Will Atkins
Work For You?
From
eDiets - The online diet, fitness, and healthy living resource Steak
lobster with butter bacon and eggs coffee with cream raspberries with whipped
cream cheese
Who says dieting has to be about deprivation? The
above menu may sound like a feast fit for a king... a big, fat king. But in
reality, this is actually a taste of a groundbreaking diet regimen that leads
to permanent weight loss.
Unless you’ve been marooned on a deserted
island for the past 30 years, you probably know of someone who’s tried --
and succeeded with -- the Atkins approach to dieting. After all, weight loss
without deprivation is a pretty good selling point. According to Colette
Heimowitz, Nutritional Director of Education and Research at Atkins Health and
Medical Information Services, you’ll say goodbye to that fat forever... IF
you follow the diet the way it’s supposed to be done. But, slip back into
your old ways of eating and the weight will return fast and furiously.
Heimowitz says the secret is mastering the four
phases of the Atkins Nutritional Approach: the Induction Phase, Ongoing Weight
Loss, Pre-Maintenance and Lifetime Maintenance.
Imagine... no more counting calories! The Atkins
plan proclaims the key to lasting weight loss is keeping track of carbs. White
flour and white sugar are public enemies No. 1 and No. 2. -- they may also be a
major cause of America's out-of-control obesity epidemic. Most experts agree
that as many as six out of 10 Americans are overweight.
Dr. Robert Atkins became a key player in the
field of weight loss when he released his bestselling book Diet
Revolution in 1972. Despite a hailstorm of criticism, the plan has not only
survived, but thrived. Studies show that followers of the Atkins philosophy can
expect to lose 6 to 20 pounds over the first two weeks. And they do so while
eating the very foods that most weight loss plans cut out! Heimowitz says
many people have the mistaken belief the plan calls for massive meat
consumption. Bet you didn't know that fresh fish, poultry, vegetables, fruits,
cheeses and whole grains are also featured. So, whether you're a diehard fan of
red meat or a staunch vegetarian, the Atkins approach can be adapted to your
lifestyle.
“What’s so appealing about the program
is that you can eat luxuriously in restaurants by eating around the
carbs,” Heimowitz says. “You don’t have to count calories. You
only have to count carbohydrates. People find they’re not as obsessed with
food.
“Their appetite is much more under control.
They lose that craving for sweets and carbohydrates. Their energy is better
because they avoid the roller coaster ride of high/low blood sugars, which
happens when excessive carbs are taken in. Their body composition changes.
Their clothes fit them better. They lose inches. The majority of weight lost is
fat mass.”
Heimowitz is quick to point out that not all
carbs are created equal and following the Atkins plan doesnt mean youll spend
the rest of your life avoiding carbs. Youre simply eliminating the unhealthy
carbs (foods made from white flour and white sugar) and replacing them with
healthy carbs (some fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts).
This is the most direct system for burning fat,
she says. When sufficient carbohydrates aren’t available for energy, the
body turns to its back-up system for fuel: your fat. By following the Atkins
Nutritional Approach, you’re burning fat for fuel -- in other words, the
fat isn’t collecting in your arteries or fat cells. Because of this, the
Atkins diet lowers your risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke.
After years of providing the same great diet with
the same great results, the Atkins approach has evolved by linking up with
the
world's number one online weight loss website. Atkins followers can now get
the best of both worlds: the Atkins Nutritional Approach as powered by eDiets.
Not only do you receive a personalized meal plan tailored to your needs, you
also get the 24/7 peer and professional support you cant get from a book, says
Heimowitz.
“It’s a valuable tool for information
and support. Recent research has shown that people will maintain weight loss
and succeed for longer periods of time when they have support, which is what
the book alone cannot offer.
eDiets
offers 24/7 support and information and helps you personalize your program to
suit your needs and tastes. This is a recipe for success and permanent weight
control. Through the support boards, chat rooms and meetings, people
following the Atkins approach will also have the opportunity to interact with
like-minded dieters sharing the same experience. Between the constant support
and the unlimited access to dietitians, psychologists and other experts, there
is always someone to help bypass any obstacle.
In addition to the support, you’ll be guided
through the four phases of the
Atkins
Nutritional Approach so that you can achieve lasting weight loss. Although
the Induction Phase is more restrictive in limiting the amount of carbs you
consume (no fruit, nuts or seeds in the first two weeks), you will add healthy
carbs into your diet as you move into the maintenance phase.
“The Atkins Nutritional Approach works for
people, who need to control carbohydrate consumption in order to access their
fat storage and burn fat," Heimowitz says. "It’s for people who suffer
from carbohydrate addiction, for people who are overweight and for those not as
physically active.
“It’s for anyone who’s looking for
permanent weight control."
Click here for How I Lost 71 Pounds With Atkins and see
how a 39-year-old admitted carboholic went from 211 pounds to 140 and from
squeezing into a size 18 to feeling comfortable in a size 8 |
