The prospect of a rapid weight loss must seem like a miracle to you, but not many people are forewarned that there is a very good chance that the rapid weight loss technique you may use would do more harm than good to your body.

To have an understanding as to the healthiest way to lose weight, let’s take a look at the human body. The human body is a highly complex mechanism, composed of countless cells; each cell has a nucleus of its own, like a mind of their own. When you eat something, the stomach disintegrates to the most basic of components and distributes it into the body.

The human body is a complex yet simple organism, requiring almost everything to some degree to ensure healthy functioning. It is very much possible however that you give your body a bit more than it can normally process, like every other worker, the body also puts all that extra work on hold by storing the work content everywhere possible and accessible.

This method involves completely eliminating any carbohydrates in the diet through various means so that those extra carbohydrates can be burned. There are a number of low carb diet formulae available in the market for consumer use. This method very definitely provides result in the beginning, but that is only because the body responds to the complete lack of carbohydrates in the body by rather ingesting the muscle and liquid mass.

Weight however is not a problem in many cases; it is the visual affect that people are so negated about. If a person weighing 300 pounds is muscularly built, the weight looks good whereas a person with the same weight who is flabby looks awful. This example was necessary to help you recognize the root of your problem. The root of your problem is not weight, it is not muscle, it is fat, the flab that so hinders your movement and that makes you look so bad.

Now that we have recognized the source of the problem, I hope you would understand that it is fat not weight that you should seek to diminish. The task is not so had as people are usually led to believe. Usually people are recommended fat free diets or carbohydrate free diets. Although both of these may be able to offer some visible effects, the human body is not meant to work with an outright lack in anything, once it has adapted its metabolism to incorporate it.

There is no need to starve yourself in your quest to lose weight, there are quite a few ways in which you can ensure weight reduction for your body. Just remember that there are fats that make you fat, and there are fats that make you leaner, the same holds true for the carbohydrates, the only difference lies in just how much work does the body need to digest a certain kind of fat or carbohydrate.

There is no reason nor advantage of going hungry or eating diets, rather it would be recommended you take another closer look at what you eat, if it is fats your body needs, go for fat, just make sure that the fats you intake this time are easier to process, so that the body gets what it wants, and also burns up what you do not want.

There are loads of folks out there searching for a way to look good fast, they start searching for fast diets, and diets that work fast – there are tons on the internet.

categories: Rapid Weight Loss,Weight Loss,Dieting,Fitness

When it comes to weight loss now, numerous individuals are searching for the fast fixes and the fad dieting to answer their weight problems, when in fact these are the plans that are stamping down their weight loss in the long run.Double-quick weight loss induces its initial benefits but understanding the long term impacts of this kind of weight loss program can help you learn the most effective forms of weight loss and how to hold weight when you finally reach your goal.

You see, there are really many a speedy weight loss methods out there that do work, however, the absolute majority of individuals searching for weight loss info have got no idea what these methods truly are. They get befooled by the craze diets that state them a certain food is the only reason of their weight gain and move for the pitch with great hope.

Eat Up More Meals and Don’t Cut Them. It is a myth that skipping meals would facilitate you to lose weight promptly and efficaciously. Your body would slow down its metabolic process when you skip meals, in a bid to preserve vigor, therefore burning off lesser calories. You end up starved and still not reaching the desirable weight loss.Distribute your meals from 3 big meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner into 5-6 smaller meals making up the 3 essential light meals and 2-3 other snacking time. This would spread your calorie intake and gain a good balance.

Exercise Enough – Some common people hate this rapid weight loss hint and are at once turned off. Sorry to say, in order to maintain a healthy weight, exercising is required. Dieting and having alterations to your eating habits would simply win you half the game. Uniform physical exercise is the lacking part of the double-quick weight loss puzzle. You may be inquiring how much is enough? Physical trainers or even your MD would advise you to go for light exercise sessions of 30 minutes each time. Take Over the routine for a minimum of 3 times a calendar week for effectual weight loss. You would be astonished how rapid you begin to lose inches off your waistline and hips once you commence your exercising regime.

