- Biack Rose66
- |
- Senior Mythic Member
Good thread, I have lost a total of 60 pounds since June, and I want to give some of my pointers and stuff I learned through my journey. If OP wishes, he can add them.
How is Weight Gained?: There is a massive science behind it. It's called Biology. Like other fields of science, it can get complex, but such is the beauty of life. In terms to understand it, when our bodies need energy, our glucose levels our low and we start to feel hungry. To combat this, our body releases what is called insulin, and we feel this throughout the day as hunger. The macronutrients (eg. protein, carbohydrates, fat) then go through the storing and regulatory processes in our digestive tract, but what we are mainly concerned with here and with ease is carbohydrates. When we start eating, our bodies release more insulin and carbohydrates are then used to bump up our glucose levels. This released insulin acts in excess and shuts out fat cells from being burnt. Having a lot of carbs in your diet (above 150g~) is an unhealthy amount and can lead to further weight gain.
tl;dr: Our bodies will burn carbs in excess amounts as opposed to fats, leaving them to grow.
Fats are in Fact, Good for You: Especially if you are given a low/moderate amount of carbs for your diet. I went on a diet that cut out my carb intake to 50grams at the start (and coupled that with cardio) and I felt the effects of it right away. Our bodies are creations of evolution. Our diets are products of that. Cavemen didn't have access to copious amounts of carbs besides berries, and even then, they weren't as carb intensive as they are now. Instead, they relied on fat for energy. Your body can burn dietary fat and body fat. You would call me crazy if I told you bacon was good for you, but it is. If you transition yourself from a carb-heavy diet to a fat-heavy diet, you will have a more effective amount of energy that burns slowly and won't leave you feeling burnt out.
tl;dr: Fats are what our ancestors mainly used for energy sources as opposed to carbohydrates.
This is more controversial and could be argued, but I have read excerpts, articles, and studies online that show the value of red meats and fats.
Here are some of my sources:
The Definitive Guide to Cholesterol - Mark's Daily Apple
Modern Wheat
Carb Management Chart
A study that concluded that a low-carb, high-fat, and high-protein diet reduces the risk of type-2 diabetes.
Learn Something New Everyday: I once started as someone who took their own spin at a low-carb, high-fat diet. Seven months later I am managing a cut whilst also following my own macronutrient ratio that can help me lose weight and make PRs on my weights. I try to learn something new everyday about weight loss. It is something really hard to do because many blogs who do talk about it give you smoke and mirrors, or summarize it without giving you the studies that they got it from. If you are the sort that enjoys learning, go to a website (my favorite is marksdailyapple.com, he was an olympic trainer and popularized the "Paleolithic Diet", and he also has the studies to back up what he says) that talks about NUTRITION as opposed to WEIGHT LOSS. Weight loss is one tiny factor in the big world of nutrition. Look at this in the grand scheme of things, it makes everything easier to understand.
tl;dr, if you're going to learn something, do it in regards to nutrition as opposed to weight loss. If you read a blog, take it with a grain of salt and look for the studies that they talk about.
I'll post more later, hope this helps.
[Edited on 01.01.2013 12:15 PM PST]