How Easy Weight Loss Programs and Low Carb Diets Work

Posted by Wendy on May 16th, 2008 at 12:52pm

Easy weight loss is within your reach, if you understand how carbohydrates affect your body, and are able to follow a few simple weight loss tips.

The problems with most low-fat diets is that in order to reduce or remove the fat, you have to substitute with carbs to make up the deficit. Since the government and many of the medical bodies have been pushing the low-fat diet, the obesity rates have been escalating. Personally I think that’s evidence enough that low fat diets are not the path to quick and easy weight loss – or any form of weight loss for that matter.

To be able to lose weight quickly, and keep it off long term (and by that I mean forever), you need to understand how your body functions with regards to it’s intake of carbs.

Essentially, all carbohydrates are basically sugars – at least that’s what they’re broken down into by your digestive system - that’s how the body receives them. For people with the metabolic disorder hyperinsulinemia or Syndrome X - any form of sugar, whether it’s a candy bar or rice, triggers an outpouring of insulin, the master hormone without which no fat is stored (hint: so by reducing your insulin levels you reduce your body’s tendency – and ability – to store fat).

The more carbs you eat, especially simple carbs (sugars), the more insulin pours into your bloodstream, and the more fat you store (assuming you have consumed more calories than you’ve burned). Through some very elaborate mechanisms in your body, excess insulin initiates a cascade of health problems: you make more triglycerides, more bad cholesterol, have higher blood pressure – and you’re likelier to develop gout and diabetes.

Unfortunately, the “healthy diet” the government wants you to follow gives your body a full two cups of sugar a day to handle - fine if you don’t have the genetic tendency to the insulin problem, but a true disaster if you do (and the vast majority of us do).

How do you know if you’re a candidate for a low carb weight loss diet?

Your family history is a good guide: If obesity, heart disease, diabetes, gout, and high blood pressure run in your family, there’s an excellent chance you have this problem. If you are overweight and can’t overcome it with a simple diet and exercise program, this is probably the reason why.

Ideally, if you’re really struggling with diets to help lose weight, you should have your fasting insulin level tested; anything above 10 is abnormal for men and most women, though some women test normal despite having hyperinsulinemia. According to the Eadeses, a high triglyceride level all by itself is almost enough to diagnose hyperinsulinemia.

If getting tested is not that easy for you, just try Brillat-Savarin’s idea: Just observe yourself. Do you crave sweets? Once you start eating bread, or pasta, or dessert, is it hard to stop? Do you actually feel better, free from cravings and energy swings, when you cut the carbs back? (Give yourself a week to test this, since it will take you several days to start producing the right enzymes to digest your new diet.)

Remember, if this is in fact your problem, it’s a health problem as well as a weight problem, and it’s important to address it for the long term, not just as a quick weight loss scheme. A healthy diet and nutrition is the only way you can control your insulin output, and it’s amazingly effective.

It’s always a good idea to see your doctor before you start on any healthy weight loss regimen - and in this case there’s a real bonus, since you can compare your bloodwork before and after and see for yourself what an excellent favor you’ve done your health.

Many a skeptical doctor, including mine, has been won over by the amazing results. If you’re taking any medication it’s essential to check with your doctor, since a low carb – high protein diet has such profound effects it can play havoc with your medications.

As Dr. Atkins explained, there are many gradations of insulin sensitivity within the hyperinsulinemia population - some people do very well with cutting carbs back just a little once they’ve reached their ideal weight. For others, carbs will always have to be kept at a bare minimum for life. The only person who can figure this out is you: Once you reach your goal weight, you’ll have to increase the carbs bit by bit - 5grams a week, and then hold for a week - and see how you feel. When the scale begins to drift upward, you’ll know exactly what your threshold is, and that’s where you should try to stay for life.

If you have more than 15 pounds to lose, it’s a good idea to read one of the low carb / high protein diet books, and choosing an easy weight loss diet program that seems to make the most sense to you. Then you’ll have a program to follow and answers to your many questions, which will make the diet much easier to live with for many months.

Tags: healthy weight loss, high protein diet, insulin, low carb diet, weight loss program