Today we are addressing the big debate Fats v. Carbs and which one is better for weight loss? The very simple answer is that it depends on which one helps manage your energy and cravings more, as well as which one your body metabolizes better. And the only way to figure that out is with a little trial and error. This is one of the first things I do with my clients, figure out which one of the two they are prioritizing more and create a meal plan where we prioritize the opposite source of fuel.
But before we dive deeper into that, I think it’s important to address why the two are so important. Both fats and carbs serve as an energy source for our bodies. Our bodies will either burn sugar (carbs) or fats during exercise in particular. One of the biggest mistakes, when people start to diet, is they tend to cut both of these out, and this strategy will only work for the very short term before you end up crashing. Another dieting dilemma is that most people don’t realize that their diet is high in both of these macronutrients which makes them primed for more fat storage.
So how do you figure out which one is best for you? Put it to the test. For example, if you typically eat 3 - 4 meals/day. Add one of these (carbs OR fats) to two of those meals and the other to only one of those meals throughout the day. It’s not magic so it will most likely take more than a day to notice a significant difference but pay attention to how this makes you feel. Have your energy and cravings improved?
If so, great!
Now here’s the part people have a hard time wrapping their minds around….just because you might feel great this way for a couple of weeks doesn’t mean you have to eat like this forever nor should you. Chances are you will go through phases. As women, we go through different cycles throughout the month and you might find that you feel best when alternating between high carbs or high fats throughout the month.
The key is to be mindful of how your body is reacting and keep overall balance in mind. You should be looking at your nutrition as a whole throughout the day and not as individual meals. How does your breakfast affect what you have for lunch, and so on?
What you want to remember is that you don’t need to completely eliminate the other but if you are going to enjoy more carbs on any given day then your fats should have less of a presence that day.
I hope this helps you find the balance and get some energy back in your day-to-day. If you want to learn more about my Mindful Metabolism coaching you can fill out the application here.
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