Atkins: getting slim in 4 phases
Dr. Robert C. Atkins was a New York heart specialist who specialised on treating overweight people. To do so he developed his very own diet. The basic point is that you can eat proteins and fats unimpededly. The consumption of
carbohydrates however should be limited as much as possible. Without all those sugars and refined carbs the body won’t fall back on a low blood sugar that causes the hunger feeling and tiredness. Atkins assumed that overweight is caused by a failure in the metabolism. According to him the hormone
insulin is the biggest culprit. Too much insulin can cause overweight. Because of an overproduction of the hormone the body stores fat reserves and gets a tired, hungry feeling. Dr. Atkins intended to stop the production of insulin and thus decrease the body’s fat reserves. The burning of this fat is called
ketoses.
4 phases
The Atkins diet consists of 4 phases.
Phase 1: the introduction diet
This phase lasts a minimum of
14 days and intends to let you get used to the
starting points of the diet as well as start the
burning of the fat. You can eat as much meat, fish, poultry, eggs and cheese as you like. Vegetable eating is allowed though limited to certain kinds. No goes are potatoes, bread, pasta, rice, sugar and products that contain flower.
Phase 2: continuous weight loss
In the second part of the diet you’re meant to work towards your
goal. Gradually some
carbohydrates can be added. Start with 5 grams a day during one week.
Phase 3: pre maintaining phase
During this period you’re still
losing weight. But this is down to a minimum. You are starting to prepare for phase 4. Once you’ve reached your
weight goal, you can start adding one carbrich product every week.
Phase 4: the maintaining phase
In this last phase you will find a
balance between eating carbohydrates and levelling your weight. You will develop an individual, new way of life. If you need any ideas or recipes for meals you can always consult the net or the books Dr.
Atkins wrote.
Conclusion
The biggest advantage of this diet is that it deals with your
hunger feeling as a result of the amount of fat you eat. That might be very well so but you should also be aware that all that fat can increase your cholesterol level. The kidneys are encumbered as well by the amount of proteins taken in. But as goes for all diets: if applied with moderation this is a well functioning
diet. Like always persistence and rational thinking are important.
