Read an Excerpt

If you're on a diet that controls your intake of carbohydrates, this book is designed to help you maintain the discipline you'll need to succeed with your diet.

Take your Diary with you everywhere and record everything you eat and drink. Using the compact carbohydrate gram counter (pages 135-176), compute the carbs for each item and total them up for the day. If you write down everything as you eat it, the very act of recording it will make you think twice about what and when you are eating. In addition, by reviewing the page, you can see where the "danger spots" in the day are and make the diet corrections accordingly, using the daily comments page.

Before going on any diet, consult with your doctor. Then determine your desired weight and how many carbohydrate grams a day you want to limit yourself to. While the purpose of this book is not to advocate any specific low-carbohydrate diet, there are some overall guidelines to use. When you begin your diet, your daily carbohydrate intake should be very low. When you reach certain goals, you may wish to increase your carbs to what most diets refer to as the "maintenance level," still a comparatively low count, but less rigid than the initial weeks.

Start by recording your goals on page 6 and chart your diet every seven days in the Weekly Progress Report. Note your weight and measurement changes and your plans for the coming week. You'll also find space to record your exercise program. If you're not already exercising on a regular basis, start now. Exercising helps tone and tighten your body as it reaches new proportions.

Good luck and good dieting.

C.T.N.