Health Magazine, the expert when it comes to healthy living, takes this revolutionary new science and turns it into an easy-to-follow, real women-tested, dietitian-approved road map proven to melt off 10, 35, even 100 plus pounds forever. Our test kitchen chefs and registered dietitians also developed 85 delicious, simple recipes and foolproof meal plans that help you lose weight while you enjoy the foods you've craved for years.
Phase 1 of The CarbLovers Diet eases you back into a world of yummy, satisfying meals and snacks, while dropping weight-especially belly fat-fast and permanently. Phase 2 is nothing short of life-changing: Dieters savor generous portions of their favorite foods (think steak and potato dinners, French toast for breakfast, sandwiches dripping with cheese, chocolate torte for dessert)-while their clothes get loose, their skin glows, their energy soars!
Bottom line: CarbLovers shows you how to eat your favorite carb-filled foods-and helps you get thinner and happier than you ever imagined. We've included fun-to-follow eating rules, tricks and tips, grocery lists, and amazing recipes anyone can make, enjoy, and share with others. Don't feel like cooking? No problem. We've got hundreds of quick bites, frozen foods and restaurant menu items too. Get ready to feel satisfied, happy, and oh-so-slim. Get ready for your fabulous new life as a CarbLover!
Dedication 3
Acknowledgments 6
Part 1
Chapter 1 You Can Get and Stay Slim on Carbs…Really! 10
Chapter 2 The Truth about Low-Carb Diets 20
Chapter 3 The CarbLovers Diet Rules 36
Chapter 4 Still Carbo-Phobic? Read This! 48
Part 2
Chapter 5 Phase 1: The 7-Day CarbLovers Kickstart Plan 58
Chapter 6 Phase 2: The 21-Day CarbLovers Immersion Plan 72
Chapter 7 The CarbLovers Recipe Collection 92
Chapter 8 Reach Your CarbLovers Goal Faster 228
Part 3
Chapter 9 The CarbLovers Workout 238
Chapter 10 CarbLovers for Life! 250
Chapter 11 The CarbLovers Ultimate Eat-Out Guide 262
Endnotes 278
Recipe Index 283
Subject Index 284
Resistant Starch: The Ultimate Fat-Burning Carb
Q. What is resistant starch (RS)?
A. Bread, potatoes, grains, and other carbohydrate foods contain two types of starch. One type is the dreaded glycemic starch. Like sugar, it is absorbed into the bloodstream quickly, raising blood sugar. Another is called resistant starch, so named because it resists digestion.
Q. How does RS promote weight loss?
A. Resistant starch does not get absorbed into the bloodstream. Therefore, it does not raise blood sugar because it doesn't get broken down into glucose. It travels through your digestive system nearly intact. Once there, it produces fatty acids that travel into the bloodstream, where it promotes weight loss through four key mechanisms.
1. RS turns on enzymes in fat cells that trigger fat burning, especially in the abdominal area.
2. RS encourages the liver to switch to a fat-burning state, which stokes your overall metabolism.
3. RS increases levels of satiety hormones that tell the brain to flip a switch that turns down hunger and turns up metabolism.
4. RS fills you up on fewer calories and can make you burn more calories after a meal and keep you feeling satisfied longer. Research conducted at the University of Colorado shows that consuming just a few grams of RS for breakfast can speed fat burning by up to 25 percent all day long. Research conducted at the University of Surrey, in the United Kingdom, found that adding RS to one meal caused study participants to automatically consume 10 percent fewer calories (roughly 150 to 200 calories for the average woman) during the next day—because they said they felt less hungry.
Q. OK. RS sounds like a great diet aid. But is it really a healthy carb?
A. It's pretty much the healthiest food you can consume.
1. RS lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels by up to 30 percent—more than some cholesterol-lowering medications, also called statins.
2. RS promotes regularity and GI health by nourishing the good bacteria in your colon and starving off the bad guys.
3. RS prevents colon cancer by nourishing and protecting the cells in the colon.
4. RS makes your cells more insulin-sensitive and may be especially helpful for people with diabetes. In one study done at the Beltsville Human Nutrition Center at the USDA, participants who consumed a diet rich in RS were able to lower their post-meal blood sugar and insulin response by up to 38 percent.
