Once you’ve finally made the decision to lose weight, and you’ve decided you want to try a low carb diet plan, the hard part is practically over. All you need to do now is simply get started. So let’s look at what your first several days of a low carb diet plan might be like.
Day one of your low carb diet plan should really start with some firm decisions. First you decide you will lose weight of course, and second you decide to go with a low carb diet plan to accomplish that weight loss. Next though, you need to choose which low carb diet plan you intend to follow. Three popular ones include the Atkins low carb diet plan, The South Beach low carb diet plan, and The Glycemic Index low carb diet plan.
Regardless of which plan you choose, the goal is to lower your daily intake of carbs, and start really losing some of the extra weight and fat your body has been holding on to. So on day one, decide which low carb diet plan you will be following and familiarize yourself with how that low carb diet plan works specifically.
Day two of your low carb diet plan will involve planning and preparation. First you need to clear out your cabinets, pantry, fridge and freezer. Toss out or give away any high carb, high sugar content foods that you won’t be eating with your low carb diet plan.
Most low carb diet plans don’t allow you to have certain foods in the first week or two on the plan, but you can gradually add those foods in later. So you may find yourself getting rid of foods you have right now that aren’t overly high in carbs, but aren’t yet allowed for the start of your low carb diet plan. Don’t despair though… many of these foods will be added back in over the next few weeks.
Next you will want to make a list of what you will be eating for at least the next week. Include meals, snacks and liquids, then create a shopping list for all of those items. Last but not least, you will go to the store and buy all of the foods on your list.
Taking these steps will help you get started right with the low carb diet plan of your choosing, and it will help you stick to the proper guidelines and instructions for that plan as well.
Day three of your low carb diet plan is when you will actually change the way you eat. You don’t have to wait until this day to get started with your new low carb diet plan, but it can be helpful to start fresh at the beginning of a new day, instead of starting in the middle of a day. Starting your new low carb diet plan at the beginning of a brand new day will make you feel more committed to the plan instead of feeling like it was an impulsive decision on the spur of the moment.
Day three is a good day to do a bit of cooking too. By preparing foods that are allowed during this beginning stage of your low carb diet plan, you’re making sure you will always have something good to eat that’s easy to just grab and go. One of the biggest pitfalls of most low carb diet plans is that you need to cook the proper foods for your particular plan. And if you don’t have something cooked and ready when you want it, you’re more likely to fall off the plan and sabotage your weight loss efforts.
The next several days of your low carb diet plan might not be the best. You will experience sugar and starch cravings, you may be tired and lethargic, and you may have headaches or mild dizziness. These are all standard symptoms of starting a low carb diet plan, because your body is cleaning out all the extra starches, sugars and junk that’s been stored up for awhile. You body is going through withdrawal from the lack of sugar that it’s used to, and these early days on your low carb diet plan are when having pre-cooked foods is most important, because you’re at a higher risk of quitting when you’re not feeling well.
Once those few days of withdrawal are over though, you will very likely be thrilled with the results of choosing a low carb diet plan. You’ll have more energy, you won’t feel as bloated, and you might even notice clothes are already started to fit more loosely too!
Diane Jeannot-Nassy
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/getting-started-with-a-low-carb-diet-plan-109618.html
June 1st, 2009 - 2:56 pm
Need help getting started on a low carb diet?
I was recently diagnosed with having insulin resistance, so i'm having to go on a low carb diet (noooo, my pasta D:), and since I'm also the meal planner in the family, and my younger sister is at risk too, I really need some tips for planning meals that are low carb that I can actually convince an eight year old and a picky dad to eat.
also, since I'm changing my diet, will this also help me lose weight easier/not gain it as easily?(i gain weight from the smallest portions of just about ANYTHING)
June 1st, 2009 - 7:58 pm
Try Atkins
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June 1st, 2009 - 8:00 pm
go to the food network site and look up the show" low carb and lovin it"
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June 1st, 2009 - 8:02 pm
Low carb diets have their evils….but they also work wonders…. I like South Beach
A message board that is really useful is
http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/forum/index.php?sid=8bdd534b746e58bf2f21d9356d480eab
Hopefully this will help you. There you can find people going through what you are and get the support you need.
Good luck!!
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June 1st, 2009 - 8:04 pm
Remember that you don't have to completely eliminate carbs. Our bodies need them for energy. Just focus on the good carbs such as breads and pastas made from whole grains. Refined white breads, rice and pasta have lots of sugars. Up the veggies!!! You can flavor veggies with simple delicious accents such as fresh herbs, citrus fruits and other rich in oxidant roots such as garlic, ginger and onion. They make a ton of great recipe ideas for sweets too..sugar free fat free pudding and jello…Yummmie puddin pie. There are so many options go to the Kraft Food website they have specific recipes for diets and they are simple..and delicious.
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June 1st, 2009 - 8:06 pm
try taking away all the white products, sugar, flour, etc, and replacing with whole grain products, and if you want something sweet make it yourself and substitute the bad things for good things if you like pasta eat whole grain pasta its not that bad
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June 1st, 2009 - 8:08 pm
I use the south beach diet. It is a diet for life. There are cook books out there made by south beach that has tons of low carb recipies. The food is great, its easy and you will never be hungry. You should have no problem with the family on this diet. After the first few weeks you can add carbs back in… the good thing is there are low carb pastas that taist just like regular pasta (i would have to check the brand we use for you, i can not think of what it is off hand but its really good). You will also loose weight on this diet. I was on it once before but fell off when I went on my honeymoon… I am back on it now and I have lost 12 lbs. in the first almost two weeks. Its not bad… I enjoy it alot. If you would like some meal ideas or more info on the diet feel free to email me and I would be happy to help. I wont be able to get back to you until monday… but I would love to help if I can. Good luck and have a great weekend.
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June 1st, 2009 - 8:10 pm
my favorite book on learning about how to eat, what carbs are really bad, etc is David Kirsch's The Ultimate New York Body Plan. it not only educates you on food but it also has low carb, high protein recipes that are soooo good. i got my book from amazon.com for about $8.00 w/ shipping.
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June 1st, 2009 - 8:12 pm
If you try Atkins, you will lose weight. Infact, its probably the carbs that you have been eating that causes you to gain weigt easily.
I wouldn't reccomend a low fat version of low carb personally. I believe a lot of the hype regarding fat and cholesterol is nonsense particulary once carbohydrates are removed from your diet.
As for menu ideas, if you love pasta a good sub for that is to lightly panfry some zucchini strips in butter. When I started atkins my son was around your daughters age and he was very picky at the time and ate a lot of junk. I found getting him involved with reading labels etc really helped him clean up his diet over the time at his own pace.
Regarding dinners I found some good substitutes that my son liked. For mashed potato I would mash steamed cauliflower (make sure to drain it well first) with butter, cream, cheese, salt and pepper, he never knew the difference. For breading (eg schnitzel) I would use either just dry powdered parmesean cheese with some herbs, pepper and salt or I would use a mix off the parmesean cheese and almond meal, he actually preffered this to bread crumbs. BBQs were always a winner and very low carb friendly, roasts. I used to make alot of meals in a slow cooker, casseroles, curries etc. Theres quiches, tacos without the beans and shells (you could wrap in lettuce leaves). I found saucy type dishes were always liked. Plus you can also let them have a carb item on the side like potato/bread/rice etc to keep them happy.
References :
Some low carb research: http://www.apinchofhealth.com/resources/lowcarb/low-carb-research.html