Four phases of the Atkins Diet
Introduction
The introduction is the first and most restrictive of the Atkins Nutritional Approach. This is the phase that is intended to cause the body to quickly enter a state of ketosis. The Carbohydrate intake is limited to 20 net grams per day.
Ongoing weight loss
This phase consist of an increase in carbohydrate intake, but remaining at levels where weight loss occurs. The target daily carbohydrate intake increases each week by 5 net grams. The ongoing weight loss phase last until you are within 10 pounds of your target weight.
Pre-maintenance
In this phase carbohydrate intake is increased again this time by 10 net carbs a week from the ladder groupings. The goal in this phase is to find the “Critical Carbohydrate Level for Maintenance”; this is the maximum number of carbohydrates you can eat each day without gaining weight.
Lifetime maintenance
This phase is intended to carry on the habits acquired in the previous phases, and avoid the common end-of-diet mindset that can return people to their previous habits and previous weight. Whole, unprocessed food choices are emphasized, with the option to drop back to an earlier phase if you begin to gain weight.
Criticism and Misconceptions
An analysis conducted by Forbes magazine found that the Atkins Diet is one of the five most expensive diet plans of the ten plans Forbes analyzed. Although Forbes found that Atkins diet was significantly less expensive than Jenny Craig and only slightly more expensive than Weight Watchers, the Atkins diet nevertheless involved more than an 80% premium over average American food expenses.
The May 2004 Annals of Internal Medicine study showed that Atkins Dieters had significantly more diarrhea, general weakness, rashes and muscle cramps. Atkins now suggests a fiber supplement. Also, acidity from the typically high protein intake can cause Osteoporosis
Many people incorrectly believe that the Atkins Diet promotes eating unlimited amounts of fatty meats and cheeses. This is a key point of clarification that Dr. Atkins addressed in the more recent revisions of his book.
