Do the weight loss experts actually agree?

By: Adam Waxler

Copyright 2006 Adam Waxler

Today, many well-known diet gurus, weight loss experts, and
nutritional researchers have stepped up to the plate to declare
that the high carbohydrate, low fat diet regimens recommended by
such institutions as the American Heart Association, the
American Diabetes Association and the United States Department
of Agriculture are misinformed, and frankly unhealthy.

Can this be true? Should you actually follow a weight loss
program that goes against these acclaimed institutions?

These weight loss experts now tell us that our diets should,
instead, include lots of high quality protein, fat should not
concern us, and carbohydrates are the enemy. This has set the
stage for battles between the health industry and the weight
loss industry with the only agreement between them seeming to be
the need to lose weight.

The problem is - both approaches to weight loss are wrong. And,
both approaches to weight loss are both right. The most
regularly leveled criticisms of each weight loss program seem
legitimate - until you examine the recommended diets in depth.
Sit down and look at the recommended menus. Take them to the
calorie calculators and compare ingredients and nutrients. I
did, and what I found was quite interesting.

In the most practical sense, all of these weight loss programs
are talking about the same diet.

Oh, there are minor variations that have been grossly blown out
of proportion by the advertising hype created by the weight loss
industry. And, of course, there are misinterpretations that have
been stated as fact. However, the bottom line of each and every
one of the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet, the Zone Diet, the
American Diabetes Association diet, and the American Heart
Association's Heart Healthy Diet -- all of them - is to derive
the greatest portion of your caloric intake for the day from low
carbohydrate vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, cabbage,
carrots, summer squash, and fruits with high calorie and
antioxidant counts. It is when it comes to whole grains that the
controversy seems to arise.

Almost without exception, proponents of the low carb diets for
weight loss and maintenance have condemned the recommended diets
for suggesting that adults should derive the greater portion of
their diets from carbohydrates. What they fail to note is that
also without exception, each of those 'healthy' diets strongly
suggest avoiding white breads, starchy, processed foods, sweet
snacks high in sugar and preservatives, and white rice.

On the other hand, the medical community has condemned the low
carb diets for encouraging the consumption of a diet high in
saturated fats and cholesterol. But there is also a strong
suggestion in each of those diets along the lines of "eat only
until you are no longer hungry". .. and a minimum consumption of
vegetables. Dinner's minimum suggested amount of vegetables is 2
1/2 cups. How hungry will you be after consuming two and a half
cups of vegetables?

In the end, the bottom line of every weight loss program
advertised is the same: * Eat fewer calories than you expend. *
Eat a well-balanced diet where most of the calories are derived
from whole grains, vegetables and fruits. * Exercise moderately
every day. * Make your diet a "lifestyle diet" so you will lose
weight--and keep it off!

About the author:
Adam Waxler publishes a series of weight loss information
products including his new weight loss resource filled with with
FREE weight loss articles and tips @
http://www.1-800-Weight-Loss.com