What happens when you avoid carbs? Well, your body goes into a little panic mode actually. Carbs are in a lot of foods, and unless you know what you're doing with your diet, it can be dangerous. I know guys who have 'no carb days' but they are in shape, muscular and fit. They also take in a lot of protein and healthy fats. I have seen and known people who don't have carbs 'for marbs', and they tend to eat salads, fruits, a bit of protein, not many healthy fats at all, and they also tend to actually eat some carbs. Firstly, fruits have carbs in them (simple sugars) and also, if you are taking in low calorie foods everyday, you're not feeding your body what it needs. Getting rid of carbs is not the way to lose body fat. You will likely lose just fluid and muscle tissue.
Carbs are your bodies primary energy source. If your body stops receiving them, it will try and find another source. Many people think that it will only take the fat, BUT, it doesn't really work like that. Fat is stored energy, and if your body stops getting carbs to use as fuel for everyday functions, it would tend to keep the stored fat as a reserve, and start getting rid of muscle tissue and use that as fuel. I've known people who have gone the 'no carb' way, and they have lost muscle tissue (which gives you a worse shaped body) and lost fluid. As soon as you start eating normally again, the weight comes straight back. You don't really lose body fat, it is mostly muscle tissue and fluid. It's a technique that models and actors use before a photo shoot or something - temporary weight loss to fit into the right clothing, but the weight doesn't stay off.
Carbs have been demonised and people think that carbs cause obesity and you must avoid them if you want to be 'skinny'. Well, being skinny is not a healthy or good look, and carbs are not the enemy, it just depends how much of them you eat and how active you are. Think of it like this - If you are going on a road trip, and you calculated that you need 40 liters of fuel (that's allowing for a few mishaps along the way), would you put 50 liters in? no, as it would cost more money, your car would be heavier, and your car doesn't need that much fuel. It's the same with carbs and the body. If you put too much 'energy' into your body, it will store what it doesn't use, that's how you gain body fat.
If you really want to lose weight 'before marbs', then LOWER your carb intake, INCREASE your protein and healthy fat intake, and get exercising. That will be healthy, it will lose body fat (NOT muscle or just fluid) and you're weight won't suddenly come back when you start eating properly again.
I hope this post was helpful, and hopefully those of you who are currently having "no carbs before marbs" may think twice.
Lee Gregory Fitness
