• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About Us
  • STEPS Virtual
  • FAQ
  • Links
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • 615.269.8844

STEPS Fitness

Nashville's Premier Personal Fitness Training Center

  • STEPS Virtual
  • Programs
    • STEPS Fitness Presents Events
    • DR. Irv’s Perfect Exercise Minute
    • Training Packages
    • Group Offerings
    • Corporate Wellness
    • Traveler’s Special
  • Personal Trainers
    • Dr. Irv Rubenstein
  • Testimonials
  • Fitness Blog
    • Dr Irv’s Fitness Blog
    • Exercise of the Month
  • Newsletters
    • Fit Happens
    • Real News Newsletter
  • Search

August 9, 2010 By Irv Rubenstein

Weight Management/Loss

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

The age-old debate – less carbs vs less fat – has been undergoing much new study since Dr. Atkins first proposed a low carb diet back when my mom was trying to drop pounds for my bar mitzvah. (Yes, for a couple years there, she was doing that yo yo thing simply to look hot for my and my brother’s bar mitzvahs. When I look at the photos of those events, it’s clear she, too, was a by product of an era when thin was beginning to be in. Shame – some things have only gotten worse with time.)

Most good research on weight loss has concluded that (1) most other studies are too short to be of value; (2) most long term studies show significant weight loss early with substantial weight re-gain later, esp for the more extreme diets; and (3) calories in, calories out is the only way to reduce weight effectively.

And here’s a new study, reported in the NY Times, that demonstrates no superiority between diets: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/10/health/research/10diet.html?ref=health

Now, you might be thinking that high protein/low carb diets are better because they raise HDL. maybe so, but the article here does not tell us to what extent. We know that simply losing weight lowers LDL and in some cases raises HDL. So the actual difference b/w the two diets may be “significant” but not a lot, that is, not enough to be clinically significant. We just can’t tell from this piece of news.

However, there are better and more effective ways to raise HDL, and to lower weight. It’s called exercise and balanced eating. We know all about exercise, right? Do we really know what balanced eating is; my guess is, no.Weight Management/Loss

Balanced eating is any form of eating that includes those bedeviling foods that one can’t help but call – carbs. yes, carbs – fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Hundreds of studies show the vast benefits of diets high in these items. Yet, any low carb diet restricts these – esp the grains- early and even throughout the diet period. Thus, the diets are boring and eventually unsustainable. Now, one does not need to go to the full lengths of the books to achieve favorable results. In fact, most high protein diets start feeding you more veggies and some ‘special’ fruits after a while. If carbs are kept to below 40% of your caloric needs, not only are you risking some nutritional deficiencies – esp if you’re eating low enough calories to continue losing weight- but maybe even risking losing out on some very well-proportioned and as yet undetected phytonutrients that will help you fight off all kinds of diseases. They may even help your bad breath.

Related Posts:

  • Fit-Happens--Winter-2023
    Fit Happens - Winter 2023
  • REAL-News --May-2024
    REAL News - June 2023
  • REAL-News--August-2024
    REAL News - August 2024
  • REAL-News--September-20242
    Weight Management's New Look
  • There-is-No-Such-Thing-as-"Normal"
    There is No Such Thing as "Normal"
  • Weight Loss Principles:  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
    Weight Loss Principles: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
  • REAL-News --February-2024
    REAL News - February 2024
  • Life-Changes:-Diet-for- Living
    Life Changes: Diet for Living

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Fitness Blog Tagged With: carbohydrates, HDL, weight loss, weight management

sidebar

Blog Sidebar

FREE Consultation!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

  • Exercise of the Month
  • Fit Happens
  • Fitness Blog
  • General News
  • Newsletters
  • Real News
  • Trainers

Tags

achieve well-being aging Alzheimer's disease barefoot running body fat bone density burn off excess weight calories cardio cardiovascular childhood obesity covid diabetes diet dieting eating disorders Exercise exercise intensity field of health or exercise science fitness flexibility functional fitness health Heart Health higher risk of obesity lose weight low back pain mental health musculoskeletal improvements obesity osteoarthritis physical activity physically active protein reduce your risk of falling resistance training running Senior Training slows cognitive decline strength training Stretching training weight loss Weight loss vs Exercise gain weight management

Recent News

May 01

REAL News – May 2025

Apr 01

REAL News – April 2025

Mar 18

Fit Happens – Spring 2025

Mar 01

REAL News – March 2025

Feb 01

REAL News – February 2025

Reviews

Search Our Directory

Footer Widget Header

Affiliations

  • american-college-of-sports-medicine
  • american-council-on-exercise
  • biometrics
  • exercise-etc-inc
  • national-strength-and-conditioning-association
  • renewed-support

STEPS Fitness | 2424 21st Ave. S. Suite #100 | Nashville, TN 37212 | 615.269.8844 p

© 2025 Nashville's Premier Personal Fitness Training Center | Designed by Ponder Consulting ®

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok