10 Simple Tips for Atkins Success

By Kim Droze
eDiets Contributor

The Atkins Nutritional Approach is:
A) a short-term solution
B) a red meat diet
C) an eating regimen that eliminates carbohydrates forever
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

The correct answer is E. Surprised? Opponents of the Atkins Nutritional Approach would like you to believe the low-carb eating plan is only good for fast fad-like weight loss. Detractors would also make you think the diet is high in fat and red meat -- and that you can kiss your beloved carbs goodbye forever!

Reality-check time. Such notions are nonsensical at best and a far cry from the truth. There are an estimated 50 million Americans watching their carb intake. So how should these weight-conscious men and women separate fact from fiction?

You may think you have all the tools needed for following the Atkins Nutritional Approach, but if you don't have the New York Times #1 bestseller Atkins For Life you're missing out on the crucial information that sets the record straight. This info-packed book is also available in paperback.

To get the support and assistance you need to drop those extra pounds with the Atkins Nutritional Approach -- click here and see what eDiets has to offer.

In the last book published by Dr. Robert Atkins, the founding father of low-carb living provides readers with everything they need to know about making smart carbohydrate choices for life and maintaining a healthy weight. Dr. Atkins was determined that the world know there is more to doing Atkins than Induction, which is the first and most restrictive phase of the four-phase ANA.

All too many Atkins followers never move beyond the most restrictive phase. Do Atkins right and you'll be able to steadily boost your carb intake throughout the Ongoing Weight Loss, Pre-Maintenance and Lifetime Maintenance phases -- and you’ll maintain your weight permanently. This is what allows you to personalize the Atkins Nutritional Approach to your own lifestyle, says Dr. Stuart Trager, medical director of Atkins Nutritionals and chairperson of the Atkins Physicians Council.

Dr. Trager says the power of the Atkins Nutritional Approach lies in its unique four-phase setup. Induction provides the initial strategy for breaking through cravings and shifting the metabolism from carbohydrate-based to fat-based. From there, the long-term success of the approach is directly linked to slowly reintroducing carbohydrates, primarily in the form of whole foods. Followers identify their individual carbohydrate threshold (i.e. the number of daily grams of carbs that will allow continued weight loss), and once they reach their goal weight, to maintain it.

"The Atkins Nutritional Approach is not a short-term weight-loss solution," Dr. Trager tells eDiets . "It's about lifelong changes... adding back the right carbohydrates so that you reach the level where your weight is stable and you're eating a variety of foods so you can stick with this eating plan for good. This is why people can do Atkins for life.

"You're making smart carbohydrate choices, consuming fruits, vegetables and whole grains in amounts that are individualized to suit your body’s metabolism so you don't put back the weight you've lost. Atkins For Life shows individuals how to identify their own individual carbohydrate threshold, in the process teaching them strategies for Lifetime Maintenance along with exercise and other activities. These are real changes that help people live healthier lives."

Atkins For Life shatters the myth that a low-carb regimen is a red meat diet. With more than 125 recipes and six months of menu plans, the Akins Nutritional Approach features pork, chicken, fish and vegetarian dishes, as well as those for beef and other red meats. Anyone who limits her diet to bun-less bacon cheeseburgers and thick steaks is not doing Atkins correctly, says Dr. Trager.

Also perpetuating the myths of low-carb dieting: copycat books that attempt to cash in by replicating the success of the Atkins Nutritional Approach.

"It's important to understand Dr. Atkins' message -- controlling carbs means choosing the right carbohydrates and adding them back in amounts that are appropriate for you," Dr. Trager says. "Atkins is a time-tested solution that was introduced long before the new crop of copycats, which are creating confusion. People should remember that for 40 years, the Atkins Nutritional Approach was clinically tested in Dr. Atkins' practice. Plus, the efficacy and safety of the Atkins Nutritional Approach has been validated by more than 25 independent research studies."

Several recent studies indicate the low-fat, low-calorie approach to weight loss leaves people hungry, frustrated and unmotivated. Not only does controlling carbs work, but it also boosts the amount of weight loss in some cases.

Dr. Trager says doing Atkins teaches a way of eating you can sustain for life, especially if you have handy and informative resources like Atkins for Life to walk you through the process. Regardless of your personal Net Carb threshold for Lifetime Maintenance (45 grams... 60 grams... 80 grams... or even 100 grams) you'll find plenty of tasty Atkins-friendly recipes at your fingertips.

"Atkins for Life provides the tools you need to make the transition from reaching your goal weight to life-long carbohydrate awareness as part of a new lifestyle," Dr. Trager says.

Here are the 10 simple rules for a making your Atkins experience last a lifetime:

1. Count your daily Net Carbs.

2. Stay at or below your Atkins Carbohydrate Equilibrium (ACE), the amount of carbs you can eat each day while neither gaining nor losing pounds.

3. Adjust your ACE as needed.

4. Eat primarily whole, unprocessed foods.

5. Stay away from added sugar, bleached white flour, hydrogenated oils and junk foods.

6. Don't go more than four to six waking hours without a meal or snack.

7. Exercise regularly.

8. Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement and essential fatty acids.

9. Drink a minimum of eight 8-ounce glasses of water.

10. Never let yourself gain more than 5 pounds.

To learn more about Atkins for Life, click here.

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