| Lo carb diets are the newest dieting trend, | | | | definition of net carbohydrates is total |
| and seem to be effective. Here are some tips | | | | grams of carbohydrates per serving minus |
| for following a balanced lo carb diet: | | | | dietary fibre per serving. Dietary fibre is |
| | | | the non-digestible remains of plant products |
| Eat more fruit and vegetables, aiming for at | | | | found in beans, whole grains, fruits, and |
| least five portions a day. Include fruit at | | | | vegetables. |
| breakfast and salad at lunch. Reduce the | | | | |
| amount of salt by eating less processed food, | | | | Carbohydrates are the body's preferred fuel |
| such as ready meals, and adding a smaller | | | | source. In the near future there will be a |
| amount of salt to food. Eat a varied diet. | | | | recommended dietary allowance, or R.D.A., for |
| Change your shopping list every week to help | | | | carbohydrates of 130 grams daily. 130 grams |
| keep you out of unhealthy food ruts and make | | | | of carbohydrates our body needs daily is for |
| eating more enjoyable. Eat regular meals - | | | | the proper functioning of the central nervous |
| although it doesn't matter when you eat your | | | | system and production of red blood cells. |
| food, a consistent schedule helps most people | | | | Only during Phase Four of the Atkins Diet are |
| to control their diet and their weight. | | | | participants allowed up to 120 grams of net |
| Control your portion sizes so that over time, | | | | carbohydrate daily. Low carbohydrate diets |
| if not necessarily every day, the amount of | | | | are nothing new, they have been around since |
| energy you consume matches your level of | | | | the 1860's and the Atkins Diet first came out |
| activity. Try to be more physically active. | | | | in the early 1970's. |
| Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity on | | | | |
| most days of the week. Activity helps to | | | | Most nutrition experts agree that to be |
| regulate your appetite, and means that you | | | | successful in weight loss a person needs to |
| can eat more without gaining weight. Drink | | | | keep the weight off for 5 years. Over 90% of |
| alcohol only within sensible limits: not more | | | | people who take weight off through a fad diet |
| than 14 units per week for women, and no more | | | | like the Atkins Diet gain the weight back in |
| than three in any one day, and not more than | | | | less than one year. Participants on the |
| 21 units per week for men, and no more than | | | | Atkins Diet lose between 10 to 12 pounds in |
| four in any one day. | | | | the first several weeks but this is only |
| | | | water loss, not fat. One pound of fat |
| The current most popular fad diet is the Lo | | | | contains 3500 calories. Therefore to lose 10 |
| Carb or Atkins diet. It restricts | | | | pounds of fat in several weeks you would need |
| carbohydrate rich foods, thereby restricting | | | | to consume 35,000 fewer calories or burn |
| total daily calories. Phase One of the four | | | | 35,000 calories more through exercise. |
| in the Atkins Diet consists of between 1400 | | | | Neither is likely to happen. |
| to 1500 total daily calories. The average | | | | |
| adult female consumes around 2200 calories | | | | So, the best way to lose weight and become |
| daily and the average adult male consumes | | | | more healthy is to eat a balanced diet. Don't |
| around 2800 calories daily. Almost any adult | | | | cut out all your carbs, but don't go |
| will lose weight if they consume 800 to 1300 | | | | overboard with them either. In addition to |
| fewer calories daily. Phase One of the Atkins | | | | eating well, exercise in a proportional |
| Diet also restricts carbohydrate intake to | | | | amount to what you are eating. Exercising too |
| only 20 grams of net carbohydrates daily. The | | | | much is as bad as exercising too little. |