Yes, I said it, dieting and getting ripped can be made easier. I have read some articles from the fellow teens here and from magazine articles and it just gets pretty darn confusing with all of these percentages of this and percentages of that. After reading the articles I am lost. I am going to outline a diet for you that is pretty simple for you to follow, or I hope it's easy to follow. This is the type of diet most professional bodybuilders will use while they are getting into contest shape, but they use roids also, but I won't get into that. Just a warning this is a low carb diet that I will be talking about. When on a low carb diet your energy may not be as high as normal, and you may feel more tired than normal.

Low Carb Dieting Works for Dexter Jackson!

Days 1 through 5

STEP 1: For the first few days only take about 1 gram of carbs per pound of bodyweight. When you decrease your carbs intake, this promotes a decrease in your muscle and liver glycogen stores, this in turn stimulates the body to burn more fat.

STEP 2: When you decrease your carb intake you should increase your protein intake. So take in around 1.5 grams per pound of bodyweight. Cutting your carbs causes the body to use more fat and protein for fuel. If you feed your body with enough dietary protein it will use that kind of protein instead of your hard earned muscle tissue.

STEP 3: Do cardio throughout days 1 through 5. It is obvious that cardio helps aid in the process of fat loss.

Days 6 through 8

STEP 3: In this step we will triple our existing carb intake, so you will be taking in 3 grams of carbs per pound of bodyweight. Reducing carbs is an effective way of cutting up, but as a result of staying on low carbs for too long your metabolic rate starts to slow down, so this step gives it another kick back into overdrive. These carbs will most likely not turn into fat, your glycogen starved muscles will take in the carbs, because it needs to store up the glycogen first before storing up fats.

STEP 4: You should lower your protein intake, due to the increase in carbs. There is no need now for the extra protein, because your body won't be utilizing protein as much for fuel.

STEP 5: Cut down on cardio, doing cardio during these days may burn up the carbs needed to fill your muscles with the needed glycogen, and it will give your body a time to rest, which you will be happy to hear. Allow your glycogen stores to replenish themselves during these days.

- Follow steps 5 and 6 through out the whole cutting up process, to help accelerate fat loss

STEP 6: This step will last all through out the cutting down process. Drink a lot of water!!!! A sufficient amount would be until your pee is clear or close to it. I usually drink about 1 and a half gallons of water a day. I fill up a gallon carton every night and throw it in the fridge and then drink the whole thing the next day. The water acts as a potent diuretic and will wash out all the unnecessary wastes from the body.

I hope this process of dieting down has been easier to follow for you. And that it has helped you understand a little bit more about the low carb diet.

Scott Duncan

wsd02@hotmail.com