Best Of Weight Loss: Are These Carbohydrates Sabotaging Your Weight Loss?

Tired of shrinking clothes?
Do you wake up tired?

According to the CDC, 69% of American adults over the age of 20 are overweight! It's not just your health that's affected by being overweight. Your quality of life suffers as well.
We have become a sedentary society with poor eating habits. Surprisingly, even active adults have difficulty losing weight.

Why is this the case?

Poor dietary habits or following incorrect dietary advice. In this quick fix society we chase the path of least resistance. This makes you particularly prone to fad diets or the latest weight loss "guru".

If you want lasting weight loss success, you need to ditch the low-calorie, low carbohydrate diets. These diets will produce some weight loss initially, but the weight loss will be short-lived as your body adapts to a lower caloric intake by lowering your resting metabolic rate. Now your body will burn fewer calories at rest and you have to spend more time working out or further lower your caloric intake to keep the weight off.

In today's article we are going to discuss the value of carbohydrates in your diet and what "quality" carbohydrates to include in your diet.

Let's start our discussion with what carbohydrates you should avoid so that you can maximize your weight loss.

Over processed, refined carbohydrates: These carbohydrates include:

pastas
bagels
breads
cereals
rice
sodas, juices, candies, etc.

We all know why we should avoid candy and sodas when trying to lose weight. The other carbohydrates listed here will sabotage your weight loss by causing big blood sugar swings and spiking your insulin, which in turn signals your body to store them as fat. In addition, eating these refined carbohydrates will actually cause you to want more of these bad carbohydrates and increase the overall amount of food that you eat.

Avoid most products listed as whole grain. Refined flour is the first ingredient listed in a lot of these whole grain products. This refined flour will still spike your blood sugar and create an insulin surge. A bodily reaction that is counter to weight loss.

What happens if you keep eating these processed carbohydrates?

A higher incidence of diabetes. Ask 25.8 million diabetic Americans about their diets and you can bet that their diets include a lot of processed carbohydrates.

If you are struggling to lose weight, despite spending hours and hours each week in the gym, then make these dietary changes to see lasting success.

Focus your carbohydrate intake on whole foods, especially vegetables. Combine this with a high protein diet (especially grass-fed meats and range free eggs and dairy), and watch the weight drop off.

What are bran and germ? These are the healthiest parts of a grain. If you are going to eat grains at all, then focus on only these two portions of grains as a part of your diet. However, the bulk of your carbohydrate intake should include whole vegetables, dark-skinned fruits and berries. Avoid the lure of fruit juices. They have had the valuable fiber removed as well as other beneficial nutrients.

Healthy fats are a great way to replace processed carbohydrates in your diet. These healthy fats include grass-fed meats and dairy, avocados, walnuts, cashews, brazil nuts and almond butter. Peanuts are actually the least nutritious nut, so eat these in moderation. These healthy fats and proteins will do a better job of satisfying your hunger while keeping blood sugar and insulin levels in check.

One of my favorite carbohydrate options are yams or sweet potatoes. They are amazingly high in fiber and antioxidants. Try a sweet potato with Kerry Gold organic butter and some cinnamon for a great option to a baked potato. Or make sweet potato chips, a great option for your kids.

Try eliminating, or at least limiting, your processed carbohydrate intake and watch how quickly that lean, healthy physique appears and your energy levels soar.

Good luck with your weight loss and fitness goals!