Low Carb Diet Beginngers

Low carb diet beginngers almost invariably ask: OK, enough of theories, just tell what foods I can and cant eat.

It's most clearly described by Dr Atkins so here are low carb food dos and donts.

The first two weeks, foods that are allowed in unlimited quantities are --

• meats (except sausages)
• eggs
• fish
• poultry
• butter
• ham (read the label for sugar added!)

Foods allowed in limited quantities are --

• hard cheeses (4 oz)
• cottage cheese (4 oz)
• mayonnaise (3 tablespoon)
• green salads (200 ml by volume/one soup bowl)
• 1/2 medium cucumber
• 1 stalk green onion or 2 thin slices of white onion
• 1/2 lemon
• sour cream (100 grams)
• cream (100 grams)
• yogurt (200 grams)
• tea (2 cups)

Foods that are prohibited are --

• breads
• pastas
• potatoes
• red beets
• sausages
• fruits
• beans
• peas
• milk
• any sweets or sweeteners or sugar substitutes
• caffeinated beverages
• alcohol

Now let's see how it translates into a sample meal, e.g., breakfast, comparing with a low fat, low calorie diet and with officially recommended meal plan.

Induction phase breakfast:

2 scrambled eggs 2 strips bacon Decaffeinated coffee

Ongoing phase breakfast:
3 egg 3 oz. tomato juice 2 bran crisp bread (2 g. carb)

Maintenance phase breakfast:
2 egg 2 bran crisp bread (2 g. carb) 1 T butter 1/2 cantaloupe

Compare with USDA Food Pyramid breakfast

1 C orange juice 1 C Total cereal with 3/4 C skim milk Coffee with 1 oz. 1% milk

Compare with Weight Watchers diet

1 oz. Total Corn flakes 1/2 C non-fat milk 1 slice whole wheat bread 1 pat margarine 1 orange

Why Low-Carb Works, Why Low-Carb Fails

by Jon Benson
Creator, Fit Over 40

What do these have in common?

- McDonalds - Renée Zellweger - Epileptic children - Yours truly - Most bodybuilding and fitness competitors - Kiefer Sutherland

Give up?

All the above employ the strategies of the low-carb diet, popularized by the late Dr. Atkins.

Recently researchers have found that an Atkins-type nutrition plan reduced the number of seizures in epileptic children.

Most of the world's leanest physiques get that way on a regimen, limited or not, of low-carbs and higher protein.

Even McDonalds is getting into the act. Even Renée Zellweger. Even Kiefer Sutherland. Even me. Kinda.

Read on and I'll explain what I mean...

Why Low-Carb Works

When McDonalds starts counting carb grams in their food, you know someone is either jumping on a trend or finally seeing the light.

In this case, both -- but it is a good thing. Low-carb diets. They work.

For the masses, they work because they are the easiest nutrition plan to follow when you're busy.

McDonalds and stars like Kiefer Sutherland figured this out. The busy on-the-go guy or gal doesn't want to make the time to prepare six meals per day and carry them around in Tupperware.

When choosing my own lifestyle nutrition plan, time and convenience played a major role. I looked at role models who were very busy, formerly obese, and very lean.

Most of them rely in some form or fashion on a low-carb strategy.

Low-carb also works, much to the hem and haw of traditional doctors and nutritionists, due to the way the body processes fuel.

For those of us fortunate enough to grow up on whole grains and very low-sugar mealplans, a moderate to higher-carb nutrition plan may work just fine.

But most of us grew up eating junk.

Processed foods, fast foods, and downright junk was the cornerstone of our diets. That puts your body on the "carb defense."

After years of abuse the body becomes resistant to carbohydrates. The insulin they produce can cause all sorts of health issues, fat-burning problems, and more.

When carbs are removed, even healthy carbs like whole grains, the body has time to re-adjust.

In some cases, you can go back to a moderate-carb plan with whole grains and fruits after a period of time.

In others, you are a "low-carber" for life.

Guess which one I am?

Finally, low-carb works because you tend to eat less. Fat is very satiating, and most low-carb plans are fairly high in dietary fat.

So, in recap:

-- Easy and convenient;
-- Metabolically important for carb recovery;
-- Lower in total food volume (eat less)

Do not make light of that first point. Any plan that is not simple is one very few people will stick to. Making your plan simple and tasty is key, even if that plan is not "perfect" by nutritional standards.

