The Atkins Diet
The body burns carbohydrates and then fat for energy. This
diet recommends limiting the intake of starchy, high carb
foods so that the fat is burned first. So by eating meat,
cheese and eggs and keeping bread and potatoes to a minimum,
fat is lost.
Pros: Steak with cheese topping, Chocolate mocha ice cream
and pork scratchings.
Cons: Studies show high protein diets lead to increased
risk of heart disease, colon cancer, bad breath (halitosis)
and constipation. Consuming more carbohydrate that can be
used by the body will store this excess in fat cells.
The Zone Diet
The Zone diet claims to decrease hunger and boost energy
by keeping your bodies eating habits in the zone or at its
peak. Keeping all your meals and snacks in the ratio of
40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fats does this.
Pros: Being a low calorie diet, you can't help but lose
weight.
Cons: Very difficult to adhere to the strict regime the
diet requires. Will experience metabolism slow down because
of low calories and will lead to starvation response, which
will eat away at the muscle tissue while retaining the fat.
The Blood Group Diet.
By having a blood test and determining your blood group,
this then tells you how you can absorb nutrients, thus you
can plan your diet accordingly. Different blood groups can
eat different food groups.
Pros: Another calorie restricting diet so weight will be
lost.
Cons: There appears to be little clinical and scientific
evidence behind this diet and by the elimination of whole
food group’s important nutritional deficiencies are
likely with long-term health problems encountered.
The Ashram Diet.
This diet is basically a very low calorie diet (near starvation),
which is coupled with a very high intensity exercise regime.
A sample of this diet would include: One boiled egg for
breakfast, a green salad for lunch and a baked potato with
salsa for dinner.
Pros: A very quick weight loss, 10 - 15 lbs in a week (Mostly
muscle tissue and water).
Cons: Fast weight loss leads to many unpleasant side effects
such as bad breath, bone loss, constipation, deprivation
of nutrients (vitamins and minerals), muscle loss, metabolism
slow down, headaches and poor sleep. Who would want all
these problems for the sake of quick weight loss where the
weight will eventually be put back on and more in a couple
of months?
The Hay Diet.
The main rule to follow for this diet is to not eat protein
and carbohydrates together. Combination of these two foods
together appears to prevent protein from being digested
in the gut and can lead to an accumulation of toxins. Vegetables
and fruit form the bulk of the diet with very small portions
of protein and carbs.
Pros: Plenty of fruit and veggies in the diet means plenty
of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Cons: There doesn't appear to be too much scientific evidence
about food combinations and by limiting yourself to certain
food groups you will miss out on important nutrients.
All these diets work because of a drastic cut in calories,
when this happens our metabolic rate can be brought down
in a matter of 36 hours by as much as 50% which means your
body is now burning only half of your calories. To compound
matters further, hunger kicks in after a period of inadequate
eating setting you up for over eating and binging.
Everyone is an individual so you have to be careful of
diets that require you to set out what types of foods and
quantities you have to eat at every meal. Just because a
movie star lost weight on a fad diet doesn't mean that you
will. Before starting a weight loss program take into account
your age, fitness levels, activity levels and medical history.
Do yourself a favour and follow a real weight loss program
including all the food groups, strength training, low level
aerobics, a slight decrease in your daily calorie levels
and a program that can be followed for life.
>>
Click here for Tom Venuto's Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle
program
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