How to Make a Comment
Saturday, November 7, 2009
To make a comment on Why Low Carb Diets Work, click on "comments" or "Post comments" near the bottom of the page. Please identify yourself, even if you have to make up a name, in case several people leave a comment. That way, others can more easily answer a specific person. I also suggest you subscribe to the comments, so you will get new comments in your email inbox, with an easy way to answer them.
129 comments:
Awesome article. I am starting my second low carb diet. I was extremely successful the last time, but eventually went back to my old habits. I came across this article and it just reinforces what I already knew and should have been following all along. THANK YOU!
Amazing article! I can relate to it in so many ways and now I know the real benefits behind a low carb/insulin diet. Thank you.
Wow. I am actually related to the Eades' and they haven't been able to explain low-carb to me as succinctly as you have. I have this article bookmarked and will refer to it often when I'm criticized for eating the way I do. I'll just send along this article. Well done!
Thank you, Becky! That's quite an acknowledgment.
Thank you, Christina and Adriana too.
This article is filled with misunderstood science and opinions that are not based on peer reviewed scientific evidence. One major thing not pointed out is that your BRAIN runs ONLY on carbohydrates. When you eat less carbs your body starts breaking down fat and converting it into compounds called ketones to feed your brain. For a short period of time this is o.k but after a long period of time this can put you in a coma and kill you because these ketones make your blood more acidic (this is called ketosis). Also you are ingesting more fat with a low carb diet which is unhealthy and research from peer reviewed scientific journals has shown that low carb diets raise LDL cholesterol (which is the bad cholesterol). Also there has been many case reports about Sudden Death linked to low carb diets.
I urge people to search scientific articles on PubMed.com about any health related topic.
People do not die if they never eat carbohydrates. Otherwise people who ate only meat, like Eskimos, would have died out long ago.
In severe prolonged cases ketoacidosis has killed people. Ketoacidosis is also common in diabetics and can also occur in alcoholics.
There are multiple case reports of people dying while following low-carb diets. If you would like to look them up on PubMed.com they are entitled "Development of Symptomatic Cardiovascular Disease after Self-Reported Adherence to the Atkins Diet." and "Sudden Cardiac Death of an Adolescent During Dieting."
Also, many studies that test low carb diets against low fat/protein diets have shown that after one year they all give similar results but that low-carb diets that supplement fat and proteins for carbs result in higher LDL levels which can lead to atherosclerosis.
And carbs are NOT unnatural. If they were your brain wouldn't run solely on blood sugar (glucose = a simple sugar = carbs)and your body would not contain the many enzymes used to digest (breakdown) complex carbs into monosaccharides. Also if we werent meant to have carbs why is our major source of energy glycolysis, TCA cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation (which all starts with glucose)
And if carbs were so "unnatural" why would the FDA, and ADA recommend them for a healthy diet.
Saying carbs are bad for you is the most absurd thing I have ever heard!
And what most people dont get is that any macronutrient (protein, carb, lipid) eaten in excess gets turned into fat and stored in the adipocytes (fat cells)
Based on what Mr. Anonymous said in his last statement, what is the perfect diet? Sorry, life style change. Dec 26th 2009, I started a low carb diet. I found this web site and it was the first site that made sense. I have been very faithful to this plan keeping my daily carbs to 30 or under. A week after starting this change in eating, I lost almost 10 lbs in the first week, however now I am back up by eight pounds. I am trying to figure what I am doing wrong? I eat lots of vegetables but I eat more meat than I normally have in the past. How much time does the body need to get used to this new way of eating? Should I start eating more fruits or still keep them as a no, no food for a while longer? Thanks for your thoughts.
Curtis, if you want to eat low carb, eating fruit is a bad idea except very occasionally.
The only reason I can think of that you would have GAINED weight eating low carb is you're not eating low enough. Eat meat and veggies only. And no corn, carrots or potatoes.
Actually measure you're food. It seems likely you're eating too many carbs to lose weight. If you're eating low enough carb, you should find it extremely difficult to gain any weight no matter how much you eat.
I want to start following this, but am a bit concerned with @Curtis losing 10lb in the first week... surely this is not healthy?
Stephanie,
If someone goes from a carbohydrate junkie to a very low-carb diet, ten pounds in the first week is not unusual.
Carbs make your body retain water. Most of the weight in the first week is water weight. The same thing happens when you fast (don't eat anything at all). Without the carbs artificially forcing your body to retain water, the body lets it go.
This article was great information, I'm losing weight like crazy so I know it's true. Thanks again for the article.
Trish from Virginia
i am also living proof that this is true. my mother always said, "if you keep doing the same things, you'll always get the same results". so i simply stopped eating what i ate most--rice and bread. i didn't know why until long after why it worked. i was losing weight so fast that i scared myself. this article gave me deeper insight into the WHY. thanks.
So many are buying the nonsense that red meat is bad for you. We've been engineering the fat out of meat for decades...ever since the government decided that fat makes you fat.
Who here thinks that the lack of fat in our meat supply is leading to health problems such as colon cancer?
What if the lack of fat in the meat is the real problem here?
Our research institutions make way too many assumptions I think on how our bodies process food in general. So much so, that I think that anyone who suggested science investigates the degenerative health effects of lean meat...that person would be scorned for even thinking it.
If your going to have carbs make sure its in the morning then go strict on no carbs for the rest of the day, its much easier that way and carbs in the morning give you the ability to train at night.
Some people would consider a low-insulin diet as a way of losing weight. However, your evolution reason for eating low carbs is mere speculation. Like most of the web, it lacks credible references.
One reason for rising weight lose is reduced activity. people abroad eat lots of carbs and are slim and fit because they burned the carb off via activity. Inspite of eating food high in carbs, namely rice, potato, cassava and yam I actually lost a lot of weight abroad when on holidays. I did a lot of walking.
Low-carb may help to lose weight for a western lifestyle. less processed food - high in carbs - and exercise is recommended.
Exercise is DEFINITELY recommended. In fact, if you're only going to do one thing for your health, make it exercise. But if you're going to change your diet, low or at least slow carb eating is the way to go.
Read more: Where To Tap.
I really enjoyed reading this article. I have been doing south beach for two weeks and have lost about 10lbs. I feel so much better in general...my acne is clearing up, I never feel bloated and people are saying I'm in better spirits. I incorporate excercise everyday too. I do have one question though, the south beach diet incorporates low fat cheeses...what is your take on cheese/dairy while eating low carb. I eat a part skim string cheese and 2% cottage cheese almost every day. Also, tomato juice is allowed on south beach...any thoughts on that? And lastly, I usually eat 10-12 almonds a day...you don't mention almonds under your paragraph on nuts, so just wondering what you think. Thanks!
