Lose 20 lbs in 30 days on Fast-food Atkins!
A growing number of low-carb dieters have begun hitting up Mcdonald’s, Chipotle and even KFC. And they’re losing so much weight, it may have you beelining for the nearest drive-thru . . .
Wish diets were easier, more affordable and more delicious? Then there’s a new trend that promises to keep a smile on your face as it quickly shrinks your waist! As restaurants have caught on to increasing demand for low- carb fare, more and more folks report using chains like Panera, Chipotle, Taco Bell and Mcdonald’s to ace Atkins-style plans. Women credit lettuce-wrapped burgers, “subs in a tub” and hold-the-rice burrito bowls with helping them shed 30, 54, even 127 pounds or more. That includes Tennessee mom Lynn Terry, 44, who travels a lot for work and eats fast food often: “Before I discovered low- carb, I wore size 18 jeans. Now I’m in a size six!” Lynn’s secret weapon: Her smartphone. She uses a free app to track her carbs and “quickly look up chain restaurant menus when I’m on the go,” says the fan of Hardee’s Thickburgers and Bojangles’ cheesy Roasted Chicken Bites Salad. “It’s fun to discover all the delicious meals I can have without cheating!” So far, she’s down 62 pounds. Will fast food make low-carbing more fun and effective for you? Here’s everything you need to know to fi nd out . . .
Your quick-start guide ● What you eat
The popular new “Atkins 40” plan allows you to have 40 grams of carbs per day. For best results, Atkins’ nutrition expert Colette Heimowitz, M.S., says you should “aim to get half of your carbs from veggies and the rest from wholesome sources like fruit, nuts, beans, dairy products, and whole grains.” Each meal should also include a serving of protein (go for a palm-sized portion at most sittings, since excess protein may slow fat burning for many of us). Also add plenty of natural fat (from sources like avocado, butter and beef rather than processed vegetable oils). That’s all there is to it! Free tools on Atkins.com and the free Atkins phone app make it a cinch to track your carbs and even customize intake to help you slim down faster.
● How cutting carbs slims
Our bodies are genetically programmed to burn blood sugar—which they make from the carbs we eat—as their main fuel. “But when we restrict carbs enough, it signals the body to instead burn fat, including body fat, as its main fuel,” explains Heimowitz. That’s the main reason a low- carb approach works so well. The stick-toit bonus: The process of burning fat as our primary fuel releases compounds in our bodies that help turn off appetite and cravings, so we’re less tempted to cheat!
● Good news about sodium
While many fast-food restaurants are working to reduce sodium in their offerings, they still tend to be saltier than homemade fare. But that’s far less of a worry on Atkins than on traditional diets. “Interestingly, research shows that adapting to a lower carb intake fundamentally changes how our systems handle nutrients, reducing our sensitivity to sodium,” says Heimowitz. “As long as we regularly consume 50 or fewer grams of carbohydrates per day, we can use salt to taste.”
● Real world wow
Colorado’s Kristianne Hopkins, 42, tried “drive-thru Atkins” after Weight Watchers left her feeling stressed, deprived and hungry. “On Atkins, you never have to go hungry, plus you can grab a really tasty meal at a fast-food place—a sanity-saver for me, since I have six kids and a full-time job,” she says. “A lot of my go-to meals are from Mcdonald’s—grilled chicken salads, bunless burgers and bunless grilled chicken. Just by keeping my carbs to about 30 a day, I lost 20 pounds in my fi rst 30 days. And I’ve lost 82 pounds
and more than 100 inches so far!”