by
Kevin Doberstein
After
my article titled "Beginning bodybuilding
for Women" was published I receive e-mails
wondering why I only mention the Atkins Diet.
What about the South Beach Diet?
Well
being that Nature boy lives in a cave with
my wolf friends, I never put much thought
into The South Beach Diet. Actually I never
put much thought into any fad diets. Until
now. I did some research into three diets.
The Atkins Diet, The South Beach Diet and
the Protein Power Diet
Here
are valid points of all three diets:
They
all practice little or no carbohydrates.
All
three start with an initial phase with the
carbohydrates severely restricted which puts
your body into ketosis. This process produces
ketone bodies (broken down fat) and they are
excreted in the urine. The diet creators claim
this is safe as long you drink enough water
to help the process.
All
three favor weight training to help stimulate
growth hormone.
All
three work on the principle of controlling
the release of insulin. Low carbohydrate intake
keeps the production of insulin low which
forces the body to use fat for energy.
Sugar
rich carbohydrates are completely out. This
includes potatoes and rice. In the South Beach
Diet you can start to add a little carbohydrates
after 14 days.
The
experts say all three diets are a quick start
to fat loss in the initial phase. Because
of the reintroduction of healthy carbohydrates
after 14 days the South Beach Diet does meet
the criteria of a healthy diet.
Both
the Atkins and Protein Power diets are highly
controversial because of the lack of carbohydrates
causing an unhealthy balance in the body.
The experts also like the South Beach for
not leaving the dieter out in nowhere land
after the initial weight loss leading them
into a healthy lifestyle with carbohydrates
being added.
In
Summary: I tend to like the South Beach Diet
because of the adding of carbohydrates after
the 14 days initial phase. It provides the
body with the essential vitamins and minerals
to function. It also has a good following
plan after you lose the desired weight.
The
three diets and bodybuilding. A bodybuilder
could use one of the diets to start a cutting
up cycle. But after a first 14-day phase is
done carbohydrates will have to come back
into the diet.
For
the average bodybuilder none of these diets
could fulfil an active bodybuilder's lifestyle
in the long run. All the hard-earned muscle
would start melting away.
A
bodybuilder needs the complex carbohydrates
to fuel the muscles for growth. All three
diets either use no carbohydrates or a very
low amount. The key thing for the bodybuilder
is the timing of eating "clean"
carbohydrates.
Kevin
Doberstein is a natural bodybuilder for the
past 25 years. 15 years as a gym owner in
Northern Wisconsin. In reference to the book
"Men are from Mars and Women are from
Venus" Kevin's better half claims he
is from Pluto. You can visit his site at www.nature-boy-bodybuilding.com.
You can join his newsletter list there. You
can contact him about articles or bodybuilding
at natureboy_bodybuilding@hotmail.com.
