Does the diet promote rapid weight loss?
That’s a clear signal it’s unrealistic, says Zelman. When you start a diet, water weight is the first to go, she explains. If you lose much more than two pounds a week, you’re drawing from both fat and muscles. That’s not good, because muscle is one big factor that controls your metabolism. If you lose muscle mass, your metabolism will slow down. That’s how the yo-yo cycle begins — and that’s one reason why some diets don’t work, she explains. “That’s why we advocate losing weight slowly and gradually, so you’re losing one to two pounds per week,” Zelman says. “You’re eating more food than diets allow, but you’re tapping into stored fat more efficiently.” Does the weight loss program involve eating just one food — or eliminating whole food groups? “That’s crazy,” says Zelman. “No one can stay on those diets very long.” Sure, you can do it in the short term — with some success, she says. “If you’re eating all the cabbage or meat you want, you go into a state of ketosis. This causes y
