New Year, No Carbs?

NO WAY!

Goodness gracious, I hardly believe anyone would want to give up carbs forever, but the New Year trends to drop the Holiday weight always make people a little funny 🙂

I don't publicly address this topic often because discussing what I don't believe in is unnecessary. My objective is to always openly talk about and push what I believe in. It causes confusion to do both. I believe in positive reinforcement, and I believe that food is such a gift and wasn't meant to cause so much physical and emotional harm. 

Yet, here we are heading into 2024, and we still have over 70% of adults in our country unhealthy. I don't like to say overweight and obese because many people considered overweight have good numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, triglycerides, etc). I don't judge much on weight; I don't like to judge at all. I like to teach a program that strengthens your mind to make long-lasting good choices. Did I mention carbs fuel our brains? I like to empower people to feel healthy and confident without extreme conditions. I like to encourage people they're only one meal away from being back on track. 

The goal always remains the same – consistency! With that in mind, for your 2024 health goals, pick a plan that you can do consistently. 

The CCN Way of Life teaches you need 4-5 meals daily. Each meal is macro-balanced with a ratio of 50% carbs, 25% protein, and 25% fat. We teach that you eat real foods, so quality and quantity matter. With our program, eating every four hours and this combination, you will burn fat as your fuel all day and night… even if you didn't work out. Our program works because it's a way of life and not a diet. You can eat treats, celebrate birthdays, go on vacations, and continue the CCN Way of Life. Consistency is easier following this way because you will be personally satisfied with the food and results. 

Now, let's talk about carb cutting. We believe at CCN, through science, that there are 6 essential nutrients, broken down into 3 macros and 3 micros. The 3 macros are CARBS, fat, and protein. Whenever a program removes an entire essential nutrient or decreases it to minuscule amounts, that should be a huge red flag. 

Here are my TOP FIVE reasons never to try a low-carb or no-carb diet:

1. They aren't sustainable. This isn't something you can easily comply with socially or physically. They are short-term and can cause long-term damage. 

2. Long-term damage. Low/no carb diets can cause insulin resistance once you start eating carbs again, low energy, lack of mental capacity, anxiety, and hypoglycemia.

3. Bad breath. Ketones released by the body to burn fat release chemicals that cause bad breath. There is no fix here except to eat a balanced diet. 

4. Organ Confusion. Our bodies need fuel for functioning. We think of fuel/calories in terms of exercise, but we actually need fuel all day, every day, to keep things running smoothly. Carbs are the most effective way to fuel bodily functions: hormone levels, regulating body temperature, digesting food, etc. If we go too long without them, we could potentially cause our livers and kidneys to work too hard, borrowing “fuel” from them. 

5. Water weight. If doing this was for weight loss, great.. you will achieve VERY short-term weight loss because carbs carry a good amount of water weight, so depleting your system will likely change the scale… until it doesn't. When this stops working, you've experienced the plateau of all plateaus because you've exhausted all options. PERIOD. 

Number 5 is the best thing about CCN. It’s not water weight. It was never water weight.

We eat carbs to fuel our brains and bodies and target fat cells. We keep the glucose in our bodies balanced and usable. We eat the right amounts to optimize nutrient absorption and keep our organs doing their jobs. 

Short-term success will likely not be your savior if you're seeking weight loss. If you desperately need to try low/no carb, just be sure a medical physician is monitoring you. It can cause more harm than good unless you have the correct tools. I have seen these diets be effective for a very small percentage, but it's because they have medical advice and a plan to shift back into a normal way of eating eventually. Don't let 2024 be a yoyo year for you! Make consistent, good choices and use food for what it is supposed to be: fuel!