Remember that movie with Jim Carey, "Dumb and Dumber?" And remember the sequel to that movie, "Dumb and Dumberer?" Well, the low carb mania that is sweeping the globe today has reached a level beyond dumberer? It's more like dumberererer (try to say that five times real fast)
There is an epidemic of "low carb stupidity" running rampant among millions of people throughout the world today ? and fast food restaurants, food product manufacturers, supplement companies, and weight loss programs are capitalizing on it in a big way!
The low carb diet is not inherently "stupid," however. It can be quite beneficial within certain parameters and under the right circumstances. The problem is that many practitioners are uninformed, misinformed, or simply lack the common sense and intuitive bodily wisdom to utilize the low carb approach intelligently.
Many low-carbers don't even know why they are on a low carb diet, they're just following the followers (Not intelligent!) Doing what everyone else is doing is always one of the surest, straightest routes to arrive at mediocrity! If you want to be a success, your chances are far greater if you look at what the masses are doing and do the exact opposite!
Fortunately, there is such a thing as "low carb intelligence." Hopefully, by reading my brief rant, you will increase your carb IQ, and soon join the ranks of the extraordinarily fit, lean and healthy "carbo geniuses!"
Low carb stupidity #1
Selecting your beer or liquor carefully to make sure you have the brand with the fewest grams of carbs.
Low carb intelligence
Avoiding alcohol if you're trying to lose body fat. Drinking only in moderation if you're trying to maintain your weight and be healthy.
Low carb stupidity #2
Believing any of the following: Low carbs diets are the only way to lose fat, low carb diets are the best way to lose fat, no one should ever eat a high carb diet, high carbs always make you fat, starches and grains make everyone sick and unhealthy.
Low carb intelligence
Adjusting your approach according to your health status, your goals and your body type, not according to generalizations preached by dogmatic diet "gurus."
Low carb stupidity #3
Going on the Atkins diet (or any other very low carb/ketogenic diet) with absolutely no idea why you're doing it or how the diet works (going on it because "everybody" is doing it and because you see it advertised everywhere.)
Low carb intelligence
Studying the physiology and biochemistry of the low carb diet and completely understanding all the pros and cons. Then making an informed decision whether to restrict carbs based on your own personal goals, needs and heath status.
Low carb stupidity #4
Thinking that very low carb (ketogenic) dieting is a maintainable "lifestyle."
Low carb intelligence
Understanding that reasonable (moderate) restriction of carbs can be a helpful short term strategy for fat loss, a good way to reach a peak, a legitimate method to control appetite, and an effective way for some people to control insulin. But also understanding that a balanced diet of natural foods is probably the most suitable of all the diets for health, lifelong maintenance and weight control.
Low carb stupidity #5
Believing calories don't count if you just cut out your carbs (or not counting calories because it's "too much work.")
Low carb intelligence
Knowing that fat loss always did and always will boil down to calories in vs. calories out. Taking the time and effort to crunch your numbers (at least once), typing up your menu on a spreadsheet, keeping a diary, and/or using nutrition tracking software.
Low carb stupidity #6
Staying on a low carb diet that has stopped working (or never worked in the first place).
Low carb intelligence
Adjusting your diet according to your results; understanding that a common definition of insanity (and/or stupidity) is to continue to do the same things over and over again, while expecting a different result.
Low carb stupidity#7
Believing that you don't need exercise because all you need to do is cut carbs.
Low carb intelligence
Knowing that dieting is the worst way to lose fat and that exercise is the best way to lose fat (Burn The Fat, don't starve the fat).
Low carb stupidity #8
Using the argument; "There's no such thing as an essential carbohydrate" as justification for low carb dieting.
Low carb intelligence
Realizing that textbook definitions of "essential" can be taken out of context to promote a fad diet and that just because there's technically no "essential" carbohydrates (as there are essential amino acids and fatty acids) doesn't mean carbohydrates aren't "essential" in other respects.
Low carb stupidity #9
Using the argument, "You have to eat fat to lose fat" as justification for a high fat, low carb diet, without explaining it or putting it in context (exactly how much fat and what kind of fat?)
Low carb intelligence
Understanding the importance of essential and omega three fats (the good fats), but not taking any single nutritional principle to an extreme (such as, "If a little fat is good for you then a lot is even better.")
Low carb stupidity #10
Saying, "All carbs are bad" or "All carbs are fattening."
Low carb intelligence
Avoiding generalizations, and instead, having multiple distinctions about carbohydrates (and other foods) so you can make better choices. For example:
Low GI vs. high GI carbs
Simple vs. complex carbs
Starchy vs. fibrous carbs
Natural vs. refined carbs
High calorie density vs. low calorie density carbs
Low carb stupidity #11
Not clarifying your definition of low carbs.
