Basics for a low carb diet!
There is a vast difference between "low fat" and "low carbohydrate" diets. The standard low-fat/low-calorie weight loss diets basically starve the body, and both fat and muscle end up being burned for fuel. You lose weight, but the loss of lean muscle tissue only serves to reduce your metabolic rate, thus slowing your efforts even more. With a properly planned low carb program, your body will burn mostly fat, and will preserve the lean muscle. If you exercise, you will add lean muscle while losing fat, which will increase your metabolic rate, and increase the fat-burning effect. Muscle tissue weighs more than fat, but takes up less bulk, so you may find yourself getting smaller in size without seeing a drastic drop on the scales. This makes it a good idea to check your measurements at regular intervals. Another difference between lowfat and low carb diets is the absence of cravings and hunger pangs. Until the excess carbohydrates are cleared from the system, there may be intense cravings. Once this is past though, the insulin and blood sugar levelling effects will serve to curb cravings. And most low carbohydrate plans allow unlimited amounts of allowed foods, so you eat when hungry, and as much as you need to ease your hunger.
