Dearest readers, yours truly was a bit busy the last few weeks. Nevertheless, I'm back with Part 3 of my series about food and this time I'd like to talk about the low carb diet, or rather my smarter, updated version of it. I'll go over what this type of diet is and what it isn't, go over how I do it, and finish off with what it did for me and how both guys and girls can benefit the same way I did.
A low-carb diet has been popularized by Dr. Atkins, the author of the most popular version of the low-carb diet. However, this is not the only version of it, and they all work on the same principle. You cut your carb intake down to the very minimum, as close to 0g per day as possible (most people do 20g and under per day, especially when starting out). While fiber doesn't count, everything else does. If you're confused as to what has tons of carbs that'll easily push you well beyond 20g per day, it's the breads, pastas, most desserts, most fruits and some veggies. If you never counted carbs, just go ahead and google a type of food from the above categories and you'll be surprised- not pleasantly though. If you're wondering whether cutting out many fruits and veggies is healthy or not, please note that there are many vitamin, mineral and nutrient rich veggies on the low carb list (spinach, avocado, broccoli and many more). What you do to replace the carb-rich foods is you up the meat and healthy fats. I eat beef, chicken and seafood, and for oils I use avocado oil, grapeseed oil, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil and more. I also use tons of different spices to jazz things up. As new scientific research shows that higher fat intake is not dangerous if your carb intake is very low, I have to say I've been enjoying using more fat with my meats and salads- yum :) Best of all, while you shouldn't gorge yourself on food, low-carb diets are not about counting calories so just eat until you're satisfied; as time goes on, the lower carb intake will naturally diminish your appetite.
Now, there are some very important things that this diet is not, and I'd like to mention them as people get very confused and think low-carb is the wrong choice to make. This diet is not an invitation to gorge yourself or to eat bacon and butter and so on- be reasonable. Also, while you don't have to count your calories, you shouldn't go on and push yourself to eat 4000 calories per day and pass out from exhaustion after every meal. Also, this diet won't starve you of important vitamins and minerals as long as you consume most low-carb veggies and take a good multivitamin (something people should do anyways). Finally, this diet doesn't make you constipated as long as you take a fiber supplement or simply eat an avocado per day (those things are packed with fiber). Finally, this diet is not an invitation to drink diet sodas until you drop; aspartame makes you hungry and is not safe. I use stevia to sweeten my coffee, tea and a few tasty homemade low-carb desserts (tons of recipes online).
So, how have I made it better? Listen, it's easy enough to just eat boring eggs in the morning, boring meat and salad for lunch, and another boring something for dinner. I use low carb marinades and prepare my meat for oven or grill for 2-3 days at a time. I also make my own burgers with amazing store bought spice mixes (and my own spice combos) and I freeze them. If you like meatballs, make your own or buy frozen ones and nuke them with some sauce when you don't have time to cook. I also make salads interesting by trying all sorts of dressings and expensive vinaigrettes. If I need a side dish, shredded and friend cauliflower can be used to resemble fried rice, and I've also grown fond of fried cabbage (those who grew up with it know why you can inhale a plate of it in an instant - so good). Finally, and this is the best part, there are desserts in this diet that won't ruin it. You have to trust the ingredients - most of you never would have thought some of them can make delicious desserts - and that's all it takes to make this diet feasible long-term.
There you have it, dearest readers. What's better than a diet you can deal with long term, which also involves tons of meat, more fat than any other diet, and desserts to boot. :) With this grand finale, I am finishing my food series. If I got you thinking about this diet, do your homework on it and get ready to live healthier and enjoy your life a lot more. You have no idea what a proper supply of protein, veggies can do to your muscles, energy levels, skin and hair - amazing :) If you go for it, best of luck. ;)
A low-carb diet has been popularized by Dr. Atkins, the author of the most popular version of the low-carb diet. However, this is not the only version of it, and they all work on the same principle. You cut your carb intake down to the very minimum, as close to 0g per day as possible (most people do 20g and under per day, especially when starting out). While fiber doesn't count, everything else does. If you're confused as to what has tons of carbs that'll easily push you well beyond 20g per day, it's the breads, pastas, most desserts, most fruits and some veggies. If you never counted carbs, just go ahead and google a type of food from the above categories and you'll be surprised- not pleasantly though. If you're wondering whether cutting out many fruits and veggies is healthy or not, please note that there are many vitamin, mineral and nutrient rich veggies on the low carb list (spinach, avocado, broccoli and many more). What you do to replace the carb-rich foods is you up the meat and healthy fats. I eat beef, chicken and seafood, and for oils I use avocado oil, grapeseed oil, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil and more. I also use tons of different spices to jazz things up. As new scientific research shows that higher fat intake is not dangerous if your carb intake is very low, I have to say I've been enjoying using more fat with my meats and salads- yum :) Best of all, while you shouldn't gorge yourself on food, low-carb diets are not about counting calories so just eat until you're satisfied; as time goes on, the lower carb intake will naturally diminish your appetite.
Now, there are some very important things that this diet is not, and I'd like to mention them as people get very confused and think low-carb is the wrong choice to make. This diet is not an invitation to gorge yourself or to eat bacon and butter and so on- be reasonable. Also, while you don't have to count your calories, you shouldn't go on and push yourself to eat 4000 calories per day and pass out from exhaustion after every meal. Also, this diet won't starve you of important vitamins and minerals as long as you consume most low-carb veggies and take a good multivitamin (something people should do anyways). Finally, this diet doesn't make you constipated as long as you take a fiber supplement or simply eat an avocado per day (those things are packed with fiber). Finally, this diet is not an invitation to drink diet sodas until you drop; aspartame makes you hungry and is not safe. I use stevia to sweeten my coffee, tea and a few tasty homemade low-carb desserts (tons of recipes online).
So, how have I made it better? Listen, it's easy enough to just eat boring eggs in the morning, boring meat and salad for lunch, and another boring something for dinner. I use low carb marinades and prepare my meat for oven or grill for 2-3 days at a time. I also make my own burgers with amazing store bought spice mixes (and my own spice combos) and I freeze them. If you like meatballs, make your own or buy frozen ones and nuke them with some sauce when you don't have time to cook. I also make salads interesting by trying all sorts of dressings and expensive vinaigrettes. If I need a side dish, shredded and friend cauliflower can be used to resemble fried rice, and I've also grown fond of fried cabbage (those who grew up with it know why you can inhale a plate of it in an instant - so good). Finally, and this is the best part, there are desserts in this diet that won't ruin it. You have to trust the ingredients - most of you never would have thought some of them can make delicious desserts - and that's all it takes to make this diet feasible long-term.
There you have it, dearest readers. What's better than a diet you can deal with long term, which also involves tons of meat, more fat than any other diet, and desserts to boot. :) With this grand finale, I am finishing my food series. If I got you thinking about this diet, do your homework on it and get ready to live healthier and enjoy your life a lot more. You have no idea what a proper supply of protein, veggies can do to your muscles, energy levels, skin and hair - amazing :) If you go for it, best of luck. ;)