Low carbohydrate diets are very popular among people trying to
lose weight. The reason behind this is because having an excess of
carbohydrates in the body will result in the excess being stored as fat.
However, considering that carbohydrates are used for energy, this can
create a sort of dilemma for people embarking on a low carb diet.
1. Low GI Foods - For those of you not familiar with the glycemic index, it basically refers to how quickly the food is absorbed by the body to be used as energy. Or to be more specific; absorbed through the gut wall. What you do need to know is
that the higher the glycemic index number, the longer it will take to be absorbed, and therefore the more sustained energy you will receive. Some low GI carbohydrates include:
- Multi grain bread
- Rolled Oats
- Sweet Potato
2. No Carbs At Night - When following a low carbohydrate diet, you will want to consume the majority, or all, of your carbs before dark. This is to ensure that you have burned off (or used) all of that energy during the day. This is after all, their entire purpose. They are designed to give you energy, so if you use them 'only' for energy, you will not have any excess calories to worry about. I personally recommend that my clients consume the majority of theirs in the morning for breakfast. This will give you the energy that you need to get through the day and the stamina that you need for your workouts. If you do consume carbs at night, not only do you run the risk of being in excess, you may also find it difficult to get to sleep.
3. No Processed Sugar - You have to avoid this stuff like the plague. The fasted way for a human being to put on fat is by consuming too much processed sugar, or from consuming processed sugar at the wrong times. The reason I bring this up is because I once had a client that thought all carbohydrates were the same: Sodas and sweets included. This couldn't be further from the truth. Not only will these sugars give you a calorie overload, they will spike your insulin hormone, putting you into fat-storage mode. So to rephrase, a low carb diet equals a diet with no processed sugar.
A low carb diet is easier to pull off than you might think. It just takes a bit of planning to avoid over-eating. However, I can tell you that they do work like magic when combined with an appropriate exercise program.
1. Low GI Foods - For those of you not familiar with the glycemic index, it basically refers to how quickly the food is absorbed by the body to be used as energy. Or to be more specific; absorbed through the gut wall. What you do need to know is
that the higher the glycemic index number, the longer it will take to be absorbed, and therefore the more sustained energy you will receive. Some low GI carbohydrates include:
- Multi grain bread
- Rolled Oats
- Sweet Potato
2. No Carbs At Night - When following a low carbohydrate diet, you will want to consume the majority, or all, of your carbs before dark. This is to ensure that you have burned off (or used) all of that energy during the day. This is after all, their entire purpose. They are designed to give you energy, so if you use them 'only' for energy, you will not have any excess calories to worry about. I personally recommend that my clients consume the majority of theirs in the morning for breakfast. This will give you the energy that you need to get through the day and the stamina that you need for your workouts. If you do consume carbs at night, not only do you run the risk of being in excess, you may also find it difficult to get to sleep.
3. No Processed Sugar - You have to avoid this stuff like the plague. The fasted way for a human being to put on fat is by consuming too much processed sugar, or from consuming processed sugar at the wrong times. The reason I bring this up is because I once had a client that thought all carbohydrates were the same: Sodas and sweets included. This couldn't be further from the truth. Not only will these sugars give you a calorie overload, they will spike your insulin hormone, putting you into fat-storage mode. So to rephrase, a low carb diet equals a diet with no processed sugar.
A low carb diet is easier to pull off than you might think. It just takes a bit of planning to avoid over-eating. However, I can tell you that they do work like magic when combined with an appropriate exercise program.
John Stamford is a personal trainer, nutritionist and an expert
in everything relating to fat loss. Visit his website in order to
discover "One Tip That May Be Preventing You From Losing Fat" instantly
at:
http://www.FatLossEnigma.com
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