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The New Atkins for a New You: The Ultimate Diet for Shedding Weight and Feeling Great

Eric C. Westman,

Stephen D. Phinney,

Jeff S. Volek

3.79 · Rating details · 2,154 ratings · 82 reviews

The all-new international bestseller!

Think you know the Atkins Diet? Think again. This completely updated, easier-than-ever version of the scientifically-proven Atkins diet has helped millions of people around the world lose weight—and maintain that weight loss for life. The New Atkins is...

Powerful: Learn how to eat the wholesome foods that will turn your body into an am ...more

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Paperback, 352 pages

Published March 2nd 2010 by Atria Books (first published January 1st 2010)

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Lists with This Book

Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes

The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living by Jeff S. Volek

Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution by Robert C. Atkins

Best of Low Carb Books

106 books — 127 voters

The Complete Guide to Fasting by Jason Fung

Ketogenic and LCHF diet resources

47 books — 25 voters

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Jan 12, 2011 Greg rated it it was amazing

Last book I read was Gary Taubes "Why We Get Fat". In it, he recommended following the guidelines in this book and includes some low-carb diet guidelines of one of the authors, Dr. Eric Westman. This is why I picked up the book.

Anyway, I had a couple bad experiences doing extreme PSMF-type diets and trying to go about low-carb all wrong. After reading Taubes' book and starting this book, I decided to give Atkins another try. So far, I seem to be doing pretty well on the induction diet.

I had bee ...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Jodi rated it it was ok

Shelves: health-books

I read the 'New Diet Revolution' book in around 2004 and for 6 months or so it really helped me and my health and also helped me lose weight.

The changes in this book include that: lean meat is okay to eat, there are more vegetables on induction, there are 2 paths in phase 4, and there are vegetarian options.

I'm not a fan of the idea that losing a ton of weight per week is healthy, nor that soy products or rice cheese is a health food, or that Splenda or saccharin or protein bars are health foods I read the 'New Diet Revolution' book in around 2004 and for 6 months or so it really helped me and my health and also helped me lose weight.

The changes in this book include that: lean meat is okay to eat, there are more vegetables on induction, there are 2 paths in phase 4, and there are vegetarian options.

I'm not a fan of the idea that losing a ton of weight per week is healthy, nor that soy products or rice cheese is a health food, or that Splenda or saccharin or protein bars are health foods, and I disagree that 370 - 625 of protein foods a day is NOT a high protein diet! I also don't agree that commercially farmed grain-fed meats and commercial diary products are health foods and found it disappointing that pasture-fed meats etc. weren't talked about in the book.

This book is not as good as the original Atkins book. The focus is more on pushing the exclusive Atkins brand and products than on explaining the science here. It reads a bit like it was written by marketers, trying to twist Atkins a bit to make it fit a wider audience more easily. It lacks the passion of the Atkins books, from the man himself, as well as proper scientific information. It is uninspired and maybe over-simplified and would be in no way as convincing to those who had not read the previous books. It claims to be a whole movement on its own rather than part of one. I'm not sure Dr Atkins would approve of all of the statements in this book.

While the Atkins diet is hands down better than any low-fat or low calorie diet out there, it is not one I would recommend to others any more. I feel there are better ones out there, which take the best of what Atkins has to say and go a bit further with making it a really healthy diet.

I did really well on the original Atkin's diet with 20 grams of carbohydrate a day diet for 6 - 9 months or so. I felt well and had no more hypoglycemia and lost a lot of weight. But after that 6 months was up my body seemed to really struggle with it, perhaps due to the fact I have severe metabolic, endocrine, and cardiac problems. (I'm housebound and 95% bedbound and very disabled.) When I finally went back up to 50 - 75 grams of carbs a day (years later) I felt so much better, and finally was able to start losing some of the weight that had crept back on on my super-low carb regime. It was also a much more pleasant way to eat; being able to have 5 cups of veggies a day and a bit of fruit! Not eating so much meat was also WONDERFUL!!! I feel like staying on this super-low carb diet for so long delayed my health from beginning to improve as well, as it made my body work harder than it had to on food assimilation which of course leaves less metabolic energy and bodily resources left over for the work of healing.

Books such as Perfect Health Diet: Four Steps to Renewed Health, Youthful Vitality, and Long Life explain that eating very low carb and making your body convert proteins to carbs puts strain on the liver and uses up bodily resources, generates ammonia as a toxic by-product, puts a person at risk of glucose deprivation if the are ill or lacking in certain nutrients and makes nutrient deficiencies more likely due to lower fruit and vegetable intake. Very low carbohydrate intake can also cause problems with vitamin C utilisation that may even lead to scurvy, as vitamin C is stimulated by insulin. For these reasons they recommend eating an amount of carbs daily which is very close to how much the body actually needs; 200 - 400 carb calories daily (or roughly 50 - 100 grams of carbs daily). I agree with these authors that healthy people will likely have few problems converting one macronutrients to another (such as protein to carbs, and carbs to fat) but for those of us that are ill it is best to save your body the work and to eat foods in the appropriate macro-nutrient percentages to start with. That just seems to make so much sense!

