Weight Loss - the Real Facts

American society makes it seem like losing weight is so easy. Pop in a pill, eat a few Lean Cuisines and like magic, you'll be the perfect size 2. Well, it doesn't always work that way. In fact, if you diet too much you risk making yourself fatter, since excessive dieting leads to a slower metabolism.

What about some of the other dieting fads that have come out, like Atkins or the South Beach Diet, which emphasize the importance of cutting out bad carbs? Well, actually there is truth to this, and weight loss may be faster if you initiate ketosis.

That's right... ketosis is a good way to start losing weight, especially if you have a lot of body fat. In fact, some people go into ketosis even on 'regular' diets, since they are still eating less. And, as a result, many of them not only look better, but they also feel more energized.

This is not to say that ketosis can't be dangerous, because it can be. The main thing you will have to keep in mind is whether or not you're losing fat or muscle. If you're losing muscle, the ketosis is getting to a point that it's unhealthy. The best way to know this is by using a body fat analyzer. Calculating your BMI through a chart is not accurate.

You should also remember that some carbs are essential for good health... even if you're trying to initiate ketosis. Vegetables are an example of such a carb. They are easier to process than grains and they contain a lot of vitamins and minerals. They also have less glucose than fruit, making them a good choice for those that are trying to eat as few 'bad' carbs as possible.

Maintenance is very important. If you start eating high grains and sugars again after you lose the weight it will come back. So if you don't plan a lifestyle change you may not want to start.

Ketosis isn't for everyone. It takes a lot of discipline. So initially a good way to start healthy weight loss is just to cut out the grains in your diet. Wheat, oats, rice etc. These are the carbs that cause most problems.

If your diet was 2 parts above ground vegetables to 1 part protein and some raw fat like flax seed oil that would be a good start. Also, eat within 1 hour of waking up and eat something every 3 hours. These basic rules will have most people feeling better.

Remember no one diet works for everyone but most people will notice improvement by eating protein, vegetables and a little raw fat.

Yet, don't think that weight loss ends with eating a low grain diet. You must also perform exercises. Aerobic exercise helps the body to burn fat while weight lifting raises your metabolism, which will help promote long-term weight loss. So both are good.

Again there are many suggestions on weigh loss and the more you do the better your chances for success.

Dr.Stewart Edrich DC is the owner of Holistic Health Solutions. His clinic concentrates on helping people with difficult conditions using, herbs, nutrition, chiropractic, acupressure, diet, exercise and other cutting edge technologies. You can learn more by visiting: http://www.holistichealthsolutions.com