Most people on a diet are either watching carbs or counting calories. Low-carb and low-calorie diets for weight loss overwhelm many health publications and web magazines. It has caused heated debates among dietitians, but diets are a personal decision. Low-carb, as with calorie counting, may be right for one dieter, yet wrong for another.
History
The low-carbohydrate idea began in the 1800s by a man named William Banting, author of the first low-carb diet book "A Letter on Corpulence Addressed to the Public." He believed that effective weight loss could be achieved by removing foods such as breads, pastas and potatoes from one's diet. This started the low-carb idea that has become a revolution over the past few decades. In the early 1900s, scientist William Atwater invented the "calorimeter," or calorie counter, as a way to measure the calories present in a particular food item. People tend to find calorie counting easier to follow than trying to understand how food affects the body and leads to weight gain. With calorie counting, it is what it is.
Benefits
A low-carb diet allows you to eat more food. It counts the sugars in foods as a determinant of whether they are appropriate to eat. Because this is a low-sugar diet, it is beneficial for diabetics who need to watch their sugar intake. The thought is that low-carb diets force the body to burn fat for energy because there is a shortage of sugar. Counting calories means you can eat a wider variety of foods. This is ideal for those who consider themselves to be "carb-addicts." Although portions may be smaller, they can still indulge in the foods they love. Both diets contribute to weight loss.
Considerations
Even in a low-carb diet, not all carbs are bad for you. Good carbs include whole grains such as oatmeal and brown rice. Vegetables are encouraged in some low-carb diets. Low-carb diets that restrict all carbohydrates and suggest eating foods high in saturated fat are not the ideal choice for those who suffer from heart problems. Counting calories will be difficult to stick with if you hit your caloric limit with refined non-nutritious foods. It is important to eat fresh, healthful foods when counting calories rather than just smaller amounts of unhealthy food.
Drawbacks
Critics of the low-carb diet say high protein intake can put the body in a state of stress. It also may not be an option for athletes who need more fuel than the normal dieter. However, an athlete is more than likely not obese and does not need a weight-reducing low-carb diet. Calorie counting has fewer critics because it promotes a more well-rounded diet with no restricted food groups. The drawback to calorie counting is that it is difficult. There is no way to know exactly how many calories exist in food or exactly how much you are ingesting. This means the extra calories that are not counted fight against successful weight loss. Counting calories takes practice as well as trial and error.
Time Frame
Low-carb diets give faster results than calorie counting. The average person will lose approximately 11 pounds within the first two weeks. With calorie counting, depending on the amount of calories you normally eat in a day, it is important to reduce caloric intake gradually. One pound is 3,500 calories. Cutting 500 calories from your diet per day will allow a one pound weight loss per week. Cutting 1,000 calories per day should lead to a healthy and effective two-pound weight loss per week.
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