Everybody has heard of a "low carb" diet especially since they are emerging as the newest trend in dieting.



But do they really work? And if so, are they the solution to weight loss that everybody is looking for?

I don't think so, because most low carb diets have several problems which make losing weight very difficult for the "average" dieter.

For example, if you follow the Atkins diet (a popular low carb program) then the restriction on carbs for the first couple weeks is very severe (by almost any standards).

The Atkins program allows just 20 grams of "net carbs" per day during the first phase of the diet (which usually lasts for 2 weeks).

Just to give you an idea of how few carbs that really is - even a large apple has more than 20 grams of "net carbs".

This low level of carbs is often too severe for the "average" dieter to tolerate for 2 weeks straight, and in fact eating such a low level of carbs can make a person feel "weak" and "miserable" all day long (because your body needs more carbs than that for energy).

Other low carb diets (such as the South Beach Diet) are not quite as severe as the Atkins Plan, but in my opinion even the South Beach Diet is not as easy to follow as it could be.

Good carbs VS bad carbs

First of all, the technical term for good carbs is complex carbs, and the technical term for bad carbs is simple carbs. Bad carbs (simple) are high glycemic. Good carbs (complex) are low glycemic. The term "glycemic" refers to the amount and speed a food will raise your blood sugar and insulin levels (which leads to fat gain).

"Bad carbs" (simple) are foods like white bread, white rice, pasta and all typical junk food high in sugar.

"Good carbs" (complex) on the other hand are foods such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread, brown rice, and other whole grains.

Does it actually work?

Yes, people have lost weight on a low carb diet. That is the truth. However, bare in mind that people tend to lose a lot of weight early with this method of weight loss because of all of the water they are losing. Due to eating only low carb foods, glycogen is used for energy, and this causes a decrease in water weight. Also bare in mind that limiting carbs is also limiting calories. A decrease in calories often leads to a decrease in weight.

My personal opinion...

As I mentioned before, the low carb diet can lead to weight loss. People have indeed lost weight using it. If the whole low carb foods craze appeals to you, then by all means, give it shot. If the whole theory behind it all seems like something that is right for you, go for it. I want to make that point clear. Some diets fit certain people better, and maybe this one fits you. However, to me the low carb diet is like hopping on 1 leg to get somewhere when you could have just walked. You may still get there, but your method of travel was unnecessary. My personal opinion? I prefer to walk instead of hop. However you get there is completely up to you.

I believe that a successful diet needs to be easy to follow - because that's the only way that people will stick to the diet and lose weight.

I believe that diets should not make you feel "miserable" and "weak" all day long, because if a diet makes you feel miserable and weak then it's going to be very difficult for average dieters to adhere to such programs.

I am not saying that all low carb diets are as restrictive as the Atkins Diet is, but I am saying that most low carb diets are so hard to follow that "average dieters" will probably wind up feeling hungry and weak all day long (which is not a good thing for dieting success in my opinion).

I believe that "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).

The truth is that your body needs a reasonable amount of protein, carbs and fat calories daily to maintain its consistency and balance.

To lose weight quickly you must eat all 3 types of calories in the right proportions, and that's why most dieters fail. They fail because nobody knows what the right proportions of calories should be.

To begin losing weight fast I recommend using a brand new type of diet never seen before, focusing on "calorie shifting" -- since there are no specific "portion limits" at any meal and dieters can eat as much as they need to at each meal. Also, unlimited amounts of certain condiments can be eaten with every meal.