Evaluating the effectiveness of the atkins diet

Self-applied revelation

The diet in question came to the attention of the general public after Dr. Robert Atkins decided upon taking up the diet regimen that he discovered in the Journal of the American Medical Association in order to bring his body in shape. Given the fact that the diet regimen he adhered to produced more than desirable and successful results, the doctor in question kept on further promoting his discovery in the form of The Atkins Diet and published a series of books (first one in 1972), setting in motion his personal, and later on a genuine diet revolution that has continued its rise to fame even until today.

Functioning principles

The primary and the underlying principle of the diet in question rests in the fact that each person can alter his/her metabolism and get rid of excessive weight quite easily and by consuming those food varieties that abound in proteins and fats, while on the other hand introducing limitations when it comes to the intake of carbohydrates. The main reason why the intake of carbs needs to be reduced significantly is that their increased levels induce the rise in the production of insulin. Direct result of this, of course, is the increase in appetite, hunger and, of course, undesired weight. This diet is among those that promote the overall intake of food varieties that abound in proteins.

Stages of success

Induction – represents the first of the stages to the “holy grail” and at the same time, it represents by far the most restrictive stage. Important is to limit the carbs-intake to as little as 20 net grams, on a daily basis.

Ongoing weight loss – or OWL for short, represents the stage that is rooted in the gradual increase in the consumption of carbs, but remaining at levels where the weight loss occurs. Limitation, i.e. carbs increase is 5 net grams, on a weakly basis.

Pre-maintenance – in this stage another increase in the carbs intake takes place – 10 net carbs on a weekly basis, from the ladder groupings. The ultimate aim is to discover what the critical carbohydrate level for maintenance (max. number of carbs one can consume on a daily basis, without any weight gain) is.

Lifetime maintenance – represents the cornerstone that will enable and make it much easier for a person to keep on adhering to the newly accepted lifestyle habits, which he/she acquired in the stages prior to this one.