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Remember the Atkins diet? It was all the rage from the 70s through the early 90s. To this day, there are many folks who still try it, and–if you’re reading this–more people who want to give it a try. Now, if you want to participate in this particular diet plan, there are some precise details you’ll have to know; one of which is the Atkins diet food list.

What makes the Atkins diet unique is: it is highly restrictive in the initial phase. After only two weeks, however, the allowed foods list starts to increase. And, even though it can be difficult to stick with, there’s a plethora of people that swear it is worth the effort.

In the beginning, the Atkins diet food list is quite confining. In fact, you’ll be limited to a few different kinds of meat and a small number of vegetables. This initiation stage has hardly any carbohydrates allowed. This is intended to shift your metabolism into a new way of utilizing calories. The thinking behind this is: your body “decides” it is required to burn its stored fat. For some, it is uncomfortable at first, but you should begin to feel healthier after a few days. Also, some folks have reported amazement at how much they’ve lost at the end of the first week.

Don’t worry though, you are allowed to introduce some–limited–carbohydrates after exactly two weeks. You should still avoid complex carbs, such as bread, potatoes and pasta. At this phase of the Atkins diet your weight loss will start to slow down a little; this is normal. Your body’s metabolism will now be used to a better way of burning your food.

You’ll still have to limit your carbs, and if you do so, you should be losing weight weekly (weighing yourself daily is not recommended, as daily fluctuations can lead to letdown). Unfortunately for many, it’s almost impossible to maintain this diet because of their affinity for bread–pizza, sandwiches, etc. Many favorite foods are not allowed, and not included on the Atkins diet food list.

It is important to remember that when going on the Atkins plan, there are some things as crucial–or more–to your success than just the food list:

• prepare reasonably sized meal portions
• and, reduce your amount of fat intake.

There is a popular myth, that while on the Atkins diet, you can consume as much as–and anything–you want as long as you’re not eating carbohydrates. This is simply not the case.

One final note: you should definitely consult with your doctor before you begin this diet if you’ve had any history of a heart condition or cholesterol problem. Although this ‘low carb’ diet can be effective in getting your weight down, prolonged high protein/low carb diets can cause potassium–your muscles need it–loss, which is hard on the heart.