is the first phase of the Atkins diet, which you follow for at least two weeks. Only 20 grams of carbs a day, but you can eat lots of red meat, chicken, fish, eggs cream and butter. That you want.

During this phase, your body learns to burn fat and not carbs. The ongoing weight loss phase is the second stage. Add 5 grams of carbs a day until you get to your critical carbohydrate level for losing weight. How many carbs can YOU eat and still lose between 1 and 3 pounds a week? Bread, pasta rice and potatoes are still taboo.

The pre-maintenance or third phase is started when you have only 5-10 pounds left to lose in order to reach your goal weight. Yes! Now you get to add 10 grams a day for one week, to your carb intake, to help your body adjust to the addition of carbs to your diet, and to the final phase of the diet.

Lifetime maintenance, phase 4, teaches you ways to stay motivated. Your carb intake is limited to 90 grams in a day. You will be eating low carbs for the rest of your life. Some doctors have expressed concern about the long tern effects of the Atkins and other low carb plans.

High saturated fat consumption may cause an increased risk of heart disease. The lack of certain nutrients in this diet could cause future health problems. The limited intake of calcium could possibly put you at risk for Osteoporosis. The low antioxidant nutrients could lead to cancer, heart disease and premature aging.

The Atkins diet is boring in the Induction phase. Vegetarians have a hard time with Atkins, particularly in the early stages, due to the limited amount of vegetables, nuts seeds and beans. The Atkins diet presents an image of good health from a proper diet. Some are concerned that once you go off the diet the weight comes back quickly.

The very low carbs in this diet could cause ketosis which can be dangerous for diabetics. The high cholesterol of this diet may cause constipation and heart disease because of the high fat content. This diet, low in fruits and veggies is consequently low in antioxidants that fight cancer. The Atkins plan is that it’s not intended for long term use and has serious side effects.

The Atkins Plan works, it is that simple. Weight loss is rapid and you can eat as much protein and fat, as you would like. The carbs eliminated by the Atkins diet can cause a loss of antioxidants which are known to prevent some cancers.

This high fat, high protein diet can increase the risk of elevated cholesterol and heart disease. This Diet really works, although some believe you can’t stay on it long term. If you go off the diet or cheat, you will begin to re-gain the weight. Once you start eating a more normal diet the initial weight loss will return.

As with any diet check with a physician-to make sure you are healthy to begin with. The Atkins diet, some believe, is not for long term use and that it poses some serous health risks. If you are overweight, you are already at risk for heart disease and other health problems, and Atkins could increase those risks.

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice on a variety of subjects. For more information on Atkins diet plan or Low carb diet plans, drop by the website. His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

Thin times for Atkins diet

October 6, 2010
By

Once favoured by the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Geri Halliwell and Minnie Driver, the Atkins diet is now going through a lean spell, it emerged today.

Atkins Nutritional – set up to promote the low-carb diet – last night filed for bankruptcy protection in the US, a victim of changing fashions in the perpetual fight against flab.

Around 3 million people in the UK, and 30 million in the US, are believed to have tried the controversial diet, which advocates high meat, fish and egg consumption and severely limited intake of carbohydrates such as bread, rice, pasta and starchy vegetables.

The company was set up by Dr Robert Atkins in 1989, and the diet won worldwide fame – and notoriety – after being embraced by a parade of celebrities.

But even as the plan gained new adherents, the medical profession was not convinced. Doctors were aghast that the Atkins diet emphasised the consumption of fatty foods at the expense of fruit and vegetables.

Atkins Nutritional suffered a grievous blow when Dr Atkins died of a heart attack in 2003, raising questions – fairly or not – about the healthiness of the diet.

Meanwhile, the company was having to fight a war on two fronts. Not only did it have to face sagging demand, but it also had to deal with a marketplace with a glut of low-carb products.

Jumping on the low-carb bandwagon, the Swiss food giant Nestl´ started promoting low-carb Kit-Kat and Rolo chocolates.

Last year, Atkins Nutritional found it increasingly hard to keep up its loan obligations. The company, which is privately owned, owes $300m (£169.7m), and is understood to have reached an agreement with the majority of its lenders to give them equity in exchange for lower debt.

A spokesman for Atkins said a hearing on its filing was due to take place in a US bankruptcy court today. Chapter 11 gives a company time to reorganise itself by giving it protection from its creditors.

Atkins has received $25m in financing to operate during the bankruptcy proceedings, which will not affect its day to day operations. After it leaves bankruptcy, the company will focus on its nutrition bars and shakes.

The private equity firm Parthenon Capital acquired a majority stake in Atkins in October 2003. Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, along with the estate of Dr Atkins, owns a smaller stake in the company.

Administrators were appointed to the UK arm of Atkins Nutritionals in March after the business – based at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in Leicestershire – was hit by poor sales and amassed heavy debts.

A report published by the market analysts Mintel in October highlighted the high drop-out rate for low-carb diets.

Only 2.8% of those questioned by Mintel were currently on a low-carb regime such as the Atkins diet, while another 10% said they had followed one of the diets but had given up. Only 1% were willing to try them again.

In June, the Advertising Standards Authority called for an advert for the Atkins diet to be pulled because its claim that followers could “enjoy a healthier lifestyle” could not be proved.

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