During ketosis, your carbohydrate-depleted body grabs other sources, including ketones from stored fat or protein, to satisfy daily energy needs. This leads to ketoacidosis, a state similar to that seen with type 1 diabetes. This type of diet can have a negative long-term impact on health.

"Next time you talk to someone on one of these diets, pay attention to their mental state, how alert they seem," says Holden. "The lack of carbohydrates tends to make them seem a bit fuzzy mentally because brain is not getting enough fuel. Is that any way to diet?"

New Research Supports It --------------------------------------------------------- But a study in July 2002 issue of American Journal of Medicine showed that most famous of low-carb diets, Atkins diet, does work.

Study participants lost an average of 20 pounds while on Atkins diet for six months, but they were not followed longer to see if they kept weight off. Most people also had improved cholesterol levels at end of study, even though eating plan permits unlimited quantities of cholesterol-rich foods such as eggs and meat.

The study was funded by a grant from Robert Atkins Center for Complementary Medicine. Duke researcher Eric Westman, MD, says he became interested in studying Atkins diet after several of his patients lost large amounts of weight on it.

But though researchers were impressed by weight loss, they say more study is needed to pronounce carbohydrate-restricting diet safe.

Safe Dieting ------------------------------------------------------- Here's how American Heart Association says to take weight off, and keep it off.

Be active: try walking 30 minutes a day most days of week.

To lose weight, most women should eat 1,200-1,500 calories per day.

To lose weight, most men should eat 1,500-1,800 calories a day.

A loss of one to two pounds per week is considered a healthy weight loss.

People who lose weight gradually are more likely to keep weight off.

Eat no more than 30% of your total calories from fat.

Include at least five servings of fruit and vegetables in your diet each day.

Examine your eating habits -- keep a written journal of what and when you eat.

Weigh yourself only once a week.

Eat breakfast to curb binge eating.

"There are still a lot of things we don't know about food and nutrition," says Holden. "Nutrition is a relatively young science, but we do know that you can trick body's mechanisms in short run. In long run, however, those short cuts catch up with you in form of weight gain."

Source: WebMD

Visualizing a Thinner You

Undoubtedly, weight loss has power to change your professional life, but it also has ability to change your romantic life. Whether you are attached or single, a new thinner you will have more confidence in field of love. Perhaps you will surprise your husband by wearing that sexy dress you had always thought of wearing but never had courage to do so. Or, maybe you will finally ask that gorgeous librarian out on a romantic date. Losing weight not only sheds extra pounds from your body, but it also does away with feelings of fear and intimidation. Once you conquer weight loss, you will feel as if anything is possible, and it is!

When you start to feel as if you will never lose weight and dieting is just too hard, think of new thinner you that is just around corner. Imagine added energy you will have, increased confidence and overall feeling of well being. Weight loss is hard work, but end result is well worth it!