Although you are trying to lose fat and calories when on a fad diet, your body still needs a certain quantity to do work in good order and the more you deprive your body of these foods and minerals, the more damage you are doing than good. Take the time to re-adjust your life style and start out having time for healthy meals, snacks and workout to lose weight at a more step-by-step basis.

If you are considering starting a rapid weight loss program, then you should be aware that it will affect how you live your life from day to day if you are serious about losing weight. One of the most important aspects of losing weight is attitude and changing bad habits and replacing them with new but good ones, something that requires a certain consistency. The factors that dictate the speed at which a person sheds pounds is quite complex,a number of these are highlighted below:

Genetic make-up Previous mental trauma Desire to lose weight

Some but not all are physical aspects. Losing weight can be the turning point in an overweight or obese person’s life and they can get their self-respect back and reduce the number of associated health risks.

Although using a rapid weight loss plan can help achieve this in a short space of time but there is more to it than that,regular exercise and a healthy nutritious diet are also going to be part of this plan. Your chosen diet plan must be fairly flexible so it will suit your tastes but this should not be relied upon to do all the work for you.

It is important you use a rapid weight loss plan that works for your particular metabolism because everyone is different and some of these work well for some but not for others. In instances like these it is best to substitute a more rigorous exercise program to compensate and learn to listen to your body and adjust your diet plan accordingly. Listen as the body speaks because each and everyone’s body metabolism reacts differently to the various fast weight loss programs so try substituting one program for another to compensate for the body’s reaction.

Some people are unable to run, dance or swim so if you are only comfortable walking then that is fine,however, try to improve the pace you walk at as your diet progresses, remembering that you will look better when your fat is converted into muscle.

Exercise often means a great deal of body fluids are lost and need to be replaced,someone on a rapid weight loss program should be drinking at least 6 glasses of water each day which will replace lost fluids and help get rid of bad toxins at the same time. Avoid fat drenched deep fried foods which can also mean fish and chicken if you are eating the wrong part of the animal.

It is recommended for those on a strict diet to opt for grilled food as this contains a smaller amount of fat after the food has been cooked. Make sure that you aren’t avoiding carbohydrates altogether though as they provide your body with the energy it needs to function properly.

Generally speaking a plan like this can enable a person to lose around a pound in weight each day as it is based on a diet of between one thousand to fifteen hundred calories a day.

If you search on the Internet, you will see thousands of advertisements promising you that their products will get you trim fast. It all sounds tempting, and perhaps you have tried some of these quick weight loss schemes? You want to look your best, but you also know that being trim and at a healthy weight has numerous health benefits. It’s common sense right? But then why are 64% of Americans overweight? Brutal truth is, most of those diets just don’t work. The weight loss is not sustainable, and people give up — usually worse off than when they started. But, all is not lost! You really can get trim fast!

First, I highly recommend anyone starting out on a weight loss program to seek out your doctors recommendation for the best weight loss regimen for you. There are many diet program out there, some work, some are fads, and some are just unhealthy ” your doctors oversight and recommendation is a critical step to ensuring not only your short term weight loss goals, but life changing results. Here are 6 rapid weight loss tips that will have you shredding inches in no time and get the body you want fast:

1. Proper balance. To lose weight quickly, yet remain healthy, you need to be holistic in your approach. Your plan begins with you: a positive attitude! Then routine exercise (cardio and muscle building), proper nutrition, and optionally, diet supplements. Your diet must include a healthy balance of lean proteins, good fats (example: salmon, all natural peanut butter, etc.), and low GI carbs such as whole grain breads and pastas. Wrap in a fitness plan that starts you out reasonably slow for your current fitness level, but with increased intensity every day — your body will grow stronger if you continually pump up the level.

