Today, low carb diets are so common that it’s almost as though anyone who dares touch a carb is surely doomed to a life of obesity forever and always.

 Okay, that was dramatic, but it isn’t a stretch to say that carbs have been demonized in today’s diet economy.

So why are carbs “bad” and low carb diets all the rage?

In most cases, people who participate in low carb diets see significant weight loss at first. Because they are cutting down on carbs, they see water weight come off relatively quickly. Long term low-carb diets help people burn fat efficiently as there is little glucose in their systems to use for energy. In addition, many who cut carbs are actually eating in a calorie deficit, which also leads to weight loss.

When people show off their initial results, it’s usually pretty impressive. This has led to quite a bit of buzz and creates even more interest in these types of diets. Everyone and their mother has jumped on the low carb bandwagon, making it the cool thing to do.

However, what we don’t always see is the hormonal damage, low energy levels and eventual weight gain that can occur as a result of a long term low carb diet.  

According to the Mayo Clinic, despite the various positive effects of a low carb diet, there are some significant drawbacks:

In addition, some diets restrict carbohydrate intake so much that in the long term they can result in vitamin or mineral deficiencies, bone loss, and gastrointestinal disturbances and may increase risks for various chronic diseases.

Severely restricting carbohydrates to less than 20 grams a day can result in a process called ketosis. Ketosis occurs when you don’t have enough sugar (glucose) for energy, so your body breaks down stored fat, causing ketones to build up in your body. Side effects from ketosis can include nausea, headache, mental and physical fatigue, and bad breath.1

But…

The main reason a low carb lifestyle isn’t ideal is that it’s hard to sustain, leaving people feeling depleted, lethargic, and deprived. Your hormones, mental clarity and stress levels suffer from cutting carbs out of your diet because our bodies were made to consume all three macronutrients to function optimally, despite what the believers in low carb fad diets say.

This is why carb cycling is the perfect strategy to incorporate into a healthy lifestyle! It gives you all the benefits of a low carb diet, without the drawbacks. As you cycle your carbs each week, you are taking advantage of carb depletion for maximum fat burning, while also reaping the benefits of carb loading for maximum energy and muscle building.

If you are looking to burn fat, increase your energy, keep your mental clarity and learn how to incorporate carb cycling into your lifestyle, check out the next round of the FASTer Way to Fat Loss® that starting soon!  This program has everything you need to look and feel your absolute best…even carbs!

Check it out by clicking here!