Q. How much RS should people eat?
A. Most people consume only about 4.8 grams of resistant starch a day, but researchers believe we need double or triple that amount for optimal health and weight. That's why the CarbLovers menus include 10 to 15 daily grams of this important fat-burning nutrient, served up in delicious recipes like Pasta Primavera, French Toast, and Steak and Potatoes.
Q. How many studies have been conducted on RS?
A. More than 160 studies have been conducted on RS. Most of them are large, multi-center studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals like the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Q. What foods are rich in RS?
A. Resistant starch is found only in carbohydrate foods. The top sources are:
1. Bananas (just ripe or green): Bananas count as your richest source of resistant starch, with ripe ones offering 4.7 grams of the stuff and slightly unripe (slightly green) bananas containing a whopping 12.5 grams. Bananas are also rich in appetite-suppressing fiber (with 3 grams per one medium banana), and they contain the amino acid tryptophan, which is converted into the calming brain chemical serotonin to relax and improve your mood, helping to prevent emotional eating.
2. Barley: With 1.9 grams of resistant starch per half cup, barley is your next richest source. In addition to resistant starch, barley is also rich in soluble and insoluble fiber, which reduces appetite and keeps you regular. (Read more on the weight-loss benefits of fiber on page 00.) In one University of Minnesota study, participants reported significantly less hunger before lunch after they consumed a barley snack, compared to participants who consumed a snack made of refined rice.
3. Beans (black, garbanzo, kidney, pinto): Nearly half of the starch in beans comes from resistant starch, making them a powerful weight-loss ally. They are also an incredibly rich source of fiber, providing roughly 15 grams per cup. It's no wonder that a Canadian study of 1,475 men and women found that people who consumed beans regularly tended to weigh less and have a smaller waist circumference than people who did not eat them. They were also 23 percent less likely to become overweight over time.
4. Bread (Italian, rye, pumpernickel): Bread made from these types of flour is both rich in resistant starch and in fiber. One Swedish study found that rye bread decreased hunger more than refined white bread.
5. Brown rice: Brown rice may cook more slowly than its refined white cousins, but it digests more slowly too. One study found that blood-sugar levels were 23.7 percent lower in people who consumed brown rice than it was in participants who ate milled rice instead. Another study found that compared to white rice, eating a black/brown rice mix resulted in a greater reduction in weight, body mass index, and body fat. On the CarbLovers plan, you'll learn to cook this weight-loss staple in batches, making it a convenient lifelong weight-loss companion.
6. Breakfast cereal (Corn Flakes, Puffed Wheat). In the recipes, you'll see that we creatively use these cereals to bread chicken, fish, and other foods, adding some crunch and texture as well as some fat-flushing goodness.
7. Corn tortillas: If you're like me, then you never did get the hang of wrapping taco meat and other foods inside romaine lettuce leaves. Didn't you just hate how the meat always made the lettuce soggy? And eating food wrapped in lettuce was an outfit waiting to go to the dry cleaners, as far as I'm concerned. On CarbLovers? You'll never wrap another hot food in lettuce again. We're bringing back the corn tortilla, which is made from corn, which is high in resistant starch.
8. Lentils: Like beans, lentils are rich in both resistant starch and fiber, helping you to burn fat and feel satisfied too.
9. Oatmeal: Yes, you can have this for breakfast again. Doing so might help you eat less all day long. In a series of experiments, researchers in Italy replaced the flour in bread and pasta with oats. They found that even when these foods had identical calorie counts, the oat products left people feeling fuller and they ended up eating fewer calories over the course of the day.
10. Peas: Yes, peas and carrots are back as a side dish. And bring on Shepherd's Pie (page 00) and so many other foods that feature these high resistant starch, high-fiber vegetables.
11. Plantains: Depending on their level of ripeness, these South American staples can taste similar to a potato (when they are not so ripe) or a sweet-cooked banana (when they are riper).
12. Polenta: This soft, creamy food is made from cornmeal, which is naturally high in resistant starch.
13. Potato chips: I'm guessing that if I said you could never have a snack chip again for the rest of your life, you wouldn't be able to stick to the diet for very long. That's why we included potato chips in this plan. They satisfy your need for crunch while at the same time providing you with some fiber and resistant starch. If you're going to have a snack chip, then potato chips are the ones you should have.
14. Potatoes: People love meat and potatoes for a reason. So when low-carb diets dropped the potato from that equation? Something was seriously missing, especially during winter months. In addition to fiber and resistant starch, potatoes are a natural source of a proteinase inhibitor, which has been shown to increase levels of satiety hormones and reduce appetite.
