Atkins diet weight loss is meant to perpetuate the goals achieved on phase 1. Weight loss rate is lower, but still significant and encouraging. As in the Induction phase, checking carbohydrate intake is required. There are three differences between this phase and the first one:

1. more carbohydrates can be added to daily menu
2. there are more choices for vegetables and those special category foods, mentioned in Induction phase
3. counting carbohydrates intake is compulsory.

Before Moving Into Phase Two

Moving into phase two is suggested in three possible cases:

1. when Atkins diet menu becomes boring and there is a need of more food choices
2. when there is no need to lose more than 20 pounds
3. when dieters feel they need to slow down the weight-loss rate

In any case, doing some blood tests is highly recommended. That means checking the HDL and the LDL levels and how they changed during phase 1.

HDL is “good” cholesterol, a lipoprotein that transports cholesterol in the blood, composed of a high proportion of protein and relatively little cholesterol. High levels are thought to be associated with decreased risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis.

LDL is “bad” cholesterol, a lipoprotein that transports cholesterol in the blood, composed of moderate amount of protein and a large amount of cholesterol. High levels are thought to be associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis.

Good news are likely to show up from triglycerides, since stored fat is, in fact, triglycerides. Triglycerides are formed by the replacement of three hydrogen atoms in glycerin by acid radicals.

Burning fats for energy in Induction phase is equivalent to the decrease of 40 to 80 percent of the triglyceride level.

Moving to Ongoing Weight-Loss Phase

If there are no suspicions regarding your health condition, moving to Ongoing weight-loos phase is no problem at all. Undertaking this phase means that anyone on Atkins diet is going to find out his or her personal number: CCLL.

To identify the personal CCLL, dieters should add 5 grams of carbohydrates in the first week after moving into this phase. This 5 grams increment is called “level”.

In the second week, another level of 5 grams should be added, while monitoring weight.

Additional carbohydrates can come from salads, some low-carb fruits such as berries, a few nuts and seeds. This characteristic value allow knowing for sure how many carbs can be eaten while still losing weight.

When losing weight stops, dieters reach their personal CCLL and they will have to stay below their own CCLL every day. If by accident or by purpose, they are above their CCLL, no more weight will be lost or some weight will begin to gain.

So, discovering and staying on personal Critical Carbohydrate Level of Losing is crucial in Ongoing Weight-loss phase.

As a rule, the lower metabolic ressistance to lose weight (there is a metabolic problem), the higher CCLL it proves to be.

This number should be kept in mind all the time. To make this easier, dieters can attach numerical quantities to carbohydrate foods or check the Atkins carb counter, thus knowing what is safe to eat.

Rules of OWL

Weight-loss may be easily undermined so taking care of carbohydrates should continue. Just because dieters are told they can add a few carbohydrates each week, it doesn't mean that they are no more in charge with carbs control. Relaxing a bit can be a trap.

Ketone stripes should always be handy to check whether a dieter is in ketosis or not. If not, it means that too many carbohydrates have been added and this should be adjusted. Otherwise, returning to Induction phase may become necessary.