Progress always trumps perfection.

Why Low-Carb Fails

There are two primary reasons for the failure of the low-carb nutrition plans: boredom and media bashing.

One causes irritability. The other, doubt. Unless you're certain that your plan will work, you will eventually go off of it.

This is true of any plan, no matter how ideal it is. Certainty rules.

That's why I cover The Law of Certainty in "Fit Over 40". It's crucial to understand and to create.

Yes -- you can create certainty. Read my book to find out how.

The boredom is easily solved.

I cover how and share my own unique plan that cycles carbs and fats in Fit Over 40 --

Fit Over 40

Using my cycle strategy you will rarely if ever become bored. And your body will burn more bodyfat too. It's just a cheap metabolic trick...but boy, it works.

The second reason is media and medical bias. One study after another has proven that low-carb plans, even the Atkins plan, works and is safe to use for most people.

Check with your doctor first, of course.

I've seen researchers get down-right angry when the results come back. In one study, carried out for a full year, the low-carb plan out-performed the so-called "healthy" Dean Ornish plan.

Lower blood fats, more weightloss, and more energy were the results.

That being said, no one plan works for everyone. Some people are natural vegetarians. I know one low-carb veggie, but he has a heck of a time with it.

Still, it works for him.

Some will do really well on higher carbs. One of my role models, Clarence Bass, has consumed a 55% carb diet for most of his life. It serves him well.

Over the years, Clarence has added more "healthy" fats to his diet -- and the result has been better blood profiles and lower bodyfat.

Which Plan To Use?

Check out my book, Fit Over 40. There are dozens of plans in there from 53 near- ageless role models 40-80 years old --

Fit Over 40

Select the one you relate to the most and follow the leader. Make it simple.

But my preference always comes back to low-carb nutrition. I just cycle it in a way that allows me to get plenty of veggies, some grains, and ample fiber.

Even a slice of cheesecake here and there.

Hey...I said "low-carb", not "low-life!"

Sincerely,

Jon Benson Creator, Fit Over 40

P.S. One of these days the mainstream medical community will wake up to the fact that 90% of the population will never eat 15 servings of veggies per day.

While this may be "optimal", it's not at all practical. I'd rather give you down-to- earth practical nutrition advice that you CAN and WILL follow -- and enjoy.

Makes sense, doesn't it?
Fit Over 40

Vegetarian Atkins?

By Susan L. Burke, MS, RD/LD, CDE eDiets
Director of Nutrition Services

You don't have to be a vegetarian to want to avoid red meat. You may want a cheaper diet. After all, lean cuts of red meat such as sirloin are more expensive than other types of meat. If you don't eat red meat, will you lose out nutritionally? Will you be hungry? No! Other good protein choices include chicken, fish and tofu.

Nutritionally, red meat is a good source of protein, iron, zinc and other nutrients. However, health experts have been debating for years about the merits of eliminating red meat from your diet. Walter Willet of Harvard Medical School advocates a red meat-free diet, and some research has linked diets high in consumption of red meat with increased cancer risk. The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) summarized the research with this conclusion in their landmark report, Food, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Cancer: "Diets containing substantial amounts of red meat probably increase the risk of colorectal cancer” and suggest a link between red meat and an increased risk of pancreatic, breast, prostate and renal cancers. The WCRF advises that red meat be limited to only three ounces daily. However, the jury is still out on red meat, and there is no strong consensus that says no to all red meat.

Why should red meat be worse for you than, say… pork or lamb? It may not be! All three fall within scientific theory. It may not be the meat itself. It may have more to do with how the meat is cooked. And, the danger may be in what the animal consumes as its daily diet. The scientists point to a couple of different theories.

The first is that meat contains high iron concentrations and promotes formation of free radicals (molecules that cause DNA oxidation), which lead to cancer. Other studies point to what happens when red meat is cooked, especially at high temperatures under moist conditions. High heat leads to the production of compounds in meat called heterocyclic amines (HCAs). Frying or cooking until well-done further increases the risk, and grilling meat compounds the risk further.

