Many of you may have already heard of the Idiot Proof Diet. It is the same thing as the Fat Loss 4 Idiots Diet which is extremely popular. What exactly is the Idiot Proof Diet and how did it help me lose 30lbs in 30 days?

Fat Loss 4 Idiots gave the diet the name Idiot Proof Diet because of its simplicity. Although it is a very systematic, straightforward and simple it is very effective. I was turned off to the diet at first because it seemed too simple. I was always looking for something magical. I didn’t think something called the Idiot Proof Diet could help me lose weight properly. I was always trying magic potions or cleanses or complex dieting techniques.

The whole Idiot Proof Diet is based on a concept called calorie shifting.

Over time your body’s metabolism gets programmed and has a sort of memory for the amount and type of food you eat. This is why many of the low carb, fat and calorie diets fall short. Your body becomes accustomed to eating that amount of food or lack of food and adjusts itself and the metabolism slows down.

This is why you may experience excellent results for the first week or two when suddenly out of nowhere the weight loss stops. You know exactly what I’m talking about. It always happened to me.

When you use a calorie shifting diet ( idiot proof diet ) your metabolism is always off balance. It never has a chance to get used to or programmed for the food you eat because you are always changing the amount and combinations of food you eat.

Obviously getting the exact amount of food in the right combinations and portions would be difficult without some guidance. That was what I liked most about the Idiot Proof Diet. The unique menu generation software enabled me to input the foods I liked to eat the most and generated a meal plan for me to follow to the letter.

Before the calorie shifting diet I was eating 2 or 3 meals per day. The idiot proof diet has you eat 4 meals per day with the actual food and amounts constantly changing so you continue to burn fat for a longer period of time.

One other thing I really liked about the idiot proof diet is the amount of weight I was able to lose without exercise. I had hurt my ankle and hadn’t been able to go to the gym or do any running which I normally do. The diet is strictly a weight loss diet. Now obviously throwing in some gym time will only improve your results.

The big claim on the internet right now is the lose 9 lbs every 11 days. While this is possible and it’s about what I did I would say this is the BEST it can get. Most people who have emailed me their results are more in the 5-7 lbs every 11 days.

The Atkins’ diet has been a craze for a couple of decades. Here’s how you can gain from it.

mediaimage
All of you who are reading this article right now have definitely been on a diet at some point or the other of your lives. The battle of the bulge is an ongoing problem and we are always on the lookout for various means to win this war.

Along with exercise, our diet and nutrition also plays an important role in reducing our weight. Hence, this obsession persists in all of us to undertake some form of dieting. But going on a diet is definitely not an easy thing. What to eat and what to stay away from is always a perennial problem.

One of my friends told me that she ate the normal menu which she cooked for the family, but her weight loss recipe is “portion control.” This is a really simple diet plan. In this plan, you cut down on the portion of food you consume. For example, if you usually have two pieces of toast for breakfast, you should eat only one piece. If you normally eat two cups of rice for lunch, cut it down to one cup. In this way, you are automatically reducing your calorie intake by half.

Another popular method of dieting is to stop all intake of fatty foods and sugar. In this diet, you cut down on your oil, butter and ghee intake which automatically reduces your fat deposits.

While I was leafing through a magazine, I read about one of our Hollywood celebrities following the Atkins’ diet. This immediately aroused my curiosity about the diet. Though I have heard about the diet many times, I had no inside knowledge about it. So, I immediately set to work on it and found out certain basic facts’ about the Atkins diet which I want to share with my readers.

The Atkins’ diet made its first appearance in 1972 and was invented by its namesake, Dr Atkins. According to him, this method enables us to lose weight by inducing a change in metabolism. Our body burns both fat and carbohydrates to provide energy. If we reduce the intake of carbohydrates significantly, our body starts burning only fat to provide energy. This method is called “lipolysis”, which in turn induces ketosis. In ketosis, our body burns fat as fuel. Atkins also felt that ketosis will affect insulin production which will result in less fat being formed. And, once your body enters ketosis, your cravings for carbohydrates will reduce significantly which, in turn, will reduce your body weight.

The major difference between Atkins’ diet and other types of diet is that, while most diets restrict calorie, intake, the Atkins’ plan encourages us to eat more. While most of the diets recommend low fat, high carbohydrate intake, Atkins’ does just the opposite. Instead of carbohydrate and sugar, this diet wants us to consume plenty of fat and protein.

The core principle of the Atkins’ diet is that, by limiting carbohydrates, our body is forced to burn its stored fat, rather than carbs for fuel.

The Atkins’ diet has a four carbohydrates stage plan induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance. With the help of these four stages, you can reduce as well as maintain your weight throughout your life.

Induction – phase 1: This phase lasts for two weeks, by the end of which you can obtain significant results. Another point is that, in this diet plan you can begin at any of the phase. But it is recommended to start with induction. As you cut back on your carbohydrates significantly in this phase, you will jump start your weight loss programme. In this phase, only 20 gm of carbohydrates are allowed and hence your weight loss is significant. As you drastically cut down on carbohydrates your body shifts into high gear and starts burning fat. This takes about 48 hours to occur and you may feel hungry and irritated for the first three-four days. But don’t worry, as soon as your fat starts getting converted to fuel, you will feel fit as a fiddle. Induction will strengthen your immune system and also improve our long-term health.

Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) phase 2: In this phase, the weight loss pace slows down as you add nutrient-rich carbohydrates to your diet. During this period, you will boost your body’s ability to burn fats as well as understand your body better. You will find the right amount of carbohydrates which you can consume and still lose weight. Your body will also prepare itself for permanent weight management. The amount of carbohydrates which you can eat is increased to 25 gm per day for the first week and increased in five gm instalment for the next few weeks. If your weight loss is significant, you can increase your carbohydrate intake. A person has to be on OWL till he or she is within three-five kg of their goal weight.

Pre-maintenance – (phase 3): Pre-maintenance is a practice run for lifetime maintenance. In this phase, you are fast approaching your target. As long as you continue to lose weight, you can increase your weekly allotment of carbohydrates by another 10 gm. You will be in this phase till you reach your goal and stay on it for one month. The ultimate goal here is to achieve a state of balance called Atkins’ Carbohydrate Equilibrium (ACE). The ACE is your individual level of carbohydrate intake wherein you neither gain nor lose weight.

Lifetime maintenance phase 4: In this phase, you have to focus on your individual ACE and strive to stay within two kg of your ideal weight for the rest of your life. By following a sensible eating plan, you gain energy, better health and confidence in yourself.

By following these four phases, you not only achieve your dream weight but are also able to maintain it throughout your life. You can learn more about this diet by reading the book, Dr Atkins’ New Diet Revolution. But, as with any other diet, this plan also has its pros and cons. The good point is that this diet recommends exercise as a vital part of the weight loss programme. Another point to be noted is that you cannot start on carbohydrates after you lose weight as this will result in your gaining back all that you have lost.

Medical experts advise that people who have gout, kidney problems, diabetes or are pregnant women should not follow this diet plan. As this diet is very stringent, do consult your doctor/dietician for proper advice.

Your dietician will provide you with a proper menu chart as to what should be eaten, in what quantities, etc, based on your eating habits and general lifestyle.

Happy dieting and hoping to see slimmer and fitter readers.

Here is a very simple truth. All of us want to look and feel good. At the present, being overweight has

reached epidemic proportions. We as a nation have become obsessed with the idea of losing weight.

Weight loss products are a multi-million dollar business. Each and everyday those of us who are overweight or obese search for the perfect solution to our problem-how to lose those unwanted pounds.

There are diets, books on diets, diet pills, herbal supplements, exercise programs, weight loss programs, prepared foods, diet drinks and the list goes on.

Industry statistics reveal that the average person attempting to lose weight changes weight loss products or programs about every six months. This makes one wonder if anyone is successfully losing weight.

Well, I’m about to reveal to you “The Magic Formula” for losing weight and keeping it off forever. It consists of three steps. When you truly grasp the basic truth of what I disclose to you, you will be that much closer to your goal.

Implement what I tell you and you will never have a weight problem again. Here are the three steps to “The Magic Formula”.

Step 1- This, believe it or not, is the most crucial step. Without this you are fated to have a see-saw experience in your attempts to lose weight.

This is it – Make Up Your Mind!

I see this on just about every weight loss list that has been published. It is common to see this one as setting or writing down your goals. Interestingly, I don’t see weight loss experts giving

the emphasis that this step deserves.

Making up your mind is much more involved than writing your goal down on a piece of paper. It is much more than cutting out pictures of models wearing a swimsuit and putting them on your fridge.

To genuinely make up your mind, to establish a personal

conviction, you must go deep inside, discover that reserve of inner strength and make your number one priority your weight loss program.

When this is done properly, every step that you take will lead you to your goal. Even your missteps. Conversely, not establishing your goal concretely will make your missteps into obstacles that you can not overcome.

Step 2- Change your diet. This is the truth, plain and simple, dieting does not work. In the past if you have tried dieting, you are aware of the yo-yo effect that it causes. You lose weight and gain it back. Then you repeat the process.

One must understand that getting fat does not happen in a vacuum. When you eat commercial food, processed food, food with preservatives and chemicals, you will gain weight and put your health at risk.

Every living creature has a food source that is appropriate for its consumption. For humans, it is whole grains, beans, vegetables, seeds, nuts and fruit.

Here is a simple truth. If you can make these foods the largest percentage of your diet two things will happen. When you use this approach you will lose weight effortlessly. Your health will improve. It is that simple.

Step 3- You probably need more physical activity. Regular exercise accomplishes much more than just burning calories.

Exercise gets our blood moving. It improves our mood and clears our mind. It gives us confidence. In other words, it makes us feel better. Have you ever noticed that it is easier to accomplish our goals when we feel better?

Whenever possible, the best type of exercise is natural. Going for a walk, jogging, riding a bike or swimming. Any activity that you can do daily for between a half hour and an hour will work just fine. Figure out what it is that you enjoy and just do it.

There you have it, “The Magic Formula” for weight loss. Take some time and consider how you can implement these