As we move past the holiday season many of us look in the mirror and realize we’ve paid a price for all those little treats we consumed.
An extra slice of pie at Thansgiving, holiday sweets here and there throughout December, and some big events the last couple weeks where food was plentiful are eventually going to translate into a couple extra pounds added to our frames.
So now you are determined to reverse this trend….where do you start?
I recommend you start by looking at what you prioritize in your day to day eating, and ask yourself this simple question:
DOES THE MAJORITY OF MY EATING REVOLVE AROUND CARBOHYDRATES?
Because if it does, you’ve found your problem.
Your body needs an energy source, but it can metabolize any of the macronutrients (protein, fats, carbs) to create it.
Protein is necessary for proper health, and it’s functions cannot be replaced by the other macronutrients. Excess can be used as an energy source.
Fats are, perhaps surprisingly, another irreplaceable dietary need. They are critical to proper brain function, along with a host of other processes in the body. Excess can again be used as an energy source.
Carbohydrates are mostly a source of energy, and if you are consuming healthy amounts of proteins and fats then their needs become minimized.
So a lean, healthy approach to caloric intake should fall somewhere into these ratios:
Protein – 40 – 50%
Fats – 35 – 40%
Carbs – 10 – 25%
Carbs do play one critical role in our health, though, and that is that some provide critical vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. The carbohydrate percentage should come mostly from the fruits and vegetables that deliver these to you.
So if you are about to embark on a goal of shedding a few pounds, ask yourself if these are typical food choices for you:
And if it is, and you’re serious about making real change, your meals are going to have to start looking a lot more like this:
The great irony of avoiding protein and fats is that, because they are essential to your survival, your body will continually crave food until it either gets adequate amounts of both or surrenders into a state of insulin shock until it’s ready to fight again.
So why not fill your day up with the essentials first, and reap the benefits in a wide variety of ways?
REFERENCE: http://www.strengthsensei.com/the-2-ways-to-earn-your-carbs/
