Now that we’re well and truly in the middle of winter, it can be tempting to reach for your favourite snack while watching Netflix on the couch. It also gets easier to dig into those hearty ‘comfort foods’ for dinner on cold nights. But did you know the amount of carbs, as well as the type of carbs you’re eating, directly affects whether you’ll gain weight or not this winter?
Refined carbohydrates are foods that have been stripped of all fiber and nutrients. Common examples include: white bread, white rice, pasta, noodles, pastries, sweets, soft drink and many breakfast cereals. Have you ever stopped to wonder what would happen to your body if you stopped eating refined carbs?
It’s no secret that refined and processed carbs contribute to weight gain, and so reducing the amount of these in your diet would logically lead to a leaner, fitter you.
But is it true, or is it hype? And is it really worth giving up your carboholic ways?
Here’s what really goes down when you give up refined carbs…
Body Change #1: You BURN FAT
When you stop eating simple carbs your body no longer has readily available calories to burn, and so it clicks over into burning stored fat as energy. This means that your pants will start feeling looser around your waist and thighs.
Body Change #2: You FEEL LESS HUNGRY
Fat burns longer and slower than simple carbs and so your energy stores will take longer to deplete. This means that you’ll find yourself skipping that afternoon pick-me-up snack and powering through until mealtime without hunger pains. You’ll also notice that it takes longer to feel hunger in the mornings after waking up, once you’ve cut the simple carbohydrates and refined sugars out of your diet.
Low Carb Body Change #3: You HAVE MORE ENERGY
Living on a diet of simple sugars and refined carbohydrates puts your body in a continual energy roller coaster. Right after you eat your energy is high and then, whoosh, an hour later your energy levels crash. All of that changes once you cut out those simple carbs. The low carb meals that you switch to are filled with nutrient dense foods that sustain your energy levels for hours at a time, saving you from that frustrating roller coaster.
Low Carb Body Change #4: Your STOMACH GETS FLATTER
Probably the most coveted of the low carb body changes…once you’ve been off of simple carbs for a few weeks your stomach will visibly become flatter. It’s a well-deserved reward and one that will keep you motivated to continue your healthier eating habits.
While eating healthy, nutritious meals is awesome, don’t forget that exercise is half of the battle when it comes to getting and staying fit. Call or email me today and we will get you started on the exercise program that will reshape your body once and for all!
The BEST Carbs
Before you decide to go carb-free, it’s important to know that there is a big difference between simple, refined carbs (which cause rapid fat storage) and complex carbs (which are necessary and healthy). By switching from simple carbs to more complex carbs like fruits and vegetables, sprouted grain bread, oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa and other whole-grain options—you’ll reap the fat loss benefits and will have a steady flow of energy while you avoid the ups and downs that simple carbs cause.
