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By Mary Shomon, About.com Guide to Thyroid Disease since 1997

Top 10 Reasons Why Low Carb Dieters Can Get Fatter and Fatter

Wednesday April 28, 2004
Henri Schauffler, founder of http://www.lowcarb-lifestyles.com, has some thoughts about how low-carb dieting can backfire on some people...

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Top 10 Reasons Why Low Carb Dieters Can Get Fatter and Fatter

by Henri Schauffler

Low Carb at TGI Fridays! Low Carb Ice Cream! And the best one - Low Carb Beer! I was ecstatic. Low carb had finally become mainstream! Life would be good from now on?

I've been on the Atkins low carb diet for years, but was shocked to find earlier in the year that my cholesterol, tri-glycosides, blood pressure and weight were all up to unhealthy levels. But wait - Dr. Atkins had promised that the low carb diet would solve all these problems AND help me lose weight. Now, I thought, there was low carb everywhere ? I could "not have his carbs and eat them, too."

But as I and millions of low carb dieters have found, if you don't do it right, low carb will turn into a big health risk. Earlier this year, I began an in-depth search for what was wrong with this low carb picture. As a result, with my wife, Loretta, and I launched LowCarb-Lifestyles to help low carb dieters avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that can come with ignorance and lack of support. Low-Carb- Lifestyles.Com offers a new approach based on the Five Keys to Low Carb Success: Information, Motivation, Nutrition, Fitness and Support

Along with the Five Keys, we discovered the TOP TEN REASONS WHY LOW CARB DIETERS CAN END UP GETTING FATTER AND FATTER.

10. Not Counting Carbs ? Carbs must be counted just like calories

9. Disregarding a common sense approach - ("I can eat as much fat as I like ? it's low carb!")

8. Failing to develop a clear plan and goals for achievement ? just like any endeavor, one needs to create a sense of urgency everyday.

7. Dieting alone - not enlisting the help of a support network

6. Believing too much of the hype on commercially prepared low carb foods ? all the "net carbs" promotion belies the fact that one must eat a healthy mix of protein and complex carbohydrates everyday

5. Sliding in and out of low carb living - Yo-yo low carb dieting is a certain road to getting fatter. Higher fat combined with carbs - certain death!

4. Failing to be creative with one's menu choices - Eating the same old eggs and meat everyday leads to cheating - for sheer lack of variety

3. Not exercising regularly - Every dieter needs at least four days a week of exercise, especially those over 30 (most of us!).

2. Ignoring the need for self motivation - We need to spend time everyday, (we recommend at least 20 minutes per day)

1. Failing to commit to low carb living for the rest of one's life - For long term success, one needs to commit to a self disciplined, intentional daily "Low Carb Lifestyle." Anything less will, for most of us, end up in weight gain and frustration.

We have concluded that the low carb approach is absolutely the best system, but we must follow certain principles absolutely. Failure to do so will actually make you fatter while tricking you into thinking you are on a diet!

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Henri Schauffler is the founder and webmaster of http://www.lowcarb- lifestyles.com, an online community that gives low carb dieters the tools they need to succeed - for life. Visit http:www.lowcarb- lifestyles.com to grab your free 7 day trial.

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Comments

March 4, 2009 at 12:20 am
(1) Dana says:

The problem is knowing what to eat and knowing what not too… If you eat alotta sweets low carb or not they aren’t good for you. And I went opn a low carb diet before, you have to count your fat and daily carb intake.

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