15. Whole-grain bread, pasta, and crackers: Compared to their refined cousins, whole grains are rich in resistant starch, fiber, and many other nutrients. Research shows that people who consume more whole grains tend to weigh less and have less body fat than people who consume less of them.
16. Yams: In addition to resistant starch, yams are a rich source of manganese, a trace mineral that helps with calorie burning.
CarbLover's Recipes- Chapter 7
Breakfast:
Banana Shake
Bananas are your richest source of resistant starch, which is one reason this shake is such a slimming way to start your morning. If you are not a breakfast eater, shakes are also an easy way to get the RS you need without feeling stuffed.
Prep: <5 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total time: <5 minutes
Makes: 1 serving
1 banana
12 ounces low-fat milk
2 teaspoons honey
1/2 cup ice
1. Blend all ingredients.
Serving size: 11/2 cups
300 calories, 4g total fat, 2.5g saturated fat, 1g mono fat, 0g poly fat, 0g trans fat, 20mg cholesterol, 170mg sodium, 57g carbohydrates, 3g fiber, 44g sugar, 14g protein, 4.7g RS
Lunch:
Chicken Pita Sandwich
This easy sandwich will fill you up with lean protein, along with a hearty 6 grams of fiber from the whole grain pita and veggies that you stuff inside. Use precooked chicken strips or rotisserie chicken to save time.
Prep: <5 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total time: <5 minutes
Makes: 1 serving
1 cup baby spinach
1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper
4 ounces cooked boneless/skinless chicken strips or pieces
2 tablespoons low-fat Italian vinaigrette
1 whole grain pita (6"), cut in half
1. Toss spinach, bell pepper, chicken and vinaigrette.
2. Serve in pita halves.
Serving size: 2 stuffed pita halves
400 calories, 10g total fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 1.5g mono fat, 2g poly fat, 0g trans fat, 95mg cholesterol, 670mg sodium, 36g carbohydrates, 6g fiber, 5g sugar, 43g protein, 1g RS
Dinner:
Black Bean Tacos
The black beans in this dish should be every dieter's best friend. They provide plenty of resistant starch, along with appetite-suppressing fiber and protein. The cheese offers CLAs for an extra metabolism kick. To save time, use prewashed lettuce and pre-shredded carrots.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: <5 minutes
Total time: <10 minutes
Makes: 2 servings
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
6 corn tortillas
6 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded Romaine lettuce
1 cup grated carrots
1/4 cup salsa
1. Warm beans in microwave for two minutes, until heated through
2. Heat tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for 1 minute on each side.
3. Layer beans in tortillas and top with cheese, lettuce, carrots and salsa.
Serving size: 3 tacos
380 calories, 8g total fat, 5g saturated fat, 0.5g mono fat, 1g poly fat, 0g trans fat, 25mg cholesterol, 780mg sodium, 67g carbohydrates, 17g fiber, 6g sugar, 18g protein, 4.7g RS
Anonymous
Posted January 20, 2011
From your review it's obvious that you haven't read the book.
The foods recommended in the book are whole grain products, fruit, veggie, and complex carbs. Not as you say the sugar laden carbs and processed foods.
I am a diabetic and before starting this diet I asked my doctor if he thought it would suitable and he said that it was a healthy, balanced program.
So before you go and give a review on something, read it.
30 out of 31 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.FitnessAuthor
Posted August 6, 2010
I Also Recommend:
As a fitness trainer, I try to read everything I can that comes out (regarding diet and exercise). So, when one of my clients mentioned this book, I had to pick it up. After reading it, I do think that this is a worthwhile book for people to pick up and give a try. While I haven't tried the theories, the information is intriguing. I would say that this is a good book for thos carb-aholics who want to try losing weight but don't want to give up their carbs. The real question is: "Is that possible?".
I do REALLY recommend a book that has changed the lives of many of my fitness clients (for the better): "BUILD YOUR MIND, YOUR BODY WILL FOLLOW". This is a powerful, quick read that can help you be ready to really transform your body. It should be ready before any diet or exercise book! I actually GIVE it (free) to all of my clients.
It is THAT good!
