This diet was explained by Tim Ferriss in his book Four Hour Body. Anecdotal evidence (success stories) indicate it works very well. As well, the Quantified Diet Project performed a trial and found that 84% of people who stuck to the program lost weight and the average weight loss was 8.6 pounds. Not bad at all.
Note: As we describe this diet plan, you will see links to other pages here in the membership. They are meant to show you that Tim's strategy is successful because he is following many of the weight loss principles we are teaching you here. The links also give you more detailed information on that principle.
Here's the Slow Carb Diet plan:
Stick to approved foods 6 days a week (see below).
Take one "cheat day" a week, eating whatever you want (seriously, anything). (See Flex Meals)
Eat the same few meals over and over again. (See Standardized Meals)
Start your day with protein, aiming for 30 grams within 30 minutes of waking. Get at least 20 grams of protein in each meal. (See Protein and Magic Meals)
Avoid "white" carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, grains). (See Carb Type Strategy)
Don't drink calories (see Avoid Drinking Calories).
Don't eat fruit.* Tomatoes and avocados are allowed in moderation.
*Fruit: Generally speaking, we don't think that fruit is "bad" for weight loss, but it's not part of the Slow Carb diet, and for some people it may actually help to avoid it.
Approved Foods
Eat as much of the following foods as you want. Don't worry about calories -- always eat until you are full. Starred (*) foods are preferable over the others.
Drink lots of water and/or drinks with zero calories
Caffeine is approved. Coffee or tea must be unsweetened and without milk or cream. If you drink caffeinated soda in the morning, limit it to one can of diet soda a day.
Other:
Nuts, chickpeas, hummus, and nut butters are allowed, but eat them in moderation due to high calorie content. If you're trying to lose weight, it's best to avoid them completely. (See calorie density discussion)
Breakfast Tips:
Eggs are an easy way to get 30g of protein. Eat them alone, or add beans, Canadian bacon (pork), or 30g protein powder.
Lunch and Dinner Tips:
Most meals will be a combination of protein and vegetables from the above list. (See Magic Meals)
Other Tips from the Slow-Carb Diet:
Eat your meals slowly (See The Savory Secret)
Limit foods you tend to overeat (See Avoid Trigger Foods)
Eat lots of vegetables ... as many as you want in the Vegetables list above. (See "free" and Low-CD foods in Fat Burning Foods chart)
Start your Cheat Day with 30 grams of protein.