How To Lose Weight The Right Way P2

Further to yesterdays blog, today we are discussing weight loss and it's relation to carbs and fat. For the most important elements of fat loss please see my previous blog, including the difference between weight loss and fat loss, the importance of calories and protein.

In the world of weight loss carbohydrates are very important. However not in the way you might think, for so many years carbs have been demonised and looked upon with distain. There are so many fad diets out there that have reduced carbs or zero carbs. The reality of carbs is that they are a very useful tool, and as they are generally used as the body's primary fuel source and you tend to find the more carbs you have the more energised you will feel with your day. Further to this carbs are muscle sparing, meaning that you don't go into a catabolic state (a state where your body breaks down muscle for energy) when consuming carbs, this is very important when trying to achieve a toned look and you are wanting to burn body fat as opposed to just losing weight.

Much the same as carbs, fats have also been demonised by fad diets, but fats are such an essential part of everyone's health. They are responsible for a lot of hormone function and this has a great impact on general health, such as maintaining cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Eating fat does not make you fat, eating too much fat makes you fat.

It is important to have a minimum amount of fat in your diet to maintain health and this is where a balance needs to be struck between carbs and fats in the diet. After total calories for the individual have been set, these calories should be divided up by protein, carbs and fats. The proportions of which are down to user discretion. Protein is by far the best macronutrient to focus on to ensure fat loss rather than weight loss and then the remaining calories are split between carbs and fats, for the most part you should never remove a whole macronutrient group from your diet unless prescribed by a doctor or you're looking to maintain a ketogenic diet long term. The proportions in which fats and carbs are split is up to you and how you feel, most of the clients I have worked with over my career have been better off with the majority of their remaining calories coming from carbs and have felt more energised as a result. However it is specific to the individual and this is where I recommend you play with your fat and carb split to see where you feel you function best. Also worth pointing out is that the split does not need to be the same every day, it is important to maintain a good amount of protein daily for fat loss, but carbs and fats can fluctuate day by day if this gives you the freedom to eat more things you love and leave you feeling satisfied.

Keep an eye out for some more blogs coming soon. If there are any subjects you want a deep dive on, or any areas you want to ask questions about get in contact by emailing jacobpttelford@gmail.com