I am following Curves Diet plan which is similar to atkins but when you get to the maintenance phase they tell you to eat "normally" until you gain 3 lbs but never gain more than 5 then go back to 20 carbs a day until you lose it (which is normally pretty fast) and keep repeating the cycle and each time it should take longer and longer for you to gain the three pounds so basically out of 30 days you'll end up only on low carb for like 2 days..it's suppose to raise the metabolism each time???..I posted a while back if anyone had actually reached the maintenance phase and everyone was just kinda starting so..we'll see ...maybe someone else has some thought on this concept...I am curious myself