Some well-known low carb diet plans intended for diet and weight loss are The Atkins Diet, The Zone Diet, Sugar Busters Diet, The South Beach Diet, The Scarsdale Diet, The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet, Protein Power Diet, and The Dr. Phil Diet.
If you are pregnant or if there is the possibility that you are pregnant, it is important that you get the advice from your physician before taking medications / supplements or starting a diet during pregnancy for weight loss.
The following are short descriptions of these plans:
The Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet works by reducing the intake of carbohydrates and replacing them with a high-protein, high-fat eating pattern. The Atkins Diet is based primarily upon four phases. Generally, it is a diet consisting of no more than 40 to 90 grams of carbohydrates in the "maintenance" phase. Over time, the transition from weight loss to weight maintenance is made by gradually increasing carbohydrates as gradual weight loss is maintained.
The Zone Diet
The Zone Diet involves getting your calories in the right ratio of carbs, protein and fats (40% calories from carbohydrates, 30% from fat and 30% from protein) in order to control the insulin in your bloodstream. Each meal's size is dependant upon your gender, activity level, and current body fat percentage. By closely regulating our blood sugar levels and therefore keeping our levels of insulin in a tight "zone", our body burns fat more efficiently so that we lose weight. Go here to find out more on the Zone Diet.
Sugar Busters Diet
The Sugar Busters Diet works in a similar way to The Zone Diet, but it higher ratio is made of fat, rather than carbs. This diet is based on the idea that eating foods containing refined sugar ( sucrose, maltose, dextrose and even some fructose) causes the body to produce increased amounts of the hormone insulin, which leads to increased amounts of body fat and weight. The Sugar Busters Diet is easy to follow and, if you follow the 14-day diet plan exactly, you should lose weight.
The South Beach Diet
The South Beach Diet is based around three phases, the first two for a specific timeframe and the third phase for life. You eat normal portion sizes in Phase 1, but all carbohydrate are restricted. This is the strictest phase in the diet and lasts for two weeks. There is no timescale set for the second phase and you remain on it until you have reached your target weight. Phase 3 is for maintenance and is followed for life. On the South Beach Diet, over time you begin to control your blood sugar levels, and as a result you find you eat less than you used to, because you aren't hungry. Go here to find out more on the Southbeach Diet.
The Scarsdale Diet
The Scarsdale Diet is based on 43% protein, 22.5% fat, and 34.5% carbohydrates. You follow the weight-reducing plan (about 1000 calories or a bit less) only for 2 weeks at a time and then "The Scarsdale keep-trim program". The keep-trim program allows more calories but also contains a large number of banned foods. Meals consist of fruit, vegetables, and lean sources of protein in unlimited amounts and snakes are not allowed. The Scarsdale diet claims to lead to quick and efficient weight loss. It is believed by some that the lack of calories is why most people lose weight on this diet.
The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet
The basis of this diet is that some of us have an addiction to carbs and this addiction causes excess insulin to be released which in turn causes overeating and weight gain. This diet requires that for the first two weeks, you eat two small "complimentary meals" daily, along with one "reward" meal, consisting of the foods that you enjoy- however, the "reward meal" is to include a pre-meal "craving reducing" salad and equal portions of protein, vegetable and carbohydrate-rich food (including your dessert). After the first two weeks, the plan splits into several eating plans, depending on how much weight you still want to lose, or on whether you just want to maintain what you've already lost.
Protein Power Diet
The Protein Power Diet is similar to The Atkins Diet and The Zone Diet- being high in protein and fat and extremely low in carbs. The Protein Power Diet is divided into three main phases: Phase I, Phase II and Maintenance levels. It is recommended that you stay in Phase I at least 7-10 days, which is the most restrictive phase. Phase II is recommended for those who have reached their weight loss goals and consists of maintaining adequate protein intake and increasing carb intake to about 45-50 grams a day. Maintenance level is increasing your carbs to an amount that allows you to maintain your goal weight.
Dr. Phil Diet
This diet is more psychological than physical and emphasizes seven key points to permanent weight loss. The first key: Teaches the dieter to rid themselves of the thought that they cannot be successful with a diet. The second key: understand the emotional element of why you overeat. The third key: manage your environment so that the reasons you overeat is gone. The fourth key: understand why you binge. The fifth key: food control. The sixth key: healthy exercise habits. The seventh key: assemble a group of friends with like goals. As for the food part of the equation, the Dr Phil diet plan emphasizes foods with high nutritional yields for few calories. There are no points or calories to keep track of and you can still have a limited amount of carbohydrates.
In Conclusion
After having a baby or after a new mother is finished nursing and has weaned her baby, and she has decided to lose pregnancy weight gain, she should consult her physician before doing so. If you are thinking about using prescription drugs, be sure to check with your doctor about side effects. Although Fen Phen (a popular prescription wieght loss drug) is off the market, it might be a good thing to discuss the side effects of other prescription drugs offered. Fen Phen has been linked to PPH or Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.
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