What is the Atkins Diet?

The Atkins diet is a carbohydrate intake restricted diet, or a ketogenic diet, but it is not a non-carbohydrate diet. The diet focuses on limited consumption of carbohydrates less than 20g a day for the first 2 weeks of the diet, referred to as Induction, after which you are encouraged to gradually increase the daily intake of carbohydrate grams until reaching a level that allows you to still lose weight. Once at goal weight you increase your carbohydrate grams until finding the level which you can maintain your desired weight. One of goals of the Induction phase is to begin dietary ketosis - Ketosis, a condition in which the body without available dietary carbohydrates will turn to stored fat for fuel.

How does Atkins work?

Dr. Robert C. Atkins and his followers blame carbohydrates for weight gain. Carbohydrates are organic compounds that include sugars, starches, celluloses, and gums and serve as a major energy source in our diet. Grains, pastas, fruits, and starchy vegetables like potatoes are the most common carbohydrate foods. According to Atkins, if you cut the carbs, you'll drop the pounds. The Atkins system claims to switch your body from a carbohydrate-burning metabolism to a primarily fat-burning metabolism.

How long does it take to start losing weight?

After 3-4 days you should enter ketosis - this is where your body begins to use fat rather than carbohydrates for energy. At this point your body may start shedding some pounds, most of which are probably water. Give it a week or two and you'll start noticing the fat dissappear.