Ok... I have heard many talk about carboHYDRATES and they put the emphasis on HYDRATE and say that all the weight low carbers lose is water weight. I know they lose some water at first...but, obviously people lose 50, 60, 150lbs and that's not water...

Whoa... how much water could my body possibly have been holding?! LOL

Then they say, your muscles store the glycogen from carbs for energy...and without the carbs...you have no energy to be able to workout or do any basic function.... so my question is... How do you bunk the reasoning that your muscles need carbs for energy....?

Hmm, I must be pulling the energy for my two daily workouts out of my *kitten*!

I know this is probably a redundint question... and i'm sorry... but, please help! I'm on a regimen of lifting heavy and need to know that I can still do it eating low carb.... :flowerforyou:

Seriously, my darling, you have lots of buddies like me that are living proof that most of the low carb myths are just that.. myths. I know I've probably told you before, but I might as well reiterate it publicly. Keep tabs with your doctor, and listen to only two people.. YOU.. and your DOCTOR. If you feel right and good and healthy, and your blood chemistry is rockin, that's all that matters!! Keep it up!
:drinker:

When your body lacks carbs, it burns fat for energy. I went for a three mile run the other night burning that fat!
The massive amounts you lose when you first start a low carb diet are likely a lot of water weight, but after that you lose fat.

The body breaks things down in this order: Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins.

Think of it as 'layers' (No this is not a Shrek moment, hahahaha)... The first line the body attacks would be the carbohydrates that we consume. Unfortunately, if the body does not break down ALL of the carbs we ingest (we are talking the bad forms, breads, flours, corn, pasta, rice, etc), it gets stored in the body as fat for later use.

If we take away the bad carbohydrates and incorporate the consumption of healthier carbs (fresh vegetables, berries), the body will come across as "HOLY CRAP WHERE THE HELL DID THE CARBS GO???" Carbs are sugars... when you take away the simple sugars (believe it or not there are fruits with simple sugars as well)... you have that withdrawal. Your body goes a little crazy, and starts dropping some water preliminarily speaking.... but, then, as it stabilizes, the body is looking around for something to grab on to and break apart ... the next line the body breaks apart is.......
.
.
.
.
. fat.... those fat cells that the body stored from previous carbohydrate consumption that it didnt destroy fast enough? NOW, the body is going to attack the fat cells... they are 'stored energy' = carbohydrates. Your body with a balanced diet, exercise, hydration and plenty of sleep will start breaking down the fats - the muscles that are being worked when you exercise will get the energy from the breakdown of fats (again, stored energy)....

The one thing you definitely need to remember though... you still need to consume fats (good choices) Dont reduce your fat intake.... you do need healthy fats for cardiac function, brain function, etc. Butter contains (as an example) Stearic Acid - a very healthy heart component. Its actually ok to consume butter... Olive Oil, Canola Oil, etc.... If you dont consume enough fat, the body will not properly function, the muscles will be extremely harder to work because you are not balancing out your intake. Enjoy that compound butter melting on a juicy top-round steak dinner.... its definitely not a 24/7 food, but its definitely ok to do!

Hope this helps!

Melanie
LCDF Mod