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In spite of the popularity of the Atkins Diet, it is often greatly misrepresented! Popular, if slightly exaggerated depictions of the program portray dieters wolfing down nothing but vast quantities of meat and fat. Although the diet is not quite that simple, many dieters have used it to successfully lose weight and improve their health. On this plan, dieters follow a highly specific regimen based on limited carbohydrate intake. The nutritional aspects of the diet are emphasized over exercise and other factors, although getting physical activity is recommended. There are 4 stages in the Atkins program: Induction: During this two-week phase at the beginning of the diet program, dieters can only have up to 20 grams of carbs each day. Dieters can eat high protein foods such as meat and fish, fats such as butter and oils, and other food with little to no carbohydrates. Many foods with carbs are not permitted at all during this phase, including alcoholic beverages. This initial phase is supposed to help the body go from burning carbs for energy, as it normally does, into burning fat stored in the body (the state called ketosis). Most dieters start to lose pounds during this phase. Ongoing Weight Loss: During this phase, dieters gradually increase their carbohydrate intake by adding 5 grams of carbs into their diet each week. Dieters fine-tune their diet, continuing their weight loss to put themselves within 5-10 pounds of their target weight, before transitioning into the Pre-maintenance phase. Pre-maintenance: Dieters use the Pre-maintenance stage to find out the maximum amount of carbs they can ingest without gaining weight. During this stage, dieters increase carbohydrate intake by 10 grams a week. Once dieters reach their target weight and can maintain it for a month, they move into the Lifetime Maintenance phase. Lifetime Maintenance: For lasting results, the Atkins program is designed to be maintained throughout the dieter's life. Using the strategies that helped the dieter reach their target weight, the dieter maintains an eating and exercise program to stay at their target weight. Individuals can revert to previous stages if their weight begins to rise again. Dieters who can stay on the Atkins diet are typically successful in losing weight; however, many people are unable to follow through with the program and end up quitting early on in the induction phase. In general, most diets fail simply because dieters cannot stay committed to the plan. Many people are unable to lose weight because they experience strong food cravings, have problems with compulsive overeating, can't control their appetites, or simply do not feel motivated to lose weight. Overcoming these mental obstacles is the most challenging aspect of losing weight. One reason why many people struggle to control their eating is because they are emotional eaters. Such people eat in response to their emotions, such as when they are bored or upset. However, this habit programs a "conditioned response" into the unconscious mind. This means that when people experience the same emotion that made them initially overeat, they will feel compelled to overeat again and again. Hypnotherapy works by helping our unconscious minds disassociate our eating habits from our emotions. To eliminate the conditioned response to overeat, a hypnotherapy weight loss program is used to break the link in the unconscious mind between overeating and certain "trigger" situations. For example, if you tend to binge eat when you feel bored, hypnosis can disassociate boredom from eating in your unconscious mind. Hypnosis can then be used to replace the compulsion to overeat with another activity, such as exercising. This way, the next time you become bored, instead of overeating, you will feel motivated to exercise. Hypnosis is an excellent tool for stress relief as well, helping us deal with our stressful emotions and relieve tension without eating. As a relaxation tool, it calms the mind, helps you develop strategies to manage stress, and boosts your self confidence to promote natural weight loss. Hypnotherapy can also be used to remove the emotional stresses that keep you from losing weight. Many overweight people use their weight for emotional protection. For example, after a painful end to a relationship, people might find themselves becoming overweight so they can avoid relationships and avoid experiencing emotional pain again. Through hypnosis, we can turn our negative thoughts into positive ones and focus on having better health instead of becoming overwhelmed by our worries. Not only is hypnotherapy an ideal motivation tool, it relieves stress, extinguishes conditioned responses that cause overeating, and can help you overcome the mental obstacles that prevent weight loss. Hypnosis is really effective at helping people stay on a diet plan, such as the Atkins program, and lose weight.
By: Alan B. Densky, CH
Alan B. Densky, CH is certified by the NGH. Visit hisself-hypnosis website for Free NLP downloads, videos, and newsletters. He offers several ways to lose weight, including NLP to lose weight DVDs and weight loss hypnosis CDs. www.neuro-vision.us/ www.neuro-vision.us/Products/NeuroVISIONAppetiteDvd.htm www.neuro-vision.us/Products/OrderAudioAppetiteControlHypnosisTapes.html
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