Atkins Nutritionals recently announced that they are filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It seems that the "low carb craze" was nothing more than just a passing fad. Well my friends I have come to both praise and bury the Atkins Diet.
I first discovered low carb diets about 15 years ago -- well before their recent popularity. My first introduction was by way of a book entitled "The Endocrine Control Diet." Like the Atkins Diet and other low carb diets for that matter, it was based on a severely restricted carbohydrate intake ?- less than 50 grams of carbs per day. You put your body into a state of ketosis and force it to burn fat instead of glucose.
I was amazed at how quickly I was able to drop weight on the diet. If memory serves correctly, I dropped 15 lbs in little over a week. Sure, a portion of it was water and muscle weight, but I also dropped quite a bit of body fat. I could tell it was fat because my waistline shrunk substantially.
The "Endocrine Control Diet" was strict about keeping carbs low and remaining in a state of ketosis until you reached your weight loss goal. This was tracked on a daily basis by peeing on Keto Strips to make sure you were still in ketosis. I stayed on the diet for about 2 months before reverting back to my former diet. The interesting thing was that I was able to keep my weight down for another 3 months before getting back up to where I was before the diet.
I should mention that during the diet that I was lifting weights and doing cardio exercise on a regular basis. I sincerely believe that this factor was vital in retaining lean muscle mass while dropping as much body fat as possible while on a calorie restricted, low carb diet.
In the intervening years I tried other low carb diets that were all variations on the same theme. The one constant for me was keeping up with my weight training and cardio exercise. Each and every time I was able to drop 15 ? 20 lbs in as little as 3 weeks and keep it off for at least 3 months after stopping the diet.
The biggest problem I have with low carb diets is that I'm personally unable to stay on them for more that 3 months at a time. It's just too damn hard! Let's face it I like my carbs. Being of Italian extraction I was raised on pasta and bread. I also love Chinese cuisine with extra rice and have a fondness for potatoes. All of these foods are taboo on a low carb diet!
In the end, a low carb diet is not very realistic or very sociable for that matter. I've never been too worried about the health effects though. I've had my cholesterol checked both on and off the low carb diets and there have been no variation in the readings even when I've consumed extra fat during some of the diets. My total cholesterol has always hovered around 200, which could be lower, but is the cutoff for a normal level.
Now that I know the power of a low carb diet to quickly take off weight, it will always be part of my fitness arsenal. The real secret is to combine the diet, and any diet for that matter, with a program of regular exercise that includes both weight training and cardiovascular exercise.
I think the best approach is to cycle your diet plan like professional bodybuilders do. Target a period for when you want to be at your leanest like the summer months at the beach or a high school reunion or wedding and start a low carb diet about 2-3 months out. You'll hit your peak right when you're ready to go back to your normal eating habits and you can count on staying lean for several weeks afterward.
The real secret is to always stay within 10-15 lbs of your "fighting weight" and know that you can get there in a hurry with a low carb diet.
Rich Rojas
Elliptical Trainer Reviews and Fitness Ideas
limo Chicago Addison ..Many gastric bypass patients report melon to be one of... Read More
Fat Loss Tip #3) Proper Meal FrequencyMeal Frequency (i.e., the... Read More
It seems everyone is looking for that magic bullet -... Read More
I would like to introduce you to an incredible new... Read More
Are you just exploding with the presence of light all... Read More
Have you ever wished for a diet where you ate... Read More
That's a pretty "in your face" statement, but really it's... Read More
Although all of the risks involved in gastric bypass surgery... Read More
Diet is a dreadful word for most of us because... Read More
In a culture of blame-shifting we often look for someone... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight, the holidays literally... Read More
Natural Weight Loss Is PermanentOnly natural weight loss can be... Read More
You have probably heard the old myth, that you should... Read More
Fat Loss Tip #4) Eat More ProteinYes, it's important to... Read More
Trash Your TV! is pleased to announce the easiest weight... Read More
Nowadays, so much of the public is obese (fat) that... Read More
Recently, I was reading about a diet plan where you... Read More
Obesity in America is at an epidemic level. It is... Read More
The Atkins diet can be boring because of the limited... Read More
For people that are obese, losing weight quickly can seem... Read More
Sometimes, just the thought of starting on a diet and... Read More
To continue the educational series on your health and fitness... Read More
Many people limit themselves to one soda a day especially... Read More
If you are traveling on the path towards wellness you... Read More
Digestion is a chemical process. Our body combines different types... Read More
Benton transportation to O'Hare ..Summer is about to be in full swing, and it's... Read More
I have tried many "diets" here in the USA and... Read More
What is "too young" to begin a weight loss program... Read More
Diet advice ? a million "experts", hundreds of snake-oil miracle... Read More
You can overcome the desires of your sweet-tooth by incorporating... Read More
Whew! So how did you do on that last lesson?... Read More
Yes it's true- and so unfair. As we get older... Read More
I recently received the following email:Q. Five weeks ago, I... Read More
"Hey, you have reduced now, compared to the last time... Read More
The scourge of obesity has reached such gigantic proportions across... Read More
Please feel free to comment, to provide good information and... Read More
Obesity still remains one of the commonest avoidable causes of... Read More
Why has Phentermine stopped helping me lose weight?Many people are... Read More
Today obesity, diabetes, and heart disease run through us at... Read More
I was shocked. I started to cry...After the holidays, I... Read More
One pound of fat equals 3500 calories. Want to lose... Read More
We hear it all the time?lose weight for your health.... Read More
You are the GREATEST, aren't you? You are focusing on... Read More
As a part of a children's diet and health study,... Read More
The most recent shocking news related to Atkins diet UK... Read More
Now I know you're always asking yourself questions.You know the... Read More
There's one thing that most people forget about when it... Read More
Drink plenty of water. Our body needs a lot of... Read More
Every day, it seems, a new study pertaining to weight... Read More
Are you sick of the hype? Wondering what diet products... Read More
Weight Loss |