A low carb diet plan is based around certain principles, made famous by Dr Robert Atkins but now shared by many other low carbohydrate diets. These principles are:

1. Zero Carbohydrate Foods

You can eat as much as you truly want of the no carbohydrate foods like meat, fish and oils. Of course you shouldn't eat just for the sake of eating, or because you are bored, etc. But you will find that you are less likely to do that on a low carb diet. After the first few days, you will not think about food so much.

With these foods you can create some of the tastiest dishes. Be sure to use plenty of the unlimited foods for variety and enjoyment. That will help you stick to your low carb diet plan.

2. Low Carbohydrate Foods

Foods like green vegetables, cheese, eggs, nuts and seeds have some carbohydrate in them. You can eat them but you need to keep a check on how much you have.

Different diets manage this in different ways. The Atkins low carb diet plan limits you to certain amounts of vegetables and cheese. You can have your five a day but you must choose from the list of allowed vegetables. Eggs are unlimited but must be counted. Nuts and seeds are not allowed in the induction phase (the first two weeks) but can be reintroduced later in small portions.

Any low carb diet plan will have a minimum amount of vegetables that you must eat. This is not optional. Please do not make the mistake of thinking that cutting out the carbohydrates in vegetables will help you lose weight faster - it won't. It is very dangerous to cut out this source of essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. So please eat your greens!

3. High Carbohydrate Foods

High carb foods are anything made with grains or flour, corn, potatoes and other starchy vegetables. Most fruits are also high in carbs. Most of these foods will be banned in the induction phase of your low carb diet plan. After that, you may reintroduce some of them.

However, potatoes, bread, rice, corn, pasta and other grain products are usually off limits until you are close to your goal weight. Even a small amount can easily knock you out of ketosis and stall your weight loss.

4. Water

It is vital to drink enough water when you are following a low carb diet plan. This means a minimum of 2 liters pure water a day - the famous 8 x 12 oz glasses. Like the vegetables, this is not optional.

The reason that water is so important on a low carbohydrate diet is that it helps flush toxins through the kidneys. A low carb diet plan can be more stressful for the kidneys than other types of diet, especially if you are eating more protein than you are used to. Water can help to prevent kidney damage.

5. Exercise

Doing a little exercise every day is important too. What you need to do depends on where you are now in terms of fitness. You don't have to go to the gym if you don't want to. The minimum would be a 10 or 15 minute walk in the beginning, for somebody who is not at all fit. Then you can gradually increase this.

Exercise helps us to burn calories and stay healthy. It also helps the body to adjust as you lose weight. If you lose a lot of weight without toning up, you will end up with a lot of floppy skin instead of the perfect body of your dreams.

6. Supplements

Most low carb books recommend taking a good multi vitamin and mineral supplement, especially in the early stages of the diet. This helps to make up for any deficiencies that we may have built up from having poor eating habits in the past, and to balance the low carb diet plan if we are not eating a lot of fruit and vegetables.

When dining out, you may notice that most restaurant menus are filled with high fat, high sodium and sugar filled entree selections. You may even think it is not possible at all to find low carb high fiber choices that are healthy and tasty at your favorite restaurant.

In this day and age it is becoming increasingly easier to enjoy a great low carb meal while dining out. Increased awareness as to healthier food choices has made the food service industry recognize that a signigicant portion of their customers follow low carb high fiber diets. When dining out you may even notice low carb diet menu plans that allow you to enjoy eating and still follow your low carb diet.

You can vow that when you eat at a restaurant you'll just order food that is on your low carb diet plan but it is something else to really be able to do this. With all good intentions, you try to order low carb diet food from the restaurant menu and then a scrumptious fat laden cheeseburger arrives at the table next to you, challenging your remaining willpower. You have to control yourself when you intend to eat the right way, specifically if you want to drop those extra pounds.

Don't give in to pressure from others. If you dine out with pals who do not care about healthy eating and who do not know that low carb foods that are high in fiber content will help you to lose pounds, they will try to make you put the diet on hold for one night so that you can enjoy your life. They may even express disappointment or resentment at your unwillingness to go off your diet and may challenge your resolve.

It's best to make good progress towards your dieting goal before you allow yourself to splurge on non low carb foods. It will feel much more rewarding to be able to stay on the low-carb plan and lose your unwanted weight than succumb to peer pressure and cravings.

A great way to stay on track with a low carb diet is to take a small index card out with you when you dine out. This index card should have a list of things you can have on your low carb diet. This will allow you to dine out in confidence and make your dine experience pleasurable.

Don't worry if you slip up on your low carb diet. You are human and everyone succumbs to temptation now and then. Just remember not to get discouraged if you do cheat. Every day is a new day, just begin again and stick with it, and you'll see results.

If you have been wrestling with weight problems your whole life, you already know that losing weight can be difficult. There are many advantages in trying a low carb diet. One of the main things is that you will burn more fat and at the same time, gain muscle faster than any other method. Another is that this also something that you can do for the long term, not just a couple of weeks like other plans.

When beginning a low carb eating regimen, the first step is knowing the types of foods to avoid on low carb diets. This is essential since, the more quickly you become knowledgeable about the foods you can't have when you are dieting the low carb way, you will also know what foods you will have the pleasure of eating and after this you can begin combining your foods and enjoy your meals.

Fruits To Be Avoided in a Low Carb Diet
Surprisingly, certain fruits should be avoided when you plan for a low carb diet. Many people are under the impression that all types of fruits are healthy and they can eat as many as desired. But that is not correct.
Some fruits like bananas, watermelons and similar fruits have a very high glycemic index.  This means they have high sugar content. You can eat them but have to restrict consumption and avoid eating too much.

Meats in a Low Carb Diet
As far as the foods to avoid on low carb diets, particularly with respect to meats, liver is actually the only meat that is in this category. All of the other types of meats are basically acceptable, except if they are breaded or have fillers.

Keep a Food Diary
You should maintain a food diary that lists what you eat and what times you eat it.  At the same time, track your weight loss achievement. Write down the weight and even measurements at the beginning of the diet, then keep track of them every week or as often as you like, so you can note the improvement you make. This will bolster your self-esteem as well help to keep you focused with your diet plan.
Some of your favorite foods may be the very foods to avoid on low carb diet menu plans.  Learning which foods you can have and how to enjoy them can be a challenge. However, in the long run, you will be glad you made the effort and stuck with it.  Beyond the immediate results you will see from a new and healthy diet, you will be amazed and delighted at the big changes that you will eventually experience.