Getting started with Atkins Diet Phase 1

Now that you have finally decided to lose weight using the Atkins Diet Program, it is important for you to know that before you begin this diet program, you will have to face the Atkins diet phase 1 or Induction. There are a lot of people who despise the Atkins diet phase 1 because this is a two-week period wherein all carbohydrates are removed from the diet. There is a big possibility that a person can lose more than 15 pounds within the two-week period since all types of carbohydrates are eliminated. You should keep in mind though that you must not cheat in any way during the Atkins diet phase 1, unless you want all of your efforts to go to waste.

Rules that you must follow during the Atkins diet phase 1

The primary goal of the Atkins diet phase 1, or also known as the Induction period, is for the body to undergo ketosis. For those of you who do not have any idea what ketosis means, ketosis is a process wherein it causes the body to burn fats for energy instead of carbohydrates. 

The rules for the phase 1 of the Atkins diet are very restrictive, and it is important that you break not even a single rule. You must not eat any carbohydrates during the two-week period, and the primary source of carbohydrates that you should only eat is from leafy vegetables. With the Induction period, you can eat anything that you want just as long as they are all high-protein foods.

If you are one of the lucky few though who only need to lose less than 10 pounds, it is acceptable if you skip the Induction period and proceed to phase 2.

What are the foods that I should eat and avoid during the Atkins diet phase 1?

Apart from carbohydrates, there are a lot of drinks and foods that are restricted during the Induction period. You should not drink milk or alcohol during this period because doing so will only mess with your diet. You should also avoid eating or drinking foods and drinks that are filled with sugar. However, there are some sweeteners that are accepted during this period. You should also avoid eating nuts during the first phase of the Atkins diet, but you should not fret because you can eat nuts at a later period of the diet.

On a positive note, you can still enjoy a wide variety of food during the first phase of the diet. You can eat as much as high-protein foods as you desire, which include, meat, fish, eggs, and chicken just to name a few. You can also eat cheese during this two-week period, but you must remember that you can only eat three to four ounces during this Induction period. The choice of beverage during the phase 1 is water, but it is accepted if you drink decaffeinated coffee or tea. You can also drink diet soda with sweetener if you desire.