Another theory points toward genetics. For some, it's actually a case of "you are what you eat,” where an individual's genetic makeup is seen as compounding their risk for cancer. Some people are "fast metabolizers” and metabolize the suspect compounds more quickly. By virtue of your own DNA, you may put yourself at risk unwittingly.

Finally, unless you're buying and consuming organic meat, you're likely to be consuming residuals of hormones and antibiotics fed to feedlot-raised cattle. This makes the case for buying only organic meat. However, now you're back to the original concern: organic food is much more expensive.

Do you like animal protein, but want to avoid red meat? That is easily done on eDiets . Even if you're doing the Atkins Nutritional Approach, you can eat less red meat -- or none. Atkins is not the bacon, burger and butter diet the media has portrayed it to be. On eDiets, we've worked hard to bring you the real McCoy -- right here on our website.

Before he died of a tragic accidental fall, Dr. Atkins was just completing a book tour, on which he emphasized the importance of eating omega-3 fatty-acid-rich fish. Research points toward the benefits of including fish in your diet, including reducing the risk for heart disease because of the anti-inflammatory effects. Research points to the antioxidant properties of omega-3's, which reduce the risk for some cancers. Because some fish may contain higher than acceptable levels of contaminants (including mercury and PCB's), the best advice is to vary your choices. Fatty fish like mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon are high in two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Whether to include or exclude meat in your diet is a matter of personal choice – one that is available for the Atkins, eDiets and Zone programs. When you click on "exclude red meat," your menu will contain meals with fish or fowl. If you enjoy soy protein, then tofu, tempeh and TVP (textured vegetable protein) are featured in your recipes and meals as well. These meals are favorites of the eDiets vegetarian members, and the Zone members and Atkins members similarly can choose meat-free meals and recipes. The beauty of eDiets is that it's your diet, your way. Balance is important, and your meals contain other sources of protein that will provide all the nutrition necessary for continued good health.

Did You Know
Red meat provides bio-available heme iron. However, all types of meat contain this easily absorbed form of iron. If you don't want red meat, heme iron is still available from poultry and fish. Fruits, vegetables and other foods that contain vitamin C help the body absorb non-heme iron. Eat your iron-fortified breakfast cereal with an orange or grapefruit to enhance absorption. Avoid coffee and tea (regular and decaffeinated) with meals in order to enhance the absorption of iron and zinc.

eDiets Director of Nutrition Services Susan L. Burke, M.S., R.D., L.D., CDE is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian, and a Certified Diabetes Educator who specializes in both general and diabetes-related weight management

10 Power Foods to Beat Diabetes

By Glenn Mueller
eDiets Senior Writer


When you are trying to balance your blood sugar, it is important to eat plenty of healing foods. In fact, you’ll be amazed at how many of them you can find in the aisles of your local grocery store. The following diabetes-beating power foods are among the best foods to beat diabetes.

Need a diet that'll let you eat filling, tasty foods while you lose weight? eDiets offers 24 personalized plans, including the red-hot, carb-smart Glycemic Impact Diet.

Apples: As it turns out, an apple a day might be just the thing you need to keep the doctor away. When it comes to beating diabetes, there is nothing forbidden about this particular fruit. Since they are grown in temperate zones around the world, apples come in thousands of different varieties. But, whatever type of apple you choose, you will get the maximum health benefits by including the peel in your healthy snack. Apple peels contain quercetin, a flavanoid that has been found to reduce diabetes due to its antioxidant effect.

Asparagus: Though it is a member of the lily family, the edible part of the asparagus plant is actually a sprout or shoot that appears underground. Asparagus is an excellent source of glutathione, an antioxidant compound that can help keep your blood sugar stable.

Beans: Not only are they good for the heart, but these members of the legume family also contain many different phytonutrients that can help you manage your battle against diabetes. Though dried beans are the healthiest choice, you must soak them in water for several hours before cooking.

Broccoli: President George Herbert Walker Bush may have banned this cruciferous vegetable from the White House menu, but broccoli is also an excellent source of quercetin. These days most broccoli is green, but purple, red, cream and brown varieties were also popular at one time.

Carrots: As it turns out, Bugs Bunny was smarter than you might think. His favorite snack is full of carotenoids, antioxidant compounds that can help protect the heart and balance your insulin levels.

