The results, after two years were that people in both groups lost the same amount of weight.

(But now read the really interesting part.)

The group on the low-carb diet enjoyed a significant decrease in blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides and had an increased in HDL (good cholesterol) of more than 20%.  And this is not the first study of this type.  In 2003, an almost identical study was performed and the results then were equally impressive and very much the same.

In the Temple study, participants on the diet low in carbohydrates were limited only as to their consumption of carbohydrates. There were no restrictions on the type of protein they ate or the amount of animal fat they consumed. They could eat all the animal fats they wanted.

So the real question is, would you rather lose weight and improve your health or simply lose weight?

For a diet low in carbohydrates that will fit your lifestyle take a look at these plans:  the G.I. Diet (Glycemic Index Diet), The Diet Solution, the Idiot Proof Diet, South Beach Diet, The Mediterranean Diet and the Zone Diet.

If you care about how you look – at all – you don’t want a fat belly. Though often no matter how much you diet there it is. You may lose weight in your arms and legs, but your belly is right out there in front, begging to be seen. What are you doing wrong? Why can’t you seem to lose that belly?

Well, insulin resistance and cortisol may be giving you a fat belly you don't really want. The reason for this visceral or belly fat, may be cortisol. The more elevate the cortisol levels, the bigger the belly. That’s because high levels of cortisol stimulate the storage of fat around the belly and abdomen.

And while there are a number of reasons your cortisol levels may be high, one of the biggest is insulin. It seems cortisol and insulin are fast friends. The more insulin you have in your bloodstream, the more cortisol you have. As your insulin goes up, so does your cortisol.

OK, So What is Insulin Resistance Anyway?

Insulin resistance is where your body has produced adequate amounts of insulin to handle the foods you eat, but is unable to absorb the insulin into cells in order to use sugar (carbohydrates) as fuel.

It's a rather dastardly problem.  You have all this muscle fuel available, but rather than using that fuel, it continues circulating around your body in your bloodstream - doing damage to your arteries - while your muscles must now cannibalize themselves to keep going.

You see, the cortisol, has prevented your body from absorbing the insulin, and instead is breaking down the muscle protein into amino acids which can be converted into glucose (fuel) by the liver.  You are now left with less fat burning muscle, and more cortisol that gives you a fat belly.

So, What Can You Do To Reduce That Fat Belly?

• Make sure you avoid and include all the items listed in the article Insulin Resistance And The Cortisol Connection.
• Begin supplementing your diet with at least an extra 1000 mg ascorbic acid vitamin C and 1 Tablespoon of a Omega 3 Fatty Acid like Carlson's Cod Liver Oil.  The ascorbic acid should be taken 500 mg at a time, 2 to 3 times daily.
• Overall dietary carbohydrate reduction.

For the best deal and $5 off your 1st order of vitamin C and Carlson's Cod Liver Oil, follow the link to iHerb.com.

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Most of us find when we eat a meal high in carbohydrates, even if they are complex carbohydrates, we get hungry more rapidly and the hunger pains are stronger. And to add insult to injury, we remain hungry (or at least hungrier) for the rest of the day.

So if this happens to you, you may need a reduced carbohydrate diet. A reduced carbohydrate diet doesn't actually go low carb or low fat for that matter, but rather reduces the amount of carbohydrates you take in along with some reduction of fat as well. Diets that are reduced carb and fat are the G.I. Diet (Glycemic Index Diet), the Fat Loss 4 Idiots, South Beach Diet, The Diet Solution, The Mediterranean Diet and the Zone Diet.

Each of these diets are very healthy and if you stick with them you will lose weight. However, if after two full weeks on any of these diets, without cheating, you are still having problems with strong food cravings, you may want to shift to a low carb diet such as The Atkins Diet, or you may need to see your doctor and discuss insulin resistance.

Want to lose weight fast? You can drop 10 pounds in nothing flat by simply incorporating the follow rules into your diet. Simply watch what you eat and make certain to have good tasting, fresh and healthy food on hand. By planning ahead, you can fill up on vegetables and eat fruit for treats.

As you can see, you won't be suffering, these changes are easy to implement! Just follow these simple guidelines to lose 10 pounds fast, or give your weight loss program a boost when it seems to have stuttered to a halt. This is a balanced and easy to follow plan that you can use for as long as you want.

