Do you know what the major issue is with eating sugar and carbohydrates? They stimulate your body to want more sugar and carbohydrates and they stop your body from burning fat.
Understanding our body
It works like this. Every time we eat something our body releases insulin which regulates our blood sugar levels. But in the presence of insulin, we cannot burn fat. Insulin inhibits the breakdown of fat cells and actually stimulates the creation of more body fat. Insulin prompts our body to absorb fatty acids and glucose into the blood and thus produces more fat. Insulin can also stimulate a false sense of hunger, so the more sugar and carbohydrates you eat, the more you want to eat.
And the manufacturers of processed foods and snacks know about this very well. They want you to eat sugar and carbs because you will then crave more sugar and carbs and then buy more of their product. It’s an addiction.
No doubt, the food industry is perpetuating the obesity epidemic. They want us to spend our money on unhealthy food options. When you eat excess sugar and carbs, you actually feel that you must have more sugar and carbohydrates in order to survive, but in reality, these excess carbs and sugars are undermining your health.
So we need to stop this addiction!
Changing our eating habits
To stop this cycle you need to change your eating habits and let go of consuming excess sugars and carbs. The best food choices are grass-fed and free-range meats, low-starch veggies, green leafy salads, eggs, avocados, some lower-carb nuts, real butter, olive and coconut oil. You should be eating a combination of these foods during your day.
If you want faster results, consider trying a two-meal-a-day plan, instead of three meals a day and three snacks. By eating just two meals in a day (lunch and dinner for example), you are fasting for approximately 16 hours. Doing this will burn stored body fat. Your body will also become less dependent on sugars from food. During the 16 hours without meals, you are in a fasting state. Don’t forget that 6-8 hours of sleep is included in the 16 hours. So really all you’re doing is skipping a meal.
The health benefits of prolonged fasting are scientifically proven and include fat loss, muscle preservation, reduced cholesterol and blood pressure, better skin complexion, and higher endorphin levels (happy chemicals) and energy levels. Your body will start to burn your own body fat when you consume less food and when you cut down on sugar and carbs. When you cut down on sugar and carbs, you lower your glucose levels and in the place of glucose, you’ll use your own body fat. This is a much more efficient way to run your body both physically and mentally.
However, some say that if you don’t eat often enough, the body goes into ‘starvation protection’ mode, conserving calories, storing fat, and burning muscle (not fat) for energy. But that’s an old-school way of thinking.
For the fastest results, combine intermittent fasting with low-carb meals and get plenty of sleep. You will see and feel the benefits in just a few days.
Experience faster results with sleep
One thing that is not disputed is that if you want to feel healthier, you have to get enough sleep. Research has found that women who sleep five hours or less per night generally weigh more than women who sleep seven hours per night. Studies show that after just a few days of reduced sleep, the hormones that control appetite cause people to become hungrier. If you sleep less, you might feel like you want to eat more.
Plus, lack of sleep interferes with the body’s ability to metabolise carbohydrates and causes high blood levels of glucose, which lead to higher insulin levels and greater body-fat storage. To lose weight and look and feel healthier, get plenty of sleep!
To get more sleep, simply go to bed an hour earlier. It might mean watching less television or reading less or spending less time on social media, but it is worth it as you will experience the benefits the next day.
Benefits of cutting down carbs and sugar
Other benefits of cutting down on carbs and sugar include your thinking becoming sharper. This is because you have finally detoxed from the excess carbs and sugars you were eating.
You will also discover you have better skin once you change your diet and get rid of excess sugars and carbs. Watch what happens to your skin after four to six weeks of minimal consumption of processed carbs and sugars. Your skin will be visibly smoother and clearer as your body is no longer processing the toxins and chemicals found in processed foods.
Supermarkets are stocked full of foods saturated with carbs and sugar heavy items. They want to keep you addicted and buying more. Cut down on excess sugar and carbs and fight through the first few days of intense cravings and you will have a breakthrough. Your cravings will start to subside in just a few days. And eventually, you’ll notice you crave certain foods less and less, until you no longer even think about having any!
Remember to choose grass-fed meats, add veggies or a big salad, add extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice and add some avocado or eggs. As for snacks, go for the ones that are sugar free and carb free like nuts for example, cheese and hard boiled eggs. Give it a solid go for 30 days and watch what happens to your body, your skin and energy levels after you get through a week. If 30 days feels like too long, try doing it for one week only. If a task seems too hard, you’re less likely to start it. I guarantee that you will want to continue this new eating habit.