I really regret staying on Atkins as long as I did. But I just couldn't accept that the book was wrong, or that what worked for a while so well might be no longer working somehow. My very poor health is now finally very slowly improving and I feel my dietary change is playing a significant role in that.

Where Dr Atkins really excels is in his book on nutrients and orthomolecular medicine. If you buy one book with Atkins written on the cover, make it Dr. Atkins' Vita-Nutrient Solution: Nature's Answer to Drugs for sure! That is a real 5 star book. It is still one of the best there is on this topic. It is an amazing achievement by Dr Atkins. I still refer to it regularly. I think it has just been re-released as an ebook too.

For books on eating low-carb and high fat, and how to eat the foods we were designed to do best with and so improve your health through diet, I instead recommend books such as Primal Body, Primal Mind: Beyond the Paleo Diet for Total Health and a Longer Life (by far the best diet and health book I know of) and also The Primal Blueprint: Reprogram your genes for effortless weight loss, vibrant health, and boundless energy (Primal Blueprint Series) and Perfect Health Diet: Four Steps to Renewed Health, Youthful Vitality, and Long Life (without their 'safe starches!).

5 stars for the work of Dr Atkins but only 2 stars for this very average book.

Jodi Bassett, The Hummingbirds' Foundation for M.E. ...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Emily rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: public-library

I read this because it was directly recommend in Why We Get Fat as a more specific guide to low-carb eating. Taube's book does have a light guide in the back, and in retrospect, I probably would have been happier just reviewing that. This is such a...well, diet book. It's an incredibly specific plan with four phases, and careful management and tracking of food, with all kinds of special advice and restrictions. As of note, the science is in the back of the book, and I mostly skimmed it since I h I read this because it was directly recommend in Why We Get Fat as a more specific guide to low-carb eating. Taube's book does have a light guide in the back, and in retrospect, I probably would have been happier just reviewing that. This is such a...well, diet book. It's an incredibly specific plan with four phases, and careful management and tracking of food, with all kinds of special advice and restrictions. As of note, the science is in the back of the book, and I mostly skimmed it since I had just finished the Taubes book.

This issue here is that I don't need a diet. I already lost 80% of my bonus weight in two months. I had started out just general low-glycemic, which focuses on the quality rather than quantity of carbs. While I wasn't specifically tracking them, I was losing weight on 75-85g of net carbs a day, with my biggest carbs being 1/2 cup each of beans and oatmeal. I also had a general goal of less than 30g total sugar and less than 5g of added sugar; that's the equivalent a glass of whole milk and half of a small apple.

According to Atkins then, I started my diet in phase 3 and did just fine on it. So now for confession time, after reading Taubes, I cut the oatmeal and beans just to see how I would feel, which brought me to a max carb count of 35g, but ahem, I still drink a glass of wine, half a glass of whole milk, and eat a piece of chocolate (72% cacao, 3g sugar) every single day. Yeah, living on the edge there. All of these things are banned in phase 2, and sugar is demonized so much as to be untouchable and to always be replaced by substitutes. I don't eat fake food (especially processed soy), so this is really distasteful to me. Moreover, I'm really having trouble hitting my recommended daily value for fiber without the beans and oatmeal. They're supposed to be subbed in by the leafy greens, but I was already eating kale and spinach by the bunch, so that fiber is not being replaced; specifically, I was hitting 25-30g fiber a day on low-glycemic and am in a range of 13-15g on Atkins. No good.

I think the only thing I've really learned from this is that occasionally being methodical is a good thing. If I have drowsiness, or a sugar craving, or hunger earlier than I anticipated, I think I'll look at the foods I ate or the specific combination to see if I gave myself an unintentional blood sugar spike, but even that I'm taking with a grain of salt. For instance, today I was feeling quite drowsy post-lunch, like half an hour post-lunch, which is really too soon to be the bottom side of a spike (which is usually in the range of two hours), plus my lunch only had 6 carbs. The answer? My daughter woke me up three times last night. Sometimes sleepiness is just sleepiness, you know?

Edit: I ordered a copy of Why We Get Fat in paperback for my MIL, and that copy has a Q&A afterword that my version didn't have. In it, Mr. Taubes says that the only thing fiber is good for is preventing constipation, which you should be able to fix by drinking your broth, so Atkins on, y'all. ...more

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Jun 19, 2015 Harry Allagree rated it really liked it

At the outset, let me say that I'm generally against fads. In past years I fell for many of the latest popular diets...&, predictably, lost interest & regained a whole lot of extra weight. When my son & his wife quietly suggested I look at this "New Atkins" health approach, I was leery & skeptical. When they shared the results in shed pounds for each of them, I became interested, then cautiously bought the book, read it & embarked on the first of the 4 levels suggested. I'm impressed with the re ...more

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Jan 27, 2011 Vivian rated it really liked it

Since reading Gary Taubes "Good Calories, Bad Calories," I've been investigated the low carb/high fat theory of becoming healthy and losing weight. While I can't vouch for the science, the premise makes intuitive sense, at least for someone like me who has had difficulty with controlling my intake of refined carbs (the "white stuff"). Sugars and starches have always been my downfall, and while some of this was due to emotional issues, I've never had problems with reasonable consumption of protei ...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Joanne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: food-health

I LOVE ATKINS!!! I suffered from insomnia for over 2 years -- after 3rd day on Atkins it was gone! I had been experiencing joint pain and swollen feet for some time -- after 2 weeks on Atkins it was gone!

I am NEVER hungry on this program! The food choices are fantastic and, yes, it is possible to eat low-carb on a budget (you just have to be creative).

Best part -- I was diagnosed as being "pre-Diabetic". Even if the weight loss does not prevent me from contracting Type II Diabetes (family histo ...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Ben Vogel rated it really liked it

There is no doubt in my mind that this book can make a big difference for everyone. It was recommended to me by my brother-in-law, who is a world recognized sports physiologist, so I read and adapted this diet despite my natural hesitation toward all "diets" and one-note solutions.

Fortunately, the diet within isn't entirely one-note. Eliminating carbs is a big part, but it isn't a 100% ban after the induction phase, and everything else you do with your life matters too. I would have never believ ...more

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Dec 01, 2019 Jennie-Lee rated it liked it

Shelves: nutrition, health, 2019

3.5 stars

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Mar 23, 2013 Flknitter rated it it was amazing

I have always been of the mindset that Adkins is not a healthy approach due to all the "low fat" headlines we are bombarded with on a daily basis. However, over the last year I have found that low carb eating is what I need to be healthy. This book is an amazing resource with great guidance on how to eat low carb and has great recipe ideas. The authors are physicians that have lots of great science to support this way of eating. Also I like how this book states this is a "whole food" lifestyle d ...more

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May 07, 2014 Angie Libert rated it liked it

Shelves: nutrition-health

I totally misunderstood this weight loss approach. I have always thought of Atkins as a high-protein diet, with shakes and protein bars, which does not appeal to me at all. But it turns out Atkins is a high-fat diet! That is so right on nutritionally! I am not sure if Atkins has always been what it now is, but I am very pleased with what he is now representing, excluding the toxic sugar substitutes recommendations.

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Mar 24, 2010 Sara Marsh Billiet rated it really liked it

I am a huge fan of the Atkins Diet. Chemically, my body, like many others, cannot handle sugary foods and highly refined carbs. I have had a lot of success with this eating plan. I think this book is very relavant to the here and now - and has a lot of great advice. Lean meat, non-starchy veges make up the basics of this eating plan.

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Aug 23, 2011 Gloria rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction

This does not seem all that different from the original Atkins book. However, it feels very current and the added sections are for vegans and vegetarians and those who eat out all the time. Includes success stories and generally easy to understand information.

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Jun 02, 2013 Aaron Jensen rated it really liked it

This is the place to start to change to a low-carb, high-fat diet. Good nutrition data. Pretty quick to read. I wish there was a little more talk about the science of this kind of diet, but I got all that from "Good Calories, Bad Calories". ...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Rena Jones rated it it was amazing

Great book -- answered a lot of my questions about low-carb eating that weren't covered in other Atkins' books. ...more

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Jul 07, 2012 BridgetT rated it liked it

Shelves: 2012

such a simple and logical concept. protein feeds muscle cells, carbs feed fat cells. eat plenty, and enjoy what you're eating. (no strenuous exercise required! ... gotta love it) ...more

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Oct 19, 2013 David rated it really liked it

Went back to Atkins, it is the best way for me to maintain optimum weight. Good solid book.

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Sep 21, 2020 Kristie J. rated it really liked it

Shelves: at-public-library

I've been reading a lot about the low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet and it makes so much sense when you learn about how our metabolism works. I was glad to see this book with more detailed guidance. There are some good instructions about what to eat and not to eat on a low-carb diet and how to address some problems that might come up along the way. There are excellent food lists that show the carbs in lots of different foods. There are also some interesting recipes that focus on sauces, dressings, I've been reading a lot about the low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet and it makes so much sense when you learn about how our metabolism works. I was glad to see this book with more detailed guidance. There are some good instructions about what to eat and not to eat on a low-carb diet and how to address some problems that might come up along the way. There are excellent food lists that show the carbs in lots of different foods. There are also some interesting recipes that focus on sauces, dressings, and marinades which can be difficult to find in low-carb versions. These sauces can make a huge difference in making meat and vegetables tasty and satisfying.

There are different levels ("phases") of carb-reduction and you can choose which one to start in. This was a bit confusing at first, but once I studied it, I understood what they are trying to do. You start in the Induction Phase with very low carbs to jumpstart your weight loss, then once you are losing weight, you can slowly add back in more carbs and see how many you can add back in and still lose weight (Ongoing Weight Loss Phase). That way you can eat the broadest diet you possibly can while you're losing weight and that will definitely help in making this a lifestyle change and not just a temporary diet.

My criticism is that the diet presented in this book is not revolutionary enough. I was surprised to see that artificial sweeteners and canola oil are allowed on the diet, and there is a lot of information for vegetarians and vegans, such as a food list with lots of meat-substitute products like soy. Based on other books I've read, I question whether these foods are actually healthy. I got the impression that the authors were trying to cater to everyone to be politically correct and not necessarily to promote the healthiest diet. For example, for someone who is overweight/obese, has stubborn pounds to lose, and has or is about to get metabolic syndrome, should they really be eating vegan? Meat is not what makes us fat and there are meat and dairy products that are responsibly produced.

I was also disappointed that a lot of the rest of the diet/book appears to be the same old tips and suggestions that are typical in diet books, including incorporating exercise. This goes back to the calories in-calories out theory which does not stand up to scientific scrutiny. Exercise is healthy and good for our muscles, building strength, etc., but I feel like they just added the exercise part in to cover all their bases, and not because it actually helps people lose weight.

After my first read of this book, I was going to give it 3 stars, but then I read it again and actually started the diet and I realized there is some excellent guidance here especially for those who are not familiar with the low-carb, high-fat diet. ...more

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May 29, 2020 Karen-Leigh rated it liked it

Shelves: diet

This book is the true successor to Dr. Atkins 1972 book. It has the updated version of the diet with the science behind it gained in the last 45 years of everyone and his brother trying to prove that Dr. Atkins and his diet were bad for everyone. I am so happy he has been vindicated and wish he had lived to see it. Everyone has jumped on the bandwagon but I was comfortable with the old Atkins diet except for decaf coffee which in the new diet has been switched to regular coffee...yippee. I did n ...more

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Jul 10, 2018 David rated it it was amazing

This book was really informative. I have always had difficulty with carbohydrates, particularly in my later years. This diet looks promising. If you are looking for a new solution to weight loss and better health, this is definitely worth a look. It may not work or it may be phenomenal. I enjoyed the easy to read information and the down-to-earth explanations of the more complex nutrition and biochemical processes. Highly recommend this one.

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Oct 10, 2019 Igor rated it it was ok

Reads like a bad marketing brochure. The little bit of actually really interesting science at the end isn't worth it. There are better books out there if you're interested in nutrition science and diet advice. ...more

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Sep 26, 2020 Monica rated it it was ok

Shelves: adult-non-fiction, health

Disappointingly superficial. For those who want a deeper understanding of why a high-fat diet is better than the high-carb diet being touted I recommend Gedgaudas's PRIMAL FAT BURNER and Hyman's EAT FAT, GET THIN. ...more

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Jul 01, 2017 Sharudin Jamal rated it it was amazing

A very pleasant book to read. The explanation is easy to understand and very inspiring. I highly recommend this book for those first timers to Atkins as well as those who are revisiting.

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Aug 06, 2017 April rated it it was amazing

Awesome book for those who need step by step, ongoing guidance. It's a great resource for those who need help at the maintenance stage as well. ...more

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Aug 11, 2017 Andrea Baron rated it really liked it

Overall good information. Wish the basic recipes didn't use artificial sweeteners and thickeners. ...more

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Oct 03, 2017 Palaash Tarapore rated it it was amazing

The one-stop guide for a Healthier Lifestyle!

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May 19, 2018 M rated it liked it

Good information on breakdown of carbs vs. protein. Not sure it is something i would be able to stick to but definitely motivating to reduce carb intake.

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Sep 08, 2018 Deborah J rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Excellent reminder about low carb and healthy carbs.

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Mar 23, 2019 Ann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-library, health-cookbooks

Dr Westman is one of the best drs for keto info. A must-have!!

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Dec 28, 2019 Isabellek rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Was very good,

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Jul 03, 2020 KP rated it really liked it

Life-changing reference book for low-carb eating.

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About Eric C. Westman

Eric C. Westman

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Dr. Eric C. Westman is an associate professor of medicine at Duke University Health System and director of the Duke Lifestyle Medicine Clinic. He combines clinical research and clinical care to deliver lifestyle treatments for obesity, diabetes and tobacco dependence. He is an internationally-known researcher specializing in low-carbohydrate nutrition. Dr. Westman is currently the vice president o ...more

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