I’ve seen thousands of diet claims over the years. I wonder which one is right?
Taking in less calories than you burn will cause weight loss every time.
All fad diets are probably bad for you eventually
This type of diet is one that bodybuilders use to cut their fat. You need enough protein to ensure your body does not consume its own muscle when consuming its body fat.
It’s still comes down to cutting your calories.
So will a high fat low card diet. Calories be damned.
Still need a good balance. Protein is a big part of our natural diet - movements and "medical" studies have tried to make us cut back on meats, etc., and that has increased the consumption of carbs. Too many carbs is a big factor in much of the increased instances of diabetes, not to mention obesity.
I once heard a football coach talking about the athletes getting back to training camp and needing to shed a few pounds. He made the statement, "If you want to lose weight, you need to experience hunger". I find it to be one of the enduring truths. Even the ancient Romans said that one should get up from every meal while still feeling a bit of hunger - and old timers are even more believable than what you read on the internet.....
Recent studies have shown that all calories aren’t the same, so taking in less and burning more doesn’t necessarily work. I struggled for a few years, and then tried the fad low carb diet. It worked, and it worked quick. My cholesterol went down and the arthritis in my feet disappeared. My skin isn’t so dry anymore either.
Why people do not get this is beyond me? You do not have to stop eating any foods. Portion control is the key to healthy diet.
Eat a - Protein / Fibrous Carb / Starchy Carb - at every meal.
Method #1: Body Weight (lbs) x 14-17 = Estimated Daily Calorie Maintenance Level
This is the easiest way to figure how many calories you need to maintain a weight level. Diets are fads because people do not make them LIFESTYLE changing.
>> Taking in less calories than you burn will cause weight loss every time.
Nah, it can’t be that simple... we have books and teevee shows to sell!
I hate to refute that, but I can fast for a week and lose nothing. I’ve tried it over and again, and this is while working as a nurse, so I am not sitting around doing nothing. For another 5 years I ate less than 1000 calories per day and could not lose weight. So, calorie counting can be very frustrating.
Fats and protein fill you up. In fact, if you dawdle over your eating of those fats and protein, you will eat less of them, and if active, you’ll have a better chance to lose weight. Dropping calories alone makes the body fear you are fasting or not taking enough. It wants to store more fat (its default setting), and if you are eating more carbs than fats and proteins, that is more likely to happen. Most of what people eat today of carbs are processed foods, as well, and not the fresh fruits and veggies.
That is the "secret". If you are focused on limiting calories you will naturally consume more protein and veggies. Food high in carbohydrates are also calorie dense.
I’m skeptical about that the lower calorie diets . I tried weight watchers with no real results. My blood sugar went up on that diet. I switched over to a low carb diet and in 6 mos I’ve changed my HA1C from a 7.5 to a 6.4 and lost about 18 lbs. My cholesterol has remained the same. If I would get off my lazy bum after work and work out I think my results would even be better. I’m sticking with it otherwise if my sugar goes back up I’m going to have to do shots for it . No thanks. I think you just have to find out what works and stick with it.