When you've tried the Atkins diet without much success, yet you still believe and understand the merit of a low-carb lifestyle, you may simply be on the wrong diet. Instead of a diet in which you count carbs meticulously, a diet which allows you more flexibility in your food choices may be a better fit for you and your lifestyle. Carbohydrate Addicts helps you understand your addiction to high-carbohydrate foods, and then helps you to lose weight by restricting your carb intake.
Step 1
Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about starting "The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet" after being on Atkins, suggests MayoClinic.com. You should always talk to your doctor before trying a new weight loss plan to ensure it's a healthy choice for you. If Atkins didn't work, your doctor may point you in the direction of another type of diet entirely.
Step 2
Purchase the book, "The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet," by Dr.'s Rachael F. Heller and Richard F. Heller. Not only does the book have diet ideas, recipes and information on how to stick to the diet, but it offers a valuable quiz at the beginning that helps you determine how addicted to carbs you are and the most effective diet plan for your particular needs and goals. Read the book through so you understand what the diet entails.
Step 3
Stop counting carbohydrates. On the Atkins diet, you're placed in a two-week induction phase where you must keep your carb count under 20g each day, notes "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" by Robert C. Atkins. This involves painstakingly adding and counting carbs. You may find it difficult to break the habit of counting carbs and avoiding certain foods all day.
Step 4
Balance your meals so that for two meals, you eat only protein and fibrous vegetables. The third meal is considered your "free meal" where you can eat anything you want, but you should fill your plate with 1/3 protein, 1/3 vegetables, and 1/3 carbohydrates. "The Carbohydrate Addict Diet" notes that carbs do have a place in the diet, even if it is a diminished one.
Step 5
Follow the two-meal rule for two weeks, where you eat two restricted meals and one "free meal" each day. This is "The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet" version of the Atkins induction phase. After two weeks of restricted eating, you can then choose a diet plan from the "The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet" that allows you to reach your weight loss goals while still enjoying your favorite foods. Most diet plans involve a gradual adding-in of carbohydrates so you're able to eat your favorite foods in moderation.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Weight Loss: Choosing a Diet That's Right for You
- "The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet": Rachael F. Heller, Richard F. Heller; 2000
- "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution": Robert C. Atkins; 2002
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