I haven't done enough research (I don't really need to lose weight) but the Atkins, etc etc etc low carb diets all seem to be an interesting way of restricting calories.
I mean, how much steak and chicken can one man afford?
Interesting stuff I read yesterday about low carb diets (South Beach Diet in this case) and exercise (and rapid weight loss due to water loss):
http://www.cyclingnews.com/fitness/?id=2004/letters05-31
Quote:
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I don't doubt that you would lose a significant amount of weight during Phase I of the diet. With restricted carbohydrate intake, the body would use the glycogen it has stored in the liver and skeletal muscle to fuel the brain. When glycogen is broken down, the water that is part of the glycogen is released and excreted in the urine. When intake of carbohydrate is inadequate, skeletal muscle is broken down and the amino acids that make up muscle proteins are converted into glucose to meet the body's demands. Muscle is about 73 percent water, so when muscle proteins are catabolized the water that was once part of the muscle cells is also excreted in the urine. The number on the scale may drop rapidly on this diet, but losing water and not body fat
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