2. Establish challenging but attainable goals. With the right attitude and mindset you’ll be well on your way to melting those extra inches and getting trim. You need to have your goals in mind, and they should be realistic. If you are in your forties, it’s highly improbable that you will be able to get back to the weight you were in high school if you haven’t been that slim in over 20 years.

3. Listen to your body. Were not all the same. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. Your metabolism reacts differently than your neighbors. Diet and exercise programs that are a once size fits all type of systems may not be your choice, unless you try several of them until you find the one that works for you. Find a program that not only does cardio, but strength and muscle conditioning as well ” the more muscle you have, the higher metabolism ” the more calories you burn!

4. Put fiber on your pedestal! I don’t know why this seems like such a secret, since it’s rarely ever mentioned in diet plans — but fiber has an amazing effect on boosting your weight loss! It acts as an appetite suppressant making you feel full quickly, it takes longer to digest so you stay full longer, it’s loaded with vitamin and minerals, and it has this amazing effect of increasing your insulin levels which sky-rocket your metabolism! With that increased metabolic rate, you’ll have more energy, and you’ll be burning more calories all day.

5. Trans and saturated fats are the devil. Keep away from fired foods, especially deep fried foods. These contain enormous amounts of saturated fats which slow down your metabolism, increase your cholesterol, risky for your heart, and generally just balloons your body fat. Even though fish and chicken appear leaner than beef, if either one is deep fried, it will contain twice the amount of fat than beef. For quick weight loss, stick to broiled or grilled lean proteins, such as chicken, and fish, and pass on the deep fry.

6. Drink lots and lots of water! It’s critical for quick weight loss. If you have a hard time with water, put some low cal or zero cal flavor packets in it such as Crystal Light, etc.. You should be consuming at minimum of 8 big glasses of water daily, and I actually recommend more than that for fast weight loss. You’re eating more lean proteins, and low GI carbs, plus you have upped your activity level through intense exercise — your body needs it. Water also rids your digestive system of waste, another key element to getting trim fast.

7. Forget about low fat diets. That’s a shocker huh? Truth is, they don’t work. American’s have been sold that low fat diet myth now for over 20 years and, are we any slimmer? No, quite the contrary. We need fat in our diets, in fact, you can’t effectively or quickly lose body fat without it. However, don’t go running out and ordering those french fries, we already covered that in point #5. You need health fats. Fats like monounsaturated (olive, peanut, or canola oils) and polyunsaturated fats (like fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts). Your body needs them, it’s an appetite suppressant and stunts hunger. Just keep in mind, to lose weight, we reduce our caloric intake, not eliminate fats.

So there you have it, your seven powerful tips to get you down the road to quick weight loss. Remember, discipline and consistency is the key. Focus on good, healthy nutrition, reduced calories, gradually more intensive fitness routines, and the right amount of supplements. Do this consistently. Do it daily. Make it a lifestyle change. Every day it will become easier, and once you notice the results, you will amaze even yourself. Follow those 7 tips and you’ll be well on your way to a slimmer, healthier, and trimmer you.

If you search on the Internet, you will see thousands of advertisements promising you that their products will get you trim fast. It all sounds tempting, and perhaps you have tried some of these quick weight loss schemes? You want to look your best, but you also know that being trim and at a healthy weight has numerous health benefits. It’s common sense right? But then why are 64% of Americans overweight? Brutal truth is, most of those diets just don’t work. The weight loss is not sustainable, and people give up — usually worse off than when they started. But, all is not lost! You really can get trim fast!

