So Many Low Carb Diet Plans - Which is Best
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios

Before I even discuss this controversial subject, please note that just the word 'diet' makes me feel hungry, deprived and rebellious. 'Diets' are something temporary, highly subjective, and mostly self-defeating. To sustain any progress one might make on a 'diet', they must consider this a permanent change in their behavior or patterns. Therefore, just like binging should be in moderation, so should dieting. Nothing like a month of deprivation to inspire 'rewarding' yourself.

Low carb diet plans are no different. We need a certain amount of carbohydrates to produce energy and maintain a healthy body. To eliminate all carbohydrates is not only unrealistic, it might even be dangerous. Since we only need to reduce and/or limit carbohydrates, it is essential that the carbohydrates we choose be those that are higher in nutritional value. More 'bang for the buck'.

There are a number of diet plans that sell their own food, supplements, etc. This then is also expensive in addition to punishing. Unless someone has limited time, does not have the ability or desire to prepare healthful meals, and has unlimited financial resources, these diet plans are unnecessary.

The main ingredient, with or without a structured low carb diet plan, is of course discipline and determination. The only 'accessory' one needs for planning to change their eating behavior is perhaps one of the cookbooks that may be purchased from one of the low carb diet plans or probably just about anywhere cookbooks are sold.

While the maximum allowable carbs counted varies widely when comparing the most popular low carb diet plans, there are a few notable similarities. If you perform a cursory comparison of a typical meal, like any diet, they put an emphasis on vegetables both raw and cooked, a little fruit, protein and very few starches, or desserts, if any. It seems the basic principles stemming from the calorie counting diets are still evident.

A meal with any low carb diet plan will have almost no mention of allowing pasta, bread, baked goods, sugar treats, potatoes, rice, or cereals, although there are some exceptions. What is surprising is that some don't allow carrots or beets. One always associated in the past, with the calorie watcher diets, the dieter as one who is always munching carrots! Go figure. It is also surprising that a number encourage fruit, because while healthy, fruit is loaded with natural sugar (fructose) and considered to be high calorie. We do need some sugar, and certainly fructose is a better source than refined sugar (sucrose). I still say the only plan you need, is just to eat healthy foods in moderation from now on and forget 'dieting', counting and being obsessed - and cheat once in a blue moon.

BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, Amazon, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.