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Low-carb
intelligence vs. low-carb stupidity
Do
not go crazy with low-carbs
By Tom
Venuto
Remember that
movie with
Jim Carey, “Dumb and Dumber?” And remember the sequel to
that movie, “Dumb and Dumberer?” Well, the low carb mania that is
sweeping the globe today has reached a level beyond dumberer… It’s
more like dumberererer (try to say that five times real fast).
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There is an epidemic of
“low carb
stupidity” running rampant among millions of people throughout the world
today – and fast food restaurants, food product manufacturers,
supplement companies, and
weight
loss programs are capitalizing on it in a big way! The low carb diet is not
inherently stupid, however. It can be quite beneficial within certain
parameters and under the right circumstances. The problem is that many
practitioners are uninformed, misinformed, or simply lack the common
sense and intuitive bodily wisdom to utilize the low carb approach
intelligently.
Many low-carbers don’t
even know why they are on a low carb diet; they’re just following the
followers. Not intelligent. Doing what everyone else is doing is always
one of the surest, straightest routes to arrive at mediocrity! If you
want to be a success, your chances are far greater if you look at what
the masses are doing and do the exact opposite!
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 Fortunately, there is such a thing as “low carb
intelligence.” Hopefully, by reading my brief rant , you
will increase your carb IQ, and soon join the ranks of the
extraordinarily fit, lean and healthy “carbo geniuses!”
Low carb stupidity #1
Selecting your beer or liquor carefully to make sure
you have the brand with the fewest grams of carbs.
Low carb intelligence
Avoid alcohol if you’re trying to
lose body fat.
Drink only in moderation if you’re trying to
maintain your weight
and be healthy.
Low carb stupidity #2
Believing any of the following:
Low carbs diets are
the only way to lose fat, low carb diets are the best way
to lose fat, no one should ever eat a
high carb diet, high carbs always
make you fat, starches and grains make everyone sick and
unhealthy. Low carb intelligence
Adjusting your approach according to your
health status, your goals and your body type, not
according to generalizations preached by dogmatic diet “gurus.”Low carb stupidity #3
Going on the Atkins diet (or any other very low carb/ketogenic
diet) with absolutely no idea why you’re doing it or how the diet
works (going on it because “everybody” is doing it and because you
see it advertised everywhere.)
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Low carb intelligence
Studying the physiology and biochemistry of the low
carb diet and completely understanding all the pros and cons. Then
making an informed decision whether to restrict carbs based on
your own personal goals, needs and heath status.
Low carb stupidity #4
Thinking that very low carb (ketogenic) dieting is a
maintainable “lifestyle.”
Low carb intelligence
Understanding that reasonable (moderate) restriction
of carbs can be a helpful short term strategy for
fat loss, a good way
to reach a peak, a legitimate method to
control appetite, and an
effective way for some people to control insulin. But also understanding
that a balanced diet of natural foods is probably the most suitable of
all the diets for
health, lifelong maintenance and weight
control.
Low carb stupidity #5
Believing calories don’t count if you just cut out
your carbs (or not counting calories because it’s “too much
work.”)
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Low carb intelligence
Knowing that fat loss always did and always will boil
down to calories in vs. calories out. Taking the time and effort to
crunch your numbers (at least once), typing up your menu on a
spreadsheet, keeping a
diary, and/or using nutrition tracking
software.
Low carb stupidity #6
Staying on a low carb diet that has stopped working
(or never worked in the first place)
Low carb intelligence
Adjusting your diet according to your results;
understanding that a common definition of insanity (and/or stupidity) is
to continue to do the same things over and over again, while expecting a
different result.
Low carb stupidity#7
Believing that you don’t need exercise because all
you need to do is cut carbs.
Low carb intelligence
Knowing that dieting is the worst way to lose
fat and that exercise is the best way to lose fat (Burn The
Fat, don’t
starve the fat).
Low carb stupidity #8
Using the argument; “There’s no such thing as an
essential carbohydrate” as justification for low carb dieting.
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Low carb intelligence
Realizing that textbook definitions of “essential”
can be taken out of context to promote a fad diet and that just because
there’s technically no “essential” carbohydrates (as there are
essential amino acids and fatty acids) doesn’t mean carbohydrates
aren’t “essential” in other respects.Low carb stupidity #9
Using the argument, “You have to eat fat to lose
fat” as justification for a
high fat, low carb diet, without
explaining it or putting it in context (exactly how much fat and what
kind of fat?)
Low carb intelligence
Understanding the importance of essential and omega
three fats (the good fats), but not taking any single nutritional
principle to an extreme (such as, “If a little fat is good for you
then a lot is even better.”)
Low carb stupidity #10
Saying, “All carbs are bad” or “All carbs are
fattening.”
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Low carb intelligence
Avoiding generalizations, and instead, having multiple
distinctions about carbohydrates (and other foods) so you can make
better choices. For example:
Low GI vs. high GI carbs
Simple vs. complex carbs
Starchy vs. fibrous carbs
Natural vs. refined carbs
High calorie density vs. low calorie density carbs
Low carb stupidity #11
Not clarifying your definition of low carbs.
Low carb intelligence
Realizing that there are “very low” carb diets,
“low” carb diets, and “moderate” carb diets and that you can't
lump them all together. (Some people consider The Zone
Diet, at 40% of
calories from carbs, a low carb diet, others consider 40% carbs quite
high).
Low carb stupidity #12
Believing that carrots are fattening because they’re
high on the
glycemic index and because a popular fad diet book says so.
Low carb intelligence
Have we lost all vestiges of common sense? With an
average carrot clocking in at 31 calories and 7.3 grams of carbs, do you
really think that this orange-colored, nutrient-dense, low-calorie,
all-natural, straight-out-of-the-ground root vegetable is going to make
you fat? (if so, you are in "carbohydrate kindergarten.")
Low carb stupidity… Lucky #13
Eating lots of processed and packaged low carb foods
(including those protein “candy bars”)… and thinking you’re
“being good” and “following your diet.”
Low carb intelligence
Realizing
that natural, unrefined foods are one of the keys to lifelong weight
control and that anything man made and refined is NOT an ideal
“diet” food – including the highly processed low carb foods that
are all the rage. (Doesn’t this bandwagon reek of the late
80’s and early 90’s “no fat” craze, when all those "fat
free" foods were being passed off as healthy diet food, but were
really highly processed and full of pure sugar?)
Recommended links: How
to lose weight and keep it off? How
to stop the cravings? Oprah's
boot camp
How
to follow the Mediterranean diet
Low fat or low carbs
How
to fight freshman 15
About the author: Tom Venuto is the founder of a health
and fitness website. Tom is a lifetime natural bodybuilder, personal trainer, gym owner,
freelance writer and author of "Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle" (BFFM):
Fat Burning Secrets of the World's Best Bodybuilders and Fitness Models.
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