First, I highly recommend anyone starting out on a weight loss program to seek out your doctors recommendation for the best weight loss regimen for you. There are many diet program out there, some work, some are fads, and some are just unhealthy ” your doctors oversight and recommendation is a critical step to ensuring not only your short term weight loss goals, but life changing results. Here are 6 rapid weight loss tips that will have you shredding inches in no time and get the body you want fast:

1. Proper balance. To lose weight quickly, yet remain healthy, you need to be holistic in your approach. Your plan begins with you: a positive attitude! Then routine exercise (cardio and muscle building), proper nutrition, and optionally, diet supplements. Your diet must include a healthy balance of lean proteins, good fats (example: salmon, all natural peanut butter, etc.), and low GI carbs such as whole grain breads and pastas. Wrap in a fitness plan that starts you out reasonably slow for your current fitness level, but with increased intensity every day — your body will grow stronger if you continually pump up the level.

2. Establish challenging but attainable goals. With the right attitude and mindset you’ll be well on your way to melting those extra inches and getting trim. You need to have your goals in mind, and they should be realistic. If you are in your forties, it’s highly improbable that you will be able to get back to the weight you were in high school if you haven’t been that slim in over 20 years.

3. Your body talks, listen to it. If you overdo it, rest for a while. If you aren’t feeling like you are pushing yourself at all, step up the intensity. Don’t make the mistake of starting a diet or fitness program that worked for your sister or friend — you may be on a completely different level than they are. We all have different metabolisms, endurance levels, muscle strength. If you are coming off a sedentary lifestyle, start with a program that is made for a beginner. Just make sure you gradually yet continuously step up your intensity.

4. Put fiber on your pedestal! I don’t know why this seems like such a secret, since it’s rarely ever mentioned in diet plans — but fiber has an amazing effect on boosting your weight loss! It acts as an appetite suppressant making you feel full quickly, it takes longer to digest so you stay full longer, it’s loaded with vitamin and minerals, and it has this amazing effect of increasing your insulin levels which sky-rocket your metabolism! With that increased metabolic rate, you’ll have more energy, and you’ll be burning more calories all day.

5. You know the enemy, and it’s been fried! Saturated and trans fats are the enemy I am speaking of, and you’ll find them in abundant amounts in fried and deep fried foods. Saturated and trans fats will bring your metabolism to a halt, which will kill your daily caloric burn. They are also very bad for your heart by raising your cholesterol. As tasty as those deep fried chicken wings and french fries are, stay away, far away. Instead, go for some broiled or grilled lean meats such as chicken, turkey, or fish. You body will thank you, and you’ll be heading down that road of quick weight loss.

6. Drink water like a fish! Seriously, learn to love it. If you don’t like it, put some of those low calorie or zero calorie flavor packets in your water (like Crystal Light). You need to be drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily, and more if you can. Good hydration while you are on a quick weight loss plan is key. Water eliminates your body’s waste, which is veyr important. You also need to have that extra hydration since you are eating more lean proteins and low glycemic carbohydrates, on top of your increased intensity exercise plan. Drink water to get trim fast.

7. Forget about low fat diets. That’s a shocker huh? Truth is, they don’t work. American’s have been sold that low fat diet myth now for over 20 years and, are we any slimmer? No, quite the contrary. We need fat in our diets, in fact, you can’t effectively or quickly lose body fat without it. However, don’t go running out and ordering those french fries, we already covered that in point #5. You need health fats. Fats like monounsaturated (olive, peanut, or canola oils) and polyunsaturated fats (like fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts). Your body needs them, it’s an appetite suppressant and stunts hunger. Just keep in mind, to lose weight, we reduce our caloric intake, not eliminate fats.

Adapt those 7 quick weight loss tips into your daily routine, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly the fat will melt. Keep in mind that focus, will power, and consistency are the key to lose weight fast. Stick with your nutrition and exercise plans. Make sure you don’t get complacent in your exercise routine — keep bumping up the intensity. You do that, and before you know it you will be amazed how your clothes feel looser, you’ll feel better, you’ll have more energy, and most importantly, you’ll make a lifestyle change that will reap rewards for the rest of your life.

