Good Carbs Vs Bad Carbs

The four letter word that has everyone up-in-arms, “C-A-R-B.” What are they? Why are they so bad? Do I have to cut-carbs completely to loose weight? Wait, no more pasta? I will try to clarify a few common myths and explain some of my real life examples when it comes to my relationship with carbs.

One phrase that i’ve coined is that I don’t have a sweet tooth, “I have a carb tooth.” I would rather eat a loaf of bread for dessert than a chocolate cake. I would rather eat a sub than a steak and I think the thought of eating a hamburger without a bun is offensive… So now that you have a little insight to my mindset and my intimate relationship with carbs, you can understand that it pains me to say that, in general, carbs are not good for you. There, I said it…Carbs Are Not Good For You (period). Well, not exactly. Let me explain…

I have found that whenever I went on a “No Carb Diet” I would loose weight rapidly, but the minute I ate any type of carb again, I put all the weight right back on. The science behind loosing weight with a no-carb diet is that we are essentially tricking our bodies to eat our fat. If our bodies are fed only proteins and good fats, than our bodies will be looking for a source of energy and in turn will essentially eat away at the fat in your body. The problem is, when cutting carbs completely for an extended period of time you can be lethargic, get head aches, become moody and the kicker; when you start to eat normally again, you will put weight back on quickly.

The most successful diet I’ve been on with long-term success and sustained weight-loss is a low-good-carb diet with high protein. What is a good carb? Good carbs can be found in foods like broccoli, cauliflower, apples, oranges, blueberries, etc. My balanced meals consist of about 6 oz of lean protein (chicken, white fish, turkey, lean beef, bison, etc) and about one cup of a clean vegetable like broccoli, asparagus, green beans or cauliflower. And a fruit (I love apples). Once I get down to my goal weight, I will start to work in another source of good carb like sweet potato & brown rice in to my meals.

Everyone has their theories on how to loose weight and how to eat better and what is a good carb vs bad carb. But this is what works for me, and I feel great.