We’ve been told that sugars make us fat, but that’s too simplistic. There’s more to the story…
 
For years we believed the simple concept that weight loss is a calories in – calories out equation and that to lose weight we needed to eat less than we burn up, or burn up more than we eat, or a combination. And for many, despite all their efforts to eat less and exercise more, their bodies keep hanging on to that stubborn weight.  We were told it was all about calories, and as fat has more calories per gram (9 to be exact) than carbohydrates and proteins (4 each), we were told that eating fat was fattening and that we should all be choosing low-fat or fat-free foods and drinks.  And so we avoided those ‘fattening fats’ but still didn’t lose weight, and then felt guilty for not losing weight or worried that other people might think us gluttons or sloths.
 
New research has flipped everything we thought we knew about weight loss on its ear. Instead, the new research looks at what triggers fat storage and what can facilitate fat release. It shows that while we may have energy stored in our fat cells (as fat), our hormonal responses to our food choices are not allowing us to access that energy.
 
Think about this.  Say you’re carrying 10 kilos more than you would like. That’s 10,000 grams of fat, and at 9 calories a gram, that’s 90,000 calories of energy that you have stored. That’s enough to walk 1,650 km without eating!  If you’ve got excess weight, ask yourself if you ever get low on energy. If the answer is YES, then your body may be having difficulty accessing the energy stored in your fat cells and this makes losing weight very difficult.  If you’ve been consciously avoiding ‘fattening fats’ by eating a low-fat diet for years and years, it means that you’ve probably been eating a high ‘sugar-yielding’ diet. “But”, you say, “I don’t eat sugar, sweet foods or drinks!”
 
Here’s the truth: many otherwise healthy foods elevate our blood sugar just the same as if we were eating sugar. These can include foods that are not sweet such as breads, pasta, cereals, fruits and some vegetables. A high blood-sugar-elevating diet may stimulate the hormones which cause your body to store fat and not release it.
 
Some people would say  “There would be nothing left to eat”.  The challenge is that one diet does not fit all (and by ‘diet’ we mean lifelong eating pattern). What foods and drinks might be absolutely fine for one member of the family might not suit another. Although they might both like the same foods, one stays slim and the other struggles with their weight.
 
Now there’s a program to help you discover the ideal diet for your body at your stage of life. Yes, what was ideal for you 10 or 20 years ago, may not be ideal for you now.
 
Our bodies have taken many years to adapt and grow to our current shape. It’s a huge mistake to think that “I can quickly lose weight and then once it’s gone, I can go back to what I was eating.”  Once you learn what foods and drinks your body can tolerate (from a weight and health perspective), it is very liberating.  You can tap into all that stored energy and enjoy having the body you were meant to have. Give it a go!