Lipolysis is the key to losing fat. The Atkin’s approach is really designed to encourage the body to enter a state of lipolysis, which means that rather than use carbohydrates (sugars) as its primary fuel source, it uses fat, both dietary fat and body fat. To get to this stage, you need to deprive your body of carbs, so that your metabolism switches from sugar burning to fat burning.
I think that this is where people misunderstand Atkin’s, which is a diet plan designed to prompt more rapid lipolysis. People say that all the weight is put back on after “going on an Atkins diet“. but of course it is. If you just do induction, which is aimed at starting lipolysis by restricting carb intake, and then revert after to the diet that made you fat in the first place, you will get fat again. But you cannot blame Atkins. It is your fault for going back to your previous eating habits.
I was having a conversation with a client today over lunch, and this is exactly what he thought about Atkins. “Atkins does not work, once you stop it, you put all the weight back on”. Obvious really. Then he said, “what, you are supposed to stay on the diet forever then?”. YES. Of course. This is the whole idea of staying fit and healthy. Change from an eating habit that made you fat, to one that keeps you slim.
Not many people like the idea of changing the way that they eat forever. Most people are in denial about why they are overweight, that is they blame a few large meals, the odd binge etc. and do not accept that the are overweight due to the fact that they are eating the wrong foods for their metabolism.
The Atkins Induction Phase does not last forever. But eating fewer carbs, and more protein, to ensure that your metabolism continues to burn fat as well as sugar, is essential to maintain your weight. As soon as you go back to your old eating habits, the weight will return, without fail.