Atkins Diet Phase 1: Induction

The purpose of the Atkins diet Induction phase is to change your metabolism to burn fat for energy (instead of carbohydrates), which involves inducing the body into a state of lipolysis/ketosis (which catalyzes weight loss). Aside from losing weight, this process will stabilize your blood sugar and break addictions to carbohydrate-based foods, caffeine, and alcohol.

The Induction phase lasts for 14 days, during which you will experience the most weight loss. You are restricted to eating 20 grams of carbohydrates per day, which must come from salad greens or non-starchy vegetables. To achieve weight loss, you must eat three regular meals per day, or four to five smaller meals-don't wait more than 6 hours between meals.

What you can eat:

As much as you want: poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs, red meat, butter, mayonnaise, olive oil, safflower and other vegetable oils, cheese, and cream.

In moderation (on a daily basis): salad (three loosely packed cups), vegetables (one cup).

What you can't eat: fruit, bread, pasta, grains, starchy vegetables, dairy products (other than those mentioned above), nuts, seeds, legumes, alcohol, coffee, tea, and soft drinks with caffeine.

On the Atkin's diet you can expereince weight loss while eating as much of the allowed foods as you want, but don't overeat. Be careful of hidden carbs found in gravy, sauce, salad dressing, prepared salads, gum, breath mints, cough syrups, and cough drops. Eating these foods will slow down and jeopardize your weight loss. Read food labels carefully and get a carbohydrate gram counter in case there's no carb information (or if you're eating out). Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily for good weight loss results. Take a multivitamin that provides minerals, especially potassium, magnesium and calcium.