When I first encountered an Atkins Diet book, I was working in an office. I had been working there for five or six years and had accumulated a fair bit of excess weight. I had never been active in sport, but my previous job had been working on site, which brought with it a certain amount of physical activity ” just enough to keep me in reasonable shape. After five years of pen-pushing, I weighed 18 stone 12 pounds (264 lbs or 120 kg), up three stone and neither I nor my doctor were happy about it.

One day a representative of some accounting firm came in for a scheduled appointment, and, while we were awaiting the other directors, we got to talking about working in an office and its tendency to make one put on a stone or two. He said that he had had the same problem before this new, more mobile, job that he had and that now he made sure he got out of the office regularly and walked everywhere he could, time permitting. He also said that he’d read an interesting book on dieting while on holiday in the United States and that he would send me a copy when he got back to his home town. I didn’t think anything more of it and never saw the man again. I think his name was Mr. Blackwell.

One day the book arrived out of the blue, but it remained on my desk unread for months and months, until one day, I had a dentist’s appointment. I had forgotten to take a book to work to read while I was waiting ” something I nearly always did/do because the magazines are always so old and boring. Anyway, I read 50 or so pages that day and I was really impressed. I had never been on a ‘proper’ diet before and I thought I should give it a a go. I had stopped eating pastry, cakes and chocolate months ago, but it hadn’t had much effect and my weight was still on the up, albeit slightly more slowly.

It appeared to me that it was a ‘thinking person’s’ diet There is a huge amount of scope for individual tastes and lifestyles and self-discipline did not seem to be much of a problem because for that reason. The book warned of addictions and fads and how best to overcome or prevent them. These did not seem to be an issue for me. I liked coffee, but could take it or leave it and I had already given up chocolate. I knew that maybe beer and bread could be a problem.

The only requirement in the seven-fourteen day induction phase is to eat not more than 20 gram of carbohydrate per day. The book has a clear list of almost every foodstuff and their carbohydrate content. I found it really very easy. In fact, I was eating in a more healthy way in the induction stage than I had been eating before it! I bought a carton of Ketone sticks from the local chemist to make sure that the Atkins Diet was working and I found that I was in ketosis on the third day. It was very gratifying to know that I would be slimming down whatever I did and wherever I was all day long from now on.

I gave up bread (and beer!) for a fortnight and felt great. I actually felt ‘bouncy’ or ’springy’ as you see a boxer in the ring before a fight. I had no trouble whatsoever staying within the 20 gram limit, although I missed fruit more than I’d expected. But I found ways to compensate for everything. The book has loads of recipes and suggestions so I won’t go into them here, but I started eating breakfast before I went to work and in the evenings, took great care and attention over preparing a lunch box for work the next day, usually consisting of a salad, some cheese and various nuts to snack on. You can eat a few strawberries too. In the evening, I would cook up something like a curry (no flour) eating it with green beans instead of rice; or a traditional British meal without potatoes followed by cheese and strawberries and cream. I lost 18 pounds in two weeks and felt wonderful.

Some people have to try to make your life miserable, if you let them. It was obvious to everyone that I looked and felt better, but some people just have to try to spoil it. I was told: lots of people have died of kidney or liver failure after being on Atkins I read it in the newspaper; you will have a heart attack, it’s not natural; your cholesterol will climb sky high and you will need your toes amputated or you will have a stroke; it will affect your eyesight. All sorts of rubbish. So, I went to see my GP, who admitted that he did not know anything about the Atkins diet, but he also added that he had heard nothing bad about it either. He sent me for a series of tests at the hospital and the results were all satisfactory. He was happy that I’d lost 18 lbs and so was I. Six weeks later, I went for another cholesterol check-up, because of the high fat levels in the diet and, although my cholesterol level was up very slightly, the doctor said there was no cause for concern at all.

