If you want to get in shape, exercise is a great way, perhaps the best to start. However, if you really want to improve your body, then losing fat will often be an integral part of your plans. While there are literally hundreds of diets and eating plans out there that claim to help you lose weight, two of the most popular diets have for a long time revolve around eating less carbohydrates and eating less fat.

The problem with these diets however, is that if you really adhere to them for an extended period of time, then you run the risk of failing to get all the proper food you need to have a balanced and healthy diet. There is little point in getting in shape if you are harming your body by eating an unbalanced diet so you have to pay a lot of attention to what you are cutting out and making sure that you are getting everything that your body needs to remain healthy. If you are exercising a lot you will also want to make sure that you have the energy to really exercise and repair your body after intensive workouts so that your muscles have what they need to grow and develop.

Most diets therefore recommend that you eat plenty of protein but cut down on fat or carbohydrates or both.

Fatty foods include red meat, cream, avocadoes, oil and plenty of other foods that we enjoy eating. If you want to make sure that you reduce your fat intake then the best place to start is to cut down on butter and oil. Fried foods are a definite no-no. You should also keep a close eye on your red meat and try only to eat high quality meat like steak, and less low quality meat like hamburgers and sausage. Many salty snack foods such as chips are also very high in fat.

Carbohydrates are important energy providers but reducing the intake of these is a great way to reduce weight. White bread, white rice and pasta and sugar are high carbohydrate foods. Reducing these is the best way to make sure that you aren't over eating carbohydrates. You should also be aware that many very healthy foods like fruits and vegetables are high in carbs but most nutritionists do not recommend that you drastically reduce your intake of these. If you find that you are losing weight very quickly or are out of energy then review your eating habits.

As always, please consult your doctor before taking any big steps towards changing your diet or exercise.