I took on the challenge of eliminating carbohydrates from my diet for four weeks, and recorded my progress along the way to share with you.
Why eliminate carbs? Don't we need them?
Yes, carbohydrates are essential to the human body. However, there are good carbs and bad carbs. We can still consume a good amount of carbs through healthy fruits and vegetables. My main goal was the eliminate any starchy carbs, such as bread and pasta. Cutting out bread and pasta alone can make a tremendous difference when it comes to weight loss.
By cutting out all these carbs, we first begin to shed off water weight. Then eventually, we are telling our bodies to burn fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. You may know this concept already from the popular keto diet. With the restriction of carbs, our bodies turn into a state of ketosis, which is a normal metabolic process. Once our bodies have don't have enough glycogen from carbs to burn for energy, it automatically turns to using our stored fat, resulting in weight loss.
What can you eat during this challenge?
The biggest question when you choose to eliminate carbs from your diet, is "What do I eat now?" It is no secret that eating a salad everyday can be quite boring. Here is what a typical day of eating looked like for me during these four weeks....
My Day of Eating
Breakfast:
Coffee (I mix in MCT oil, Collagen Powder, Ghee, and a dash a cinnamon)
MCT Oil I use - https://www.amazon.com/Premium-derived-only-Non-GMO-Coconuts/dp/B071W661GD/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=mct%2Boil&qid=1556015659&s=gateway&sr=8-3&th=1
Collagen Power I use - https://www.amazon.com/Vital-Proteins-Vanilla-Collagen-Creamer/dp/B07G3RZ4ZT/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=collagen+creamer&qid=1556015731&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
2 Over-Easy Eggs
3-4 pieces of bacon or sausage
Lunch:
Taco Salad:
-Ground Turkey Seasoned with Taco Seasoning
-Chopped Lettuce
-Onions
-Shredded Cheddar Cheese
-Mild Salsa
Dinner:
Pan Seared Salmon or Ribeye Steak
Oven Roasted Asparagus (Seasoned with Garlic Powder & Grated Parmesan)
Corn
Like any normal person, I can't go a day without having snacks. Some snacks I indulged in included:
Greek Yogurt
Berries (Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries)
Carrots or Cucumbers w/ hummus
Pistachios
or even a protein shake!
My Results after Four Weeks!
I began this challenge weighing in as 121.0 lbs, with a body fat percentage of 23.7%, and a muscle percentage of 31.6%. After cutting carbs for a total of four weeks, along with exercising between 3-6 times per week depending on my schedule my results were as follows. My final weigh in for this challenge I had dropped down to 117.4 lbs, with a body fat percentage of 23.0%, and a muscle percentage of 32.1%.
Will I continue to restrict carbs from diet?
I have come to discover that cutting carbs from my diet is effective, however it is a struggle. I, like most others, have a love for all things pasta and bread, and could never imagine myself cutting that completely from my lifestyle. I believe that cutting carbs from your diet is an excellent choice when you are trying to shed off a few pounds in a timely manner. However, in order to avoid gaining weight back from eating carbs, I am going to now make a transition to carb cycling.
If you would like to see another article about carb cycling leave a comment below!
Have you tried cutting carbs for weight loss? Share your experience with the community! :)
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