Thanks Nel. I'm glad you enjoyed my article.
I think nuts and cheese are fine. Nutritious. Not even necessarily low fat, although that would probably be better if you're going to do it a lot.
Tomato juice is good food. Tomatoes are better, but tomato juice is fine once in awhile, especially the low sodium kind (they tend to put a lot of sodium in tomato juice).
I live in Manchester, England.
Low carb diets work. I know, I've been on a low carb diet for two years and have lost more than 30lbs. Yes, I do get carb cravings and sometimes give in. I rectify that by cycling for a couple of hours. I can do that easily now because of the weight I've lost. As for carbs being 'brain-food,' well that's just stuff and nonsense. I have an IQ of 163 and am a member of MENSA.
Hi, this is a great and informative site on low carb. I'd like to ask though, if you have any suggestions for those of us who do NOT want to eat meat. Do not like it, or just eat VERY little of it? please post some info on low carb with little or no meat. OR did I miss this, if so, sorry. thanks so much!
..oh and for anyone who mentions the FDA in their comments, negative or positively? The FDA is the biggest joke in this country. They say how many carbs we should have? or proteins?? please, this SAME FDA ALLOWS KNOWN cancer causing agents in our food, and food sources. Especially the meats, its disgusting. So although I do believe low carb is good, the carb source MUST be a "healthy" carb....If one must eat meat then it should NOT be the junk in our stores, or should be organic, free range and grass fed. I believe low carb can definitely be done healthy but know so many who are eating nothing but steaks and bacon, which to me is in no way healthy in any way.
I lost weight on low carb, with seafood, not farm raised and veggies, all kinds of dishes.....and with no meat. To me, this is the healthiest "low carb" way to go.
One last comment, and again, I love your article here, ...a lot of info.
Did you mention cholesterol?
I didnt see it, but can you tell me please, if someone is trying to LOWER cholesterol, how does eating low carb help that, or does it? I've heard it does, strangely enough, but dont know how. Thanks for the info
I recommend meat. It is highly nutritious. However, Jack LaLanne doesn't eat any red meat or chicken. But he eats fairly high protein, mostly egg whites and fish.
I just came across an article a couple days ago about that last question, Ket:
Study Shows Added Sugars Hurt Cholesterol Levels
What a great article. So indepth and scientifically profound.You've explained things even better than the information posted on the Atkin's web page.
Thanks.
Thanks Adam, your article is well written, interesting and can be easily understood by layman. I am on a low carb, low sodium and high protein diet program under the supervision of medical doctors specializing in weight loss for about 6 weeks and by now have lost 17 pounds or 9% of my body weight. What you covered in your article closely summarized the concepts found in the 300+ pages book written by Dr. Poon, a medical doctor and scientist with Doctoral degree in Biochemistry. By following a carefully monitored low carb, low sodium, no starch diet, my blood pressure has significantly dropped, a goal that I have trying to achieve in the last 10 years thru hypertension prescriptions, exercise and eating "healthy" but without much success. I think a healthy low carb diet also entails eating good oil like olive oil & high quality protein like fish, white meat, very lean beef and some seafood which do not contain most of the bad cholestoral found in saturated fat. Non-starchy veggies and some low GI load and index fruits like berries & melon (in controlled amount) is also crucial as it provides all the vitamins, minerals, antioxidan and certain amount of energy. Together with proper amount of exercise, I believe weight loss is achievable and sustainable over a long term, thru' self discipline and determination, while retaining body muscles, energy and good health.
I started this diet three days ago and I truly feel so much better! I don't feel bloated anymore at all. I did have trouble sleeping, but I am finally feeling tired at a decent hour like a normal person. I am eating a lot of cheese, lettuce, peanuts and meet. Is salted peanuts okay to eat? Are there better nuts to eat?
Glad to hear it, Jessica. Yes, salted peanuts are fine, although too much salt may increase your blood pressure over time.
Most nuts are great. They are low in carbs and high in good quality oils. The only nut I can think of that is fairly high in carbs is Pistacios, and they're not that bad.
I think I consumed around 50 carbs today on accident. I though oranges had like 1 or 2 carbs. Turns out they are have around 10 carbs. Did I completely ruin my diet?
No, Jessica, you didn't "ruin your diet." This is not a diet so much as a new way of eating, anyway.
So what? You had a few more carbs than you wanted. Big deal. Look at the big picture. Think longer term.
If you only ate 50 carbs, that's probably 200 fewer carbs than you used to eat every day. Relax and keep on going.
I have been on the low carb regimen for abot 3 weeks now. I lost tons of weight on it many years ago, but now that I am in my 60s the fat doesn't seem to be melting as fast. I haven't had a bite of anything with sugar, no potatoes, bread, peas, or anyhting starchy. I can swear I haven't had more than 15 or so carbs per day. What is happening? Why isn't it working? Has my body lost its capacity to convert fats? Help!
Sue
It's possible you aren't burning calories as fast as you did when you were younger. Maybe eat a little less fat or exercise more? And eat the most early in the day, lighter at night.
I have been told that you shouldn't exercise on the low carb diet. Is that true? Or is it just at the beginning?
I also just realized I was having about 1-2 cup of skim milk per day without ralizing that it adds up to about 20 carbs! Big mistake... Have stopped and hope to see some progress now...
It's perfectly okay to exercise on a low-carb diet. What you'll find is that usually you won't feel energetic when first beginning cardio. You might feel weak. Don't worry about it. Just start easy. After a little while, you will feel fine and you can exercise as you normally would. The body must switch over to a different way of burning fuel.
Dear Adam, thanks for writing this article. It's very clear. I've been eating less carbs for the past 4 weeks after reading Barry Groves' book Natural Health & Weight Loss, which prescribes a high-fat/low-carb diet. At the same time I started to exercise again. I used to swim, run and cycle on a total of 3/4 days a week, and I'm slowly getting fit again.
It's true that I feel less bloated and more energetic (I don't know if it was thanks to the diet or the fact that now my 5-month old son is sleeping through the night and I'm getting a bit more sleep).
After a initial hard week (weakness, felt dizzy etc) I lost much of my crave for sugar. My bowels have never worked so well.
So I'm doing it properly, right? Well, I didn't lose not even 500 grams.
