Is everyone out there as confused as I am? I mean, low carbs, no carbs, good carbs, bad carbs, glycemic index, low fat, no fat, carb lovers, on and on and on. It's overwhelming. Well, I've decided to try to sort some of it out for myself, and if it helps anyone else along the way fantastic.
The Basic Idea:
Starting September 1, 2010 I will follow a different diet plan each month to compare how effective they are. I will include plans such as The New Atkins, South Beach, Carb Lovers, The Zone, The Mayo Clinic Diet and others until I reach my weight loss goal. I have approximately 95 pounds to lose.
What I Will Do:
1. I will follow the plan exclusively for 1 calendar month.
2. I will report honestly in my diet tracker what I eat and drink.
3. I will report the costs associated with the plan including initial start up (books and aids) as well as food.
4. I will follow the same basic exercise regime throughout the experiment. I am hoping to make the variable the different plans, not the exercise plan.
5. I will log my weight and measurements at the beginning and end of each month. I will then calculate the % of body weight lost.
6. Each time I weigh myself I will use the same scale, and do so disrobed first thing in the morning.
What I Will Not Do:
1. I will not include any plans that require the purchase of premade meals (i.e. Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem). While I have nothing against these programs they are costly and I don't believe they help you survive in the real world.
2. I will not follow a plan that requires you to purchase a large amount of supplements. Again they are costly and not often very realistic. I will take 1 multivitamin a day in addition to any prescribed medications I am currently taking.
Question to be Answered:
Generally science says in order to lose weight you must burn more calories than you consume. Which matters more the number of calories or the source of the calories?
If this idea interests you feel free to come along for the ride.
