Things You'll Need:
- Carbohydrate counter
- Calculator
- Glycemic Index food list
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Step 1
Realize that carbs count on the Atkins diet. That means you will be counting carbs more than calories and fat. Both of these elements are important to weigh, too, but carbs are your primary focus. That means when you are looking for Atkins diet products you want to buy items with the lowest carb count possible. One or two grams of carbs is a good goal, but many items will have up to 10 grams of carbs and still be considered "low carb."
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Step 2
Fiber counts, too, on Atkins and it actually reduces the carbs you are eating. That means you can eat something with a higher carb count if it has a lot of fiber. The fiber slows down the digestion of the carbs, which is a good thing, and helps keep your blood sugar level. So, choose diet products with a low to moderate carb count and a high fiber count. You will help your digestion with the added fiber and increase the foods you can eat. For example, if you buy a food item with 30 carbs you would usually put it down and look for something else. But, if it has a fiber count of 18 grams then it would reduce the net carbs to only 12, which isn't so bad. Learn to count net carbs and increase your food selection.
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Step 3
An easy way to avoid all the fiber and carb counting is to buy Atkins-approved food items. There are snack bars, cereals, and more. If you can't find Atkins food items then you can check out the South Beach foods and be pretty close. Most of the South Beach food items are in line with Atkins phase 2 and 3.
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Step 4
The last step is to simply enjoy eating a wide range of healthy foods that keep you satisfied while helping you lose weight.
