Carb Carnival - Low Carbohydrate Diets

Low Carbohydrate Diets

Shopping for a low carbohydrate diet? Here's some information you might need first.

What to Expect from Low Carbohydrate Diets

Chances are, if you're looking to start on a low carbohydrate diet, you want to lose a lot of weight in just a little time. Isn't that what we all want? If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Yes, people you know have done it and lost weight, but have they told you the good stuff about it and the bad, or just the good? Or did you choose to hear only the good? Okay, we'll tell you that much again. Yes, low carbohydrate diets will help you lose a lot of weight in a relatively short amount of time. And most of us do need to cut carbs from our diets--just not to the point that most low carbohydrate diets would have you cut them.

The fact is, our bodies need 130 grams of carbs a day to function, and most low carbohydrate diets start you out on only 20 grams a day for the first two weeks. Then you get about 60 grams a day during ongoing weight loss. This is still less than half of what your body needs. You don't get to have 130 grams a day until you want to maintain your weight. That being said, most of us eat far more than 130 grams of carbs a day. Why not put traditional low carbohydrate diets on the back burner for awhile and try cutting your current carbohydrate intake down to 130 grams a day? It's sort of like doing a low carb diet backwards, but you never go below 130 grams a day. To do it, eat like you normally would for a week, but read labels, measure and count your carbs. Chances are you'll be surprised at the number of carbs you eat in a day, even if you think you eat healthy. The second week, limit your carb intake so that you are only eating 130 grams of carbs a day. You can eat low carb foods or choose healthier carbs. A good rule of thumb is to cut out desserts unless they are sugar-free and to cut anything made with refined sugar and/or white flour. Stick to lean meats, vegetables (but limit potatoes) fruits and three servings of dairy (fat-free, sugar free yogurt is a good replacement for milk if you don't like milk). By just doing this you will likely see a weight loss, but you're not giving up fruits, vegetables and dairy. All three of these are key to giving your body what it needs to survive healthily and to fight off disease.

If you try this and feel you simply must give other low carbohydrate diets a try, choose one like the South Beach Diet, which emphasizes good carbohydrates.