The 3 biggest mistakes people make when switching to a lowER-carbohydrate lifestyle

When people ask me what’s the best diet to lose weight or improve their health – my general answer is one which is lowER in carbohydrates.

You see, the biggest problem we have is over-consumption – both in terms of the quantity of what and how often we’re eating – and since carbs dominate the majority of our meals and snacks, it’s no wonder so many struggles with their weight and health.
 
Carbohydrates elicit the biggest insulin response which switches off fat burning and switches on energy storage – leading to constant and excess weight gain. Adopting a lowER carbohydrate lifestyle flips the switch – helping us burn more stored energy among other things.
 
But, what are the biggest mistakes when it comes to adopting a lowER-carbohydrate lifestyle? Here’s what I see all too often:
 
Thinking they have to eat such a low amount
 
If you google a low-carb diet then you’ll find the recommendation at around 50g per day, which is why the reason I use the lowER-carb term instead as it’s all about eating less – regardless of the amount.
 
This then leads to them quitting before they’ve begun or going to low too soon.

Going too low too soon 
 
People tend to follow the current dietary guidelines in terms of what to eat, but not how much. The current recommendation is around 198g for women and 252g for men, but most are eating way more, I’ve had clients who were averaging over double that easily. So, you can see why they find it impossible to adapt when they then try to eat such a low amount. The further you try to move the needle the harder it becomes, which is why it’s best to progress slowly. But, not only that, they also forget to replace some of the carbs with other foods and so it then becomes a low-calorie lifestyle.
 
Replacing some of the carbs 
 
Protein, healthy fats and vegetables increase satiety which helps when you’re trying to eat less overall and manage the withdrawal effects of carbohydrates. Most seem to focus so much on decreasing their carb intake that ends up trying to survive on a low-carb and low-calorie diet, which when combined is a recipe for disaster.  
 
There are numerous ways to decrease your carb intake, all of which I use myself and with my clients. Once you understand how to manage your intake and find your balance, you’ll soon start to see and feel the difference!
 
Have you downloaded the FREE LowER-Carbohydrate Action Plan?
 
If you have any questions, please let me know below!
 
Speak soon, JC.