Atkins diet
Is a diet that limits carb intake and instead promotes consumption of protein rich foods. Food with low glycaemic index should be eaten because they take longer to digest and provide a constant “stream” of energy to the consumer.
The main idea behind the diet is the assumption that people gain weight mainly due to exaggerated consumption of carbs, so by reducing carb intake, you force the body to burn some of the stored fat also, knowing that it’s carbs that get used first.
The diet is composed of 4 phases.
Phase 1 lasts 14 days. And you are supposed to eat no more than 20 grams of carbs a day. This will induce ketosis in your body, meaning your body will burn fat instead. Some people stay in phase 1 for more than 14 days, but it’s generally recommended to only do it if your blood pressure and chemistry stay in normal limits as well as your energy levels and sleep patterns.
Phase 2 means the Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) phase of the program. It increases carb intake with 5 grams per week until weight loss stops. When that happens, you have to get back and eat 5 grams less of carbs a day. More food types are allowed in this period.
Phase 3 is the Pre-Maintenance phase. You maintain your weight by increasing your carb intake with 10 grams per week until weight loss slows to 1 pound per week.
Phase 4 is the Lifetime Maintenance phase. You should’ve reached your weight goal by now. You will have to control carb intake for your entire life if you want to maintain approximately the same weight.