Am I eating too many carbs? Well, possible, but how can you avoid it? Everything seems to have carbs, you just can't keep track of every gram. Until before my pregnancy last year, I never had a weight problem, was always slim, would lose weight easily. Now after the pregnancy, I want to get rid of only 3 kgs and despite the diet and exercise, nothing happened! I don't understand. Eating carbs in the past I would lose weight much easier than now. Could you shed some light? Many thanks. Alessandra
Thanks, Alessandra. I appreciate that.
When you first start a low-carb diet, you tend to eat too much for the first week while you get over your sugar cravings. You should start to lose after that. If not, you might try fasting to get things going in the right direction. Learn more about that here:
Fasting to Lose Weight
It's easy and will usually kick start your weight loss very quickly.
Low Carb is the only "diet" that works for me. I have been on a low carb diet for about a month now and have lost about 10lbs(I want to lose about 40 total). My question is this-Is it okay to drink diet soda? This seems to be a vice I use if I take the kids for ice cream or I will have a can if I am hungry and it is very filling.
Also...what do you recommend I eat if we went to an amusement park for the day or to a ball game? I realize that I can order a burger or bring some Atkins bars...would it be okay for a day to eat something that we shouldn't? I am afraid of gaining now that I am on the right track!
Drinking diet soda is ultimately a bad idea because the body is getting the impression that the sweet flavor doesn't result in any calories coming in, so your tastebud-brain connection become calibrated wrong. Then when you eat or drink carbs, you will tend to eat more than normal.
About the amusement park or ball game: If I were you, I would stay strict for about six months before trying to deviate a little. Give yourself a chance to win.
Here's the problem: If you indulge in carbs, you start craving them again. Once you get over your cravings (it usually takes a couple days), it is easier to stay low carb. But if you indulge, you now have to go through a couple days of cravings. It's risky. If your cravings get too much and you indulge again, you have to go a couple MORE days of craving.
It's just better not to risk it. At least that's what I think.
This is one of the best articles on the importance of going with a low carb lifestyle that I've ever read. I've read alot on this, but I've never seen it outlined and broken down into such a simple understanding of how it works and the benefits we will obtain. I am bookmarking this page and will be back to re-read it again and again... thank you!!!
Terrific article, I'm in complete agreement. I have been doing a low carb diet and feel great, lost over 30 lbs in 4 months, have not had heartburn (or gas), feel better and look better! thank you for posting this, I enjoyed reading your article and will sahre it with friends.
You should also regard dieting and exercise as a hand and glove type of relationship. They fit together.
Dieting and Exercise to Lose Weight
Great read, Thanks.
Wow what an informational article! Thanks!
I'm sorry if someone already adressed this issue, but I'd like to respond to Mr/Mrs/Miss Anonymous.
I quote "And carbs are NOT unnatural. If they were your brain wouldn't run solely on blood sugar (glucose = a simple sugar = carbs)and your body would not contain the many enzymes used to digest (breakdown) complex carbs into monosaccharides. Also if we werent meant to have carbs why is our major source of energy glycolysis, TCA cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation (which all starts with glucose)"
I'm a nursing student taking anatomy and physiology right now. I have a question: WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT GLYCOLYSIS IS DERIVED FROM "CARBS"? So you're saying that protein and fats never yeild glucose as an end product? I'm sorry? Please explain? And if our primary source was always simple sugars then why even have the processes for breaking down poly into monosaccarides?
I had been on a low calorie diet for 3 months. In the first few weeks, I lost 14 pounds, but then plateaued at about 195. No matter what I did, or how little I ate, nothing changed.
Turns out I was eating 1500 calories of carbs a day.
I started Atkins 4 days ago. I have gone from 195 to 191 in 4 days. I feel good, don't crave the carbs, and am able to eat like a horse! I also have lost my need for heartburn medication.
Thanks!
Thank you, Adam. Fantastic article. Now I'm armed with ammunition why I'm doing this. I, too, lost about 50 pounds 8 years ago low-carbing it and then went back to work with all the daily office food temptations and slowly but sureley put back on 40 pounds over the past 7 years. It was like a slow motion train wreck I couldn't seem to stop.
Time to go back to the "low insulin" diet. I like that term much better and thank you again!
i know for a fact low carb works.i'm 69 6'5"278lbs been on low carb only about 4 months lost 25lbs & feel great.your right i ate sweets cakes ect.potatoes all the time after 2 months don't miss them anymore & i eat good & all i want love nuts pork rinds & drink alot of water.
seriously - in one free article that you kindly took the time to write online - you've helped demystify and explain this better than every other book, article or misguided opinion out there.
I've been off the beer (lager), bread, pasta, potatoes (and chips) for the last week or so and I literally feel slimmer. I might even weigh myself soon!
Thank you so much Adam - you're very kind!
Nick
Thanks, Nick. I appreciate that!
Thank you for this article, this is really going to help me push more into my natural diet. The main reason I came upon this page is because I was researching for an article I had found earlier on a news website: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/03/10/bc-alertstudy.html
I had always thought that eating breads, pasta's, and milks, were not very good for me, because we come from eating a lot of meats. Food high in carbs only came recently to Native people, so based from my other research, and this article, I now firmly believe that I am not meant to eat things high in carbs, and will be working on changing my diet. So once again, thank you very much for this, it was very well written, and inspiring to me.
Thank you so much for writing this article. I have been trying for a long time now to lose wight by reducing fat in my diet and it nevr seemed to work. You have got me convnced that this diet works. And now I'm going to try it for myself! A brillint article. Thank you.
Great article! I love the "Go into the wilderness and find me some bread or pasta." line. so funny.
I've changed my lifestyle after reading the primal blueprint which basically says everything you've written.
And to the Anonymous guy who posted that carbs are good. Carbs are fine but I think it needs to come from a healthier source like veggies and fruit etc. not from processed foods. Its about nourishing your body.
This is the best article I have ever read about low carb.
Thanks
I have to say this is one of the best articles about weight loss and dieting that I have ever come across. As for low sugar eating...its the way to go!!! I have never been in better shape.
In your article you mention the following:
"A lot of people make fun of this part of the Atkins diet. Robert Atkins really emphasized you can eat all the cheese and butter and fat you want."
Since I own 4 Atkins books...I can't find any instruction re: cheese being unlimited!!!
....BUT...on the plus side, your article is easy to read, and I did enjoy the candid approach!
Thank you.
First time I ever understood what was really meant by a low carb or, better yet, low insulin way of eating. Thank you for using language I can understand!
