Diets: The Good, the Bad, and the Starving...

LCE is pleased to present Guest Author, Graeme Street.

In my experience working with women just the word "diet" instills a certain physical reaction in most of them. Right away women think that diets are designed for one thing and one thing only - to starve their bodies. Well, unfortunately most diet programs are designed to do this very thing. No wonder so many women never achieve long term success with typical diets and diet programs - they eventually need food!

The common dogma about weight loss is that low calorie diets are the only way to lose body fat. Although this is true to some extent, there is much more happening than just fat loss when women go on calorie restrictive diets--such as the loss of lean body tissue and the slowing of resting metabolic rate. Both of these side effects inevitably lead to weight rebounds and a "thin but flabby look".

I don't know about you, but any diet or diet program that makes me starve all day long and eventually turn my body flabby doesn't soound so great to me. I'm sure most women would agree. However, most women that I encounter believe that restricting caloies is the best way to get a trim, shapely physique.

Why do most women believe this notion? Simple - it's been taught to them. It's been handed down from generation to generation. Mothers hand it down to their chidren. Friends pass it on in casual conversation. Just look at the multi-million dollar weight loss companies like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig. Their whole tactic is to restrict calories from women's diets to promote weight loss. Why do you think these diet programs come with a "lifetime membership"?

Good, long term diets and diet programs center around content more then around restriction. A good diet is well rounded and incorporates exercise as a staple-- not an option! The best weight loss programs and diets that I have used with my women clients promote eating, not starvation. By feeding the body what it needs, muscle is maintained, metabolism and energy go up and most importantly fat utilization is increased.

Yes, that's right! A diet should be about eating to lose fat. When most women utilize a low calorie or restrictive calorie diet program, fat utilization goes down, not up! This is why I see so many women losing some weight on the scale, but their body fat measurements never change.

There are so many diets and diet programs to choose from today that it's hard to decide on which type is best. High protein, low carb or high carb low fat? Most dieticians will lead women down the path of low fat, high carb diets combined with a low calorie approach. This tact is doomed to fail.

The most user friendly diet program I have incorporated with my women clients has been more of a high protein, low carb approach. Their energy goes way up, their dress sizes begin to dramatically drop, and most importantly their body fat begins to go down.

Ultra low carb diets may work for some, but instead, Kate and I utilize what we call a "carb-conscious" diet program. Instead of removing all carbs from our clients diet, we manage them. They are still allowed to have carbs, but we help them make more reasonable choices of what carbs will help them build muscle and lose more fat.

Kate and I use this same type of diet program ourselves. It's the only diet that has ever worked for us and any of our clientle. And we eat plenty of food during the day. Usually 5-6 small meals. Again we don't eliminate our carbs, we just reduce them a little and replace them with healthy fats and protein.

So, the bottom line is to abandon the low calorie diets and diet programs and start to feed your body with the purpose of burning fat and retaining quality muscle. No more thin, flabby look. Our "carb conscious" diet will help your body get smaller, healthier, and leaner. And most importantly, you get to eat!

Graeme Street
personal trainer