21 out of 24 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 26, 2010
Reply to Irresponsible,
I have not yet read this book, but neither have you! I have perused the associated website. What the authors are recommending is not a diet that elevates blood sugar levels. They are recommending whole grains, which actually work to stabilize blood sugar. And, they help you feel full, so you're less likely to "cheat". I'm certainly willing to try it!
14 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Teresa2010
Posted January 2, 2011
I Also Recommend:
I have been working on a weight/bodyfat issue for a very long time. I am the mom of 3 wonderful children, but ever since my first child, I have experienced increased bodyweight and lower self esteem. So, I have ordered and read a lot of different diet and exercise books. The Carb Lovers Diet gave me some additional information for my journey towards a healthy body. I now know more about what to eat and why. HOWEVER, my journey took a GREAT turn for the better after I read, "Build Your Mind, Your Body Will Follow". PICK THAT BOOK UP TODAY!! It is a quick and easy read that changed my life for the BEST! All these diet and exercise books tell you exactly what to eat and how to eat it. But, what I was missing was the self perspective, the inner drive, the mental foundation, and the self acceptance that we ALL seem to be missing when we are constantly fighting a weight battle. Do yourself a favor---order, "Build Your Mind, Your Body Will Follow". Read it in 5 days and then start your diets! You will love the results!
7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Laura123
Posted January 23, 2011
I was really excited to get started on this diet, but within the first week I gained 3 pounds. My question is what do I do after that? May be my portions were off. I continued for another 1 week, 3 pounds more. I e-mailed Health Magazine but have not heard anything back from them. It was time to get off. I was on South Beach before and I was doing ok, not great, but ok. I am 20 pounds overweight. A colleague at work who lost 40 pounds suggested a book called the Perfect 10 Diet. I understood why I gained weight on this book. Carbs throw off a hormone called insulin, and that's why I easily gained weight. I have lost 3 pounds so far by following a balanced approach. Don't believe the hype in this book. Save your money and waistline the extras pounds.
4 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 19, 2011
I first saw this book reviewed with high marks on the Rachel Ray show, and decided to give it a try after trying low carb high protein diets,veggie diets, slimfast diets,etc diets- with poor results. I would lose 10 pounds on those diets, then nothing more of pounds lost, no matter how hard I tried of diet, exercise. On this diet in the first week I lost 13 pounds. I loved how it trimmed the fat from my belly with ease.I'm 51 years old and I had suffered from a middle age spread, this diet peeled it off! The diet recipes are so easy to follow, all the food on this diet is so inexpensive too. For years I had always heard how carbs are so awful on a diet, how untrue, this diet book shows the key to losing weight is resistant carbs & which carb foods are resistant. I finally got rid of those stubborn 30 pounds and look & feel great! My middle age spread is gone, my skin looks great, I have energy galore!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ShortandsweetCM
Posted August 26, 2010
We are all learning of the dangers of sugar to the body, so why would anyone recommend eating refined carbs when they just turn into sugar in the body? I don't get it. If people would just eat REAL, WHOLE food instead of processed and packaged franken-food, get some exercise and a little sunshine, we would all be better off.
3 out of 52 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Clicquet
Posted November 17, 2010
I have been given two years in a row "Health" magazine. A fascinating read w/ articles that cannot be put down to answer a phone!I have read a 'fencing' of two very passionate B&N customers. One 'for' and 'one against'. They have valid points ONLY IF CARBS ARE NOT WHOLE-GRAINS!My own Physician and his Nurse have told me to Always Eat a Protein WITH A CARBROHYDRATE!Plus, If Eating a Fat, eat a Protein and a Carbrohydrate with it as a mini meal. Sound Advice. So. If the Book is located at a Barnes and Noble store,check it out FIRST!My problem is one of the writers is a 'former' editor in at least 2 employments. Sorry, but a red flag for me.
2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 2, 2011
This is the most insipid, inane compilation among all the "Diets for Idiots" books. It is full of the most pronounced misinformation I have ever seen in my life. This book is a poster child for negligence in pursuit of sales. It's chock-full of feel-good pop-science innuendo that treats the reader as a mindless robot (ahem) looking for confirmation of their puerile and self-destructive behavior.
1 out of 17 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 3, 2010
It is useful book.
1 out of 23 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 9, 2011
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Posted September 12, 2010
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Posted April 23, 2011
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Posted January 13, 2011
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Posted January 20, 2011
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Posted September 12, 2010
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Posted November 7, 2010
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Posted September 19, 2010
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Posted August 9, 2010
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Overview