Adam, if I would have found your article first, it would have saved me the time of reading the New Atkins Book and Gary Taubes' Why We Get Fat. It reinforced their writings and simplified what my path needs to be. For me, you cleared up the misconception of lots of protein and fat that I took away from both of these books. Adequate protein and healthy fats seem like a more intelligent choice regardless of how the body is burning fuel. I am concerned, however, everything I've read regarding arthritis and gout are due to uric acid from eating animal protein. Since I already have some arthritis, eating this way concerns me. Can you shed any light on this subject.
I don't know much about arthritis, I'm afraid. But I know that studies show good results with people who take glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin, but it is only for one kind of arthritis, but if I remember correctly, it is for the most common kind of arthritis.
One thing I remember is that if you take those supplements, you have to make sure you excercise those joints because that's the only way to get nutrients into your joints (there is no blood flow). The excercise pumps the nutrients into the joint.
If you find out more about uric acid, would you please let us know? Thank you.
Good explanation for a low carb diet, but totally absent was the glycemic index and how to counter-act the high acidity created by animal proteins.
Could you comment on that please?
Alexis
Absolutely, Alexis. The glycemic index makes a difference. Some carbs go into your system quickly and make your insulin level spike. Some go in more slowly. The latter are better.
As far as acidity is concerned, I don't know if it is something to worry about. If you have any information about why we should be concerned about acidity, please post it here.
A good book to read is" The Acid Alkaline Food Guide" by Dr. Susan E. Brown & Larry Trivieri Jr., as well as the G.I Diet ( can't find this book in my library),anyway it explains the acid alkaline balance and the a good comprehensive list of foods and their Ph effects. All animal proteins are acid forming and should be taken sparingly. I think that taking legumes is better than meat.
This article is very good. The information is great and easy to understand. The only problem is that we did not come from monkeys. It requires more faith to believe in evolution than the creator God. Other than that the info Is good.
i just started this about a week ago and i am dropping pounds like crazy. I am 32 and i feel like i was 20, lots of energy and just a better disposition. This article just puts it in stone. Good luck everybody!!!!!!
This is the best and most thorough article I've ever read about eating low carb. I've never seen it explained so well. Thank you.
I have been searching for weeks now for intelligent articles on low carb "diets" and this is one of the first I saw that actually made sense and was easy to understand. I have been on a low carb diet for a week or so and I am definitely noticing a change. My cravings for carbs are starting to slow down. When I really think about it I have to agree that when I was in the height of my carb obsession it seemed as though I couldn't get enough of it and I was suffering from bloating and I just didn't feel right. Now I understand why. Thanks!
Jamie
I just wanted to echo all of the other comments and say that this article is awesome! I also have to add that I am a distance runner and yes I can still run on a low carb diet and I feel great although it did take some time to get used to! And to comment on the negative anonymous posting, yes your body can manufacture plenty of glucose from fat and protein for your brain to function normally - read a book once in awhile!!
This is an Awesome article I have done the low insulin diet and it worked great for me and I felt so good, had tons of energy and had very little headaches ( which I kept;eating all those carbs ) Thanks for all this information I'll put it in my favorites to refer back to daily..
Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!
Someone previous said, "the reason there are so many overweight people is because they are not exercising enough" (or something to that extent).
I can assure this person, I went 4 miles on my treadmill an average of 5 times a week, and I found it next to impossible to keep weight off, let alone LOSE weight. No amount of reasonable exercise can eliminate between 600-1000 extra calories per day.
Limiting calories felt like a prison sentence, and I could only be "good" for so long. Come nightfall, I would FALL on a box of crackers and nearly finish the entire thing in one sitting.
I have been low-carbing for TWO days...yes, only TWO days, and my cravings for carbs are all but gone. How can one explain this? Bottom line is, I need no explanation. The proof if here, right now, manifesting itself with the help of a low carb diet.
Weight loss, here I come...
I have tried to low carb many times and each time I fail because when I drop my carbs I get serious insomnia. I've measured my veggies to get the exact induction amounts to see if that would help and it doesn't. As soon as I would eat an apple or banana I fall asleep.
I want to eat low carb, I love it. Do you have any advice for the insomnia it can cause?
Thanks!
Yes, I do, and that's an excellent question. The digestion of protein during sleep will disrupt your sleep. You must not eat anything within three hours of going to bed, and ideally eat nothing four hours or more before going to bed. In other words, be finished digesting before going to bed.
I really wish people would stop demonizing carbs this way. It is well-documented that the human body needs these compounds to survive because they are an essential source of energy for us.
I think the real problem stems not from carbs as a whole, but more from the refined carbs that we get from industrially-produced foods. You say in your article that all carbs make you crave more carbs, but this isn't really true. If you eat a piece of Wonderbread, those processed carbs will send your blood glucose level through the roof, and when it inevitably crashes, you'll crave more. But if instead you choose to eat whole wheat bread, which is an unrefined carb, it will take longer for your body to digest and keep you feeling satiated for longer.
Too many carbs (like too much of anything) is obviously not good, but it's a mistake to characterize all carbs as bad. It's not really that simple--some carbs are good, and actually necessary for your survival! So it's important to distinguish between the different kinds of carbs rather than just lumping them together and deeming them all "unhealthy".
Hello,
Great article. I agree everything that is says - and it makes sense. I have been on Atkins for a few days (my doctor put me on it), and I feel great. First, in my life, I don't feel hungry, and don't crave for food. I'm 240 lbs, and have always wanted to lose weight, but it has been so difficult, because when I did not eat enough in order to lose weight, I was thinking about food all the time.
This is really true, that you don't even want to eat too much from fat/protein. (2-3 eggs, and coffee with heavy cream in the morning, 1 can of tuna with lettuce and mayo for lunch, and a small size steak for dinner).
And that is true that eating carbs makes you want to eat more carbs. This is even true with some fruits, like cherries. A week ago, before I started this diet, I was full, but I kept eating more and more cherries. I'm not saying I will never eat fruit, but I wait a few weeks, and eat more berries, and limited amount of high-carb fruits.
However, I have a question:
I understand that the carbs are converted to fat to be stored in the body (and we gain weight).
But what about eating fat/protein? Let's say, I eat a steak for dinner, and I'm full. If this is enough energy for the body, how come the body still starts burning energy from the STORED fat in the body (that would lead to weight loss? Wouldn't be the steak (or any other fat) enough for the energy needed? Why the body would go to the stored fat?
Thanks a lot.
Your body will definitely burn the fat you eat before burning stored fat. But without much insulin, you've switched your body's enzymes into a fat-burning mode, so as soon as you run out of fat from food, it just keeps burning, using up stored fat.
