The whole Atkins hoopla REALLY turned me off the idea of minimizing my carbs so I don't make it a point to avoid them.
Carbohydrates can sometimes get a bad wrap they do not deserve. Carbohydrates can be "one" of the least understood macro nutrients.
They are extremely-beneficial in our diets, and no one will doubt this.
However, they are also extremely powerful macro-nutrient
when manipulated.
Some dieters, will study the calorie allotments, without studying the potential force that the macro-nutrients can play into appropriate fat loss. In actuality, one can have the almighty and all powerful calorie working along side manipulation of the macro-nutrients, and provide a several working forces into the equation of fat loss, instead of one.
And, this is my point. You may not have to avoid/reduce them to lose quality tissue. If you are eating a good quantity of carbohydrates, and keeping the other two macros up, and within a calorie deficit, and you are experiencing fat loss, there is no reason to change.
I am one of those when my BF is high, I can eat them all day long, with no bad feedback (as long as the other two macros are up to snuff, and it doesn't matter the "type" of carbohydrate). But this is not the case for everyone.
Some are more sensitive to them then others: Some are more Insulin resistant and some Insulin sensitive; one or the other can be effected by a plethora of individual influences (genetics, biological efficiency, etc, etc), and lastly one's dietary habits and trend history.
Insulin is another powerful hormone that gets a bad wrap it doesn't deserve, mostly because its just misunderstood, and is multifunctional (its more than a simple storage hormone). Insulin (for example) can be extremely anabolic. Its does more than stabilizing blood sugar or effecting hunger, etc.
I bring this up, because Insulin and the Carbohydrate have a.....relationship. Sometimes its loving, and sometimes not.
A
"modified" Atkins (
with the right sort of foods), with the correct person, in the right position, isn't a bad diet.
But, this of course can depend.
Isn't a calorie just a calorie when it comes to weight loss? I mean, if you eat 1500 calories in fat a day and nothing else...aren't you still going to lose weight? How does the fact that the calorie is coming from carbs or proteins affect weight loss?
My answer to this question is:
Yes, and
no.
Using your example, of consuming 1,500 calories all from forms of fat macro-nutrients, (assuming this is a female, in the right position to post such a deficit). And assuming weight training, and healthy no medical complications.
Two things are missing that are negatives: No protein intake, and no carbohydrate intake. Let's say, that this 1,500 calorie allotment, creates a 500c deficit from the MT-Line.
The body has a "need" of protein with or without weight training. And, the body would prefer carbohydrates for its fuel source. Lets assume Glucose storage is full before starting.
Now I am putting this "extremely" simplistic and a hypothetical way:
The body will covert the consumed fat into energy sources to use for its needs. Additionally, since there is no protein intake--where do you think it will likely take it from? The odds for muscle loss increase. In addition, we have a environment for glucose depletion.
And, after a few days (dependent on activity, training, etc), the person's glucose storage will fall, and deplete over time. IMO, protein is more important in a deficit than one in a surplus. Additionally, (
dependent) carbohydrates can have some protein sparing effects.
Therefore in this hypothetical situation, there will be fat loss (most likely, leaving out metabolic adaptions), and
increased muscle loss (no increased protein to off-set,
dehydration, water loss, (because of no carbohydrate consumption).
With that said, it's a common myth that muscle is primarily protein; skeletal muscle is only about 25% protein, and about 70% water --approximately.
Therefore, (assuming severe carbohydrate restriction trend, and since carbohydrates carry/absorb water), muscle can lose its water, and appear flat and ugly--dependent on amount of loss. Even the glycogen and the rest only makes up a small percentage of the total weight. I'm honestly surprised that no one has ever pushed water as an anabolic source since, strictly speaking, it makes up far more of your muscle volume than protein does.
Not to leave out the possibility that when glucose storage gets to a certain point, the person will (or could, dependent on the person), start feeling lethargy, irritated, get headaches, etc, etc.
Okay: Is a calorie a calorie now?
Open up your focus from the mighty calorie........and macro nutrients, and a whole new world is shown.
Best wishes,
Chillen
