Carbs in The Evening & Losing Weight

         Your fellow weight loss seekers are putting this into practice probably while you are reading this [it might even be you].  Your trainer may have even recommended this as a bonafide method of dropping those unwanted pounds.  We've all heard it time and time again…you shouldn't eat carbs after [insert random bullshit hour]:30 pm if you want to lose weight. In an article published by the American Journal of Epidemiology, samples of overweight participants were chosen to determine the reasons for obesity and what lifestyle changes could be made to help them overcome their issues with weight control.  One of their methods was to study the group's patterns of behavior and nutrient consumption. One of the patterns these researchers sought to investigate was when the samples consumed carbohydrates, and if it had any impact on their weight gain or inability to lose fat. The results from this study show that carbohydrate consumption in the evening had no effect on the people who were actively engaged in regular physical activity. 

          For the people who are seeking general weight loss…it doesn't matter if you take in your carbs after [insert random bullshit hour]:30 pm, you can still lose weight.  If you want to lose weight, you need to increase your metabolic rate (which includes exercise) and eat the necessary amount of macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates and fats) for your individual needs.  On several occasions, I have had clients who were firm believers of not eating carbs after a certain hour to lose weight before deciding to come to me.  Since I like to teach my clients whenever they have questions, I told them the truth behind this claim, then purposely had them eat sometimes 25%-50% of their carbohydrate allowance during their very last meal-both weight and body fat were reduced each time. There will always be 'magical formulas' in the world of wellness, but make sure you understand the research behind these claims before accepting them as the truth. It makes the fitness journey more rewarding and a lot less stressful.

Yours in Fitness

Derrick White-T.H.E.