Insulin causes the body to try to retain stored fat.
If you ate enough fat, you would probably prevent the burning of your stored fat, but that doesn't happen to many people. You'd have to eat a lot of fat.
Great artical. For all of you who don't want to trust an internet artical, try reading Good Calories, Bad Calories. It is not a diet book. It is a book about the bad science which has led to the obesity epidemic. The author writes about bad science.
Twice I was doing well on low carb diets. Both times I came off. Once because of family and the other because of my doctor. Both were feeding me bad info. I am on again now, feeling great and losing weight.
the most wonderful article ive ever read to help support my high protein lifestyle....and a great source to ward off the fat fools who critisize it....im a double zero and feel great and its because i have adopted this lifestyle for the past three years!!!!!! thank you!!!!! took the words right out of my mouth!
I loved this article. Have dropped two and a half stone on this diet. The only mistake I made was eating loads of apples thinking they were ok. Now swapped to berries and it's fine. I have never looked so good or felt as healthy. It's not a diet. I have changed the way I eat for good. I like the duken method of on one day of the week I eat only protein. For me this means just eggs, chicken or steak. That day you can drop 3 lbs which means you can treat yourself to pizza the day and you are able to maintain your weight. I do this every Thursday and it's a great tip! I have 4 kids and I am now slimmer than I was before children. Some of my friends are suspect ( jealous?) and I am going to show them this article. Thanks for writing it Adam.
Thanks so much, Adam, this is the best explanation I've read. Have been following a low carb lifestyle for over a year and love it (have lost 40lbs under a doctor supervised program and am now maintaining). Would you please let me know what you think of heavy whipping cream...I love it in my coffee (2-3 cups of decaf a day) and sometimes with berries. Also, any opinion on how low carbing might affect the thyroid?? Again, thank you!
im 5'6 and went from 170 to 140 pounds doing low carb about 8 years ago. Since Ive been eating carbs again I have gained some wieght back. I have tried reducing my calories and end up binging on carbs and purging. It is very distructive to my mental and physical health. What I am getting at is that while I was on low sugar for about a year. I never had any binge/purge episodes and felt great. I started low insulin diet 3 days ago and my sugar cravings are already subsiding. It seems I forgot how wonderful and this way of eating really is.
We didn't evolve. That is a myth. The diet works great but GOD made grains and fruits for consumption as well.We just have to learn not to eat so many of them.Easier said than done.
I'm tired of the ketoacidosis mis-information going around. People have been brainwashed to the extreme about this. I have been on the low carb diet off and on for about 35 years and no problems. Ketoacidosis is NOT dangerous in the non-insulin dependent low carb dieter.All others is dietary ketosis are safe.IT HAS BEEN SHOWN A MILLION TIMES OVER SO GET RID OF THE OLD OUTDATED NONSENCE!! Only insulin dependant people are at risk PERIOD. To say that everyone is in danger of low carb dietary induced ketosis is a liar! I am not suggesting that carbs are un natural.Low carb diets work much better and that is why i am commenting on them.
Stephanie,losing 10 pounds the first week is not unhealthy.
Especially since it is mostly water. If you are over 400 pounds continued weight loss at this rate is still safe until you have reduced considerably.
High fat diets are dangerous when they are accompanied with lots of carbs. In the absense of carbs they have the oposite effect. Don't believe me. Then give it a try. Your health will improve drastically.
Three weeks ago i signed up with a personal trainer and was put on a low carb diet or low insulin . With my diet i can have carbs but none after lunch. They also have to be good carbs fruit, brown rice, oats, whole grain cereal and no breads. My carb consumption and fruit portion is also more than half the amount i used to consume while my protein intake has doubled. This way of eating has done miracles. while i was not overweight i did have a pot belly and squishiness around the hips and i could barely touch the area as it reminded me of pig fat. Now i love touching the area because it is so firm. After three weeks of low carbing my abs are flatter than ever. I still have a while to go.to get perfect abs but for ages i wondered why i could never lose the belly low carbing has helped with that. i also have more energy and am thinner than i have ever been. i also have no cravings or gas. it has taken a while to get used to as i was a semi vegeterian who grew up with the food pyramid but as they say if one thing doesnt work try something else. diets like skinny bitch left me hungry and made me snack constantly now i survive fine with my 5 set meals. As i result i love looking at articles like yours because i love hearing from people who have similar expetiences with low carb diets
I am a type1 diabetic and find that the lo-carb way of life has stabilized my blood sugars. If I exercise a lot and need sugar, I have a few jelly beans and am back on track. Diabetics have trouble losing weight because their output of insulin comes in the form of an injection. I am taking less insulin so the balance is great and am losing weight more successfully than on weight watchers. I have become a creative cook in the protein arena....maybe it is because I like to eat only tasty food. This article and the comments made by others have been very useful ! Thanks...for inspiration.
I have read literally 20+ books on low-carb in the past, and this article gives the best explanation I have ever read on why and how it works. wow. Also I have worked as a chiropractor for the last 26 years and have researched many types of plans. Recently I have been very interested in the whole/raw food lifestyle, and have read literally 40 or more books on that, yeah I know...lol.
Recently an author asked me to review her book, Susan Schneck recently published a book called, Beyond Brocolli. In it, she writes about 7 or so years on raw food and how she continued to feel worse until she added in animal protein. Her book opened my eyes! Now I know why I haven't been able to stick to either the low carb or raw food... I need to do both! I was becoming confused about just what to eat, but I had a realization recently that I am *NOT* confused about what *NOT* to eat: wheat/flour/sugar! so now I have renewed interest in low-carb and combining with raw food. I came across a fantastic low carb site, and found your article.
I'm trying to explain to my daughter how to follow a low carb regimen and more importantly, WHY.
Your article gives the most clear and concise explanation as to how our bodies work and why we were designed to eat this way.
Our caveman ancestors didn't have spaghetti and rice! They had meat and sometimes fruit. That is exactly how God has designed our bodies.
I like to call it the caveman regimen! Thank you for a wonderful explanation!
Grea article. Though, I have read the same concepts somewhere else as well; therefore; I put myself on low carb. It's true, it works. But, I am more concious about Uric Acid and LDL levels. Once I complete my three months, I will go for complete blood test, lets how it goes.
I was thinking another perspective of our ancestors. Though, they were on protein, fats and vegetables but what about average life expectancy at that time. Today, we got better life expectancy than them, can anyone elaborate this one?
