What Are Some Atkins Diet Foods?

The Atkins Diet focuses on cutting all carbohydrates from your diet, forcing the body to consume the stored carbohydrates, or fat, that it already has. According to the program, simply cutting out the carbs will make you lose weight, and that is true but also counting your caloric intake and exercising each day can help you lose even more and keep the weight off. The following includes a few sample menu ideas and helpful tips to get the most success out of the Atkins Diet.

Starting with the basics

In order to track how many calories you eat, keep a food journal and use online resources to input your daily food into an online counter. You should also do at least 15 minutes of exercise each day, but it does not have to be jumping jacks and push ups. You can dance to music, race your kids, walk your dog, mop floors, play Wii or anything that gets you up and moving. While on the Atkins Diet, try not to go over 1800 calories if you are a man or 1500 if you are a woman. Putting a calorie limit and daily exercise goal will give you even better results.

Foods to eat

You can eat pretty much any food that does not contain carbs or sugar, but some are more nutritious and filling than others. Tuna and eggs are great starters and vegetables can be added to bulk them up. A few ounces of hard cheese can add a lot of flavor and improve the food's consistency and texture. As for drinks, water, tea and coffee are great. Even sugar free sodas are acceptable. You can still have a fast food burger every once in a while, too; just remove the bun.

With a little time and effort, anyone can succeed on the Atkins Diet. When you begin your program, remember these helpful tips to improve your chances of success.

Putting a calorie limit and daily exercise goal gives you even better results

by Jessica Ludwig Ramirez, Food & Grocery writer