WebMD Low Carb Dieters in Calorie Denial

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> Many Low-Carb Dieters in 'Calorie Denial'

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> It's Not the Carbs, It's What We Do to the Carbs, Says Nutritionist

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> By Jeanie Lerche

> WebMD Medical News Reviewed By , MD

> on Friday, May 07, 2004

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> May 7, 2004 -- Low carb is America's latest miracle weight-loss diet. But

> this craze has put most Americans into " calorie denial, " a new survey shows.

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> A nationwide survey involving 1,000 telephone interviews -- released by

> Slim-Fast Foods Company -- shows that half of Americans believe that weight

loss

> is possible by cutting carbohydrates with no need to count calories.

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> Low-Carb in a Nutshell

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> The Slim-Fast researchers found that, among low-carb dieters:

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> Almost half -- 46% -- believe they can lose weight just by cutting carbs

> without cutting calories.

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> More than half -- 52% -- believe that they can lose weight and also keep it

> off long term by cutting carbs but not cutting calories.

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> One-third -- 34% -- believe that they do not need to control portion size.

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> More than half -- 55% -- do not worry about getting all the essential

> nutrients they need in their diets.

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> Don't Be Scared of Potatoes

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> " The low-carb phenomenon is unfortunate, " says Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, the

> " Recipe Doctor " for the WebMD Weight Loss Clinic. " Some really good, healthy

> foods are being banned. You cannot deprive yourself. You cannot simply ban so

> many foods. It's unhealthy. And it does not work in weight loss. "

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> To lose weight, " you simply have to choose wisely, have balance in your

> diet, " says Magee. " We've lost the idea of eating fruits, vegetables, whole

> grains, beans. And guess what -- those are carbs, what I call 'smart carbs.'

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> are great foods! "

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> We also need to curb our appetite, says Magee:

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> Eat only when we're hungry.

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> Stop eating when we're comfortable -- not continue until we're stuffed.

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> " When you stop eating before you're stuffed, you end up eating a reasonable

> portion of food, " Magee tells WebMD. " If you eat for the right reasons, you

> truly do get comfortable fairly quickly. Then you end up eating smaller meals

> during the day. That's what helps us lose weight.

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> " Besides, where's the joy in cutting so many foods from our lives? " asks

> Magee. " We need to experience joy in eating but at the same time make health a

> priority. I'm personally not able to eliminate sugar and processed carbs from

> my diet -- sugar or some white-flour products. But I eat it in small amounts.

> Living a healthy lifestyle is about finding the balance, where you can

> trim. "

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> Potato chips, french fries, ice cream: " Many people think they have problems

> with high-carbohydrate foods, controlling the amounts they eat, " she says.

> " Well, it's not just carbs that are the problem, it's fats and carbs -- that

> combination is what's killing us. There's nothing wrong with a potato -- until

> you fry it in fat. Potatoes are high in fiber, vitamin C. We need to remind

> ourselves of that. "

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