The Atkins diet calls this induction, and other low carb diets have other names for the first two weeks. In essence, this period is to get you used to your new lifestyle - emotionally, physically and psychologically.

Be sure that first you have read:

Basics of a Low Carb Diet
Preparing for a Low Carb Diet
Stocking a Low Carb Pantry
First 2 Weeks Low Carb Food List

And measure your weight, body measurements and body fat. You will be amazed to see how all of these change even over 2 weeks.

So now you're prepared for two weeks of a 'lifestyle change' and your pantry and fridge is ready to support you in that effort. Really, this isn't about "extreme eating". This is about healthy eating. You are trying to wean yourself off of the high sugar diet that most civilized people have fallen victim to. The average person in 2003 eats up to 70% more sugar than they did 20 years ago!! And this mostly comes from our processed food and junk food diet.

Most low carb diets want you to begin in the first 2 weeks with under 20g of carbs a day. This is really just to prove to you that you CAN lose weight at this level - and many people lose a pound a day. It's not really "hard" at all to stay under 20g. It involves eating meat and veggies, and avoiding sugar. I in fact found it hard to get *near* 20g a day for the first month or so, despite eating a ton of food. Look through the recipes on this site to see how many superbly delicous recipes exist that involve hardly any carbs at all.

Keep track of the carbs in the foods you eat for the first two weeks, eating plenty of food, drinking plenty of water. For the carb counts of foods, visit the Carb Count Listing. Eat mostly veggies, include meat and cheese. Avoid fruit and berries, bread, pasta, rice and sugars for now. Also avoid alcohol and milk for these two weeks.

A lot of why you are eating simply these first two weeks is to determine if your body has any Allergies or Sensitivities.

The first 2 days will be really the only rough part of this entire diet. The foods you will be eating are delicious and very filling. But your body is probably addicted to sugar, after having consumed it non-stop for your entire life. So you should expect a feeling of tiredness and headaches, while your body cries out for sugar and tries to figure out what it should do for energy.

But your body only retains 2 days worth of carb supply in it, and after the second day, it will be totally out of carbs. It will have to change to its normal other form of energy - FAT. And if you're on this diet, you have a good supply of fat on your body, so your body has ample fuel to work with.

More about the First Two Days

On day 3, your body will start to consume that fat supply, and when you eat food, it will go after those fats as well. I've heard of people losing anywhere from 7 to 14 pounds in these first two weeks, including in my own family. You can read my own personal experiences for Atkins.

After the first week, you'll really feel a new energy, feel more lively and even tempered. Your sugar-rush highs and lows will be gone, your shakiness when you're hungry will go away. And when you check your measurements after the 2 weeks, you'll be quite impressed on how weight AND measurements have improved!

After the First Two Weeks of Low Carb

Basics of a Low Carb Diet
Preparing for a Low Carb Diet
Stocking a Low Carb Pantry
First 2 Weeks Low Carb Food List

Low Carb First Two Weeks by Lisa Shea If you're getting started in low carb, or know someone who is, this is the book you need. Step by step instructions, background information, plus great recipes! More Details ...

Lisa Shea's Library of Low Carb Books