OUT TO DINNER - THE DREADED SIX CARB MEAL

Let’s sort out how people gain fat so we can think our way into fat loss solutions. Statistics show that Americans gain 10 pounds between November 15th and January 2nd. Besides big portions, this holiday weight gain is the result of 3 dietary errors: alcohol, snacks and desserts. Firstly, consider that all 3 of these choices are laden with carbohydrates. It is a fact that people don’t gain fat by eating fat. This is proven by the Atkins diet which consists of fat and protein with no carbs. People lose fat on bacon and prime rib but almost always rebound and gain all the weight back during their attempt to return to a normal eating pattern. They fail because of lack of control of the carbs. So let us stop blaming fat for the problem and find the solution.

The body utilizes fat for energy in a very efficient way. Fat burns hot and gives us great and consistent energy. The Eskimos are not fat at all. They are round faced lean people with lots of raw seal fat in their diet. They eat a few carbs seasonally and depend on fat as a food source but again, they are not fat. The guy from “Supersize Me” gained 30 pounds in one month (one pound per day) and it was discovered that the weight gain was not from the fat but the sugar he was eating (one pound a day hidden in McDonald’s food). Now that we have convinced ourselves that carbs are the challenge, let’s take a look at how we can utilize them in our nutrition plan without causing fat gain.

Firstly, let us not malign all carbs. It is the white flour and sugar that are most to blame for obesity and illness in the world. On fitnesslifeline.com and here in the blog, you will see that the slow digesting carbohydrates (oatmeal, rice, yam, potato, whole grain pasta and bread) are fine with meals but you are allowed ONE and I mean one carb per meal. That’s where the difficulties arise. People don’t pay attention; they just eat. So let’s pay attention to what happens when you go out for a nice dinner.

So, we’re at the restaurant for our long anticipated dinner date and the waitress arrives at the table and what is the first thing she asks, “Would you like a drink before dinner”? Regretfully, every alcohol beverage in the world is a carb and the only one that is any good for you is dry red wine at one glass per day. So there is the first carb in the 6 carb meal. Next, as she brings the drinks she asks, “How about hors d’oeuvres before dinner?” Those battered cheese balls and other before dinner snacks are full of carbs and that is the second carb of the night.

Well, you are ordering a nice dinner and with the entrée she asks, would you like a baked potato, rice, yam or whole grain pasta? Wow, there is the good carb you need with the meal. Now that is the 3rd carb and when the meal comes you see the dinner roll on the plate and that is the 4th carb of the nite. Well, the dinner was great and now the dessert menu arrives. That dessert has as many calories as the whole meal and that is the 5th carb. Now it’s time for the after dinner drink and you have now accomplished the 6 carb meal and you did it at night when it is most apt to be stored as fat.

I eat extra carbs once a week on the free day and the rest of the time stick to one carb per meal and these are the slow digesting ones mentioned in this article.

The trick is to keep the nutrition, resistance training and cardio work all operating at once and you will have a glorious physique and be very happy about it all. Keep up with this blog site and fitnesslifeline.com to refine your knowledge and motivation towards health, wellness and fitness.

Here’s to life balance, Jumpin' Jeff