Low Carb Intelligence vs. Low Carb Stupidity

[Creator_11]

I recieved this article by email from fatlosstips.com written by Anthony.



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Low carb intelligence vs. low carb stupidity!
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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)

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 in 2004!

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 uniformed, 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!

Fortunately, there is such a thing as “low carb intelligence.” Hopefully, by
reading my brief rant this month, 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
----------------------
Avoiding alcohol if you’re trying to lose body fat. Drinking 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 low carb “
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.)


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, 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.”)


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.


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.”


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 cant 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 this year.
(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?)

--End of Stupidities--

Forgive me for the obvious dashes of sarcasm, but sometimes I just can’t help
myself and I end up going into rant mode… I think the last time this happened
was in Issue #22 almost a year ago… remember that one… the one where I wrote
about the ad for the candy bar that increases your bench press by 50 pounds?
Yeah... I heard those bars are especially effective when you combine them with
low carb potato chips (weren't those low fat potato chips a few years ago??? Oh
nevermind... it's all soooo confusing!)

[Paul R. Del Vec]

Creator:

I have gotten to the point where I just shut out all of theses baked up fads and claims. But lets face it we live in America. The land of quick fixes, supplements and steroid denial magazines. "Take a pill baby and get big!!!!!!!! Its the almighty dollar. Unfortunately kids are getiing sucked up into these quick fixes and destroying their chances for athletic scholarships much more their lives.

As I have said before, weightlifting and diets should have a means to an end. Therefore everyone's need and goals will be different and require a multitude of trial and error to facilitate each individual goal.

We are not only MICRO managing what we do at work. The "Middle management America" syndrom. But we are now micro managing our workouts and diets. Like the serious weightlifter and athlete can possibly have the time or that the results actually reflect this kind of insane effort.

I hate to break it those who do not get it but results and athletic achievements take years of hard work not pills or fads. There is some great advice coming from some seriously hard working athletes on this and many other sites. If it makes sense keep it in.

Respectfully,

[Padma]

Great common sense article. I agree 100%.

[sculli]

That was a good article. I must admit that I've been guilty of #1 before though.

[daveycrockett]

Great article. I select my alcohol based on calories, not carbs=).

[JVOBIKER]

liquor doesn't have carbs...that's why my favorite drink is jack and diet coke.

[Abdominator]

Excellent article! I'm making a bookmark to this one.

Great job, Creator_11!

- Skip

[MissThing]

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, 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.

yeah.. those two headings got mixed up

[CarlosKicks]

Good article. A lot of common sense. People want the easy way out all the time. It takes time and preparation to really reach your full potential.

[jodiety11]

Good article. A lot of common sense. People want the easy way out all the time. It takes time and preparation to really reach your full potential.

Absolute agree. This allows us to better understand ourselves and live better.