Weight Loss Tips and Information.

Low carb is what you’re looking for when you are on the Atkins or any other carb limiting diet. You do have to read the labels to see how many actual carbs are in anything marked “low carb” though. You never know what is really considered “low” for any particular type of food.

A lot of people think that carb limiting diets mean NO carbs but “Low” is the key word here. On Atkins for instance, in the initial (induction) phase, you want to limit your carb intake to less than 20 grams per day and then increase it in the later phases.

The whole idea of these diets is to lower your carb intake to a level that gets it below what you burn every day. Carbs are what your body burns as fuel and if you eat more than you burn, the excess gets stored as fat, so the idea is to lower your carb intake so you burn more than you eat, which makes you burn stored fat instead and you lose weight. Then when you reach your ideal weight, you increase the intake level back to even with what is burned and this lets you maintain your weight.

You never want to cut out all the carbs in any diet but a lot of the “low carb” foods you find at the grocery store will probably put you over the limit in the induction phase of Atkins so you will want to use them very sparingly. Be sure to check the labels so you don’t go over your limit.

They are however, a great way to limit your carb intake when you are trying to maintain your ideal weight after you have lost. A lot of the foods are great tasting and they are a fine substitute for the full carb version.

The best way to maintain your carb level is still with foods naturally low in carbs like a lot of vegetables. This lets you maintain a good level of fiber intake too, which you need. You should also use vitamin supplements whenever you are on a low carb diet as well to make sure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs to maintain good health.

Maintaining the right level of carb intake is the key to keeping your weight right where you want it and not gaining back what you have lost. Eating a balanced diet not only means eating from all food groups but balancing your intake level with what is used every day and watching your carb intake is a great way to do it.

Good luck and thanks for reading.