Two things about life expectancy: First, it is calculated by averaging. So if thirty percent of children die in infancy or during childbirth, it brings down the overall life expectancy dramatically, even if adults tend to live a long time.
And being a hunter-gatherer 50,000 years ago was dangerous. People died from many causes, including being eaten by predators. These also bring down life expectancy numbers even if people were in extraordinarily good health.
Second, there was a dramatic drop in health markers in people with the advent of agriculture 10 thousand years ago. After people began eating grains as a staple, they didn't grow as tall, their teeth were in worse shape, and they had other signs of poor health.
I was diagnosed with type II diabetes in January and after a few weeks coming to terms with the diagnosis, put myself back on a low-carb way of life. Within days, my bloodsugar levels are in the low normal range, I stopped feeling bloated and extremely tired all the time, I sleep well again and I've lost weight. I will bookmark this article to show anyone who criticizes my way of eating. Thank you for explaining it so well!
MEGA IMFORMATION, MY THIRD WEEK ON A LOW CARB (INSULIN)LIFESTYLE, AND I AM ABSOLUTLY LOVING NOT FEELING HUNGRY,JUST LOVE THIS ARTICLE, THANKYOU
Hi Adam,
Thank you so much for the article , when you break it down like that it all make sense ,
one question i do have is your thoughts on other seafood namely prawns, scollops and mussels
THANKS AGAIN!!!
Thanks, Mark. Prawns, scallops and mussels are excellent sources of protein.
I LOVED your article. It clarified many things to me. Now I am a hardcore "low insulin diet" believer!!!
You provided grain insight into many things, e.g. our ancestors didn't use much carbs and how we invented them.
I'm 21, male, 5''6 tall, 125lbs (lost > 80lbs already!!), and I'm down to my last 10-15 LBS of stubborn abdominal fat. I've been fat since childhood and adolescence so I have many more fat cells and I am doomed to watch my weight my whole life as a result.
Being in kitosis makes dieting so ridiculously easy for me. My stomach is like sleeping - all the time. And my brain rarely gets the message of "I want to eat!"
Research has shown - low-carb diets are by far superior to all other diets for so many different reasons.
Thanks for this article!!
Hello....I just want to say thank you for posting this wonderful explanation of low Carb dieting. I have been on multiple diet and have been able to lose weight but have most of the time gained it back.....and more importantly my 6 year old son is suffering from being over weight and he is involved in activites. And now that he is out of school for the summer I'm am going to make a major over haul on our diet.....so once again thank you for this article because I'm more convinced than ever that this will be the lifestyle for myself and as a result of that my familys diet will change as well
I LOVE the way my low carb diet plan makes me feel,, and better yet,, the weight is falling off,, Thanks for a GREAT article!
Dear Anonymous, the brain runs on GLUCOSE not carbohydrates. Your body is fully capable of converting fat and protein to glucose.
Thank you so much for your inspirational article. I saved and shared for all the sceptic in my life. Under 20 cars a day feels perfect for me and food cravings are all but gone! Great explanation!
Very good article!! A person who practices the low carb lifestyle as a way of life does not need science or any of the anti low carbers unproved statements about the brain and death. 30 years low carb.I enjoy butter,fats,bacon,mayo,etc. in unlimited amounts. I eat green veggies, all meats, berries and nuts.I feel great, look great and am healthy at 55. I get my yearly medical check ups. Low cholesterol,great blood pressure, my blood sugars test in the 68-70. The low carb is the only way to go. The first time I went on this diet I weighed 180 lbs after my child was born. It took me 4 months to lose 60 pounds and I have maintained my weight, within 10lbs since! Thank you for your easy to read article...it may help wake some people up to health.
Excellent article. Most people struggling with weight gains and inability to lose body fat no matter what they do may not realize they have a blood sugar problem. A glucose-tolerance test can be done to ascertain serum glucose but that's epensive. If it's not affordable, going on low carb for a few weeks will reveal the problem; when we restrict our carb grams, our bodies will burn body fat if our carb grams are low enough. And objections about dying because the brain isn't getting fuel isn't relevant for most high-blood-sugar victims because our wonderful biochemical bodies converts proteins from low-carb meals into the perfect fuel for our organs. I've been on less than 30 carb grams per day for over two years, have lost 50 pounds and dropped 6 sizes in jeans. I'll never go OFF low carb; I feel great, have built lots of muscle rather than losing muscle as happens on high-carb "diets" (that starve the body and "waste" muscle). Don't be afraid; give it a trial and see if, in four weeks, you don't lose a lot of body fat and have a very different silhouette at the end of the test. If so, high blood sugar was your problem and the solution, for life, is to stay on restricted carbohydrates.
Thanks, Adam, for this excellent article. Hazel
Wow this is a great article! I feel like I have the tools to make healthy and informed choices. It makes so much sense now why this works. Thank you Adam!
I lost 35lbs in 4 months 4 years ago on this way of eating (166 down to 130) without feeling deprived since I was eating what I want but I really counted carbs to 20-40 grams a day. I didn't follow Atkins or any diet induction or anything. Just counted carbs. I had baseline blood chem done and then after 4 months had them done again. Everything was fine and within normal levels. This is safe to do for a lifetime and here is why: Two opposing hormones in our body, insulin and glucagon. Insulin promotes glucose uptake and fat storage (from too much carb we dont use as fuel) and is stimulated whenever we eat carbs, glucagon is the hormone that opposes it and serves to break down fat from storage whenever we need fuel. When we're on low carb, we don't stimulate insulin, and since these 2 hormones oppose each other and work in tandem, glucagon is the prevailing hormone when insulin is at bay. That is great when somebody has a lot of body fat to lose since it mobilizes fat stores and converts them to fuel. The body is now in fat burning mode, and the proof is the release of ketones which is a by product of fat burning. Ketones is not dangerous, we all have experienced ketosis at some point and to some degree (when we sleep at night for instance, your body still needs fuel to drive your metabolic processes but since you're not eating and asleep, your body use up stored glucose (glycogen) from your liver and sometimes ketones from fat. When a person starves, he also is in a ketogenic state since he uses up stored fat as fuel. But the happy thing is you do not need to starve to be in a state of ketosis. Since glucagon drives fat burning, hence ketosis, you only need to tone down your insulin for this other wonderful hormone to take over. That is by doing low carb. So long as you eat adequate protein and fats while on low carb, you'll be ok. There is no low fat version of low carb too. Since there are only three nutrients (carbs, protein and fat), if you reduce carbs, the other two need to be increased, preferably adequate protein for your body weight, and high fat. This kind of eating works and can work for life. Thanks for the opportunity of letting me share. :-)
WOW, this is such a fantastic essay. I have been living it the past three weeks when I declared war on sugar, which has been an addiction of sorts for me. I have lost 10 pounds in three weeks! I plan on losing 30 more, to be as thin as I was in high school. I sooo agree with everything written in this essay. I have not been hungry for carbs. I have not had bread in three weeks! I just don't care about sugar anymore. The addiction can be broken practically overnight.