Fish: Even if you’re not hooked on the taste of fish, perhaps the health benefits will help reel you in. Not only can these sea creatures help protect your heart, but the omega-3 fatty acids can also help balance your blood sugar levels.

Nuts: Even though they have been cultivated for more than twelve thousand years, nuts are still one of nature’s richest foods. Since they are packed with minerals and healthy fats, incorporating healthy portions of nuts into your meal plan can help protect your heart and balance your blood sugar. You’d have to be crazy not to eat them.

Oranges: Orange you glad that the world’s most popular citrus fruit has a low rating on the Glycemic Index? Oranges are also a source of many other phtonutrients that can help you fight diabetes, including flavonoids, carotenoids, terpines, pectins and glutathione.

Soybeans Oh say, can you soy? Not only are these members of the legume family a complete source of protein, but soybeans also provide phytoestrogens, isoflavones and saponins that can help balance your blood sugar.

Tea Tea time may be the healthiest time of the day. Whether you have two for tea or you drink this healthy substance by yourself, tea has phytonutrients such as catechins and tannins that can help balance your blood sugar.

Glycemic Impact Diet has great ways for you to eat healthy, lose weight and take control of your life. With our 24/7 online support, we're there whenever you need us for inspiration and support.

Low Carb Smart Snacking

By Susan Burke MS, RD, LD/N, CDE
eDiets Chief Nutritionist

Snacking doesn't necessarily mean eating in addition to your diet, or eating foods that are unhealthy for you. Much better than fasting (which depletes you of energy and motivation), keeping your engine burning and fueling your body with healthy snacks is going to help you achieve your goals.

On eDiets , your menu is created for results, and fuels you with the right amount of calories and nutrition, or in the case of the Atkins Diet, the right amount and the right type of carbs, for your personal and unique requirements. Daily snacks are included on your daily menu, and in addition, we encourage members to take a food item or two from each meal to eat two to three hours later.

On the Atkins Diet, you begin with Induction, and your menu is higher in protein and fat and lower in carbohydrates. During this two-week phase, you're restricted to two cups of salad vegetables and one cup of cooked vegetables daily. Eat liberally of protein choices, including turkey and chicken, meats and fish, eggs and to a lesser extent, cheese. Non-meat sources of proteins such as tofu, soy nuts and tempeh are permitted.

There are a variety of low-carb snack products available. Some low-carb products are sweetened with Splenda, others have both Splenda and sugar alcohols. Depending on your taste, you may find them enjoyable, and they are available for an occasional treat without going over your carbohydrate allowance.

Fresh Low-Carb Snack Ideas:
1. Sliced turkey breast, roast beef, chicken breast or ham wrapped around celery sticks

2. Sliced avocado salad dressed with olive oil and a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar

3. Quarter-cup roasted almonds

4. Cup of roasted peanuts in the shell

5. Four large boiled shrimp with sugar-free cocktail sauce

6. Two cups sugar-free gelatin topped with a whipped cream

7. Hard-boiled eggs

8. String cheese

9. Celery stuffed with nut butter (no-sugar-added peanut, cashew or sesame butter)

10. Marinated olives and fennel

eDiets and Atkins Diet, can help you fight the battle of the bulge. We know you're busy -- that's why we take all the guesswork out of dieting for you. Everything you need to succeed is at your fingertips.

eDiets Chief Nutritionist Susan L. Burke is a registered and licensed dietitian and a certified diabetes educator who specializes in both general and diabetes-related weight management

Two modified ketogenic diets that include carbohydrates to support high intensity training

My name is Lyle McDonald, I'm an exercise physiologist and research nerd. I became interested in low-carbohydrate diets over 10 years ago when I used one myself to lose fat. However, as I delved more into them, I realized that most books written about low-carbohydrate (aka ketogenic) diets were miserably flawed.

Either they presented the diet as a magic, 'better than sex and sunshine', or they presented it as a death warrant. But, in my experience, the truth of the matter is usually between those two extremes so I set out to determine for myself what the research actually said about low-carbohydrate diets. It took me over two years of research and writing, culminating in this, my first book.

The Ketogenic Diet is the first and only book to examine in-depth the scientific evidence regarding low-carbohydrate/ketogenic diets. At 325 pages and containing over 600 scientific references, this will be your complete reference for ketogenic diets.

