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Cutting carbs

Do it right
Is parting with pasta the best way to part with your paunch, too? Not necessarily.

People on low-carb diets initially drop weight as they lose body water, not from losing fat, says Dr. Muth.

"At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter what 'diet' someone starts, whether it's low-carb or low-fat. What does matter is the amount of calories the person consumes and how well they are able to actually stick with the diet," she says.

Next: Using diuretics