Other than the evolution crap you are right on target. Done LC before 10 years ago and dropped 70 lbs and kept most off for 5 years. Then the carbs creeped back in and got to my all time high in December 2012. I just physically felt I'll. Started LC again the first of the year and already feeling much better after about 10 lb loss. Already past the crave carb effect. I knew this time how to beat that by eating lots of fat at the start with lots of fluids and avoiding caffeine. Committed to the long haul. I'm in it to win this time. Best wishes to any newbies to LC. It does work well.
Great stuff..
I have a pretty good understanding of the damage chronically high insulin does, but have a hard time explaining it to people. This makes it so much easier.
I don't remember if it was mentioned, but I find it interesting that just about every hormone related to blood glucose is there to raise it, apart from insulin. It goes to show that as we evolved, getting our blood sugar up was a much bigger challenge than keeping it down.
If anyone needs motivation to stay away from carbs, use this: huge, psychopathic corporations do one thing only -- make as much profit as possible. If that means growing and selling toxins which make the most profit margin, then so be it. On the other end, selling drugs to cure anything makes no sense either since there's no profit in it. Keep people hobbling along, sick and addicted, as cash cows.
Just a small aside to add re the nutritional content of different types of foods. You need essential fats and essential proteins in order to stay healthy. These are found in, unsurprisingly, fatty and protein rich foods. But there is no such thing as an essential carbohydrate. To my mind, the only thing you need other than fats and proteins is fibre - and a good amount of it - even if only to help prevent colon cancer. Of course, fibre rich foods to also tend to have other minerals, vitamins and nutrients but this is a good enough reason on its own to up it. To my mind, avocado is one of the best things you can eat - full of protein, monounsaturates, minerals and a surprising amount of fibre. Yum yum...
If you are a Type II diabetic, low carb is the best way to go - for life and for quality of life.
Wow great article! I am 43 and have gained 30 pounds over the last couple of years and have tried the low calorie diet on many occasions I would lose weight and then gain it all back and then some! I tried the low carb diet long ago after I had my two boys and had gained 40 pounds. I lost all 40 pounds and kept it off for 5 years. I thought the low carb diet was bad for you. BUT FUNNY IT SURE DID WORK GOOD. This article reminded me of that. I just poured out my sugar tea and am making some sugar free tea right now. I am going back on the low carb diet that worked for me so long ago!!! Thanks for the valuable information this is the only "diet" that makes sense!!!!
Hi Adam thank you for taking the time to write this article! Can you tell me if stevia sweetener is acceptable on the low carb diet? And what about sugar free puddings and Jello?
Jane, Stevia is as good as any other artificial sweetener, but it throws off your body's understanding of what's coming in. Studies have shown that people who eat artificial sweeteners eat more carbs than people who eat sugar. They think the tongue is telling the brain that calories are coming in, but if calories do not come in, the brain readjusts its calibration.
So I do not recommend artificial sweeteners. If it can get you over the initial cravings, it might be worth it anyway. But stop eating it as soon as you can stand it.
Best low carb explanation I have ever read. Fits me to the tee. Now I have to impress this all on my 14 yo daughter, in a loving and safe manner. Tips on that?
DeeDee1964, persuade her about this the same way you'd persuade anyone about anything. I suggest the book, Influence, as a place to start.
If there is something she wants and going low carb will help her get it, you have an easy job.
Is it ok to drink regular coffee on a low-carb diet? I think Atkins said not to but I never could find out why, and a few years later I did read on a forum that some people drank coffee and it didn't interfere with their weight loss. What are your thoughts on this?
Also, in years past I would try low carb and before the week was out start experiencing leg pain due to low potassium. This was also during Atkins induction phase. Do you think the amount of vegetables he allowed weren't enough? Wondering if anyone else had this issue.
I'm going to try this way of eating again as nothing else is working for me. My cholesterol is quite high and I did read that someone who lost 70 lbs. on low carb also increased their LDL by a bunch.
I started this about a week ago after reading this article. Id read others too, but this one was far more in depth and gave me the push i needed.
However, ive been doing it and been fine with it, but my girlfriend keeps nagging me about eating bacon. I maybe only have 2/3 slices every other day, but shes adamant that im going to "die" from this, either from high cholesterol, heart attack, stroke, cancer... The list she gave me went on a while (whilst i was packing my lunch with bacon)
I've read several articles and seen that its not all that bad, obviously, this doesn't mean I've started gorging on it tremendously.
Just wondering what your views would be one this. Is there a certain amount of bacon /saturated fats i can eat or does it not matter,
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
First of all, thank your woman for caring so much about you.
;-)
But you can put her mind at least a little at ease. First of all, saturated fat may not be the evil we have been told it is:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2582867/Saturated-fat-DOESNT-cause-heart-disease-all.html
http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702303678404579533760760481486-lMyQjAxMTA0MDAwNTEwNDUyWj?tesla=y
http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2014/04/24/629645/10078192/en/Saturated-Fat-Phobia-Lacks-Scientific-Basis.html
Secondly, salt intake may not be the evil we have been told it is:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/its-time-to-end-the-war-on-salt/
But I suggest if you eat bacon that you eat the kind without nitrates. Those have been shown to be carcinogenic.
I only started to look into this bc it worked in the past but bc I am not a meat eater it's hard to stay on at least for me... However, since I've turned 48 it seems that working out eating low calories is not working..., your article made sense since I do believe my body is not reponding to insulin anymore yup I abused my system have been borderline diabetic but not there yet.... I do work out and burn about 450 calories or more.... My question is ..do people achieve results having carbs (not refined) in the morning if I work it out ... Also are almonds ok? I do like my almond butter..... Can you have a cheat day?... It seems that even though you typically won't crave carbs I don't want to feel deprived.... Just mental I guess
Yes, you can have a cheat day. Then you will have to "recover" from it by jonesing for carbs for a day or so.
Almonds are fine if it's just a handful. More than that is, of course, carbs and fat. Almond butter? What would you put it on?