You'll learn:

The details of human fuel utilziation and how they change on a ketogenic diet

• How the body adapts to ketosis, including a detailed discussion of protein sparing
• How the ketogenic diet affects body composition
• The effect of ketosis on all tissues in the body
• How the ketogenic diet affects cholesterol levels
• How to optimize the ketogenic diet for different goals such a fat loss, bodybuilding or endurance training
• The basics of exercise physiology for aerobic, interval and weight training
• How different types of exercise affects fat loss

I want to make it very clear that the ketogenic diet is meant as a reference manual for low-carbohdyrate diets; it is unlike any other book on low-carbohdyrate diets that you have ever read or seen. It doesn't contain food lists or recipes, it isn't filled with a lot of hype over how great low-carbohydrate dieting is; nor is it filled with how bad for you the diet it. Rather, it is an objective scientific examination of the topic of low-carbohydrate dieting. However, it's not a book filled with nothing but dry theory.

The Ketogenic Diet includes:

• Two modified ketogenic diets that include carbohydrates (to support high intensity training) while still allowing the adaptations to ketosis to occur
• Basic endurance training guidelines, including interval training
• How to weight train as a beginner, intermediate or advanced trainee
• How to use the ketogenic diet to prepare for a bodybuilding contest
• What supplements are useful during the different phases of a ketogenic diet

More info - click here

10 Simple Tips for Atkins Success

By Kim Droze
eDiets Contributor

The Atkins Nutritional Approach is:
A) a short-term solution
B) a red meat diet
C) an eating regimen that eliminates carbohydrates forever
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

The correct answer is E. Surprised? Opponents of the Atkins Nutritional Approach would like you to believe the low-carb eating plan is only good for fast fad-like weight loss. Detractors would also make you think the diet is high in fat and red meat -- and that you can kiss your beloved carbs goodbye forever!

Reality-check time. Such notions are nonsensical at best and a far cry from the truth. There are an estimated 50 million Americans watching their carb intake. So how should these weight-conscious men and women separate fact from fiction?

You may think you have all the tools needed for following the Atkins Nutritional Approach, but if you don't have the New York Times #1 bestseller Atkins For Life you're missing out on the crucial information that sets the record straight. This info-packed book is also available in paperback.

To get the support and assistance you need to drop those extra pounds with the Atkins Nutritional Approach -- click here and see what eDiets has to offer.

In the last book published by Dr. Robert Atkins, the founding father of low-carb living provides readers with everything they need to know about making smart carbohydrate choices for life and maintaining a healthy weight. Dr. Atkins was determined that the world know there is more to doing Atkins than Induction, which is the first and most restrictive phase of the four-phase ANA.

All too many Atkins followers never move beyond the most restrictive phase. Do Atkins right and you'll be able to steadily boost your carb intake throughout the Ongoing Weight Loss, Pre-Maintenance and Lifetime Maintenance phases -- and you’ll maintain your weight permanently. This is what allows you to personalize the Atkins Nutritional Approach to your own lifestyle, says Dr. Stuart Trager, medical director of Atkins Nutritionals and chairperson of the Atkins Physicians Council.

Dr. Trager says the power of the Atkins Nutritional Approach lies in its unique four-phase setup. Induction provides the initial strategy for breaking through cravings and shifting the metabolism from carbohydrate-based to fat-based. From there, the long-term success of the approach is directly linked to slowly reintroducing carbohydrates, primarily in the form of whole foods. Followers identify their individual carbohydrate threshold (i.e. the number of daily grams of carbs that will allow continued weight loss), and once they reach their goal weight, to maintain it.

"The Atkins Nutritional Approach is not a short-term weight-loss solution," Dr. Trager tells eDiets . "It's about lifelong changes... adding back the right carbohydrates so that you reach the level where your weight is stable and you're eating a variety of foods so you can stick with this eating plan for good. This is why people can do Atkins for life.

"You're making smart carbohydrate choices, consuming fruits, vegetables and whole grains in amounts that are individualized to suit your body’s metabolism so you don't put back the weight you've lost. Atkins For Life shows individuals how to identify their own individual carbohydrate threshold, in the process teaching them strategies for Lifetime Maintenance along with exercise and other activities. These are real changes that help people live healthier lives."

