Continuing our evaluation and explanation of how the Adkins diet works to lose weight fast. This is part 2.
The theory is based on hypersensitivity to carbohydrates that has been caused by having too much of a good thing, is what causes weight gain. So basically, the way a person’s body processes carbs is the problem more so than how much fat they eat.
You have no doubt witnessed some skinny people that can load up on carbs (think atheletes before a game, meet, bike ride, etc) and they are pencil thin. You shake your head and say, I could never exercise that much to balance the amount of carbs they can pack on. Well, you are right.
A lot of overweight people are insulin resistant. What that means is that the cells that convert carbohydrates into glucose (energy) just don’t work like that athlete. In fact Dr. Atkins has found that most overweight people have this insulin conversion problem.
So how to fix? Don’t eat a lot of carbs, obviously. Unfortunately, that does not mean just eat all veggies, because some vegetables are high in those carbs too. So by following this diet, you will learn what to avoid and best of all what you can eat to your heart’s desire. You will learn what specific foods are not allowed, and when you can slowly re-introduce them into you diet. (personally, I have found that I don’t miss most of those foods anymore, as I feel so much better without them and kinda lost the urge to eat them).
…your body will go into a state in which it burns fat as fuel!
Your carb intake is reduced to about 40 grams a day. What happens is your body will go into a state in which it burns fat as fuel! YEAHHH!. This is what they call Ketosis. Insulin production would prevent more fat burning, to this ketosis process is important to keep that fuel burning efficient. What you will notice is that your cravings for carb type foods is actually reduced so you wont miss those types of food. Let me repeat…when your body goes into Ketosis and the insulin is balanced you do not crave carbs, sugars, sweets, etc like you did before! Its great!!
Atkins Diet Steps:
- Induction -first 14 days
- Can lose up to 15 pounds
- Carb limits to 20 grams a day
- No potatoes, starchy vegetables, fruit or yogurt. certain beverages are off limits
- CAN HAVE- lots of low-carb veggies
During this phase your blood sugar will stabilize. You start losing the health symptoms I talk about (in this post) such as fatigue. Your cravings start to go away! Again YEAH! You are starting to break food addictions and the part you came here for: you start NOTICING weight loss.
Ongoing Weight Loss
- Increase carbs by 5 grams
- When you hit a plateau, cut back a little again
- Pre-maintenance
Stay tuned for recipe ideas for low carb meals (and deserts!).
- Rate of weight loss will slow down, that is normal, as you are starting to slowly reintroducing foods to see how they affect your weight gain
Maintenance
- You have reached your weight goal
- Can have a few more carbs, but not the “bad” ones.
- Yes, there are healthy carbs you can have and skip the ones that tip the scales literaly)
