by John Mckinsey

Created on: August 12, 2009

With almost a third of Americans considered obese, weight loss is a growing industry. Now, one might ask, how is it that more and more money is spent on weight loss products and more and more Americans become obese? The problem is that most people trying to lose weight don't understand the basics of how their bodies work. Simply put, your body is a living, breathing machine. It requires sustenance to survive. The more active on is, the more calories they need. Most experts agree that the average person must consume 2,000 calories a day; the controversy is where those calories come from: Carbohydrates or Protein.

Many dieters have experience immense success with high protein, low carb diets such as the Atkins Diet and the South Beach Diet. Practically every body builder lives on a very high protein, low carbohydrate diet. The reason for this is the way your body absorbs the different calorie groups: fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Not all fats are bad, some are essential to one's well being. Carbohydrates are very good for providing and sustaining energy. However, if the energy exerted throughout the day is not great enough to use all of the carbohydrates, they will be converted and stored as fat (usually around the mid section). Proteins also supply the body with energy. Proteins, on the other hand, are the key supplement needed to support and repair muscles or lean body mass. This means that if a person can change their diet to high protein and low carb, the body will naturally adapt and stop storing fat, even burning off existing fat.

As with any diet, it is important to fully understand how and why the diet works to ensure that the body is receiving all of its required nutrients. Also, it is highly recommended that anyone considering switching to the Atkins or South Beach diet also begin taking multivitamins every day to make up for any loss of minerals or vitamins from the cut food groups (carbohydrates and starches). Also, be sure to follow recommended cookbooks or diet plans to get ideas and suggestions that can help you get enough fiber and be sure to drink at least eight to ten glasses of water a day.

Another key part of this is to understand that this diet is a life-long diet. As many men and women have already found out, it is easy to lose weight and keep it off using these simple rules. However, once a person breaks the rules and goes back to a high carb diets, the pounds will quickly come back.

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