by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: February 04, 2008   Last Updated: April 01, 2009

Have you always battled with your weight? Usually your weight wins. Join the Atkins Revolution. You can lose weight in places where the fat has never come off before, upper arms, thighs and bellies. The best thing about the lifestyle is, you will never be hungry and what other diet plan can say that?

Low carb diet plans are not a new concept, they are no longer even controversial. The same can't be said for 1972 when Dr. Robert Atkins first introduced his plan. His followers at this point don't call it a diet; it is a way of life. It does involve a change of mind set, but the results can be dramatic and the health benefits lasting.

What was controversial about the diet plan was that butter and fat are no longer the boogey men. They are part of the plan. Instead of lowering the fat in the diet, the carbs are all but eliminated in the Induction Phase. During the Induction Phase only 20 carbs are allowed per day. No bread or pasta is allowed, all the carbs are provided by a very limited list of vegetables. This lasts a minimum of two weeks while the body adjusts to the change. It isn't an easy diet during this period, the body craves carbs but the upside is that you are not limited in the quantities of protein that can be ingested so there is no hunger. That concept alone has guaranteed that this is a popular diet plan. The results more than compensate for any feeling of deprivation, within days there is a dramatic loss of inches in places that are usually hard to lose inches in, clothes gets looser and people will notice the change. All this while snacking on pepperoni, pork rinds and salsa. Who doesn't like a nice chicken breast, a juicy steak or some grilled pork chops. You can add a salad with a creamy dressing like ranch or blue cheese. Food doesn't need to be plain either, most spices are carb free, use them generously. Grill onions and peppers and mushrooms to eat as a side dish or fry them in olive oil. Eat until your hunger is gone. You can even have hamburgers just skip the bun.

The down side is horrible breath, leg cramps and constipation. All of these will subside as more carbs are added but can be discouraging in the early days. Taking extra potassium can help with cramps, there are several products that can be taken for the constipation and chewing sugar free gum will help with the breath. A warning, if you are on medication (not all but many) or birth control pills the diet won't work, check with your doctor for other options.

After two or more weeks, each individual decides how long they want or need to stay on the Induction Phase; additional carbs are added back in. This is done gradually, 5 carbs at a time. These days there are many low carb options in bread and pasta. Be very wary of any low fat choices of sauces, sugar is added when fat is removed and that will sabotage the plan. The ultimate goal is to find the maximum amount of carbs that each individual can have daily while still maintaining the desired weight. Since this is different for each person this will be done on the slow and easy plan.

Why this is considered a life style is that it is forever. The plan allows for adjustments to each persons life style and activity level. As with all diet plans exercise should be a part of a healthy life style. What makes this diet so attractive is the ability to just cut back 5 or 10 grams of carbs and continue to lose or go back to losing if a weight gain is noticed.

Additional health benefits can include a lowering of cholesterol levels and blood sugar. As with any diet your physician should be consulted before you begin and should monitor health during the diet. Millions have found Atkins to be a life style they can live with forever.

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