The Carb Lovers Diet was written by Ellen Kunes and Frances Largeman-Roth, editors of Health magazine, after they developed a diet of the same name.
This book breaks the myth that carbohydrates are enemies when it comes to weight loss, so if you choose them carefully they can actually help you get rid of extra pounds.
The authors reveal research showing that certain carbohydrate-rich foods can boost metabolism because they contain an ingredient called resistant starch.
Consumption of such foods can reduce appetite and even increase the level of fat burning, reduce body fat (especially in the abdomen), increase lean muscle mass and suppress appetite.
If most dieters are asked, they would give anything to have a slim figure. Many would not mind spending extra hours in the gym or anywhere else just to achieve the body size they want.
Diet For Carb Lovers
The Carb Lovers diet is tailored to ensure that the individual does not abandon eating carbohydrates. What matters most is the amount of carbohydrates and also the type that is eaten.
Foods like pasta, potatoes and bread are all potential weight loss foods if taken in the right amounts. The secret that lies in this type of diets is eating carbohydrates that are known as resistant starch.
This type of carbohydrate is a big boost for losing weight due to the fact that it does not get absorbed in the blood stream in the small intestines.
Resistant starch foods are readily available everywhere. Ordinary foods like bananas, lentils, pasta, potatoes, beans are some examples.
The most popular effective way to make use of these foods is to eat at least 1g with each meal and also eat ten to 15 g every day.
With the right attitude, any individual can be able to lose weight by maximizing on the daily intake of resistant starch.
This diet comes in a strict 7-day initial plan for carbohydrate lovers where calorie intake is limited to 1200 per day and four small meals are consumed. This plan reduces bloating and with it you can lose up to 6 pounds in a week.
This is followed by a 21-day carbohydrate attack plan where you are allowed up to 5 small meals a day with 1600 calories and more flexibility when it comes to food choices.
Once a week you can treat yourself to chocolate, apple pie, 2 beers or 2 glasses of wine.
The best thing with these diet plans is that they do not restrict the individual taking them from enjoying his/her favorite snacks.
The Carb Lovers Diet Rules
Eat at least one resistant starch food at each meal.
25 percent of the calories in each meal should consist of resistant starch, and the rest should be from low-fat proteins, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables.
Pay attention to the portion size.
Avoid deprivation by consuming your favorite foods in moderation.
Create a pantry full of foods that contain resistant starch.
By following your suggested meal plan, you should increase your resistant starch intake from an average daily intake of 4.9 grams all the way up to 10 or even 15 grams.
Carb Lovers Diet Recommended Foods
Wholemeal bread, whole wheat pasta, whole grain breakfast cereals, muesli bars, brown rice, oatmeal, potatoes, bananas, beans, peas, peanuts, apples, broccoli, cucumber, Greek yogurt, steak, salmon, eggs, chicken, cheese, chocolate, green tea.
A Typical Carb Lovers Diet Menu
BREAKFAST: Toasted rye bread with peanut butter and sliced banana (5.6 g resistant starch)
LUNCH: Pesto Turkey Club – make a sandwich of two slices of wholemeal bread with 2 tablespoons of pesto, a piece of turkey breast, two lettuce leaves and one tomato. For dessert, eat an apple (2.6 g of resistant starch)
DINNER: Integral pasta with cheese and Tabasco (2 g of resistant starch)
DRINK: Make yourself a delicious cocktail of 8 cups of green tea and the juice of one orange, one lemon and one lime and drink this wonderful drink during the day.
This menu will contain the following calorie ratio:
Resistant starch: 45-60%
Protein: 25%
Fat: 20-25%
Learn how to fix a broken diet and lose weight.
Recommended Exercises
Exercise is an important part of the Diet for Carbohydrate Lovers as it allows you to achieve faster weight loss results.
The book includes body-tightening training using weights that should be performed 2 to 3 times a week.
On days when you are not doing weight training, it is recommended to do some aerobic exercises such as walking or cycling.
Carb Lovers Diet Pros and Cons
The Carb Lovers Diet assures users that they can lose up to 10 pounds in a month by using foods with resistant starch.
Pros
Good for dieters who like foods rich in carbohydrates.
It breaks down some myths about carbs and weight loss
It does not encourage the use of artificial sweeteners
Includes meal plan and recipes with pictures of each meal.
It can also be followed by vegetarians
Promotes every day exercise as part of a weight loss plan
Cons
The title is a bit confusing, as the plan rejects some carbohydrate foods that users love, such as pastries, donuts, pizza and cookies.
The initial week of a 1,200-calorie diet may be too limited, especially for physically active users.
Consumption of green bananas is recommended due to the resistant starch, which can cause poor digestion.
Some of the recipes include ingredients that might be harder to obtain.
Encourages the use of some processed foods such as corn flakes and potato chips.
Conclusion
Most users can lose weight with this plan, but it is more likely to be associated with calorie restriction and increased physical activity than with some special qualities attributed to resistant starch.
Unfortunately for users who like carbohydrate foods such as ice cream, pizza or donuts – they will be disappointed because such foods are not part of Carb Lovers Diet.
