From Jennifer R. Scott,
Your Guide to Weight Loss.
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What is the Atkins Diet?

The Atkins Diet is from a book called Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution by the late Robert C Atkins, MD. Dr. Atkins said the way your body processes the carbohydrates you eat -- not how much fat you eat -- causes you to gain weight.

What will I Eat?

This is a low-carb, high protein diet, so say good-bye to processed, pre-packaged and junk foods (cookies, sodas, etc.) and hello to steaks, burgers, cheese and fish.

How Does it Work?

According to Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution: By reducing your carbohydrate intake to less than 40 grams a day, you will enter a bodily process called ketosis. Ketosis is a state in which your body burns fat as fuel, which the affectes insulin production and prevents more fat from being formed.

What is this Diet Like?

The Atkins Diet consists of the following four stages: induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenance and maintenance. Induction is the first 14 days of the plan, during which Atkins says you can lose up to 15 pounds.

• What Induction Does

This rapid weight loss is due to limiting your carbs to 20 grams a day. The only carbs you can have are low-carb vegetables like lettuce, broccoli and tomatoes. You are limited to three cups per day.

During the next stage -- ongoing weight loss -- you can increase your carb intake by five grams. You will eventually hit a plateau and have to slack off your carb intake once again.

How Long will I be on It?

Once you enter maintenance, you can't go back to eating carbs with abandon. Dr. Atkins virtually promised that anyone who returns to over-eating high-carb foods like pizza or desserts will gain back the weight lost.