The Atkins diet is one of the most famous weight loss methods in the world. As opposed to many other types of diets and plans for losing weight, the Atkins diet is a strict method that will change your lifestyle forever and will teach you how to eat healthy and according to your body needs. The Atkins diet has four phases: the introduction, the ongoing weight loss, the pre-maintenance and the lifetime maintenance.

The first phase of the Atkins diet is the introduction. This may be seen as the most severe stage, due to the fact that it prohibits many food groups and it cuts down on your allowed carbohydrate levels drastically. You will only be able to eat from certain food groups and beverages will be reduced to water for two weeks. However, you should not form the wrong idea about the Atkins diet, as the next stages will increase the list of allowed foods and drinks, until you can pin point the maximum quantities. Thus, the second phase of the Atkins diet is the ongoing weight loss. During this stage, you will be able to add food and beverage groups, in a controlled amount each week. This will last until you are 10 pounds / 4,5 kilograms away from the weight you wish to reach. The pre-maintenance phase is the one when you reach the maximum level of carbohydrates without gaining weight. After this, the last phase of the Atkins diet, the lifetime maintenance, is supposed to keep you at the ideal weight, after all the desired groups have been introduced. You can always return to the prior stages if you feel that you are gaining weight again.

The goal here is to take your body through all these stages that will help you get accustomed to a new lifestyle and to form new habits and routines. The Atkins diet is probably one of the few diets that is meant for you to keep for the rest of your life and not have to worry that when you stop it you will gain the weight back.