Low carb dieting has become fashionable in
recent years especially with the publication of the Atkins diet. Losing weight
is a goal for so many people and everybody is looking for the quick and easy
way to lose weight. Some people do not need to lose weight at all but still get
stressed over a couple of pounds. Others need to lose for medical reasons and
may have one hundred pounds or more that they want to shed.
There are many different diets out there
including low carbohydrate diets and the truth is that most of them will
achieve weight loss if they are followed correctly. This does not mean always
doing what the diet says every moment of every day. What is more important is
how you deal with the inevitable occasion when you eat too much or feast on
foods that are not on the plan. If you can write this off and return to the
plan without giving yourself a hard time, you are likely to succeed. Everybody
has those days - the important thing is to let them go and accept them as just
another step on the road to permanent weight loss.
It is also important to find a diet that
you can easily follow. Low carb diets suit many people because the rules are
quite simple. As the name suggests, the diet consists of avoiding or limiting
foods that are high in carbohydrates. These include bread, pasta, potatoes,
rice and other grains. Sugar is also a carbohydrate. Once you understand what
these foods are, it is a simple matter to choose dishes that avoid them.
Most criticism of low carbohydrate dieting
is based on the fact that the dieters will get most of their daily calories
from meat, dairy and other high fat products. This can lead to high cholesterol
and other problems related to a high intake of saturated fats. Medical advice
is advised before starting this type of diet. Sometimes weight loss is good in
the early stages but people cannot handle the restrictions in the longer term
and start to deviate from the diet.
One of the problems that many people have
with low carb dieting is the elimination of bread and pasta. No more toast,
spaghetti or pizza! Many of the foods that are quickest to prepare are based
around carbohydrates - burgers in their buns, fries, sandwiches, pasta and
sauce. Beer and other alcoholic drinks are high in carbs too. It is true that
alcohol is generally restricted on any diet, because it is high in calories and
very low in nutritional value, but low carb diets put particular emphasis on
this.
Still there are many foods that can be
enjoyed on a low carb diet. If you are fond of meat you will relish the
opportunity to consume beef, chicken and other animal products. The popularity
of these diets is clear from the length of time that they stay on the
bestseller lists. It is just a matter of what suits you. Low carb dieting works
for many people.