4 Common Low-Carb Mistakes People Make
Low-carb diets are becoming increasingly popular, however, like anything in life; it is easy to make mistakes with them. These mistakes can lead to adverse effects and less-than-desired results. If you want to reap all the benefits that a low-carb diet has to offer, then cutting back on the carbs is not the only thing you will need to do. We take a look at 4 common low-carb mistakes here.
- Consuming Too Many Carbs
The whole point of a low-carb diet is to restrict your carbohydrate intake, and anything under 100-130 grams of carbs per day is considered low-carb and is generally a lot less than a standard diet. While you’ll achieve great results within this carb range, as long as you eat unprocessed foods, but if you get into ketosis, and loose even more weight, you’ll need to restrict your intake even further. Many people need to go under 50 grams per day in order to reach ketosis.
- Overeating Foods That Are Allowed
When following a low-carb diet, there are foods that are allowed and foods that aren’t. In saying this, when you are trying to keep your carb count low, you might find yourself reaching for more of those foods that you are allowed, such as dairy products, which can lead to weight gain when consumed in larger amounts. Going low-carb isn’t a license to each as much of these foods as you want, and you’ll need to be aware of how much of each food group you are allowed to have. Allow your appetite to guide you, and don’t eat when you aren’t hungry.
- Avoiding Fat
Many people believe that cutting out fats on a low-carb diet will make it even healthier, but this could not be further from the truth. When you remove one energy source (carbohydrates) from your diet, you need to replace it with something else (fats). If you fail to do this, it could lead to hunger and insufficient nutrition. As long as you are avoiding trans fats and choosing healthy ones, there is no reason to fear fats. Healthy monosaturated fats and omega-3 fats are great to include in your diet.
- Lack of Planning
Just like developing a new habit, starting a new way of eating can be challenging and you’ll have old ways of doing things that will need to be changed, such as grabbing a takeaway after a long day or binging in front of the television. With your low-carb meals, it’s important to plan ahead for a while, until it becomes a habit that occurs naturally. Planning before you go grocery shopping will help you make sure that you always have something suitable to eat. Planning your meals ahead can also make it easier to stick to your diet.
Just cutting back on the carbs isn’t enough to lose weight and better your health. It is also important to make sure you have a well-balanced diet that includes the right fruit and vegetables, and that you exercise regularly. Visit our website for more information and low-carb products that will help you stick to your diet and make it a lifestyle!