Low carb intelligence
Realizing that there are "very low" carb diets, "low" carb diets, and "moderate" carb diets and that you cant lump them all together. (Some people consider The Zone Diet, at 40% of calories from carbs, a low carb diet, others consider 40% carbs quite high).
Low carb stupidity #12
Believing that carrots are fattening because they're high on the glycemic index and because a popular fad diet book says so.
Low carb intelligence
Have we lost all vestiges of common sense? With an average carrot clocking in at 31 calories and 7.3 grams of carbs, do you really think that this orange-colored, nutrient-dense, low-calorie, all-natural, straight-out-of-the-ground root vegetable is going to make you fat? (if so, you are in "carbohydrate kindergarten.")
Low carb stupidity? Lucky #13
Eating lots of processed and packaged low carb foods (including those protein "candy bars")? and thinking you're "being good" and "following your diet."
Low carb intelligence
Realizing that natural, unrefined foods are one of the keys to lifelong weight control and that anything man made and refined is NOT an ideal "diet" food ? including the highly processed low carb foods that are all the rage this year. (Doesn't this bandwagon reek of the late 80's and early 90's "no fat" craze, when all those "fat free" foods were being passed off as healthy diet food, but were really highly processed and full of pure sugar?)
--End of Stupidities--
Forgive me for the obvious dashes of sarcasm, but sometimes I just can't help myself and I end up going into "rant mode"? I think the last time this happened was in my newsletter almost a year ago? that was the issue where I wrote about the ad for the candy bar that increases your bench press by 50 pounds? Yeah... I heard those bars are especially effective when you combine them with low carb potato chips (weren't those low fat potato chips a few years ago??? Oh nevermind... it's all soooo confusing!)
Copyright 2005 Tom Venuto
Tom Venuto is a certified personal trainer, natural bodybuilder and author of the #1 best selling diet e-book, "Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle. You can get info on Tom's e-book at: http://www.burnthefat.com. To get Tom's free monthly e-zine, visit http://www.burnthefat.com
one time home cleaning Highland Park ..The low carb diet craze has become extremely popular amongst... Read More
Life is extraordinary filled with wonderful people to show up... Read More
Everybody you know is on the latest weight loss bandwagon:... Read More
Every day, it seems, a new study pertaining to weight... Read More
Causes of ObesityJust like there is no weight loss pill... Read More
Using healthy low carb recipes are an important part of... Read More
Weight loss is one of the biggest industries in the... Read More
Axiom Number Two: Hunger ControlTrying to lose weight without understanding... Read More
That's a pretty "in your face" statement, but really it's... Read More
Americans have their French fries, the British have their chips,... Read More
Only if you're trying to fool the scale on a... Read More
Which is easier to do ? turn a car's steering... Read More
One way of recognizing a fad diet is... Read More
Yes, my healthy diet has at times suffered at the... Read More
The incidences of deseases like obesity, diabetes, colon deseases etc.are... Read More
There are several ways to manage cravings. You can: ... Read More
"How do I lose 5 kg or 30 kg?""How do... Read More
You've heard the popular advice on weight loss diets. Cut... Read More
If you were going to travel to the other side... Read More
In 1994, I had a RNY surgery. At 350 lbs... Read More
Let's face when it comes to overweight and obesity there... Read More
Your brain has this really interesting system that is kind... Read More
As a part of a children's diet and health study,... Read More
Abdominoplasty, or "tummy tuck" is a major surgical procedure that... Read More
False campaignsMore than 50 percent of Americans and Canadians are... Read More
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge .."I am going to start a diet tomorrow". How many... Read More
Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what... Read More
America is getting more obese every year. Even our children... Read More
In recent years, carbohydrates have been labeled as the nutrition... Read More
Self-acceptance and body love can be tough concepts to grasp... Read More
If you are a fan of horse racing, you are... Read More
Fats are always looked at as a negative in a... Read More
Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
There is only one way to lose weightThere really is... Read More
There are lots of dieters, trying every sort of plan... Read More
Do you know that while you work out the muscles... Read More
America loves fast food. Last year, consumers spent billions of... Read More
Making the Decision:Whether you are interested losing ten pounds that... Read More
Many of enjoy sitting down at Starbucks and enjoying a... Read More
Body Mass Index (BMI)Body Mass Index is an accurate indicator... Read More
Franchised Business Models and American Diets could be at odds.... Read More
If you are fighting the battle of the bulge (overweight... Read More
An ancient practice from Eastern Medicine, bowel cleansing is fast... Read More
"THE SECRET REMEDY OF THE ANCIENT WARRIORS"Since what would seem... Read More
All of the things we tell sick people so that... Read More
This is a layman marketer's observations on diets and weight... Read More
What to Do with the Leftovers?Okay, tell me if you've... Read More
Any weight loss or diet plan, including low-carb plans like... Read More
According to a new study appearing in the American Journal... Read More
Everyone who has ever tried to lose weight has hit... Read More
Weight Loss |