Carbs Are a Girl’s Best Friend

First of all, I’m not one for posting scantily clad photos or ab shots, but I HAVE to give a shout out to one of the most hated on macros – CARBS!

Carbs will make me gain weight.

I can’t eat carbs because my body does not respond well to them.

Low-carb diets are best.

These are examples of phrases I’m told ALL THE TIME. I have heard SO many things about carbs over the years. They truly get a bad rap! However, carbs can be your best friend AND not all carbs are created equal!

Over the course of a 2-week period, I went from eating around 200g of carbs a day to eating close to 275g of carbs a day. As I was slowly upping my carb intake each day, I noticed something happening. I started feeling hungrier. My metabolism was speeding up to burn off my increase in carbs. My appetite was increasing each day!

Now, over this 2-week period, I didn’t change anything besides my carb intake. My fat and protein level remained the same. My workout duration and intensity were consistent. No changes in my sleep schedule or stress level. The only variable in the equation was my intake of carbs.

I took a picture at the end of 2 weeks and was shocked to notice a difference! My body was getting leaner eating MORE carbs! I actually dropped 3 lbs. over the course of these photos.

I share this with you because SO many people – women especially – are afraid to eat. They equate eating more with gaining weight. That isn’t always the case. There are so many variables that come into play.  I’ve actually found many women UNDER eating.

Monday marked week one’s check-in for my challenge group. These women have been working HARD to hit their macros each day. Some of them were shocked when I gave out their official macros. The majority of responses I heard were, “This is more food than I usually eat! How will I lose weight eating MORE food?!”

Two reasons immediately came to mind.

First, they may have been eating the wrong types of foods (high fat & high calorie foods), which fill them up more than healthier, lower fat options. For years I thought I was eating healthy by ordering a Filet Mignon when I went out to eat. Although it is a great protein source, I now know that it’s also extremely high in fat. An 8-oz. Filet Mignon has around 25g of fat and that is not including the butter or oil that’s probably used while cooking it! You wouldn’t think a small piece of lean meat would have over 25g of fat, but it does!

Second, people tend to think they eat less than they really do. When you actually start tracking – whether it’s writing down everything in a journal or logging it in an app – you may be surprised by how much you’re truly eating. All those little snacks add up! Measuring and weighing your food is the best way to accurately gauge your food intake. It can also be an eye-opening experience to see true portion sizes!

Now, back to my challenge group.

After one week, I heard some AMAZING results. One participant was shocked to find that she lost 3 pounds after I had increased her calories by 500 a day! She is eating MORE carbs and LOSING weight. Those carbs are fueling her workouts and giving her extra energy to push herself harder!

Another participant emailed me to share that she lost just short of FIVE pounds in the first week! She went on to say that she has struggled to lose that much in a month or two! She was so surprised to find that she’s eating more food than she ever has before while making amazing progress toward her goals!

I have to add that they both have been All-Star students. They diligently hit their macros each day and their hard work is paying off!

Now, it’s important to remember that although all sources of carbs can fit your macros, choosing complex carbs will give you the most bang for your buck. Foods like oatmeal, sweet potatoes and rice are complex carbs, which means your body takes longer to break them down. These foods are typically composed of fiber and/or starch. Other foods like white bread, cookies and juice are simple carbs, which are rapidly digested by your body. These foods are made of sugar and normally should be limited in your diet.

IIFYM is a flexible dieting approach that gives you the freedom to include your favorite foods while maintaining a balanced lifestyle. It is a long-term approach to eating that you can maintain throughout the course of your life.

If you are interested in learning more about IIFYM, feel free to shoot me an email at ChiseledbyChels@gmail.com. It has made a HUGE difference in my understanding and relationship with food!