The Atkins Diet is a well-known low-carbohydrate diet that is formulated by Dr. Robert Atkins.  Dr. Atkins adapted a diet he read in the Journal of the American Medical Association in the 1960 and utilized it to solve his own weight problems.  From then on, he wrote a series of books starting with Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution in 1972.

The Atkins’ Diet has become more popular in 2003 and 2004 and has treated thousands of patients, not just in the United States but in the whole world.  Because of the popularity of the Atkins Diet, Dr. Atkins is often called the “Father of Modern Low Carb Diets”. 

Just like any other diet, Atkins Diet involves counting your carbohydrate intake regardless of where it come from. The diet ahs four phases: Induction, Ongoing Weight Loss or OWL, Pre-maintenance, and Maintenance.  The lenght of time you stay in a phase depends on your weight and how you respond to the diet.  Though the diet is divided into phases, you do not have to follow it chronologically and can start a any of the four phases.    However, since induction is the strictest phase of the diet and requires you to severely cut your carb intake, it is recommended that you start in this phase especially when you are overweight.