Atkins For Life shatters the myth that a low-carb regimen is a red meat diet. With more than 125 recipes and six months of menu plans, the Akins Nutritional Approach features pork, chicken, fish and vegetarian dishes, as well as those for beef and other red meats. Anyone who limits her diet to bun-less bacon cheeseburgers and thick steaks is not doing Atkins correctly, says Dr. Trager.

Also perpetuating the myths of low-carb dieting: copycat books that attempt to cash in by replicating the success of the Atkins Nutritional Approach.

"It's important to understand Dr. Atkins' message -- controlling carbs means choosing the right carbohydrates and adding them back in amounts that are appropriate for you," Dr. Trager says. "Atkins is a time-tested solution that was introduced long before the new crop of copycats, which are creating confusion. People should remember that for 40 years, the Atkins Nutritional Approach was clinically tested in Dr. Atkins' practice. Plus, the efficacy and safety of the Atkins Nutritional Approach has been validated by more than 25 independent research studies."

Several recent studies indicate the low-fat, low-calorie approach to weight loss leaves people hungry, frustrated and unmotivated. Not only does controlling carbs work, but it also boosts the amount of weight loss in some cases.

Dr. Trager says doing Atkins teaches a way of eating you can sustain for life, especially if you have handy and informative resources like Atkins for Life to walk you through the process. Regardless of your personal Net Carb threshold for Lifetime Maintenance (45 grams... 60 grams... 80 grams... or even 100 grams) you'll find plenty of tasty Atkins-friendly recipes at your fingertips.

"Atkins for Life provides the tools you need to make the transition from reaching your goal weight to life-long carbohydrate awareness as part of a new lifestyle," Dr. Trager says.

Here are the 10 simple rules for a making your Atkins experience last a lifetime:

1. Count your daily Net Carbs.

2. Stay at or below your Atkins Carbohydrate Equilibrium (ACE), the amount of carbs you can eat each day while neither gaining nor losing pounds.

3. Adjust your ACE as needed.

4. Eat primarily whole, unprocessed foods.

5. Stay away from added sugar, bleached white flour, hydrogenated oils and junk foods.

6. Don't go more than four to six waking hours without a meal or snack.

7. Exercise regularly.

8. Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement and essential fatty acids.

9. Drink a minimum of eight 8-ounce glasses of water.

10. Never let yourself gain more than 5 pounds.

To learn more about Atkins for Life, click here.

Get your own personalized Atkins program powered by eDiets . eDiets has over 80 different support groups. Support from like-minded folks makes dieting easier and more fun.

David lost 115 pounds on Atkins

By Carolina Diaz-Bordon
eDiets Staff Write

Winning may not be everything, but the will to win is. For David A., the will to win his life back is exactly what drove him to lose 115 pounds. The 5-foot-9 father of two went from barely moving and weighing 315 pounds to a lean, mean, 200-pound health machine.

It would take defiant efforts and a strong partnership with eDiets and the Atkins Nutritional Approach to get him back into shape and into the world again.

"I have quite a few different reasons I decided to lose the weight," David tells eDiets. "First and foremost is my family. I have been married for 20 years and I have two children. I wanted to be around to see my kids grow, and it didn't look like that was going to be the case."

Unfortunately, David didn't have to look too far to see the dangerous effects that come along with excessive weight gain. Diabetes, heart attack, stroke, double bypass surgery, congestive heart failure and disability were just a few of the ways his mother, father and brother had already suffered. It was also the path he was marching down.

He knew he would be headed for serious trouble if he didn't start making changes.

"I just got sick and tired of being sick and tired," he says. "It was enough for me to drag myself through eight hours of work every day. I would come home and go to sleep. My life consisted of sleep and work, pretty much because of the weight. I suffered a lot from chronic fatigue."

Today, David can't wait to share his weight-loss story with the world. The 42-year-old Pennsylvanian says he never imagined he could come this far.

David had dabbled in low-fat dieting in the past, but it never took him long to fall back into his old eating patterns. That's because he didn't have structure or maintenance support. He would gain back the weight he had lost and then some.

"The eDiets Atkins Diet Approach plan was my second attempt to lose weight. What I liked most about Atkins is that it was not radically different from anything I was doing," David says. "I already loved to eat lean meats, chicken and fish. I just used to always eat it with a junk carb, like potato or something, but now I just have vegetables instead."

