Low carb people.....c'mere!

There's an alternative that is basically working for me. It's the so-called "slow-carb" diet described by Timothy Ferris in his book, 4-Hour Body. I'll warn you that the book is as sensationalist as the National Inquirer, and that I don't agree with half the stuff he proclaims to be true, however, the diet has 5 very simple rules that I've found to be very effective. Check the book out of your local public library like I did. It's worth looking at.

I don't follow any of those really...This is what my trainer has me on...
I keep my carbs around 40g a day and up my protein to around 100-125 a day.

First few days I was very light headed and had no energy...but your body gets in a groove.

My trainer wants me to stay away from Dairy...except cottage cheese...but sometimes I still snack on a cheese stick, mostly because they are convienent.

Stay away from the "low carb meal bars" Most of them have hidden things you don't want in them...eat lots of veggies and meat...and if you really wanna feel like you are cheating grab a Smart Carb Ice Cream bar...they are yummy!

I like this post, and this is pretty much what I do too.


I try to stay below 35g net carbs per day and greater than 100g protein. I eat mostly primal so it is much easier to stay at that level. Meat, veggies, some fruit, eggs, nuts, etc are good to eat. I stay away from foods that are processed for the most part, especially meal bars, but I do use 100% whey protein powder to make ice cream with (with frozen strawberries) for after workouts or when I am having a strong sugar/chocolate craving. Then I have 1 day off a week to eat anything I want, and high carbs. It helps so that my body doesn't plateau at all or get used to having such low carbs and I really don't gain much at all from 1 day --- any more than 1 free day back to back though can cause trouble. Once I get to my goal weight I will cut out the free days and up carbs 5g or so per week (like Atkins suggests to do) until I find my tolerance level to maintain the weight. That is the main idea behind low carb --- go super low for fast weight loss, high for weight gain, or start low and work your way up to find the level that you can maintain at. I never realized how significant carbs are for losing weight (at least for me) until I gave it a try. I first worked my way down though. I used to eat a lot of carbs, didn't watch that at all, then I went below 100g, then below 75, 50, then 35 net carbs. I tried 20g but it was much harder and I feel even at 35, I can go far below that and do some days, but I'd rather be happy to complete my daily goal than to always be over. At 20 I felt I was making more unhealthy choices for some reason and I wasn't allowing as much veggies as I should.

Just wondering which low carb plan is the best for weight loss...The zone, atkins, or south beach diet and how many carbs each diet allows. I want to stay under 100 grams a day but not so low that I don't have any energy. Please give me your thoughts on low carb diets and what works and what doesn't.

Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!

Lisa

The best low carb plan for weight loss is the one that Works For You.

Perhaps you can get a book on each of the 3 you are considering from the library or research what each consists of on on the internet. Then pick one and do it. If you decide to stick with it maybe then you could buy that book.

I eat the Atkins way and can tell you that there are 4 Phases beginning with induction (which is 20 net carbs per day (Net is carb grams less fiber grams). Induction is only 2 weeks and then you add in additional veggie and other allowed healthy carbs. Phase 2 is not a set number of carbs, it is the number that works for you... that is you add some in and see if you are still losing. I am eating about 30 per day. I think the range people end up in is between 25 & 50 grams per day, but I'm not sure.

Edit: According to the Atkins book I have, during the first few weeks when your body makes the transition from burning fat stores (instead of carbohydrates) for energy you may experience headaches, dizziness, weakness, fatigue. They explain how to avoid these symptoms by slightly increasing your sodium intake and increase your water intake as well because fat burning has a diuretic effect. The book explains it really well along with everything else to do with the diet. (The New Atkins For A New You, published 2010)

Good luck with whatever you choose to do!