Ok then, so coming back to the topic of starvation diets; a starvation diet happens when you reduce the intake of calories you consume, and what happens is that your body tries to make up for this reduction and therefore clings to your body fat, which means that, even if you exercise, you will be burning less calories than usual. Another problem with these weight loss tips that include the serious restriction of calories, is that it becomes increasingly difficult to follow such program, and the reason why that happens is because your body is used to the amount of calories you consume, and if you stop doing that, then you will feel tired, depressed, and guilty every time you eat something.

The worst part about those weight loss tips that include starvation diets relies on the fact that, when you can not take the program anymore, your body will quickly accumulate all the fat it can, so as to replace what was lost; and in the end, you might end up with more fat than the amount you had before the diet.

Now that we have discussed the reasons and possible consequences of following weight loss tips that relate to starvation diets, it is time for us to discuss about the realistic and efficient weight loss tips. First of all you need to understand that diet is the most important part of any weight loss program, and while you should not starve by reducing the amount of calories you ingest, it is important to reduce them gradually. Also, try eating healthier types of food that provide the required nutrients to your body. Never, by any circumstances, try to overlook your hunger, instead try replacing the types of food you eat; you will soon notice that, by not being hungry, every diet is much easier to follow.

Exercise, that is the best weight loss tip, always remember to quicken your metabolism by exercising. Cardio types of exercise are better for losing weight, and you will also enjoy from a much healthier life.

The Atkins’ diet has been a craze for a couple of decades. Here’s how you can gain from it.

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All of you who are reading this article right now have definitely been on a diet at some point or the other of your lives. The battle of the bulge is an ongoing problem and we are always on the lookout for various means to win this war.

Along with exercise, our diet and nutrition also plays an important role in reducing our weight. Hence, this obsession persists in all of us to undertake some form of dieting. But going on a diet is definitely not an easy thing. What to eat and what to stay away from is always a perennial problem.

One of my friends told me that she ate the normal menu which she cooked for the family, but her weight loss recipe is “portion control.” This is a really simple diet plan. In this plan, you cut down on the portion of food you consume. For example, if you usually have two pieces of toast for breakfast, you should eat only one piece. If you normally eat two cups of rice for lunch, cut it down to one cup. In this way, you are automatically reducing your calorie intake by half.

Another popular method of dieting is to stop all intake of fatty foods and sugar. In this diet, you cut down on your oil, butter and ghee intake which automatically reduces your fat deposits.

While I was leafing through a magazine, I read about one of our Hollywood celebrities following the Atkins’ diet. This immediately aroused my curiosity about the diet. Though I have heard about the diet many times, I had no inside knowledge about it. So, I immediately set to work on it and found out certain basic facts’ about the Atkins diet which I want to share with my readers.

The Atkins’ diet made its first appearance in 1972 and was invented by its namesake, Dr Atkins. According to him, this method enables us to lose weight by inducing a change in metabolism. Our body burns both fat and carbohydrates to provide energy. If we reduce the intake of carbohydrates significantly, our body starts burning only fat to provide energy. This method is called “lipolysis”, which in turn induces ketosis. In ketosis, our body burns fat as fuel. Atkins also felt that ketosis will affect insulin production which will result in less fat being formed. And, once your body enters ketosis, your cravings for carbohydrates will reduce significantly which, in turn, will reduce your body weight.

The major difference between Atkins’ diet and other types of diet is that, while most diets restrict calorie, intake, the Atkins’ plan encourages us to eat more. While most of the diets recommend low fat, high carbohydrate intake, Atkins’ does just the opposite. Instead of carbohydrate and sugar, this diet wants us to consume plenty of fat and protein.

The core principle of the Atkins’ diet is that, by limiting carbohydrates, our body is forced to burn its stored fat, rather than carbs for fuel.

The Atkins’ diet has a four carbohydrates stage plan induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance. With the help of these four stages, you can reduce as well as maintain your weight throughout your life.

