The Slow Carb Diet is a health regime made popular by Tim Ferriss in the book The 4-Hour Body. The Slow Carb Diet is similar to “paleo” diets in the foods it allows (although it does not allow fruits), and focuses on high protein, minimal carbs (mostly in the form of vegetables and legumes) and omits processed foods.

The Cheat Day
The Slow Carb Diet also differs from many traditional diets in that it allows one day each week for planned cheating. During this “Cheat Day” (usually Saturday, though it could be any day of the week), followers of the diet can eat whatever they want. Cheat Days really have no rules at all — there is no limit on types or quantities of foods which can be eaten on this day. The Cheat Day is intended to act as both a motivator (keeping you from cheating during the week) and a method of knocking one’s body out of homeostasis, ensuring your body does not adapt to the diet and you continue to lose weight rather than plateau. Followers of the diet tend to go crazy on these days, eating everything from donuts, to pizza, to beer.

Slow Carb Diet Results
Followers of the Slow Carb Diet have frequently been known to lose 30 lbs. of fat in the first 30 days of the diet. Long-term results are also extremely impressive — several case studies noted on Tim Ferriss’ website have shown 100 lbs. of weight loss in extreme cases. The Slow Carb Diet works well for people who want to simply firm up their physique, as well as those who have a lot of weight to lose.

Getting Started on the Slow Carb Diet
If you are just getting started on the Slow Carb Diet and want to learn more about the Slow Carb Diet, check out our Getting Start Guide and Slow Carb Food List.