1. Limit foods containing simple carbohydrates to once a week. (This would be foods like chocolate - including dark chocolate unless you're eating it without sugar, ice cream, desserts, and any baked goods like rolls, biscuits or cookies, etc.)
2. Each week have a minimum of two meals, lunch or dinner without including either cheese or meat. You can use vegetables for extra fiber - very filling - and beans for protein.
3. When using dairy products, use the low fat version. Now I know, switching from 4% milk to skim is almost impossible to do. Just kick it down a notch. If you're drinking 4% milk now, go to 2% milk. The same thing goes for cheese and yogurt. (You should also make sure your yogurt doesn't contain sugar.)
4. Eat a couple servings of fruit each day. But not just any fruit choose berries for their high nutritional value and fiber and low sugar content. They make nice dessert too.
5. Drink your water! Your body needs water and when you're trying to lose weight, your body's need for water increases. Replace all your drinks containing calories and especially alcohol with good ole water. You can add lemon or lime for a little zest. Your body will thank you, and at restaurants, the highest markup on your check is always the drink - drinking water will save you money too.
6. Eat your vegetables! You should have four servings of vegetables each day. Add two servings to both lunch and dinner.
7. Learn to chew your food thoroughly. Did you know the first step in the digestive process your body goes through is supposed to be done in your mouth? Most of us almost completely skip this step because we eat so quickly. (No wonder so many people have indigestion.) Slow down! Your body takes almost twenty minutes to register its full - and if you're a fast eater, you can gulp down a lot of calories in those twenty minutes.
8. Want a great snack? Grate some carrots. For some reason, grated carrots are more filling than a whole carrot. Maybe it's all that air.






9. If you're going to eat wheat products - always use whole grain. If there is no whole grain option available, find something else to eat entirely. You should never eat simple carbohydrates unless you're trying to gain weight and develop constipation. Whole grains have more fiber and fiber will help you fill full longer and improve your digestion. You can also supplement your diet with psyllium husk (think Metamucil) mixed with water.
10. OK, back to the chewing again. Deliberately choose food which will require you to chew. It seems the very act of chewing makes you feel more satisfied. Quite possibly this is due to the time it takes to eat these foods slows down the eating process enough that your body registers its full before you are able to eat too much. For instance, have a salad before your meal - chewing, low calorie and full of fiber.
11. Plan what you're going to eat before you get hungry. Going to the grocery store hungry is not a good idea. Also, make a list of the things you need and follow it. This advice will usually save you money as well as extra calories. Remember most dieters don't plan to fail, they just fail to plan.
12. When you eat, just eat. Don't watch TV and Eat! Countless studies have been done showing we are more likely to over eat if we're eating in front of the television. My guess is we focus more on what's on our screen than what's going in our mouths.

What's the Best Diet for Me?

Because most of us have a richly mixed ancestry, few of us really know what type foods best satisfy our bodies. While some of us respond better with a diet higher in carbohydrates, others of us are more satisfied with a protein rich diet.

Why Does It Matter?

If a person needing more protein were to go on a low-fat diet, they would probably be hungry - constantly - or would become hungry more quickly after eating. Conversely, if you are a person who requires more carbohydrates to feel satisfied and you go on a low carb diet, you will feel weighed down by your diet and often constipated.

Get It Wrong and It Won't Work.

In either scenario, the likelihood of your staying committed to any diet plan if you are constantly hungry, bloated or constipated is extremely low. You are virtually destined to fail. You need to choose the best diet for your body type.

Take a few days to find out whether your body needs more carbohydrates or more protein. If you already know whether your body needs more carbohydrates or more protein, click the link.

Here's What You Do

Tomorrow for lunch eat a nice healthy meal, with equal amounts of protein and carbohydrates. No simple carbohydrates (ie, no cookies, crackers, white bread, potatoes or sugar), if you have bread, it must be 100% whole wheat and no sodas or fruit juices of any kind. And last but not least, don't over eat. Eat only until you're comfortably satisfied.

Then an hour later, write down how you feel and what you ate.

Do you feel great, or are you hungry, sleepy, tired, bloated, grumpy or do you have a stuffy nose. Do the same thing two hours after lunch and then again three hours after lunch.

Now, Check Your Results

If you wrote down sleepy, tired or hungry at any of the intervals (and didn't over eat) tomorrow, try having a little more protein and fewer carbohydrates, percentage wise.

If you were bloated or grumpy, or if your lunch seems to be heavy on your stomach, try for a few more carbohydrates and less protein.

And if you had a stuffy nose, you might want to omit dairy products if you had any, and if that doesn't solve the problem, try eliminating wheat products.

Your goal is to feel satisfied, energetic and well able to coop with your afternoon. If you feel sluggish, bloated, hungry, tired or out of sorts after lunch you may resort to extra caffeine, snacks or you may just suffer through, making mistakes you could have avoided if you'd felt better.

If you need more carbohydrates, you will probably do best on a low fat diet. This would include most of your calorie counting diets, Weight Watchers, DASH and the Ornish diet. (To calculate the number of calories you should take in to lose weight click here.) These diets will give you the carbohydrates your body craves.

If you need more protein, you should look at a low-carb diet, such as the Atkins Diet. This will help balance your blood sugar and keep you from feeling hungry all the time.

And if you're like most of us, you're somewhere in the middle and you need a reduced carbohydrate diet without going low carb, the G.I. Diet (Glycemic Index Diet), the Idiot Proof Diet, South Beach Diet, The Diet Solution, The Mediterranean Diet and the Zone Diet will be more effective for you.