The Atkins diet has become a very popular diet since it was first created in 1992 by Dr. Robert Atkins. The diet is known as one of the most effective low carbohydrate diet with rapid results. The Atkins diet consists of four phases with each phase limiting the intake of carbohydrate rich foods.

The first phase of the Atkins diet, Induction, is most notably the hardest phase and lasts for a total of 14 days. For many dieters they find this to be the hardest phase because their body has to change from using burning carbohydrates as their main energy source to now burning fat. The only carbohydrates allowed in this phase are the carbohydrates found in foods such as green vegetables and can only consume 20 grams of carbohydrates per day. In this phase you will be restricted from foods such as cereal, sugar, potatoes, bread, and oatmeal. Although this phase is labeled as the hardest phase many dieters have found that their food cravings subsided after 2-3 days of starting the diet and made it easier to progress into phase 2 of the diet.

The second phase of the Atkins diet, On Going Weight Loss or OWL, you will get to start adding more of a variety into your diet by gradually adding more carbohydrate rich foods. You will only be allowed to add 5 grams of carbohydrates each day and monitor your weight loss very closely. In the weeks of the second phase you will want to find the medium between the amounts of carbohydrates that you are taking in per day as well as where your weight is leveling at. You want to make sure that you are still losing weight each week and it is up to you to find out the amount of carbs that will need to be incorporated in your diet to maintain a steady weight loss.

Once you are within 5-10 pounds from your goal weight you will start with the third phase of the Atkins diet. This phase is called the Pre-Maintenance phase and allows a person to start taking in larger increments of carbohydrate rich foods slowly until they have reached their goal weight. You will want to find out the amount of carbohydrates you can take in per week until your weight loss stops and stays at a steady rate. Once you have reached your goal weight and have found out the amount of carbohydrates you can allow your diet to have without any weight gain or loss you can then move on to the fourth and final phase of the Atkins diet.

The fourth phase of the Atkins diet, Lifetime Maintenance, is the last phase and will help you keep your weight and figure for the rest of your life. Many people find this to be an easy phase because their body is now used to having a low carbohydrate diet and too many has become their new and improved lifestyle.

Your main goal while on the Atkins diet is to remain focused and stick with the plan. Many people fail due to going back to their old eating habits and end up gaining weight back. As long as you stick with the Atkins diet plan you will find success and a new look in the mirror at your slimming figure!