The biggest trend in weight loss plans these days are called "low carb" diets. But do they really work? ...And if so, are they the solution to losing weight that everybody is looking for?
Judging by the results, after many years, No! Most low carb diets are so difficult to maintain that the "average" dieter cannot keep on the program for a prolonged amount of time.
For example, I tried the the Atkins diet (a very popular low carb program created by Dr. Atkins) and found the restriction on carbs for the first couple weeks was very severe.
The Atkins program allows just 20 grams of "net carbs" per day (equivalent to one large apple) during the first phase of the diet. All white foods like bread, wheat, pasta, potatoes, even most fruits are not allowed in the first two weeks of the diet.
I felt "weak", "tired" and "miserable" all day long even if the bland Atkins foods was enough to keep me full. Two weeks of giving up most carbs was too much strain on my body so I never made it to the next phase (which was much less difficult)
Your body needs more carbs than that for energy and to function properly. Even the South Beach Diet, another low carb diet, is not that easy to follow (although I hear it is not as harsh as the Atkins Plan.
Since most low carb diets make you feel tired & terrible (for the average person), how can anyone stick around to become successful at losing weight. Dieting should be easy to follow & not mean you have to spend the rest of your life feeling hungry and week.
“low carbs” is not the answer to losing weight, since your body needs a reasonable amount of all 3 types of calories to lose weight consistently (protein, carbs, and fat and in the right proportions).
The truth is that your body needs a reasonable amount of protein, carbs and fat calories too, even if you are not trying to lose or gain weight. Maybe the trick is, finding which portions of protein, carbs and fats should be eaten and at which times of the time rather than cut one type of calories out all together.
Judging by the results, after many years, No! Most low carb diets are so difficult to maintain that the "average" dieter cannot keep on the program for a prolonged amount of time.
For example, I tried the the Atkins diet (a very popular low carb program created by Dr. Atkins) and found the restriction on carbs for the first couple weeks was very severe.
The Atkins program allows just 20 grams of "net carbs" per day (equivalent to one large apple) during the first phase of the diet. All white foods like bread, wheat, pasta, potatoes, even most fruits are not allowed in the first two weeks of the diet.
I felt "weak", "tired" and "miserable" all day long even if the bland Atkins foods was enough to keep me full. Two weeks of giving up most carbs was too much strain on my body so I never made it to the next phase (which was much less difficult)
Your body needs more carbs than that for energy and to function properly. Even the South Beach Diet, another low carb diet, is not that easy to follow (although I hear it is not as harsh as the Atkins Plan.
Since most low carb diets make you feel tired & terrible (for the average person), how can anyone stick around to become successful at losing weight. Dieting should be easy to follow & not mean you have to spend the rest of your life feeling hungry and week.
“low carbs” is not the answer to losing weight, since your body needs a reasonable amount of all 3 types of calories to lose weight consistently (protein, carbs, and fat and in the right proportions).
The truth is that your body needs a reasonable amount of protein, carbs and fat calories too, even if you are not trying to lose or gain weight. Maybe the trick is, finding which portions of protein, carbs and fats should be eaten and at which times of the time rather than cut one type of calories out all together.
Labels:
Atkins diets,
low carb diets,
weight loss
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments: