The rapid weight loss you’ll experience at the start of this diet might be helpful in the motivation department, but you’re not dropping fat from the get-go, says Clark. “Carbs are stored with water, so when people ditch carbs they lose the water weight that goes with them,” she says. Plus, carbs are also the body’s main energy source, so early restriction may leave you feeling fatigued, foggy, and grumpy.
Though you might feel restricted from bread and fruit, the plans emphasis on fat and protein, which moves slowly through the digestive tract, could make you feel more satisfied, says Clark. Plus, research suggests that the production of ketone bodies during ketosis can lower levels of ghrelin, a hunger hormone.
Unfortunately, that’s where the perks stop. “Sustainability of this eating approach is highly questionable,” says Clark. “Prolonged periods of restriction may lead to nutrient deficiencies, especially since so many foods are cut from this diet.” Since this plan has the lowest daily carb intake, compared to Atkins and Dukan, getting enough fiber each day would be very difficult, says Clark.
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With so few foods on the menu, the diet could get very boring, very fast and might spark a Cookie Monster-like binge of all the foods you’ve been trying to avoid. In the end, as your body clings to every carb (kind of like your mom when she hasn’t seen you in a while), you may end up weighing more than when you started, says Clark.