The book warns that you might suffer from bad breath (halitosis). I don’t know whether I did or not – no-one mentioned it, but I started brushing my teeth four or five times a day just in case. I guess that’s another benefit of Atkins: increased awareness of oral hygiene. It also warns of constipation. I didn’t get that either, although I didn’t give up black coffee, which has always had a laxative effect on me. But how can you become constipated if you’re allowed to eat well over 1lb of greens a day? I wasn’t eating that well before the diet! So my two main concerns were unfounded.

After a couple of weeks I was getting bored not going out so much. Not with the diet, but because I’m single and am used to going to the pub (and drinking beer). So, I decided to treat this scientifically. One day, after work, I had three pints of Guinness and felt merry. Before the diet, I would have drunk five or six pints to feel the same. To my delight, the next morning the ketone stick told me that I was still ‘on the diet’. Over the following weeks, I really enjoyed finding out what would ‘work’ and what would not. I discovered that cider had to be avoided at all costs; some beers and some lagers were all right; red and white wine were OK. Consuming alcohol does not knock you off the diet, but it slows down your rate of progress. However, even slow progress is progress, I say. Better than giving up the diet or giving up going out.

Be very wary of people encouraging you to ‘just try a little bit’. They don’t understand or don’t want to understand the trouble they’re causing you. Your body can hold two days worth of carbohydrates. One chocolate, one slice of bread, a bowl of cornflakes or one sugar in your coffee will cost you TWO days to put right. Don’t let them do it to you. This is not a diet for the weekends, in fact I think that it probably could be dangerous to keep ‘falling off the wagon’, because of the high fat content of the diet, which is not dangerous if you stick to it, because you body devours fat and cholesterol in the absence of carbohydrates.

The story ends at this pont, with me having got down to under 16 stone and keeping it there, until very recently when I moved to the Far East to live. Once I get used to the food and have my own house and own kitchen, I will get down to 15 stone, I’m sure I will ” with very little effort.

Anyway, thank you, Mr. Blackwell, wherever you are, you changed my life and my understanding of food and thank you, Mr. Atkins too.

Some people have to try to make your life miserable, if you let them. It was obvious to everyone that I looked and felt better, but some people just have to try to spoil it. I was told: lots of people have died of kidney or liver failure after being on Atkins I read it in the newspaper; you will have a heart attack, it’s not natural; your cholesterol will climb sky high and you will need your toes amputated or you will have a stroke; it will affect your eyesight. All sorts of rubbish. So, I went to see my GP, who admitted that he did not know anything about the Atkins diet, but he also added that he had heard nothing bad about it either. He sent me for a series of tests at the hospital and the results were all satisfactory. He was happy that I’d lost 18 lbs and so was I. Six weeks later, I went for another cholesterol check-up, because of the high fat levels in the diet and, although my cholesterol level was up very slightly, the doctor said there was no cause for concern at all.

The book warns that you might suffer from bad breath (halitosis). I don’t know whether I did or not – no-one mentioned it, but I started brushing my teeth four or five times a day just in case. I guess that’s another benefit of Atkins: increased awareness of oral hygiene. It also warns of constipation. I didn’t get that either, although I didn’t give up black coffee, which has always had a laxative effect on me. But how can you become constipated if you’re allowed to eat well over 1lb of greens a day? I wasn’t eating that well before the diet! So my two main concerns were unfounded.

A couple of weeks later, I was getting bored not going out so much. I was still happy with the diet, but because I am single and am used to going out and drinking beer. So, I decided to go about this scientifically. One day, after work, I drank three pints of Guinness and felt great – the taste was wonderful. Before the diet, I would have drunk five or six pints. To my surprise and delight, the next morning the ketone stick told me that I was still ‘on the diet’. Over the following weeks, I really enjoyed experimenting to find out what would ‘work’ and what would not. I discovered that even a small amount of cider would ruin the Atkins diet; some beers and some lagers were all right; red and white wine were OK. Consuming alcohol does not knock you off the Atkins diet, but it slows down your rate of progress. Even slow progress is progress, I say. Better than giving up the diet or not going out.

