How to Lose Weight on the Atkins Program

The Atkins diet is a program that revolves around the idea of low carbohydrate intake. By cutting foods such as white breads, pastas and anything high in sugar, your body will stop burning glucose for energy and begin burning stored fat cells to lose weight. Before you go on any diet it's important to consult your doctor to ensure that it is a healthy choice for you. There are a few beginner tips that can be used to kick start your Atkins weight loss.

Instructions

• 1

  Drink eight glasses of water each day. The Atkins diet causes your body to experience heavy changes and the water is necessary to keep your metabolism active.

• 2

  Cut out all foods that are excessively high in carbohydrates. Cereals, rice, bread, candy, potatoes, alcohol and fruit. Read the labels of all foods you consume to check the number of carbs. You shouldn't be consuming more than 20 carbs a day.

• 3

  Fill your meals with meats, green vegetables and high fat dairy products such as butter and cheese. A typical breakfast would consist of eggs cooked to your choice, decaffeinated coffee or tea, and bacon, ham or Canadian bacon. Lunches and dinners mostly consist of salad greens, steamed vegetables and turkey, ham, steak, roast, or any other meat. Just watch out for hidden sugars and carbs in salad dressings and condiments. You don't have to count calories, just keep the diet at 65 percent fat, 5 percent carbs and 30 percent protein.

• 4

  Do not take days "off" where you allow yourself to eat an excessive amount of carbs. Going back and forth is very bad for your body and can lead to health problems. After you have lost the amount of weight needed, you will enter the pre-maintenance stage and will be able to raise the amount of net carbs you consume a day to 30. This will help you figure out how many carbs you can eat without gaining weight.