The Low-Carb Hoax

In 1991, Jay Robb, a trainer in San Diego, wrote "The Fat Burning Diet" which advocated a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet, similar to the Adkins approach. Here's an excerpt from his website (www.JayRobb.com), a testimonial which presumably shows the effectiveness of the low-carb approach:

Michael Moorefield Lost 30 lbs in 3 Months!

Michael Moorefield from Gladstone, Missouri wrote to tell us about his success on Jay Robb's Fat Burning Diet.

Before January 15	After April 14
Weight: 200 lb	170 lb
Body Fat: 17%	8%
Waist: 38"	33"

He Started out with his before picture which shows him at 200 lbs and 17% body fat with a 38" waist on 1/15

After just three months on Jay Robb's Fat Burning Diet and weight training, he was down to 170 Lbs at 8% Body Fat with a 33" Waist on 4/14

Let's examine this testimonial a little more closely and see what it really says.
When Michael Moorefield started out at 200# @ 17% body fat, his body was composed of approximately 166 lean pounds, and 34 pounds of fat.

At the end of 3 months, Michael had gone down to 170# @ 8% body fat. A loss of 10# per month or just over 2.3# per week. At this rapid rate, in excess of 1% per week, some muscle loss is inevitable. But Michael lost more than a little muscle.

At 170# @ 8%, Michael had 156# of lean mass and 14# of fat. He lost 20# of fat, to be sure, but he also lost 10# of muscle!

Prime Fitness does not advocate extreme diets. We believe that a balanced diet composed of complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and healthy fats, coupled with appropriate exercise, is the best and safest way to make positive changes in body composition. In no case do we advocate a rate of loss greater than 1% per week, and find that ½% per week is far more sustainable for most people.