Induction – phase 1: This phase lasts for two weeks, by the end of which you can obtain significant results. Another point is that, in this diet plan you can begin at any of the phase. But it is recommended to start with induction. As you cut back on your carbohydrates significantly in this phase, you will jump start your weight loss programme. In this phase, only 20 gm of carbohydrates are allowed and hence your weight loss is significant. As you drastically cut down on carbohydrates your body shifts into high gear and starts burning fat. This takes about 48 hours to occur and you may feel hungry and irritated for the first three-four days. But don’t worry, as soon as your fat starts getting converted to fuel, you will feel fit as a fiddle. Induction will strengthen your immune system and also improve our long-term health.

Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) phase 2: In this phase, the weight loss pace slows down as you add nutrient-rich carbohydrates to your diet. During this period, you will boost your body’s ability to burn fats as well as understand your body better. You will find the right amount of carbohydrates which you can consume and still lose weight. Your body will also prepare itself for permanent weight management. The amount of carbohydrates which you can eat is increased to 25 gm per day for the first week and increased in five gm instalment for the next few weeks. If your weight loss is significant, you can increase your carbohydrate intake. A person has to be on OWL till he or she is within three-five kg of their goal weight.

Pre-maintenance – (phase 3): Pre-maintenance is a practice run for lifetime maintenance. In this phase, you are fast approaching your target. As long as you continue to lose weight, you can increase your weekly allotment of carbohydrates by another 10 gm. You will be in this phase till you reach your goal and stay on it for one month. The ultimate goal here is to achieve a state of balance called Atkins’ Carbohydrate Equilibrium (ACE). The ACE is your individual level of carbohydrate intake wherein you neither gain nor lose weight.

Lifetime maintenance phase 4: In this phase, you have to focus on your individual ACE and strive to stay within two kg of your ideal weight for the rest of your life. By following a sensible eating plan, you gain energy, better health and confidence in yourself.

By following these four phases, you not only achieve your dream weight but are also able to maintain it throughout your life. You can learn more about this diet by reading the book, Dr Atkins’ New Diet Revolution. But, as with any other diet, this plan also has its pros and cons. The good point is that this diet recommends exercise as a vital part of the weight loss programme. Another point to be noted is that you cannot start on carbohydrates after you lose weight as this will result in your gaining back all that you have lost.

Medical experts advise that people who have gout, kidney problems, diabetes or are pregnant women should not follow this diet plan. As this diet is very stringent, do consult your doctor/dietician for proper advice.

Your dietician will provide you with a proper menu chart as to what should be eaten, in what quantities, etc, based on your eating habits and general lifestyle.

Happy dieting and hoping to see slimmer and fitter readers.

The first myth refers to the high consumption of proteins. A lot of people tend to believe that by consuming extremely high amounts of proteins, their bodies will gain more muscles. This statement is completely false; every weight loss diet should include proteins, but only in a reserved amount. You see, proteins take a lot of body fluids to eliminate waste, which is why the excessive protein consumption may lead to dehydration and other problems.

The second myth refers to water consumption. Ok, now we are getting to the most interesting part about a weight loss diet. You should be very careful, since there are a lot of people who might tell you that, by reducing your water consumption, you will loose weight, and while this is true, you will only loose weight related to your body fluids, which might lead to further complications in your body, but you will not be loosing any fat at all. Water consumption is of extreme importance in every weight loss diet, not only because it keeps your body free of toxins, but also because it gives your body the nutrients it needs to stay fit.

The last myth refers to sugar consumption. Ok, we all know that candies and sugar filled types of food are probably the most enjoyed meals that people crave; however, for your weight loss diet, people might have told you that sugar is out of the picture if you are truly trying to lose some weight. The truth is that your sugar consumption should depend on the process that you are willing to follow during a weight loss diet. If your weight loss diet includes plenty of exercise, then sugar is utterly important. Sugar will give you the fuel you need in order to improve your performance at any given sport, the amount of energy that it provides will easily help you when burning the amount of fat it provides, and more.