How to Start the Dr Atkins Diet Plan

When it comes to the Dr Atkins diet, your success will lie in your planning. Making sure you have the correct foods on hand when you start your diet will go a long way toward your weight loss. There are many suggestions for the  Atkins  meals in the Atkins books, and there are plenty of resources online for Dr Atkins and low-carb recipes.

Planning your meals and snacks will be an essential  part of your life when you are on this diet. That advice really goes for any diet. When you eat whatever you like, you gain weight. Your present weight and health problems are a direct result of letting your eating habits go unchecked for so long.

As with all diet plans, becoming used to the Dr Atkins Diet Plan is going to take some time and adjustment. The standard American diet relies heavily on carbohydrates and other restricted foods. Many people grew up on carbohydrate heavy favorites like spaghetti and meatballs, 
Meat and potatoes and pasta casserole. It is going to take some effort and diligence to get used to eating in an entirely new way.

There are two different approaches you can take in adjusting your diet. You can find replacements for your favorite foods with “mock” carbohydrates. For example, lasagna made with eggplant or zucchini instead of pasta is much more carb-friendly than the regular variety. Spaghetti squash noodles make a good substitute for spaghetti noodles. There are also many low-carb or carb-free replacements for bread, pasta and sugar products.

The second approach is to come up another way to make new recipes that center around meats and other low-carb foods. There are a wide variety of meats that are acceptable on the Atkins plan. If you are used to just eating ground beef or chicken on a weekly basis, you’ll be surprised by the variety of meats that are out there. Try incorporating pork, lamb and ham into your weekly routine. You can also experiment with game fowl like Cornish hen, quail and pheasant. If you’ve never been a fan of fish, try a different variety. Some people who don’t like trout find they have a love of salmon or another fish. Don’t forget shellfish like mussels, clams and shrimp. These foods are all acceptable and can add variety to your diet.

Make sure to have some easy to prepare foods on hand for snacks and quick meals. For example, thin sliced cucumbers, radishes and celery mixed with lemon mayonnaise makes a great low-carb meal or dinner salad. Fried peppers, mushrooms and garlic served on arugula with feta cheese is another good option.

Research and experiment with different low-carb recipes so you have a good base of knowledge of what to prepare for meals. The most important step you can take in losing weight is planning. Getting a good collection of easy to prepare meals will stop you from hitting the drive through or going to a restaurant and breaking your diet.

If you have enjoyable food to look forward to everyday, you’ll be less bored with your diet. Even during the restrictive induction phase, there are many food combinations that you can use. At first glance, the vegetable and meat options may seem restrictive. But that is compared to what you have been used to eating. With a little planning and creativity, you can find something interesting to eat everyday.