My father was weighing almost 300 pounds when he decided to give the Atkins diet a try. He never did much exercise, loved meat and fat food. One day it was enough. Although he felt otherwise healthy he knew that this condition would not last long when he continues to add weight.

It was time for a change. The atkins diet was quite popular at that time (and still is today) but he had not really much clue about it. He heard that the idea of the diet was to reduce carbohydrates. Since he loved to eat meat he liked this diet.

He really lost some good weight over a period of almost one year. But the diet did not really change his thinking or way of living. It was just a diet for him. Some day he stopped dieting and fell back in his old eating habits and gained weight again. This time it was even worse. He gained back twice the weight he lost with the diet. Can he blame the Atkins diet for it? Not really.

The problem with any high-protein diet is that the reduction of carbohydrates can lead to imbalances. Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy for your body and brain. A lack of carbohydrates can make you feel tired and down. In addition, most of the weight loss in the beginning of the atkins diet is water loss and not fat.

The Atkins diet helps but it is just that, a diet. If you stop it then you will gain your weight back. You must change your thinking and eating habits to achieve permanent success.

Reducing carbohydrates is a great idea as long as you reduce the bad carbohydrates like sugar and white flour products for example. Do not reduce carbohydrates of whole-wheat products, vegetables or fruits.