admin answers:

A very low-carb diet is very dangerous and unhealthy.

“Following an extremely low-carbohydrate diet is disastrous, dangerous, and above all—boring! Carbohydrates are NOT the enemy. Including the appropriate amounts and types of carbohydrate-rich foods in your diet is essential for long-term health and weight loss/maintenance.”

This article in Sparkpeople.com is very informative.

Http://sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=590

if the link does not work, it’s because you have to be a member.
Just e-mail me and I’ll send it to you.

Just in case, the membership is free.

admin answers:

“real food” sigh

Carbs create cravings for more carbs. Refined carbs quickly raise blood sugar triggering insulin & hunger (even when you’re full).

Most overweight & obese people have blood sugar & insulin dysfunctions and can NEVER eat carbs as someone with a functioning body can. They make the mistake of going back to the way of eating that made them fat and that is not possible and yes they will gain all weight back if they eat what they ate that made them obese originally. Insanity is defined as doing the exact same thing, in the exact same way and expecting different results. Many people can return to moderate carb levels but very few can really eat all they want of sugar & maintain weight or health.

Unfortunately, anyone who accumulates over 30# of excess fat is more than likely insulin resistant. Long term ingestion of highly refined carbs “burn out” the insulin receptors on muscle cells, so calories go directly to fat cells, leaving muscle cells screaming for nutrition. Exercise forces muscles to accept glucose out of the bloodstream without the need for insulin.

Most people get obese because their bodies just can’t process carbs any more. They become insulin resistant & carbs go straight to fat cells. As healthy as fruit may be, it just doesn’t promote fat loss. The body won’t release fat stores until the blood stream is free of insulin. In someone insulin resistant, the insulin response is too sensitive & produces too much insulin.

Some foods trigger cravings more than others, it’s important to identify & control or eliminate those foods.

I was extremely insulin resistant after ruining my health with a long term low fat diet & it took a long time to heal my body. At first, it didn’t take much to trigger carb cravings & I would do an “egg day” – deviled eggs & omelets all day & the next day, my appetite would be back under control. I haven’t had to do that in years. Occasionally, I’ll go out & pig out on carbs (usually pizza or cake) & the next day return to low carb with no problem, but I don’t think I could have done that so easily the first couple of years.

My personal carb level is low. I am older & disabled & don’t move much (or cook much) but I eat all I want of meats, eggs, cheeses, yogurt, fats, green vegetables, almonds, berries, flax seeds, chia seeds, shirataki noodles and other foods. Someone active would have a MUCH higher carb level & can usually include all fruits, beans, whole grain products but not sugar & highly refined carbs in unlimited amounts. As long as you have <9grams carbs per hour, you will maintain insulin control & shouldn't gain weight, no matter the calories.

There is no reason to ever go off a low carb way of eating, you slowly re introduce carbs to your way of eating & as long as you don't exceed 9grams of carbs an hour (144 carbs a day) you won't trigger insulin (the fat storage hormone) no matter the calories. Most of us do low carb most of the time & if we cheat & slip back into low carb the next day. I still cheat with sugar occasionally. It's just not a regular part of my life (as it was preAtkins, 6 years ago, when I felt it controlled me & I had no control)

You can also cheat easier than someone in glycolysis. IF you trigger insulin, all those carbs that would go to fat cells on someone in glycolysis instead fill up the empty glycogen stores & go to muscles for burning instead of fat cells. Which would slow weight loss but if you're in maintenance, weight loss is not a concern. (neat little bonus package) Some folks with massive amounts of weight to lose, do weight loss, maintenance & back to weight loss mode – gives them a cheat period without blowing anything.

The rungs to reintroduction of carbs in 5 gram units – all available to very active people in as little as 11 weeks. Make sure you do them in order & you can skip a rung if you do not intend to include it in your permanent way of eating, such as the alcohol rung.:
* (minimum week 3 – maximum 25grams day) Acceptable vegetables, larger quantities
* (minimum week 4 – maximum 30grams day) Add 5grams Cottage cheese
* (minimum week 5 – maximum 35grams day) Add 5grams Nuts & seeds
* (minimum week 6 – maximum 40grams day) Add 5grams Berries
* (minimum week 7 – maximum 45grams day) Alcohol can be added if desired
* (minimum week 8 – maximum 50grams day) Add 5grams Legumes
* (minimum week 9 – maximum 55grams day) Add 5grams Other fruits
* (minimum week10 – maximum 60grams day) Add 5grams Starchy vegetables
* (minimum week11 – maximum 65grams day) Add 5grams Whole grains
If you are continuing to lose or maintain (whichever is goal) in week 12 & beyond, you continue to add 5grams a day per week til you reach your personal carb level.