What’s wrong with low-carb diets?
A low carb diet is high in fat, especially saturated fat, which is proven to lead to heart disease. (I just got off the phone with my mom in Germany. The German TV is warning people of the Atkins diet and its affects on the arteries causing heart disease or possibly death!) Do not deprive your body of an essential nutrient. Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred source of fuel, which is stored as glycogen in your muscles.
Why does it appear to be working?
For every gram of glycogen that you store your muscles will store about 3g of water. When you stop consuming carbs, you stop refilling your glycogen stores. Since glycogen binds with water, a reduction in glycogen storage results in water loss. That water loss shows itself on the scale, and that’s the trap people fall into that leads them to believe the diet’s working.
Who profits?
So, when was the last time someone got rich by doing something good for you? Do they have fast food restaurants because they are good for you? Do they sell cigarettes because they are good for you? How much money have you spent already on overpriced low-carb products? You definitely know that something is wrong when they are now trying to sell you supplements that you need (i.e. vitamin and fiber supplements) because you cut out carbs from your diet. Basically they are stating that you do need carbs and other nutrients that come with vegetables. But why buy inexpensive potatoes or brown rice or other starchy vegetables, when you can have high-priced nutritional products and supplements? Right?
Calories in vs. calories out
The secret to weight loss is not in cutting out whole food categories. The energy balance equation is driven by common laws of physics and thermodynamics: Energy cannot be created or destroyed. Energy is either used or stored. When “calories in” are less than “calories out,” a state of negative energy balance occurs and body weight decreases. In contrast, when “calories in” are greater than “calories out,” a state of positive energy balance occurs and body weight increases. Being overweight is a result of being in a positive energy balance where “calories in” is greater than “calories out”. This can be caused by: eating too much, not enough exercise or activity, having a low metabolic rate.
A well-balanced diet
A healthy, balanced diet should consist of 1/3rd of each of the following: 1. Lean proteins (i.e. fish, chicken, egg whites), 2. Fibrous carbohydrates (i.e. broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots), 3. Starchy carbohydrates (i.e. potatoes, yams, brown rice).
Get off the fad and into a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet and starting a regular exercise program. At eCoachBiggi.com we are committed to helping you make long-term lifestyle changes that produce long-lasting results!
Technorati Tags: diet , Atkins , low-carb , weight loss , fads , exercise