I eat almond butter right off the spoon .. For example I drink black coffee and a tablespoon of almond butter as a side at about 3pm just for the taste of it.....It keeps me happy lol .... I make my own so no sugar added .... I've been on a low carb for 3 days and dropped 4lbs of course it may be water weight but still something is happening so that must be good... At this point I want to drop 7 or 8lbs not that much ...so I have to be honest I have a thin slice of toast with almond butter in the morning but hardly no carbs throughout the day.... Mostly brocolli and salad...Like I said keeps me happy without feeling deprived.... If I continue to drop I guess I'm ok but if I plateau I will have to dish the toast :-( ..... I really don't want to discourage anyone I have done this in the past and was dropping weight so quickly I had to add carbs into my diet... Although my age plays a part I dont want the extra lbs to start climbing so I want to control it ... So far low calorie count did not work getting off the sugar is working.... I will follow up on my progress ... Oh yes my belly ... Totally going down ....almost flat... And that's what I'm talking about!!!! TeeLo .... Again thanks I love this artical and I forwarded it to my friends
That's exactly the right attitude to have: If you want to lose weight, eat fewer carbs. If you want to gain weight, eat more carbs.
Starving myself was no way to lose weight. 1000 calories a day? I don't think so!
I did a low carb diet six years ago and lost 25 lbs in 8 weeks. I have kept it off easily. Yes, I have a cheat day now and then but really cut back the following couple of days. My glucose is in the low 80's, my cholesterol and triglycerides are the envy of my doctor.
Thanks for this great informational article.
Good article! One error though. Protein does cause insulin production:
"Protein stimulates insulin release as much as carbohydrate does (because one of insulin's jobs is to send amino acids into lean tissues such as muscle), but protein doesn't supply rapid glucose like carbohydrate does."
(http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2013/04/glucagon-dietary-protein-and-low.html?m=1)
However, you are correct about no insulin release with fat consumption. That is why these diets must be low carb/high FAT, not high PROTEIN, relatively speaking, to be successful with weight loss and reduction of metabolic syndrome.
CWPace, thank you for that link. Very interesting. As the article says, high protein foods frequently stimulate insulin, but not always. And perhaps more importantly, "protein remains the most satiating macronutrient, and it does help with fat loss."
That's my experience too. When I eat carbs, even when I'm full, I still want to eat. But when I eat enough protein, I'm completely done. Protein satisfies and I don't want to eat any more.
And the article gives an indication that although protein stimulates insulin, it also stimulates glucagon, which "counterbalances insulin."
Thank you for adding to this conversation.
Well this is total BS. The problem: Dah... you will lose weight from starving yourself... or as you call it... a "low carb diet". But it's not possible to maintain! You will get into the following cycle: restrict, binge, guilt, repeat. Your body will hate you and distrust you and you won't be able to keep it up for long. You need to break free from the cycle and move to a high carb, low fat, low sodium raw vegan lifestyle. This is something that will help you improve health overall. And it's not just a diet that you have for 2 weeks. It's something that you can do forever. Check out Freelee the Banana Girl on youtube and see what living raw till 4 can do.
Thanks so much for such a clearly written article! This took some work to put together.
As someone new to the concept, it really helps to understand how much of a factor insulin plays. I like how you called it a "low-insulin diet" rather than a "low-carb diet." That really puts it in perspective.
I find it so interesting that, as the previous commenter illustrates, each diet proponent is convinced that certain foods are just wrong.
"Don't eat shellfish; studies show they'll kill you." "NEW STUDY SHOWS SHELLFISH CAN CONQUER ANEMIA"
"Chocolate causes cancer." "Cocoa CURES cancer."
"Bread is the staff of life." "Bread will dig you an early, extra-large grave."
"Red meat is wrong." "Red meat is the answer."
And so on.
The British Medical Journal recently pulished the findings of a study that proved, ironically, that all studies are false. Wow. The tongue-in-cheek researcher studied how easy it is to make data say what you think it will say. Maybe this is the reason we see so many conflicting reports on the foods we eat.
As some previous commenters mentioned, God has provided an abundance of good things that are meant to be enjoyed WITH THANKSGIVING. Could it be that the simple lack of thankfulness could be a root cause of much of the health ills we see today?
I wasn't around when Adam and Eve were given permission to eat all the fruit in the garden. No one was around when those people who some say lived in caves were digging around for roots and berries. It's hard to build a diet regimen on speculation about a time that requires faith to even imagine.
In the end, if you've been given the means to purchase healthy food, do it. If you have an apple tree or your farmer friend gives you free strawberries, eat 'em without guilt but with a thankful smile. :)
Speaking of which, thanks again for all your work. It's much appreciated.
God bless!
I need more ideas for vegan protein. I eat tempeh, nuts, seeds, avocado, coconut. What else? What about beans? Would sprouts be considered low carb? Thanks!
Excellent article!
51 year old male, went from 208 to 197 in a month simply by limiting carbs to less than 100 a day and doing lots of tennis and yardwork. So far, so good - no cravings. I can even indulge in a Klondike bar once in a while with no down side!!!
After getting the 3-1-2-1 diet by Dolvett Quince, I followed the diet which does away with sugar, flour products, white rice, alcoholic beverages, and butter, and lost 40lbs in about6 months. It was easy to follow, but took a little more time in the kitchen. I am a retired 69 yr old and cooking is a good occupation.
one of the best articles explaining why this lifestyle of eating works, having spent all my adult life trying to stop the "creeping up", of pounds, I am not at my high school graduation weight,,very lean, run five miles a day, ( I am a farmer, hockey player, etc, and runner, so this has not changed),,,I went onto this way of eating two and a half years ago, and have lost 25 pounds, I have read many articles which state that scientists have said "we blew it in the 70's,,talking about how fat was bad for us,,we should have concentrated on SUGAR",,,and also, the link now being considered between low fat, excessive sugar, and alzhiemers disease.
Bravo, excellent, accurate, and scientific answer. I also like how the author never responded to your comments. Hard to refute hard facts with personal opinions, especially when it comes to physiology and metabolism.
Excellent explanations
I have had remarkable success.
I lost over 22kgs not sure how many lbs
With the low carbs my life has changed health wise.
I was a severe status epileptic and I have had no epilepsy in 1 year.
I have stopped smoking after over 40 years.
My feet were always swollen and I couldn't stand to long. Now I have no problems with my feet.
I excercises daily from walking to running about 3 to 4km a day with my lifesaver Prince my dog.
My wife 2 years ago was so worried that I was not going to make it that she took out a funeral policy.
Finally I'm 56 now and I'm healthier and fitter than when I was 22
Post a Comment