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Low Carb Intelligence vs Low Carb Stupidity
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 in 2004! 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
uniformed, misinformed, or simply lack the common sense and intuitive bodily wisdom to utilize the low carb approach intelligently. Many low-carbers dont 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 this month, 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 low carb gurus. Low carb stupidity #3 Going on the Atkins diet (or any other very low carb/ketogenic
diet) with absolutely no idea why youre 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, 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, dont 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 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 can't 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 youre 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--
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