How to Stop Weight Gain on Low Carb Diet

According to a study performed at the Temple University School of Medicine and published in the March 2005 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, the efficacy of a low-carb diet comes from its uncanny ability to facilitate natural caloric regulation on the part of its participants. Individuals complying with a low-carb diet almost automatically decrease their daily calories by about 1,000, leading to rapid and sustainable weight loss that can easily halt any weight gain you might have been experiencing.

Instructions

Low Carb Dieting

• 1

  Reduce your daily carb intake to no more than 20 to 30 grams per day to start your low-carb diet. This radical shift in nutrient intake will force the body to switch from its natural state of using glycogen (blood sugar) to using fat as its primary fuel source. During this period, you can expect to experience a four- to five-day window of general lethargy as your body makes the transition from using carbs to using fat as fuel. Do not abandon the diet at this point. These effects will fade as your system adjusts.

• 2

  Consume the bulk of your carb limit from leafy-green and fibrous vegetables, such as cucumbers, lettuce, spinach and broccoli. They not only contain substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals, but they also have enough fiber to keep your body satiated and regular while low-carb dieting. Be sure to consume at least 1 to 2 servings of these items with every meal, while remaining under your daily carb limit.

• 3

  Increase your daily carb limit to 50 grams after two full weeks, following the 20- to 30-gram ceiling. Once your body is used to using fat as its fuel source, you can increase carb intake and give yourself a little breathing room, but do not increase it above this point. You do not want your body switching back to using glycogen, necessitating repetition of the entire process. Although your carb limit is higher at this point, you should still be eating large amounts of vegetables (and some fruits, as long as you do not go above 50 grams per day), as these items provide the body with maximum nutrition at a minimal carb cost.