Singapore Personal Trainer|The Fitness Truth

The Basics of Atkins Diet

Thousands of people have found themselves shedding off those extra pesky pounds by using the tools outlined in the book, The Atkins Diet.  Written by Dr. Robert C. Atkins, The Atkins diet has touched millions and has provided new hope to dieters everywhere.  The basic principle of this particular diet is to encourage weight-loss by limiting the carbohydrates consumed rather than constantly monitoring the daily fat intake. 
The Atkins diet isn’t about counting calories, instead, it is is more about saying good-bye to junky and processed foods as well as eating fewer carbohydrates.  This diet emphasizes replacing the above mentioned types of food with healthier alternatives such as foods that are high in protein. This simple statement is in actuality the main staple which drives the Atkins diet process.
Behind any rewarding diet plan there must be a scientific reason for its success.  Dr. Robert C. Atkins employed the characteristics and processes of ketosis to ensure his diet can scientifically help you lose weight.  During the ketosis process, your body will burn stored fat for the fuel it needs rather than burning the foods in your daily diet.  As your body progresses into this process, ketosis will also reduce insulin production which in turn, prevents additional fat from being stored.  In order to begin the ketosis process, the Atkins dieter will begin a four stage, outlined program. 

The four stages of the Atkins diet are induction, ongoing weight-loss, pre-maintenance, and maintenance. 

1. During the induction process, which occurs during the first two weeks of the diet, carbohydrate intake is reduced to 20 grams per day.  The carbohydrates that are allowed during this process can be found in low-carb vegetables such as spinach and celery. 
2. During the second stage known as the ongoing weight-loss stage, carbohydrate consumption increases by 5 grams which will bring your total allowable daily carbs to 25 grams.  
3. Pre-maintenance, the third stage of the diet, is when dieters are able to add more carbs to their diet to correctly adjust just how many carbs per day they can consume without gaining weight. 
4. The fourth and final step of the Atkins diet is the maintenance stage.  Maintenance refers to all of the knowledge acquired during the previous three stages to maintain a healthy weight for your body type. 

The Atkins diet encourages the dieter to find out exactly what works best for each individual.   By allowing dieters to choose which carbs are best for them while still promoting weight loss, is exactly why this particular diet is so successful.  With both scientific proof and an easy to understand plan under it’s belt, The Atkins Diet can (but not necessarily) be a great way to shed those extra pounds as well as promote healthier eating habits. Especially for those who have high blood sugar levels.