Now that you’ve successfully cut down to size for swimsuit season, what’s the best diet strategy for keeping the weight off? Since 95% of people who successfully lose weight gain it back within a year, that’s a very important consideration. A study published in the journal PloS One suggests following a very low-carb diet instead of a low-fat program.

Boston Children’s Hospital put a group of obese young adults on a low-carb diet to lose weight. After reducing body weight by 10% to 15%, some continued a reduced carbohydrate eating strategy while others switched to a low-fat/low GI diet. Although rates of energy expenditure were similar following a meal, it remained lower for a longer amount of time with the low fat/low GI diet.

True Strength Moment: Successful weight loss has a way of increasing appetite while reducing metabolic rate. Adhering to a very low carbohydrate eating strategy can help you beat the odds. Try elevating carbohydrate consumption one day each week to restore glycogen reserves. This tactic might also stoke your metabolism for a short period of time.