If you are interested to improve your eating habits, then the Atkins diet is a wonderful way for you to do so. This diet will help you to lose weight and also make you feel amazing. If you are reading this article, then you are already one step closer to the beginning of a healthier life. But before you start with this diet, you need to know about this in detail. This article will help you understand the important details of the Atkins diet.

4 Phase Plan of the Atkins Diet

You will have to follow the Atkins diet in 4 phases:

Phase 1

This is also called the induction period. During this time you should not consume more than 20 grams of carbs each day. You need to eat foods that contain high amounts of proteins and high amounts of fats with vegetables that have a lesser amount of carbohydrates. These include leafy vegetables. This will certainly help you to kick start the weight loss program.

Phase 2

This is the balancing phase. You will have to include more nuts in your diet. You should also consume low carb vegetables and little amount of fruits.

Phase 3

When you are close to the goal weight, you need to add more carbs to the diet. This will certainly help the weight loss to slow down. This is also referred to as the fine-tuning stage.

Phase 4

This is called the maintenance stage. In this stage, you can eat as many healthy carbs as your body needs without gaining extra weight.

Some people prefer to skip the induction phase altogether. They include plenty of vegetables and fruits from the very beginning. This approach can be extremely effective. Others prefer to stay in the induction phase for an indefinite period. This is also referred to as a very low carb ketogenic diet phase.

Foods That You Need to Avoid

When you are on the Atkins diet, you should avoid the consumption of the following foods. These include:

• Sugar
• Grains
• Vegetable Oils
• Trans Fats
• Diet and low- fat foods
• High-carb vegetables.
• High Carb fruits.
• Starches.
• Legumes

Foods That You Can Eat

The foods that you can eat are:

• Meats.
• Seafood and fatty fish.
• Eggs
• Low Carb vegetables.
• Full-fat dairy.
• Healthy fats
• Nuts and seeds.

Your meals should be based on a fatty protein source along with vegetables or nuts. It should include nuts along with some healthy fats. This will help you to lose weight.

Beverages That You Can Drink

You can always include the below-mentioned beverages when you are following the Atkins diet. These include:

1. Water.
2. Green Tea
3. Coffee.

You can also drink alcohol but you should have it in small amounts. Make sure that you should drink dry wines and there should not be any added sugar included in your diet. You should also avoid drinks like beer that have a high amount of carbohydrates.

Foods That You Might Eat

There are several delicious foods available that you can eat when you are following the Atkins diet. These include heavy cream, cheese, bacon, and also dark chocolates. Most of these are considered fattening because they contain a higher amount of fat and calorie content. But when you are on a low-carb diet, then your body tends to increase its use of fat as a source of energy. It also suppresses your appetite. This also reduces the chances of weight gain and overeating.

Atkins Diet Sample Menu

Monday

Breakfast
Vegetables and Eggs fried in coconut oil.

Lunch
Chicken Salad served with olive oil and also a handful of nuts.

Dinner
Steak and Veggies

Tuesday

Breakfast
Bacon and Eggs

Lunch
Leftover chicken with veggies from the last night.

Dinner
Bunless cheeseburgers with butter and vegetables.

Wednesday

Breakfast
Veggies and Omelet fried in butter.

Lunch
Shrimp salad dipped in olive oil

Dinner
Vegetables with Ground-beef stir-fried

Thursday

Breakfast
Eggs and vegetables stir-fried in coconut oil.

Lunch
Stir fry the leftover dinner from the night before.

Dinner
Have salmon along with vegetables stir-fried in butter.

Friday

Breakfast
Eggs with Bacon

Lunch
Chicken salad dipped in olive oil and a handful of nuts.

Dinner
Meatballs along with some vegetables.

Saturday

Breakfast
Omelet and vegetables are stir-fried in butter.

Lunch
Leftover meatballs from last night.

Dinner
Vegetables along with some pork chops.

Sunday

Breakfast
Eggs with Bacon.

Lunch
The pork chops that are left from the night before.

Dinner
Grilled chicken wings along with some veggies and Salsa.

You must add enough vegetables to your diet.

Guidelines to Know Before You Start the Atkins Diet

If you follow certain guidelines while you are on Atkins diet, it will certainly help you:

1. You need to Set Goals

Before you start with the Atkins diet and set your goals, it is important for you to stay motivated. If you set goals that can be achieved, then it will help you to keep the bigger picture in mind. You will lose weight and you will get something to look forward to.

2. Know how the Atkins Diet works

If you are committing to a program that will help you to lose weight, then you need to understand how the diet works. You also know what best you can expect by working so hard. In the first phase, you primarily shift from burning carbs to burning fats. This helps you to kick start the weight loss program. The most important goal is to lessen down the amount of carbohydrate intake to as low as 20 grams.

3. Make Sure to Stay Motivated

You might want to start the Atkin’s diet with a friend or with a friend to post in one of the communities of the Atkin’s group. It is also important that you hold yourself responsible for the diet plan that you are following. This will help you to stay motivated for the entire process. Losing weight becomes a lot of fun when you are doing it with other people. There will thus be more people who will support your diet goal. They will also help you to stay focused and motivate you to get going.

4. You Need To Familiarize Yourself With What You Can and What You Cannot Eat 

Before you start the process of dieting, you will have to read through the list of the foods that are permitted in Phase I. Now you can check the recipe books and find out certain recipes that will suit your stomach. When you are excited about the food you will eat, then it will be easier for you to start the diet.

Summary

Atkins Diet will certainly help you to lose weight. Therefore, before starting this diet you should have a full proof plan. You also need to stay hydrated when you are following this diet. Keeping yourself motivated will help you to reach your goal.