How Long Can I Stay on Atkins Induction?

Phase 1 of the Atkins Diet requires you to severely limit your carbohydrate intake to 20 net carbs per day, most of which must come from non-starchy vegetables and greens.

However, there isn't anything magical about that 20 net carb number. Twenty is just the number that Dr. Atkins picked, because in his professional experience, that level of carbohydrate restriction enables most people to go into the state of ketosis within a few days.

For many dieters, 20 net carbs per day works extremely well.

Salmon and Green Bean Salad
(Photo: Kevin Dooley, CC BY 2.0)

At that level, glycogen (the storage form of carbohydrates) is depleted within two to five days. Low glycogen forces the body to begin to use mostly fats for fuel instead of mostly glucose. With glucose in short supply, the need for insulin goes down. When insulin levels drop, your hunger and cravings evaporate.

When there is less insulin circulating in the bloodstream between meals, it makes it easier to eat less than you were eating before.

Most people also experience a sense of euphoria, increased energy levels, and mental clarity once the body shifts from predominantly burning glucose to predominantly burning fats.

Since tons of water is needed to process glycogen, weight can drop at an amazing rate. I've heard stories of people losing up to 30 pounds during the first two weeks alone. While these types of losses are predominantly water and liver glycogen, seeing the number on the scale drop quickly can be extremely motivating.

Wanting the pounds to keep coming off at a fast clip, it's not uncommon for a brand new low-carb dieter to ask me:

“How long can I stay on Atkins Induction?”

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