antihero

Help! Help! I Just Ate A CARBOHYDRATE!
By The "Muscle Nerd" Jeff Anderson

I think I finally realized that the low carb craze spreading
across the globe has ultimately reached a level of obsession
when I was standing next to my car at a local convenient store,
pumping gas.

While listening to the canned music coming from the speakers
overhead, the music was suddenly interrupted to broadcast an
advertisement…for the "LOW CARB SLIM JIM™"!

Yes…the Slim Jim™! Those spicy, greasy sticks of leftover
processed meat found on store counters all over the world are
here to give dieters everywhere the assistance they've been
looking for to finally trim those waistlines and let those
abs poke through!

Of course, you should ignore the 13 grams of f at in every
slimy stick you pop into your eager little mouth, right? Or
at least that's what the company would LIKE you to think,
because everyone now knows that it's the CARBOHYDRATE that's
your true enemy in the fight against fat right?

WRONG!

Ads abound for unhealthy products that love to claim low carb
in order to lure the uneducated dieter into their tangled web
of deceit while adding unnecessary inches to their waistline.

Regardless of whether you're looking to gain muscle mass or
l ose b ody f at, diet will make up the foundation of your
program, and understanding the truth behind carb consumption
will make or break your chances for success.

Here are 7 FACTS ABOUT CARBOHYDATES that you need to know
before customizing your diet plan:

FACT 1: A Carb Is Not A Carb Is Not A Carb

All carbohydrates are NOT alike, but rather come in two
forms: those that break down almost as soon as they hit your
stomach (called High-Glycemic Index or High-"GI" carbs) and
include such foods as pastries, mashed potatoes, white bread,
white rice, fruit juices, etc., and those that digest more
slowly in your body (called Low-Glycemic Index or Low-"GI"
carbs) such as most fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads,
oatmeal, sweet potatoes, etc.

As you're about to learn, each type of carb has a very
different effect on your body and knowing when and how to eat
each will make or break your success. Read on…

FACT 2: Low-Gl Carbs Help Burn F at And Fuel Your Day

Since low-glycemic carbs don't digest as quickly, when your
body is looking for energy it will decide to look toward
your f at cells for the fuel it needs. That means that a
steady, regulated supply of the right amount of low-GI carbs
will help you burn f at all day long while providing you with
the energy you need to make it through the rest of your day.

As an added bonus, low-GI carbs contain more nutrients and
fiber which will give you a more "full" feeling and help you
avoid those cravings you're about to learn about in FACT 3…

FACT 3: High-Gl Carbs Trigger F at Storage…MOST Of The Time

Since high-GI foods digest so quickly, they trigger your
body to release insulin which forces your body to look to
what you just ate or drank for fuel rather than using your
f at stores.

To make things worse, this fast digestion means that food
empties from your stomach quickly, leaving you craving more
of those potato chips, french fries and cookies that got
you there in the first place, essentially adding even MORE
calories eager to make their way to your waistline.

However, there IS an exception to this rule which you'll
discover in FACT 4…

FACT 4: When BAD Carbs Become The GOOD GUYS

The insulin spike that comes as a result of eating high-GI
carbs can actually become your champion if used correctly.
You see, insulin pushes glucose, the energy source in carbs,
as well as protein, into your muscles, which is EXACTLY
what you want to happen immediately after your workout.

While normally your muscles begin to break down following
your workout in order to convert stored glycogen to fuel
for the body, eating high-GI carbs will quickly restore
the depleted glycogen stores and switch your muscles from
a "breaking down" state to a "building up" state.

To accomplish this, be sure to take in approximately 70-100
GRAMS of high-glycemic carbs within ONE HOUR after a
strenuous workout.

FACT 5: Combining Nutrients CHANGES A Carb's GI rating

Carbs don't influence the body independent of other
nutrients, but rather are affected by the inclusion of
proteins and fats eaten at the same time. By combining
fats and protein with your higher GI carb meals, you can
actually lower the carb's ability to spike your insulin
levels.

Now this doesn't mean that simply eating a hamburger with
your fries will make everything ok! But it does mean that
including a side of pinto or black beans and some lean
fish or chicken will help sabotage the evil plot of
those mashed potatoes that snuck onto your plate.

FACT 6: Hardgainers Rule "Carb Land"

While those of us who may just look at a doughnut and gain
fat need to pay close attention to the type of carbs we
take in, those cursed lean people (often called "hardgainers")
may actually benefit from eating high-GI foods some of the
time.

Here's the logic…

In order to gain w eight, hardgainers need to consume LOTS
of calories…many more than someone with a slower metabolism.
By eating higher GI foods a few times during the day along
with their lower GI foods, they'll actually become hungrier,
allowing them to take in the extra calories they need to
finally pack on some pounds.

FACT 7: Low-GI Carbs Power Your Workouts

Looking for that "power buzz" to get you through your
workout by downing a few candy bars right before? That
initial sugar rush is NOT the friend you think it is.

While you will see a temporary boost in energy from the
resulting insulin spike, consuming high-GI carbs right
before exercising will leave you stranded without fuel
when your body's insulin levels suddenly CRASH half way
through your workout.

Eat low-GI carbs 1-2 hours before hitting the gym and
you'll have all the energy you need to drive maximum
power into your workout straight through to the end.

Information Courtesy of: Truly Huge Fitness Tips 4/27/05

__________________
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Disclaimer: Information given by me is my personal opinion.
It cannot be considered medical advice and does not represent the official opinion of a company that is not a sponsor here.
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Jams

It reminds me of all those "healthy, low fat" foods. Thye may boast ultra low levels of fat, but are loaded with carbs.

Samsara

FACT 5: Combining Nutrients CHANGES A Carb's GI rating

Carbs don't influence the body independent of other
nutrients, but rather are affected by the inclusion of
proteins and fats eaten at the same time. By combining
fats and protein with your higher GI carb meals, you can
actually lower the carb's ability to spike your insulin
levels.

Now this doesn't mean that simply eating a hamburger with
your fries will make everything ok! But it does mean that
including a side of pinto or black beans and some lean
fish or chicken will help sabotage the evil plot of
those mashed potatoes that snuck onto your plate.


I busted out laughing when I read this part.

__________________
"The passionate pursuit of perfection."

---Raider926---