Atkins Diet Cons

As one of the first low-carb diets on the market, you probably know one (or more!) people who have attempted to use Dr. Atkins' diet plan to lose weight. Although the Atkins diet can certainly result in substantial weight loss if followed according to specifications, it is hardly a plan without flaws. Since forewarned is forearmed, there are possible negatives to consider before embarking on the Atkins diet.

About the Atkins Diet

The Atkins diet is divided into four separate phases. Phase one lasts for two weeks and is designed to transition your body from carb-burning to fat-burning mode. During this time, consume no more than 20 grams of carbs per day. Following this, you move into phase two, during which time your carb limit doubles to 40g--maintain this phase until you are only several pounds from your target weight. At this point, you enter phase three, slowly raising your carb limit until you find the point at which you are only losing roughly a pound a week, keeping to this total until you finally hit your goal weight. Finally, in phase four, you again increase carbs until you are neither gaining nor losing weight, remaining at this stage indefinitely.

Bland Food Choices

A major cause for complaint by individuals on the Atkins diet is that almost all low-carb, high-fat foods are relatively bland. As you will be eating little more than plain meats, cheeses, and nuts, flavor is one component of the diet that is sorely lacking. This is especially true when you consider that most of your preferred condiments (e.g., ketchup and steak sauce) are prohibited due to their carb content, leaving you with little to look forward to except endless years of the same flavors.

Limited Food Choices

One of the primary criticisms leveled against the Atkins diet is that it offers little in the way of food choices. As Atkins is supposed to be more than a diet, but rather a way of living, it would make more sense if you were not relegated to consuming the same handful of foods over and over. Unfortunately, however, carb-laden foods are many, while low-carb foods are few. This repetitiveness in both food choice and food flavor leads many to stray from the diet in the long term, as even spices will eventually become rote, causing their weight loss goals to finally succumb to boredom.

Social Difficulties

Another problem suffered by those on the Atkins diet is that of social exclusion. Most social events (company parties, birthdays, holidays) focus on food--specifically, carb-laden food. It is difficult to follow a diet that runs contrary to cultural norms, thus making a low-carb eating plan one of the most mentally torturous plans to follow.

Possible Health Problems

Finally, as written, the Atkins plan does not discriminate between the different types of fat. As excess consumption of saturated fat has been linked with higher cholesterol levels and an increased risk of cardiac disease, indiscriminate adherence to the plan could result in long-term health problems down the line. There are no studies demonstrating the long-term effects (i.e., over 10 years) of high-fat eating on individuals, so be wary of following Atkins as you might be trading short-term weight control for your long-term health.