The Atkins diet is a method of reducing the number and type of carbohydrates in your diet, which in turn allows your body to lose weight. In the first phase of the diet, most carbohydrates are not consumed, allowing the body to rid itself of these. In the second phase, called Ongoing Weight Loss, the Atkins diet is tailored to beginning an increase in the number of healthy carbohydrates you take in.
Instructions
1. Calculate your starting weight at Phase 2, which should start two weeks after starting the diet, or after you have completed Phase 1, Induction. Take note of your starting weight, but realize that during Phase 2 weight loss may be less drastic.
2. Measure your intake of carbohydrates during Phase 2. In this phase, you can eat more carbohydrates than in Phase 1, but you should keep it between 35 grams to 40 grams daily. Up to 60 grams may be taken in, yet most will need to limit this further to see weight loss.
3. Increase your carbohydrate intake by just 5 grams per week. The goal in this stage is to get to an intake level that allows you to keep losing weight, called the Critical Carbohydrate Level for Losing. You should start increasing the healthy carbohydrates taken in until you reach the point of not losing weight. If you stop losing weight, drop the number of carbohydrates back 5 grams to were you were losing.
4. Consume only induction approved vegetables during the first week of Phase 2, just increase quantity. Then, add carbohydrates according to the Carbohydrate Ladder recommended by Dr. Atkins in the program. Add carbohydrates according to the ladder by moving up one rung per week.
5. Lose weight on this Phase 2 of the Atkins diet until you reach 10 pounds from your target weight loss goal. Then move on to Phase 3, Pre-Maintenance.
Tags: losing weight, weight loss, Atkins diet, carbohydrates according, during Phase, healthy carbohydrates, Loss Atkins