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