Now here's a diet real women can handle: new research suggests that cutting back on carbs just two days a week can – all by itself – help you lose weight.

The study, conducted at the University Hospital in Manchester, England, looked at the effects of three different diets: one restrictive Mediterranean-style diet that had to be followed every day, one that cut carbs and calories two days a week, and one that only cut carbs two days a week. A total of 88 women were followed for four months to measure their weight loss.

The results were a bit surprising. Those in the two groups that only dieted two days a week lost more weight – about nine pounds – than those in the restrictive diet group (at 5 pounds).

In addition to the extra weight loss, researchers are excited about this idea of intermittent dieting for two other reasons: one is the evidence that suggests that cutting back on carbs (and calories) all the time has a deleterious effect on energy levels, and the other is the freedom of dieters to eat satisfying meals the majority of the time, while still losing weight.

This sounds like a win-win situation for almost anyone!

Source: http://www.grannymed.com/news/food-and-diet/diet-only-2-days-a-week