Welcome back! I’m so excited that you are taking the time to come and “hang” with me. I want to start by saying CARBS ARE NOT THE EMENY!!! Lol! I know you are like, “girl ok”, but why did you have to “say it” in all caps?! Here is the thing, a lot of people believe carbs are bad. There are a variety of Fad diets out now that suggest “If you just eliminate carbs, you will feel great and lose weight!” While that may be true for a while, how long will a person avoid eating carbs and how will the body respond in the long run?
Carbs (carbohydrates) are found in a variety of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, bread, and pasta. Your body uses the foods you eat to produce glucose. Glucose is the body’s main source of energy. Now, when I say carbs are not the enemy, I mean good carbs –the carbs that fuel the body to give energy. There are what you would call “bad carbs” out there as well, which are carbs that have been processed and have added sugar such as white bread, cakes, cookies, etc.
Eating a low carb diet helps to get the weight off quickly. But while you are losing weight on your low carb diet, you are not losing fat. On a low carb diet, you are simply losing water weight as your body breaks down stored carbohydrates. Once you begin eating carbs, you will gain the weight back. A low carb diet is not a normal balance of nutrition. I was a low carb chic for a little over a year and I lost a great deal of weight! Most days I felt great and then there were days that my energy level was depleted, on top of the fact that I worked out 5-6 days a week. It was not until I started working with registered dieticians, personal trainers, and my professors here at UAB that I realized I needed carbs to help my body with losing weight. Having a healthy balance of carbs in my diet gave me more energy to crush my workouts and burn more fat.
“Did you say carbs help you burn fat?” Why, yes, I did! Carbs not only fuel the body but aid in fat metabolism. Have you ever heard the phrase “fat burns in a carbohydrate flame”? Your body requires glycogen (glucose) to burn fat molecules for energy. Where do we get glucose from? CARBS! Once I started eating carbs again, I did gain some weight back. But with cardio, strength training, and choosing healthier carbs, I have been able to and still working towards the healthy/fit body that I want.
Carbs have many other benefits as well. Carbs fuel the brain, kidneys, heart muscles, and central nervous system. The fiber found in carbs helps with digestion and keeps you full longer. It is all about choosing the right carbs. Choose carbs that are full of nutrients. Here are few healthy carbohydrate rich foods:
- Whole grains: quinoa, amaranth, barley, brown rice, oatmeal, whole-grain pasta, and whole-grain breakfast cereals
- Fruits: berries, citrus fruits, melons, apples, pears, bananas, and kiwifruit
- Starchy vegetables: sweet potatoes, yams, corn. peas and carrots
- Legumes: lentils, black beans, pinto beans, navy beans, chickpeas, and soybeans
- Milk products: low-fat milk, plain yogurt, and soy yogurt
The Dietary for America 2010 recommends 45-65 percent of calories come from carbohydrates for adults. Which would be 225-325 grams of carbs on a 2,000-calorie diet.
Carbs are not the enemy; they are just the opposite! Fuel your body the right way. Have a great day, stay active and don’t forget to check out more My PHAT Life content!
More about the author:
Hello! Welcome to My PHAT Life. My name is Brittani and I am a senior at UAB majoring in Kinesiology, minoring in Psychology. My fitness journey started three and a half years ago while I was on vacation with my daughter at Universal Studios. She was so excited to be there, as was I. She wanted to ride everything, and I was so excited to ride with her. Unfortunately, that did not happen. I was too big for many of the rides, so instead of us enjoying all the rides together, she rode alone or with my wife. That was my breaking point, enough was enough! Things had to change, and they did. I took control of my life and my health and now, I am ready to ride ALL the rides with my daughter!
Join me in My PHAT Life as I share four of the most impactful things I have learned throughout my fitness journey. Stay tuned for more blogs and videos! Also, I am always available to answer any questions you may have, so feel free to
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