After reading up on Atkins he realized that what was actually making his stomach constantly growl for food was all the refined carbohydrates he was consuming. Those carbohydrates kept turning into sugar and then fat in his body.

"The thing that still amazes me about when I started eating the balanced Atkins Diet meals is that I can get away with just eating that plate of food and I won't be hungry again until my next meal.

"When this actually started happening it blew my mind because I was so used to eating a big meal -- two or three plates full of food -- and being hungry two or three hours later."

While David was thrilled that he had finally found a way to conquer his hunger pangs, he was also aware that the new lifestyle would take some getting used to.

"The support groups and the challenges they give you really helped me stay motivated," he says. "I had a lot of staff members personally help me as well. I can't tell you enough about how much the eDiets.com support has impacted me and helped me through my weight loss. Everybody has been so great."

His wife also played a big role in his success. She ended up signing up for Atkins Diet as well, and together they helped each other through the ups and downs.

"I think one of the things that stands out in my mind is that the first week on Atkins they tell you that you're going to feel a little tired because your body is detoxing all of the sugar and the bad stuff in your system and it's working its way out," David notes.

"I had been tired for many years suffering from chronic fatigue. Well, I woke up just six days after starting the diet and I felt so good. It's a moment I will never forget."

Since joining forces with eDiets and The Atkins Diet Approach, this determined dieting dad's life has done a complete 180. His once-stationary life has turned into a world of new adventures and cherished moments with his family.

"I have a life again," David raves. "I do at least 30 minutes of stationary bike a day. I have a bike path near my house and it's simply a beautiful trail... a good 7 or 8 miles. I love going out and riding and enjoying the day.

"My life had consisted of working, watching television, sleeping and eating. That is not an exaggeration at all. The thought of having to go out and ride a bike or go hiking, I just couldn't do it. Now, I am just enjoying life more."

This super slimmer offers this one great piece of advice to everyone struggling with weight: Don't give up, and remember that having the right mindset makes all the difference.

"Go on the Sensational Success support group, and go and look at my before and after pictures," he urges. "I put myself out there specifically because I used to be that person that was overweight thinking there was absolutely no way that I could do this. I just want to show people they can do it. I know if I did anybody can."

Are you ready to make the Atkins Diet work for you? eDiets and Atkins have teamed up to provide you with personalized versions of this popular weight-loss approach.

Carolina Diaz-Bordon is a writer specializing in health, beauty and relationships

Have Your Carbs and Eat Them Too

Brought to you by Jillian Michaels

It's time to get over the idea that all carbs are bad. Even the media are starting to forget that the no-carb craze existed, and you should, too. Good carbs do exist, and they should be a part of your diet.

"But Jillian," you ask, "how can that be when so many other diets have banished carbs?" Here's why: My program evaluates carbs differently from the way the Atkins and South Beach programs do. These diets define carbs as "good" or "bad" according to the glycemic index, a rating based on how quickly a carbohydrate breaks down and releases glucose into your blood. The problem is, these diets evaluate only the quality, not the quantity, of carbs in any given food. So you're not getting the whole story. As a result, these diets forbid you to eat many foods that actually belong in a healthy diet.

The poor innocent carrot is a perfect example of how the glycemic index can give a good food a bad name. The carbohydrates in a carrot turn into blood sugar quickly, which gives the carrot a high glycemic rating, making it a no-no on many popular diets. If you step back and look at the big picture, though, the total number of carbs in a carrot is low. Even though those carbs are turning into blood sugar quickly, there are so few that their overall effect on blood sugar is not very dramatic, so in fact they're okay to eat.

JILLIAN'S TIP OF THE DAY
Towing the Glycemic Load
If you consider the quantity as well as the quality of carbs in a food, you have a much more holistic and useful way of assessing its nutritional value. This more accurate measurement is known as the glycemic load index (GLI). The index pertains mainly to carbohydrates such as vegetables, fruits, and grains (proteins and fats do not have the same kind of direct effect on blood sugar) and is designed to help you quickly figure out which carbs are okay and which you should avoid. You can find a GLI chart in my book, Winning by Losing. Jillian Michaels