The Low Carb Loser

She fuels op on protein and fat but eats hardly any carbs at all, which also means no vegetables or fruit. T-bone steaks? Seconds, please! Cheese omelette too greasy? No problems! Her love of all things fatty leaves her with little desire (or room) for a fiber-rich salad-and sometimes gives her twice the protein she needs each day. Sticking to the low-carb mantra could be setting her up for some unhealthy consequences: at best, carb cravings (or binges); at worst, heart disease and kidney problems.

The Flaws
Atkins adherents may not believe it, but not every carbohydrate is your enemy. It’s the processed kind that you have to watch out for: white breads, white pasts, rice and pastries. “They’re high in calories and offer little nutritional payoff,”Herber says. “And they don’t sustain energy for very long. “Even so, indulging once in a while to satisfy cravings is OK>

The Makeover

• Instead of eating huge main courses of fatty meats like steak, think of proteins as side dishes to enjoy with small servings of brown rice or whole-wheat pasta. This keeps your fat intake low without making you feel deprived.

• East more complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Because you process them more slowly than simple carbs, you feel fuller longer.

• Additionally, just like the no-veg vegetarian, the low-carb loser should help herself to more fruits by mixing diced peaches into cottage cheese, for instance or adding lots of vegetables to a cheese omelet.

What she eats
Low-carb cereal*Low-carb protein*shakes*bag of cashews, hamburger, Swiss cheese, bacon, no bun*filet mignon with creamed spinach