It’s sometime in the early AMs, already early Saturday, and as I’m channel surfing mindlessly I begin to near the block of black sheep channels; the channels that continuously loop infomercials about the next magic vacuum cleaner, a stainless steel knife that can cut through a brick, and of course, diets that will miraculously lower your weight within four weeks and get you tone within the same timeframe.
There is an incalculable amount of diets out there matched up with the countless millions of people who are striving not only to lose weight, but gain muscle, and bottom line, become beautiful. It doesn’t take much to realize that the diet business is a multi-billion dollar industry and because of this, in some sense, dieting has become the new rage. South Beach Diet, Atkins Diet, The Zone Diet, The Grapefruit Diet, The Scarsdale Diet, and more, are always making news appearances in someway. Although they’re all completely different in how they reach their ends, one thing remains constant; they help to lower the number of calories you take in.
So I started doing research on a lot of diet means. Carbohydrate-Restricted, Protein-Restricted, Fat-Restricted, and Calorie-Restricted. So here are some main points that I’ve come up with regarding each; some way more than others.
Carb-Restricted Diets
1.Toll on energy and athletic performance. (Carbohydrates are the body’s main fuel for energy after all.)
2.Carbs are needed for the brain, heart, muscles and other vital organs.
3.The brain and the central nervous system are fueled by glucose, most easily obtained from carbohydrates. If no carbs are available the body an alternative fuel is produced called ketones, made from the partial burning of fatty acids.
4.Ketosis is the abnormal condition of ketones building in the blood. The kidneys begin to rid the body of excess ketones which results in water loss, not body fat loss.
5.Carbs minimized in the diet means that fat metabolism is hampered. Carbs are essential to metabolize fat.
6.Glycogen is depleted in the muscles and liver. Weight loss is from water loss as stated above. This will not help body composition or health.
7.The body will rely on protein for fuel from lean tissue, and yes, from fatty acids as well, but while fat is being burned, so is muscle and muscle is needed to metabolize fat.
8.Low energy and fatigue will lead to lower intensity workouts and shorter workouts, hampering your level of fitness and possibly leading into de-conditioning.
9.Side effects: Headaches, fatigue, dizziness, bad breath due to acidic blood from ketosis, an upset in the body’s chemical balance.
Protein-Restricted Diets
1.Muscle soreness, fatigue, and weakness.
2.An adequate amount of essential and non-essential amino acids are needed for protein synthesis: the replacement within the body of skin, stomach lining, liver cells and muscle upkeep.
Fat-Restricted Diets
1.A usually health diet unless fat is reduced drastically, for example a reduction of unsaturated fat (good fat) can lead to elevated cholesterol, heart attack or stroke.
2.Fat is the carrier of Vitamins A, D, E, and K.
3.Fat is a cushion for liver, kidneys and nerves.
Calorie-Restricted Diets
1.Impossible to get the required amount of vitamins and minerals needed for the body on a low calorie diet.
2.The body’s main priority is to obtain enough energy to carry on all the functions within the body. If this energy is not found via carbs, protein, or fat, the body will begin to breakdown protein in tissue to maintain the operation of vital organs and functions.
3.Any diet containing few than 1200 calories is to be avoided unless it is under medical supervision.
Before undertaking any sort of nutritional plan ask the following questions:
1.Does the program include physical activity?
2.How fast does the program encourage weight loss or muscle gain?
3.Does the program help to change negative behaviors into positive ones?
4.What kind of support is provided?
5.What kind of maintenance program is provided?
At the end of the day weight maintaining, weight loss and weight gain are going to be dependent on the following equations except under extreme circumstances.
Calories Burned = Calories Taken In = Maintain Weight
Calories Burned < Calories Taken In = Weight Gain
Calories Burned > Calories Taken In = Weight Loss
If anyone has any input I would love to hear about it. Either agreeing or disagree. This has to be my most favorite part of UKY. Hehehehe.
-Raul-
