Better Food Choices, Not Counting Calories Or Portions, Leads To Weight Loss Success

This research study that was presented at the North American Association for the Study of Obesity Conference on Sunday lends credence to one of the primary reasons why I have been as successful at keeping my weight off on the low-carb lifestyle -- it's not about counting calories, fat, or portion sizes, but rather making better food choices.

Dr. Kevin Maki, lead researcher in the study from Radiant Research, explained that most diets fail because people get frustrated from having to count calories and the hunger that ensues as a result of a reduction in caloric intake.

"Our results showed that a modified carbohydrate diet is a successful and alternate way to lose weight without counting calories," Dr. Maki maintained.

Kraft Foods financed this study as part of their heavy investment in "The South Beach Diet" brand of products in June 2004 and has committed to continuing to support even more research into why the program works so well.

The researchers observed the weight loss of 86 men and women who are 18-65 years old and are overweight or obese. They were each put on different diet plans -- one group was on a low-fat/low-calorie/portion-controlled diet while the other was on a lower-carb diet and told to eat until their hunger was gone. This study went on for nine months, with the first three months focused on weight loss and the next six months on weight maintenance.

In the end, the group that ate the lower-carb eating plan lost "significantly more weight and body fat" than the low-fat/low-calorie/portion-controlled group did. Additionally, the weight loss from the lower-carb group occured much faster than the other group.

Dr. Maki said his research provides evidence that moderating the amount of carbohydrates you eat can and will result in weight loss.

Low-carb programs are often ridiculed by their opponents because they claim it is not the carbs, but the reduction in calories that leads to weight loss.

But Dr. Maki and his researchers found that the study participants who reduced their carbs and were not counting calories automatically ate less calories than those who were specifically counting them despite the fact that they were given free reign to eat until their hunger was satisfied.

"Our results add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that modifying the quantity and quality of carbohydrates in the diet and changing the types of food you eat may have important influences on regulating calorie balance," Dr. Maki said.

It is not clear from the study why lower-carb eating results in fewer calories eaten, but Dr. Maki believes it could have to do with the satiety of the foods eaten on that plan and people are just more content with eating less food.

This is something I have personally seen during my own 180+ pound weight loss and subsequent weight maintenance on the low-carb lifestyle. Not only do you remove the stress of having to keep up with your calories, fat and portions of the foods you eat, but you are FREE to choose whatever low-carb food you desire in the quantity that YOU want and not feel guilty about it.

Some people tell me they feel like they are cheating on low-carb when they get to eat the wonderful selection of foods available to them on this healthy way of eating. STOP THAT! You have graduated from the prison of low-fat dieting and no longer have to be trapped in the lie that you are eating too much fat or too much food.

Instead, you are a free bird flying through the air with nothing holding you back when you start livin' la vida low-carb. The freedom alone that comes from this way of eating is enough to make this a desirable way to lose weight and keep it off. But isn't it nice to know it actually works, too?! That's the REALLY cool part about it!

THANK YOU to Dr. Maki and the research on this subject. Something tells me they're not even close to being finished with their observations on the low-carb lifestyle yet. We'll anxiously await the next bit of evidence that proves livin' la vida low-carb is the dream weight loss and weight control program that so many of us have already been enjoying.

Why don't you join the tens of millions of us low-carbers and start improving your waistline and health today?! You'll not regret making this decision to do something about your weight.