| Is Low-Carb Really The Way To Go? |  |
Author: Jesse Cannone CFT, CPRS, CSPN
URL: http://www.achieve-fitness.com
The latest trend in the area of weight loss is low-carb diets such as
the Atkins Diet. With so much conflicting information out there on
nutrition and weight loss, it's difficult for the average person to
not only find out what works, but also understand how to apply it.
In order to help clear the air, I'm going to dispel some of the myths
that are floating around and give you some facts backed up with real
science on how the human body actually metabolizes food.
First, let's talk about why the low-carb approach is so popular.
There are a few reasons, but the most common is that people are
finally realizing that the low-fat/high carb approach that has been
promoted for decades now just doesn't work! Not only is it making us
fatter, it's also responsible for dozens of diseases and illnesses.
It's true…..most Americans eat too many carbs and are deficient in
the healthy dietary fats. However, it seems that it has to be one
extreme or the other with people in this country. So now many people
are cutting carbs and avoiding them like the plague, which is just as
bad.
But wait…..you say that it works? Maybe you or someone you know has
tried the low-carb approach and noticed significant weight loss.
Yes, cutting carbs will cause you to lose weight, but not much actual
body fat, if any at all. So, why do most people lose weight so
quickly? It's because the human body holds 2.4g of water for every 1
gram of carbohydrate consumed. Cut the carbs and all you do is hold
less water! This artificial weight loss is the main reason so many
people are going low-carb.
So, not only does following a low-carb diet cause you to lose water,
it also depletes muscle glycogen which leaves you feeling sluggish
when trying to be active or workout. Remember, carbs are stored as
glycogen in the muscles and glycogen is what's used to fuel your
muscles.
Another problem with severely limiting carbs is that the brain uses
carbs for energy and without enough carbs, you won't be 100%
mentally. While I agree that people are different and that some
people do better on lower amounts of carbs, most people will feel
like crap after a week or two with no or low carbs.
But all the fitness and nutrition "gurus' say that carbs are stored
as fat, right? WRONG! Any excess energy (food or beverage) can be
stored as fat – it doesn't matter if it's french fries or salad!
Extra is extra is extra!
To my knowledge, there has not been but one study that actually
measured body fat of individuals following a low-carb both before and
after to see exactly how much body fat was lost. Plus, this study was
funded by a grant from Dr. Atkins!
Also, there is quite a bit more research that shows that carbs are
not only ok to eat, but that they also contain vital nutrients that
can't be found in other foods.
A recent study done by French and Canadian researchers found that
consuming carbohydrates in small amounts did NOT inhibit fat burning
and only approximately 4% of it was stored as fat. This was in
individuals who were not exercising.
They also assessed the effect of carbohydrates in individuals who
performed light to moderate intensity exercise and found that the
small carbohydrate meal resulted in no fat being stored and did NOT
inhibit fat burning. Plus, even the large carbohydrate meal had NO
effect on fat burning and all of it went directly to the muscles to
replenish glycogen and repair tissue.
Just imagine what happens when you do a hard workout!
So what does this mean in plain English? Basically, carbs are fine
in small to moderate amounts (even if you don't exercise) and on days
you do exercise, the carbs are going to be stored in the muscles and
not as fat.
So to all those people out there who think that eating carbs will
result in them being stored as fat and it "shutting off; the fat
burning, I've got good news for you…..
You can finally have that big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs you've
been craving!
So how can you apply this to your eating and fitness program? Here
are a couple of things to keep in mind:
1. You need carbs – just the right amount and the right type
So what are the right types? Focus on eating carbs that are high in
fiber such as vegetables, beans, fruits, and whole grains.
2. Vary the amount of carbs you have based on how active you are
For example – on days you don't exercise, eat less carbs and maybe
vary the types.
3. The one time you can go carb crazy is right after you exercise
For example – if you want to cheat and have ice cream the best time
would be right after a hard workout.
Focus on eating balanced – carbs, proteins and fats; and again,
adjust the amount of each based on how active you are and plan to be.
I also recommend you do so research yourself and learn as much as you
can about human metabolism and sound nutrition. Here are some great
resources:
· http://www.westonaprice.org/nutrition_guidelines/whats_wrong.html
· http://philkaplan.com/thefitnesstruth/atkins1.htm
· http://www.chekinstitute.com/articles.cfm?select=42
You can also find some great resources and articles at my website
here: http://www.achieve-fitness.com/free_resources.htm
I hope you found this article informative and I wish you the best.
Remember, the more you know the better off you'll be.
Jesse Cannone is a certified personal fitness trainer, post-rehab
specialist, nutritionist, and a national fitness presenter. He is
also the author of Burn Fat FAST and A Bride's Guide To Fast Fitness
+ Weight Loss in addition to many other popular fitness articles. He
is known for his hard-hitting and to the point style and offers a
great free email newsletter called Fitness Success News, which you
can subscribe to at his website http://www.achieve-fitness.com
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