A diet can be best defined as a special or limited selection of food and drink, chosen or prescribed to promote health or a gain or loss of weight. With the Atkins diet the only real limitations are on carbohydrates, an important class of foods that supply the body with energy; such as potatoes and bread. Dr Robert C. Atkins devised the Atkins diet. Dr Atkins published his book Diet Revolution in 1972, and it was an immediate best seller. The theory of a low-carb diet had been around for sometime when William Banting developed a plan in the late nineteenth century. But it was Dr Atkins that popularized the idea that a person may eat all the proteins they wish and lose weight as long as there was a limited amount of carbohydrates being consumed. Over the years Dr Atkins modified his position, allowing non-starchy vegetables and some unrefined fruits and grains. The diet does not permit sugar, simple carbohydrates, or refined grains and starches.
             Dr. Atkins' program is a high protein and fat diet that restricts many carbohydrates. The diet works by inducing a state of ketosis in the body in which allows a person to eat anything. Ketosis occurs when the body believes it is starving and deprived of carbohydrates so fat is burned as an alternative. The first two weeks there is an introduction phase which is similar to the original 'diet revolution' in restricting carbohydrates. This period showed result in a large initial weight loss that is mainly a water loss. After the first introduction phase there is a transition or ongoing weight loss stage. This involves slowly increasing the amount of carbohydrates in the diet until the body comes out of the state of ketosis. When a person is within five pounds of target weight the last stage of the diet is entered, maintenance-meaning life long eating.
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