After years of low carb and no carb diets, The Carb Lovers Diet by Ellen Kunes and Frances Largeman Roth, RD, caught my attention. The appeal of a diet that allows the dieter to eat pasta is understandable considering how many diets banned them recently.
The Carb Lovers Diet creators believed that Low Carb diets make you fatter not skinner. They say that Carbs can curb carvings because you are not denying yourself of them. They also believe that their diet can help control blood sugar levels more than a low carb diet ever could.
Sounds too good to be true? There are some catches. They want you to eat things with high resistant starch, or what they refer to as the “ultimate fat-burning carb.” It is called resistant starch because it resisted digestion; it doesn’t get absorbed into the blood and isn’t changed into glucose.
Foods high in resistant starch are not hard to find. In fact, you probably have some already in your pantry, on your counter, or in your refrigerator right now. Bananas, oatmeal, potatoes, pasta, and beans are just a few foods that contain resistant starch. The book lists top resistant starch foods and the amount they contain.
The book has two levels of dieting. The first part lasts seven days, “the 7-day Carblovers Kickstart”. You are limited to 1,200 calories but the writers say you will probably be more satisfied that you were before you started the diet. Dieters are supposed to lose up to six pounds.
The second part is the “carblovers immersion plan.” On the second phase you get more meal options and more snack options, even wine and chocolate are added to the menu. After only 1,200 calories the first week you feel like you are eating a lot during this phase.
This diet is great for those who want to eat carbs again but need a set menu to follow through with to lose weight. It is also good for those looking to lose weight but not spend all day in the kitchen. The recipes are easy and quick to make. There are even frozen food and fast food options available, although there are very few chain restaurants listed. This diet is also very affordable; pasta, rice, bananas are all very inexpensive.
This diet won’t be for you if you don’t like bananas. Every single day during the first phase requires you to eat a banana for breakfast, in shakes, in oatmeal, with a cereal bar, on toast with peanut butter. Bananas…everyday. Once you get past the first phase, you can eat omelets and quiches instead of a daily morning banana. Overall, The Carb Lovers Diet is a welcomed change of pace in the dieting world.
