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Atkins Diet Plan - What's The Catch
By Martin Smith, Fri Dec 9th

The Atkins diet Plan breakfast can usually composed of eggsstrips of bacon and coffee. A snack might include coffee withcream, and chunks of cheese. A huge steak fried in butter couldbe dinner. Doesn’t this sound really good? It seems verytempting but there is a catch.

In the beginning you will have to give up most carbs, such asbreads, potatoes, pasta, rice and other things like chocolate,cake, some fruits. In theory, when carbs are eliminated from thediet, the body burns stored fat. Weight loss is quicker becausefat burns more calories than carbs.

Stable blood sugar levels help you to feel fuller therebydamping your appetite. The Induction is the first phase of theAtkins diet, which you follow for at least two weeks. Only 20grams of carbs a day, but you can eat lots of red meat, chicken,fish, eggs cream and butter. That you want.


During this phase, your body learns to burn fat and not carbs.The ongoing weight loss phase is the second stage. Add 5 gramsof carbs a day until you get to your critical carbohydrate levelfor losing weight. How many carbs can YOU eat and still losebetween 1 and 3 pounds a week? Bread, pasta rice and potatoesare still taboo.

The pre-maintenance or third phase is started when you have only5-10 pounds left to lose in order to reach your goal weight.Yes! Now you get to add 10 grams a day for one week, to yourcarb intake, to help your body adjust to the addition of carbsto your diet, and to the final phase of the diet.

Lifetime maintenance, phase 4, teaches you ways to staymotivated. Your carb intake is limited to 90 grams in a day. Youwill be eating low carbs for the rest of your life. Some doctorshave expressed concern about the long tern effects of the Atkinsand other low carb plans.

High saturated fat consumption may cause an increased risk ofheart disease. The lack of certain

nutrients in this diet couldcause future health problems. The limited intake of calciumcould possibly put you at risk for Osteoporosis. The lowantioxidant nutrients could lead to cancer, andpremature aging.

The Atkins diet is boring in the Induction phase. Vegetarianshave a hard time with Atkins, particularly in the early stages,due to the limited amount of vegetables, nuts seeds and beans.The Atkins diet presents an image of good health from a properdiet. Some are concerned that once you go off the diet theweight comes back quickly.

The very low carbs in this diet could cause ketosis which can bedangerous for diabetics. The high cholesterol of this diet maycause constipation and because of the high fatcontent. This diet, low in fruits and veggies is consequentlylow in antioxidants that fight cancer. The Atkins plan is thatit’s not intended for long term use and has serious side effects.

The Atkins Plan works, it is that simple. Weight loss is rapidand you can eat as much protein and fat, as you would like. Thecarbs eliminated by the Atkins diet can cause a loss ofantioxidants which are known to prevent some cancers.

This high fat, high protein diet can increase the risk ofelevated cholesterol and heart disease. This Diet really works,although some believe you can’t stay on it long term. If you gooff the diet or cheat , you will begin to re-gain the weight.Once you start eating a more normal diet the initial weight losswill return.

As with any diet check with a physician-to make sure you arehealthy to begin with. The Atkins diet, some believe, is not forlong term use and that it poses some serous health risks. If youare overweight, you are already at risk for andother health problems, and Atkins could increase those risks.

About the author:About the Author Martin Smith is a successful freelancewriter providing advice on a variety of subjects. For moreinformation on

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