Eating Healthy and losing weight
I guarantee you that one out of every 5 clients that walk into my clinic for weight loss consultation will ask me this question. So today am going to try and explain the difference and why
it doesn’t really matter what you count.
I’ll start off with the popular (if somewhat misconceived) low carb weight loss diets. All told, there are two prominent low carb weight loss diets. One is the famous Atkins Diet and the other is the South Beach diet which is a more moderate low carb. These low carbohydrate diets usually start off with highly restricted carbohydrate intake aimed at boosting initial fat loss (or so the theory goes). The initial phase is followed up with a moderate phase that permits moderate intake of carbohydrate rich foods.
Now, all that I’ve learned in my professional training as well as my considerable experience in dealing with weight loss issues point out to two facts that can be carved in stone –
(a) All healthy food is good for us and
(b) you cannot have weight loss without there being a calorie deficit.
Here’s the math: Energy from food – (minus) energy utilized = Weight lost (if figure is negative) or weight gained (if figure is positive). It’s really that simple.
I have yet to read even an iota of evidence that suggests anything different and I emphasize the word ‘evidence’. There are lots of theories out there and lots of so called facts being thrown about but at the end of the day, there’s zero evidence to support any of their claims. The formulae I have explained above is very simple to understand.
When you eat, energy is created and stored –
exactly like a rechargeable battery. When you do some activity including exercise, you utilize the stored energy. If you utilize less energy than what was created than some energy (as fat) is left behind to which more will be added after the next meal. Unlike a battery which can hold only a fixed amount of charge, our body can expand and hold a lot of energy in the form of fat. So to ensure we don’t expand, we need to utilize what we eat. This is the simple time tested principle of any successful weight loss plan.
Any diet plan that puts restrictions on any food other than junk food isn’t really worth the paper it’s printed on.
Our body needs all the nutrients (approx 23 minerals and vitamins) including those obtained from carbohydrates.
Any restriction leads to imbalances and deficiencies which will soon be manifested internally and externally. You will end up visiting your doctor who in turn will prescribe a few tabs to correct the imbalance and the cycle is complete. So what good was that weight loss or diet plan?