What to Eat to Lose Weight the Fastest on Low-Carb Diet

What to Eat to Lose Weight the Fastest on Low-Carb Diet
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With so many diets out there, it is important that you experiment with different diets to find what works best for you. Low-carb diets constitute a good option that can yield very good results in terms of weight loss, according to a study published in 2005 in the "Journal of the American Medical Association." If your goal is to lose weight fast, keep your carb intake as low as possible. Consult your doctor before restricting your carb intake, especially if you have a medical condition or take medications.

Carbohydrates

If you want to get rid of your extra fat as fast as possible, keep your carbs below 50 g a day, and get them ideally from nonstarchy vegetables, to induce ketosis. Track your carb intake to stay below this threshold. Ketosis is an alternative metabolic pathway that your body uses to burn fat, producing ketones as a byproduct, to use as a source of energy instead of carbs. When following a very low-carb diet, both fat and ketones can provide energy to your muscles, heart, brain and other organs, and this fat-burning mode will make it easier for your body to access your body fat stores and lose weight.

Nonstarchy Vegetables

Don't limit nonstarchy vegetables and include some at most of your meals. Nonstarchy vegetables are rich in fiber, which will help you feel full and have regular bowel movements, in addition to helping you meet your nutritional requirements. Nonstarchy vegetables contain very few carbs, but include them when counting your carbs to ensure you stay below 50 g a day. For example, you could include red bell peppers and Swiss chard in your morning omelet, accompany lunch with a big salad of leafy greens, cucumbers and tomatoes, and dinner with a healthy serving of broccoli and cauliflower.

Protein

Each of your meals and snacks should include a source of protein to help you feel satiated between meals. Protein is very satiating, more than fat and carbs, and can help you lose weight at a good pace without starving, according to the May 2008 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." At breakfast, eggs, cheese, sausages, leftover meat and smoked salmon make good protein options. At lunch and dinner, choose between fish, seafood, poultry, pork or meat. A serving of 4 to 6 oz. is usually adequate for most people.

Fat

Your very low-carb diet will help you shed the extra pounds you are carrying at a good rate, but to help your body enter ketosis, or fat-burning mode, it is important that you eat a high amount of fat. Contrary to popular belief, fat does not necessarily make you fat, and a very low-carb, high-fat diet is effective to make you lose weight without feeling hungry, as demonstrated in the study published in January 2008 in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Include fat at each of your meals. For example, cook your eggs in coconut oil or add bacon and cheese to your breakfast; add slices of avocado, a handful of almonds and 1 to 2 tbsp. of olive oil-based vinaigrette in your salad at lunch; and add 1 to 2 tbsp. of butter or olive oil over your vegetables at dinner.

References

Article reviewed by OmahaTyppo Last updated on: Jun 5, 2011

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