Posted on March 14th, 2009 | Comments (0)
Since I used to weigh over 500 pounds myself and lost over 300 I have learned many facts on healthy eating. I believe firmly many people have a lack of basic knowledge of fat loss functions. If you have no idea how your body functions, or reacts, knowing how to lose fat is very hard. Here are just a few, simple understanding functions of why you are holding onto stubborn fat.
There are many fat cells in the body and each fat cell can enlarge over 100 times its original size to accommodate more fat (which is why it is quite possible to get fat again after liposuction), so there is a large potential for fat storage.
Again, the primary factor that stimulates insulin release is consuming carbohydrates, particularly refined sugars and grains. Vegetables (here we are talking about fresh or frozen whole, raw vegetables without any added ingredients such as sugar) also contain a high percentage of carbohydrates, but they do not stimulate insulin release as strongly as refined sugars and grains.
Fruits (fresh,whole fruits) tend to increase blood sugar somewhat more than vegetables, but usually not nearly as much as grains. This is because vegetables and fruits are high in fiber and nutrients like beta-carotene that slow the absorption of their carbohydrates into the bloodstream when you eat them.
Whole grains, because of their fiber content, stimulate less insulin response than refined grains. Whole grains are a
much more concentrated source of carbohydrates than most vegetables and fruits (fruits and vegetables have a much higher water content than whole grains) and it is easier to consume more grams of carbohydrate from grain sources than from vegetables and fruits, so even whole grains tend to be problematic for causing fat storage.
As mentioned earlier, insulin is the strongest of the fat storing hormones. It is such a powerful stimulator of fat storage that it can literally shut off fat burning for 24 to 48 hours when it is released in large quantities.
In fact, a single slice of white bread will be enough in most people to dramatically inhibit all fat burning for one to two days, regardless of how a person eats or exercises during that time period.
This is why limiting carbohydrate consumption is critical to fat burning. This is not to say that you cannot lose weight if you are eating refined carbs, because you can definitely still lose water weight (which is usually necessary in an overall weight loss program), but it becomes very difficult to lose actual fat.
Excess refined carbohydrate consumption with its accompanying insulin release is a key problem in the failure of many peoples weight loss attempts. In fact, some diet plans actually recommend that people cheat or reward themselves with carbohydrates periodically in order to keep them motivated.
That reward may seem like a good idea at the time, but it sabotages your progress and may contribute to frustration and eventual failure of the diet in the long run. Refined carbs need to be kept out of your diet if you are going to have sustainable weight loss.
Here is one fact which I hope you will take from this article. If you stay away from the simple sugars, find a solid replacement, the craving fades. However, knowing first hand the moment you reward yourself with refined carbs, or diet soda, you immediately release an intense craving again.
About the Author
Tollie Schmidt, who has lost over 300 pounds is the founder of Tollie Out Of The Darkness Project. Tollie Passion is to bring truth and real solutions, hopes, dreams, and love to Teens struggling with eating disorders and Image issues. Anorexia, Bulimia, Obesity, Depression. For more information please visit: Tollie’s Website
Article Source: Content for Reprint
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