Eat More Carbs to Lose Weight – Diet Tips from Celebrity Trainer Chris Powell

If you've tried and failed with Atkins, starved on the South Beach Diet, cut out the fat, and still can't lose those pounds, it might be time to boost your carb intake. Chris Powell, celebrity fitness trainer on the reality TV show "Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition", says that cycling carbs is the best way to lose the weight - and keep it off for good. In his recently-published book, "Choose to Lose: The 7-Day Carb Cycle Solution", Powell provides some insight and dieting tips he shares with contestants on the show. His primary focus: cycling carbs so that you never really feel deprived. According to Powell, this process boosts the metabolism and also gets you into the fat-burning zone, fast.

In a recent interview, Chris Powell shared what it really takes to lose the weight and what his Carb Cycle Solution means for the average dieter. Here are five of his essential diet and weight loss tips:

#1: Don't deprive yourself. Make sure that your meal plan includes foods that you actually enjoy and let yourself indulge once in a while. Powell says, "If there is any one food that you cannot live without, it is important to weave it into your lifestyle. Eating it in moderation is perfectly okay!"

#2: Eat carbs every other day. In his book, Powell lays out a seven-day plan where you are eating more carbs every other day. You can do strength training and toning exercises on low-carb days because you'll be eating more protein. Plan on eating complex carbs only on high-carb days. Cycling carbs like this can boost your metabolism and "trick" your body into dropping the extra weight.

#3: Save money with whey protein shakes. You need high-quality sources of protein in your diet but meat, poultry, and seafood can be pricey. Powell points out, "Whey protein shakes are an amazing alternative for your protein needs. It averages out to just about 25 cents per serving."

#4: Make one new commitment each day. Don't try to change everything about your diet too fast or you'll set yourself up for failure. Commit to making one change each day and just follow through. As you get better at following through, you'll be able to change more until you completely change your habits. Powell says, "The best diet is the one that you don't know you are on."

#5: Eat more natural foods. The meal planning ideas in Powell's book include lots of fresh, natural, minimally-processed foods. Powell says that his plan is "completely do-able" on even the tightest budget, pointing out that, "Real, whole, natural food can be dirt cheap!"

Sources:

Chris Powell, Celebrity Fitness Trainer

Choose to Lose: The 7-Day Carb Cycle Solution