Most people around the world have heard of the Atkins diet. It is one of the most hyped and controversial diets of our time. Those who love it have nothing but great things to say about it, but those who are critical are not shy about their opposition either. The biggest criticism of the Atkins or low carb diet would be the near absence of whole grains, which are considered by many to be the cornerstone of a healthy diet.
The Atkins diet involves eliminating a large proportion of carbohydrates from your diet. In the past, the Atkins diet didn't place as much emphasis on fitness and exercise as it does now. This is good news, as an active fitness regime is just as important to successful weight loss as cutting calories and, in this case, carbohydrates.
You should be very careful that you get accurate information when it comes to the Atkins diet if this is something you are considering to meet your fitness and weight loss needs. There is a lot of misleading and incorrect information out there when it comes to the Atkins diet and weight loss plan. Firstly, weight loss is the direct result of burning more calories than you take in. It doesn't matter how many or how few carbohydrates you enjoy or deny yourself during the day if, at the end of the day, you're a few thousand calories over.
The idea that you can eat anything you want during the day as long as it is carbohydrate-free is simply not true. Calories are still going to put on the pounds, whether you are on the Atkins diet or not. That said, there are some interesting insights in this diet and a good man of the foods that are eliminated are those that have the most complex sugars for the body to dispose of. For this reason there are many who have followed the honest to goodness plan to tremendous results.
If you are considering following the Atkins diet, you should realise that this is a lifelong commitment in order to get the maximum benefit from the plan. There will be fewer restrictions as you move into the maintenance phases of the plans, but you are making a conscious decision to give up quite a lot of the carbohydrates that many of us have enjoyed throughout our lives. This is a concept that is much easier said than done over a long period of time, especially in a society where most of us cannot commit to a partner for that long.
However, the Atkins diet has produced results for many people around the world. The news of these results has made it one of the most talked about, tested and tried diets on the planet and many people have mixed reviews. Those who love it and feel that it is effective are enthusiastic in their support, although those who are honest will admit that you do feel that you are sacrificing a great deal for the sake of your dietary needs. Those who hate it hate it and there is nothing that will change their minds. The only way to be sure is to try it for yourself.