Put Down That Brownie! Just One Bite Can Knock You Off Plan

It is very important for low carb dietersto stick to the exact plan prescribed ina book or by a doctor or dietitian.Taking even "one bite" of somethingthat is not on the plan can easilyruin a dieter's progress on a lowcarb plan.

This is especially important inthe early "no carb" phase ofmany low carb diets.

For instance, in the "induction" phaseof the Atkins diet, taking evenone bite of carb-rich or sugar-richsweets will not only knock a low carb dieter out of ketosis--and prevent the massive and rapidshedding of fat--but it will alsoincrease cravings for more carb-heavyfoods, making it harder for dietersto stick with the plan in followingdays.

If you are on a low carbdiet or are planning to startone, it is important for you tothink ahead, so you don'tfall into this trap.

If you are planning to eat somewhere thatyou cannot control what is being served(i.e. a friend's house or your parents' house) during the early, "no carb" phase of your diet, it is a good idea tocome up with a plan ahead of time.You may want to either tell your hostthat you are on a special diet--orsimply wait until the upcoming weekto start the first phase of yourlow carb diet.

When you get into the later phasesof your diet, you will have a littlemore flexibility. If you are planningto eat at a friend's house, you cansave up some of your carbs from theweek (if your diet allows it) and thenuse them at your friend's house.

No matter what your plan is, it isimportant that you stick to it. Decline the carb-heavy mealswhen they do not fit your prescription.

There has probably never been a single low carb dieter who hasn'tbeen put in this situation. But thenagain, there probably aren't toomany successful low carb dieterswho don't know how to say no.

Next time someone asks you if youwant dessert, remember: even "one bite" can ruin all your hard work.Say no.

Benji Paras runs http://www.list-of-low-carb-food.com, specializing in the benefits of the low-carb lifestyle. The site contains a treasure trove of information for losing weight, and includes a list of low carb foods along with informative articles and the latest low-carb headlines.