Lo carbs, no carbs, its so confusing to you, the consumer. That’s exactly how the weight loss industry wants you to feel, confused. If you are confused, you do nothing. Your brain is on overload, so the first thing that you hear that sounds half-way plausible, you accept it. Snap out of it! The truth about carbs is not that confusing. Stay with me as I explore the secrets about carbs that the weight loss industry doesn’t want you to know.

Secret #1 Carbs = Energy

The only “food” that your brain uses as a fuel source is glucose. Glucose comes from the breakdown of carbs. However, if you eat more carbs than your brain and the rest of your body, can use for fuel, it gets stored as fat. This is where it gets a little “muddy” in the weight loss ads. Because excess carbs are stored as fat and stored fat can lead to excess weight gain. The weight loss industry fools you into believing that you can live without carbs. But no carbs means no fuel for your brain.

Secret #2 Fruits and Veggies Have Carbs Too

The “experts” in the weight loss industry almost never refer to simple carbs as being fruits and veggies, but they are. They provide you with quick energy and are digested faster than complex carbs (bread, cereal, pasta and rice). Most of the time, when you hear the word “carbs,” which is short for carbohydrates, in a radio or TV ad, they’re referring to processed snacks, sweets and candies. Yes, its good to limit the intake of these foods, but they should not be synonymous with the word carbs. Next time you hear the media referring to carbs, listen closely to see what foods they are really referring to.

Secret #3 Eating Carbs DOES NOT Equal Weight Gain

Your diet should contain a certain amount of carbs, usually 45%-65% of your daily food intake (levels vary by individuals). You must maintain a certain level of carb intake in your diet because carbs not only provide your body with energy, they also give your body much needed nutrients that it can’t obtain from other sources. In addition, carbs take longer to move through your system, allowing you to feel full longer, which means it’ll take longer for your body to feel hungry again. This means that you can control your food intake better.

Secret #4 Timing and Portion Control

Its not eating carbs that’s the issue, its when you eat them and how much you eat. You should be eating every 3-4 hours and each meal should contain a mix of protein, carbs and vegetables. Likewise, the amount of carbs you eat at each meal is important. Your body needs a certain amount to function properly. Think of eating carbs as prepping for what you are going to do, not for what you have already done. You don’t need to replenish energy if you’ve already used it up at the end of the day. A meal without carbs at the end of the night won’t be as harmful to your body as not eating any carbs at the beginning of the day.

If you are ready to stop being confused by the weight loss industry and take control of your weight loss journey get started now by signing up for the 31 Days of Losing Weight Loss Challenge, click here!