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- Carbs Make You Fat
Cutting carbohydrates is one of the most advertised weight loss strategies. Low carb and keto diets have saturated the industry leading to a misconception that carbohydrates make us fat and that we mustn't have them. This couldn't be further from the truth! Carbohydrates are crucial as they are the body's preferred energy source. This means they give us energy to perform to the best of our ability in the gym. The harder we train the fitter and stronger we will become leading to muscle gain and increased metabolism! Not to mention carbohydrates are also vital for brain function and clarity. Consuming excess calories overall will make us gain weight whether this comes from fat, carbohydrates or protein. Carbohydrates aren't the devil! They will actually help you achieve your goals when consumed correctly.
- Foods Labelled 'Natural', 'Fat Free', 'Lite', Etc. Are Healthier for You
Food labelling and advertising is designed to trick us into thinking something is good for us or a healthier option. When a lot of the time these foods are loaded with calories and not actually beneficial at all. When reading a label, the main thing you want to look for is the ingredient list, sugar and fat content. If the label has over 10 ingredients and you can't pronounce half of them you probably shouldn't eat it. Here are some common terms to look out for:
- Natural/Organic/Gluten Free - Still can be loaded with sugar and unhealthy ingredients. A biscuit is still a biscuit high in calories even if it is labelled 'organic'.
- Lite/Light - Can refer to colour, texture or flavour doesn't mean lower calorie or healthier.
- Fat Free - Many fat free foods have salt or sugar added to them to up the flavour.
- Vegan - Can still be loaded with artificial ingredients and full of sugar and fat.
- Detox Programs Make You Lose Weight
Similar to above, we are constantly exposed to juice cleanses, detox teas and 7- or 10-day detox programs. These 'strategies' are advertised as a quick fix to make us lose weight fast. In actual fact they do more harm than good and can damage your metabolism and relationship with food. Many of these programs will drop calories extremely low as well as cut out any carbohydrates. Carbs store 3ml of water with every gram so cutting these out will automatically lead to a big drop on the scales- from water NOT FAT. You may think you are losing fat and becoming lean when in reality you have just lost water and probably some muscle too. Instead of looking for a quick fix why not make some small lifestyle changes and enjoy the process. Fat loss can be enjoyable and sustainable!
There is so much information out there and it can be hard to know what to believe or which diet to follow. The bottom line is everyone is different and there is no one specific way. If you need help with your goals and are unsure where to start, we would love to help. At Vision we customise nutrition and training to the individual and their goals, lifestyle and preferences.
*Disclaimer: Individual results vary based on agreed goals. Click here for details.