Be very wary of people encouraging you to ‘just try a little bit’. They don’t understand or don’t want to understand the trouble they’re causing you. Your body can hold two days worth of carbohydrates. One chocolate, one slice of bread, a bowl of cornflakes or one sugar in your coffee will cost you TWO days to put right. Don’t let them do it to you. This is not a diet for the weekends, in fact I think that it probably could be dangerous to keep ‘falling off the wagon’, because of the high fat content of the diet, which is not dangerous if you stick to it, because you body devours fat and cholesterol in the absence of carbohydrates.

The story ends so far, with me having got down to under 16 stone and keeping it there, until very recently when I moved to the Far East to live. Once I get used to the food and my own house and own kitchen, I will go down to 15 stone, I know I will ” with very little effort.

Well, there you have it … My grateful thanks to you, Mr. Blackwell, wherever you are these days, you changed my life and my understanding of food and drink with that book and thank you, Mr. Atkins too.

I read my first Atkins Diet book when I was working in an office in Barry, south Wales. I had been working there for about five years and had put on a lot of excess weight. I had never enjoyed taking part in sport, but my previously, I had worked on building sites, which meant a fair bit of physical activity ” enough anyway to keep me in decent shape. After five years on the office computer, I weighed 18 stone 12 pounds (264 lbs or 120 kg), three stone more than I had before and neither I nor my GP were happy about it.

One day a representative of a legal firm came in for an appointment, and, while we were waiting for the other directors to arrive, we got talking about office life and its propensity to put on weight. He said that he had had the same problem before, but that now he made sure he got out of the office regularly and walked everywhere time would allow. He also said that he’d read a good book on losing weight while on holiday in America and that he would send me a copy. I thought nothing more of it and never saw the man again. Mr. Blackwell, I think his name was.

The book duly arrived as promised, but it stayed on my desk unread for months, until one day, I had a dental appointment and had forgotten to take a book to work to read while I was waiting ” the magazines are always so old and boring. Anyway, I read several chapters that day and I was fascinated. I had never been on a real diet before and I thought I’d give it a try. I had stopped eating pastry, cakes and chocolate months ago, but it didn’t seem to have had much effect and my weight was still rising, albeit more slowly.

It seemed to me that it was a ‘thinking person’s’ diet There is a huge amount of scope for individual tastes and lifestyles and self-discipline did not seem to be much of an issue because of that. The book warned of addictions and fads and how best to overcome or prevent them. These did not seem to be an issue for me. I liked coffee, but could take it or leave it and I had already given up chocolate. Beer and bread could be a problem though.

The only requirement in the seven-fourteen day induction phase is to eat not more than 20 gram of carbohydrate per day. The book has a clear list of almost every foodstuff and their carbohydrate content. I found it really very easy. In fact, I was eating in a more healthy way in the induction stage than I had been eating before it! I bought a carton of Ketone sticks from the local chemist to make sure that the Atkins Diet was working and I found that I was in ketosis on the third day. It was very gratifying to know that I would be slimming down whatever I did and wherever I was all day long from now on.

I gave up bread (and Guinness!) for a fortnight and felt great. I actually felt ’springy’ or ‘bouncy’ like a boxer in the ring before a fight. I had no trouble whatsoever staying within the 20 gram limit, although I did miss fruit more than I’d expected or some fruits anyway. But I found ways to make up for everything. There are many, many recipes and recommendations in the book so I won’t go into them here, but I started eating breakfast before I went to work and dinner in the evenings. I really took great care and attention over preparing lunch for work the next day, usually consisting of a salad, some cheese and various nuts to snack on. You can eat a few strawberries too. In the evening, I would cook up something like a curry (no flour) eating it with green beans instead of rice; or a traditional British meal without potatoes followed by cheese and strawberries and cream. I lost 18 pounds in two weeks and felt really great.