Confused...please help!

[Thate]

Did Chrissy get started on this yet?

[megajusto]

Chrissy,
You should never cut all of your carbs or drop them to unsafe levels. You need carbs to function, and especially so if you work out. Starches are bad for you in excess (simple carbs), and you should use them sparingly, but complex carbs are an absolute necessity. If you are looking for something to kill your cravings for bad food, try morningstar soy buffalo wings. Trust me, you'll thank me later. They taste AMAZINGLY good, and they are high in fiber, low in fat. No matter what, soya foods are processed unless you are eating plain soybeans, so they should subsidize, not make up your diet. Stick to whole healthy foods with no refined sugars (no high fructose corn syrup, etc.) and that are low in fat. While we need fat to survive, certain kinds are better than others. Switch to olive oil instead of corn oil, whole wheat instead of bleached flour, mustard instead of mayo, etc. You will be feeling better and more energetic in no time. Just remember, your brain tells your body what to do subconsciously. You will feel as good as you think you feel. Good luck.

[OLYMPIAN]

complex carbs are an absolute necessity...you need carbs to function .

no ,they're not ,however fats and proteins are..Have you ever heard such thing as "essential carbs"???..again , she might as well eliminate all "direct carbs sources " from her diet if fat loss is her goal..fats are essential; carbs are not! Let's not forget how crappy you feel on low carbs compared to the stable blood sugars associated with a state of ketosis (where the brain is using fats for fuel)....the brain uses ketones (fats) for fuel so carbs arent needed to "function properly" like you said. When you're in KETOSIS, you don't get low blood sugar during the day because your brain isn't dependent on glucose for fuel ( again, it's using ketones-- fats-- of which there's an endless supply)........... In fact, you don't even need as much sleep when in ketosis. You're always alert. This is one of the best benefits of the diet. Imagine not being grumpy or moody.......or having ups and downs in energy? Remember, the most important aspect of a diet (for most people) is the ability to stick to it!

[John Benz]

Excellent advice OLYMPIAN!

[TAVARES88]

Excellent adice as usual Oly.

[Sadie]

essential carbs? YES i have! i think chocolate cake is an essential carb so im probably going to die soon lol


is chrissy still a member here i havent seen her post in ages

[OLYMPIAN]

The success of the diet industry to make money is not necessarily to help people achieve sustained weight loss.The mindset is what requires work; then the behaviour will follow.It is the mindset of ‘choice’ and free-will, rather than ‘will-power’ that will succeed long-term.

[OKMEDIC]

The success of the diet industry to make money is not necessarily to help people achieve sustained weight loss.The mindset is what requires work; then the behaviour will follow.It is the mindset of ‘choice’ and free-will, rather than ‘will-power’ that will succeed long-term.

Amen

[Scotsmark]

The success of the diet industry to make money is not necessarily to help people achieve sustained weight loss.The mindset is what requires work; then the behaviour will follow.It is the mindset of ‘choice’ and free-will, rather than ‘will-power’ that will succeed long-term.

The goal of the "Diet" industry is to line it's own pockets, whether it's subscribers lose weight or not. Think about it, if "Slimfast" worked as well as it was advertised, do you think that there would be overweight people pounding the streets? NO, if their shit worked that well then they would go out of business as there would be no fat people to buy it.
As Oly has stated, and before in a previous post, "People cheat on their diets because THEY WANT TO!"

[KB91Notch347]

If you keep cortisol low (by
restricting STIMULANTS) you'll ensure that muscle is spared!

I've never heard about a correlation between stimulants (caffeine?) and increased cortisol. Can you please elaborate?

Thanks,
KB

[OLYMPIAN]

I read it somewhere and Palumbo also preaches about it

caffeine does have a benefit for weight loss but the concomitant increases in cortisol (a catabolic steroid that breaks down muscle, suppresses the immune system, and causes increases in abdominal fat deposition), blood pressure, and cardiac risk profiles, don't make it worth it.

[John Benz]

A cup of coffee in the morning is mandatory however!

[OLYMPIAN]

A cup of coffee in the morning is mandatory however!

without a doubt.!!!!!!

[megajusto]

no ,they're not ,however fats and proteins are..Have you ever heard such thing as "essential carbs"???..again , she might as well eliminate all "direct carbs sources " from her diet if fat loss is her goal..fats are essential; carbs are not! Let's not forget how crappy you feel on low carbs compared to the stable blood sugars associated with a state of ketosis (where the brain is using fats for fuel)....the brain uses ketones (fats) for fuel so carbs arent needed to "function properly" like you said. When you're in KETOSIS, you don't get low blood sugar during the day because your brain isn't dependent on glucose for fuel ( again, it's using ketones-- fats-- of which there's an endless supply)........... In fact, you don't even need as much sleep when in ketosis. You're always alert. This is one of the best benefits of the diet. Imagine not being grumpy or moody.......or having ups and downs in energy? Remember, the most important aspect of a diet (for most people) is the ability to stick to it!

That was informative, and it sounds mostly rational. Here is what I cannot understand though... How can complex carbohydrates not be an essential part of your diet? My workouts are sometimes 4-5 hours long. I think if I only ate protein and fat, I'd die. I'm genuinely asking, not just to be a sarcastic dick or anything. Your advice seems sound, and I'd be interested to know what you eat, since you have obviously been doing this a lot longer than me. If there is a way I could burn fat faster, and you'd be nice enough to post it, I'm all ears. Thanks in advance.

[OLYMPIAN]

right off the bat, if your workouts last 4-5 hrs thats is your main problem.