3 Diets That Work

You will often hear that "diets don't work", which, for the most part is true. Most diets involve meticulously counting every last calorie you consume (which will eventually be impossible to keep up with), and rely on the faulty caloric theory of weight loss (calories in vs. calories burned).

So the majority of diets, and the way people treat diets, makes them ineffective.

But, there are a few exceptions! These exceptions are more about implementing specific eating habits and adopting a new lifestyle than actually "going on a diet".

Here are three popular and effective low carb plans that you may want to experiment with and see what works for you:

1. The Atkins Diet. The first thing to note about the Atkins plan is all the misconceptions of what it is. The Atkins diet was never an "all protein" diet: the induction phase is about 35% protein, and the maintenance phase at only 25%! Amazingly, contrary to popular believe, Atkins emphasized eating vegetables, talked about the importance of fiber, and went to great lengths to promote the idea of individual responses and the need for customizing. He also was big on exercise. The Atkins plan may be very helpful for people with carb addictions resistant metabolisms, significant insulin problems, and a fair amount of weight to lose.

2. The Fat Flush Plan. This is a 3-phase eating plan designed for both fat loss and detoxification. The idea is you lose fat while making your body more efficient at processing it effectively. In the first phase you are cutting way back on carbohydrates (you can still have 2 portions of fruit a day and a ton of vegetables), with each additional phase adding back more carbs until you reach maintenance.

3. The South Beach Diet. Another 3-phase plan. For the first 2 weeks, you cut out completely: bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, baked goods, fruit, sugar, and alcohol. In the 2nd phase, you add back in just enough carbs to allow you to continue losing weight. In the 3rd phase, when you've reached your goal weight, you can add more carbs from any food category you like.

These are three great low carb diets that work. They are similar, but there is no one-size-fits-all in healthy low carb eating, so it is important to try different ways of eating and discover what works best for you.

Think in terms of eating lifestyle, rather than focusing on diets that work

Kevin Koskella is a consultant in rational nutrition and building healthy minds and fit bodies. Most recently, he wrote the book " Healthy Mind, Fit Body" He is also a professional triathlon and Master's swim coach in the San Diego area.