The Atkins Diet is also referred to as the Atkins Nutritional Approach. The diet focuses on restricting some carbohydrates and replacing it with lean protein that is low in carbohydrate count. Switching the body into a state of ketosis or using your own fat for fuel is the main goal of induction. Induction is where you can see the most profound effects of your weight loss rather quickly.
Atkins Basics
The Atkins diet is also referred to as the Atkins nutritional approach. Atkins focuses on regulating your body's metabolism. Restricting carbohydrate count over a period of time allows you to switch to burning your own body fat, resulting in a faster weight loss. Atkins claims you can lose up to 15 pounds in the first two weeks of the induction period. After induction, and after your body has recognized how to burn fat from eating lean proteins and low-carbohydrate vegetables, you can begin the next phase of Atkins -- ongoing weight loss or OWL. OWL allows you to begin to slowly add carbohydrates into your diet while still losing weight. OWL is followed by pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance allowing you to reach your weight loss goals with Atkins and keep the weight off.
Induction
The entire goal of induction is to jump-start your diet. This type of initiation into the diet allows your body to switch to burning carbohydrate for fuel to burning fat for energy. This is also a period in which you are able to get a jump start on your weight loss. You will likely see the most results in the shortest period of time. During the induction period, you are restricted on what foods you can eat. Under no circumstances are you allowed to eat over 20 grams of net carbohydrates per day. Eating foods that are high in minerals and protein will give you the strength to get through induction. Some examples of induction foods include; fish, shellfish, fowl and meat such as bacon, beef and pork that is not processed or injected with additives.
Time Frame
Because induction jump starts your low-carbohydrate diet, it is designed to be utilized for a short period of time. Following induction for 14 days or two weeks allows you to get used to eating low carbohydrate foods. It is important not to starve yourself on induction. Eat until you feel full and load up on snacks and condiments that are carbohydrate free such as mayonnaise, mustard, pickles, cheese, pork rinds and beef jerky. Be sure to take a vitamin supplement during this time and drink plenty of water in order to promote a healthy bowel movement and to prevent muscle cramps. Induction can also show you how it feels to regulate your blood sugar levels and reduce fluctuations in blood sugar levels, explains MayoClinic.com.
Ongoing Weight Loss
After the induction is phase is over, it is recommended that you continue slowly implementing foods low in carbohydrates to your diet. If you find yourself beginning to gain weight, you can readjust your carbohydrate intake or resort back to the induction phase to jump start your diet. Atkins suggests referring back to induction until your body switches back into fat burning mode. It is not recommended to restrict your carbohydrate intake for prolonged periods of time. You should be able to maintain your current weight by consuming no more than 40 to 80 net carbs per day.
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