Weight Loss

Low Carb/High Fiber Foods

When most people hear low carb and high fiber diet they think of raw carrots, rice cakes and celery sticks. A high fiber low carb diet can be delicious and full of variety if you select carefully.

When thinking of your high protein low carb diet, think of high fiber. A low carb diet is a balance of large amounts of vegetables and meats and low amounts of good carbs. Low carb menu items are everywhere just have to know what you are looking for.

There are a lot of menus out there that can guide you on a low carb high fiber diet. Check for resources such as diet and weight loss sites, forums, and blogs on the Internet. Many of these sites offer diet plans and recipes that are tasty and filling and allow you to lose weight quickly. Just remember that you need to stick to the diet at least 90% of the time for it to be effective.

Low carb high fiber foods are currently available on a lot of menus at the restaurants where you dine out. The reason for this is because restaurants are aware of their customer's desire to slim down their bodies and they are attempting to support them by giving them the right type of food that will conform to the standards of high protein low carb diets.

If you're dining out and you don't see low carb high fiber foods on the menu, be creative. Many restaurants will let you tailor an entree to fit your needs so you don't have to stray from your diet. If eating out isn't your style, but you don't like to cook, there are several ready-made meals that are available in your grocer's freezer that cater to those on a low carb high fiber diet.

To get better results more quickly, incorporate some exercise into your routine while keeping to your diet of low carb high fiber foods. Walking 30 to 45 minutes every day is a good way to shed those extra pounds. It is low impact, fun, and easy.  If you like listening to music, grab your MP3 player and you'll find the time will go even faster.

Exercise is an important component to your low carb diet. You are more likely to keep up with your exercise routine if it is low impact and fun. A brisk walk outside is an excellent way to exercise. You can invigorate your mind and body while enjoying the great outdoors.  Once you start seeing and feeling the pounds drop away, you'll be more inclined to stick with eating your low carb high fiber foods and enjoy a healthier life.

Filed under Low Carb High Fiber Foods by lowcarbdietplans

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Low Carb Vegetarian Diet

If you’re one of millions of people who want to lose weight and are concerned about low carb diets, you’re not alone in your thinking.  Many popular low carb diets call for eating unhealthy amounts of cholesterol and fats. You can still reduce your carb intake and enjoy the benefits of quicker weight loss with a healthy low carb vegetarian diet plan instead.

Balanced and Nutritious Low Carb Vegetarian Diet
Although getting into the habit of following a well balanced and nutritious low carb vegetarian diet may take a bit of doing, it will be worth it. As time passes, you will experience an improved physical condition, and you will not only feel much better, you'll also look better.
If you are not prepared to eating only vegetarian foods, try to ease out of eating meats one or two times a week, then ease into only once or twice a month, until eating vegetarian foods become second nature Substitute eggs, beans, and other protein-rich vegetarian dishes you already enjoy for the meat you're no longer eating.

Vegetarian or Vegan?
In considering low carb vegetarian diets, you will want to choose whether you want to be a vegetarian or a vegan. The difference is that vegans do not use any animal products at all. This means no dairy products and no eggs. A low carb vegan diet might be very difficult to get used to. However, if you have your heart set on it, you may find it easier to start out with a vegetarian diet that does not allow meat but does include animal products such as cheese, yogurt, eggs, milk, etc. Then you could taper off these products over time to achieve a true low carb vegan diet.

The vegetarian diet normally features lots of pasta, bread, and rice. A low carb, vegetarian diet means you must find substitutions, since these foods have lots of carbs. Nuts are good too, but it might take some creativity when you're not used to eating them with meals. Beans are nice, but eating too much may be tough on the digestive system.

Soybean ranks among the ideal foods to consume while following a low carb vegetarian diet plan. It has a lot of protein but is low when it comes calories and carbs, and it helps one to maintain strong muscle mass. Try a little at time at first, prepared in ways, so that you can figure out which soy protein dishes you enjoy the most.

Other than the regular soy-based products, many other foods may be incorporated into the low carb vegetarian diet plan. Eggs contain plenty of protein and are low in carbs, but are high in calories and cholesterol. Thus, moderation with eggs is important.  Tofu's a great alternative as a protein source in lieu of meat, but it takes a while to locate recipes you'll like. When beginning the low carb vegetarian diet, it's the ideal time to learn to love tofu. Many cookbooks with tofu recipes exist, and you will surely find some you enjoy. Just think about all the health benefits you will receive.

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Your Low Carb Diet Plan

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.

Filed under Low Carb Diets by lowcarbdietplans

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